If you’ve been asking yourself, “What is the best pellet grill?” you’ve come to the right place. Buying a pellet grill is a game-changer when it comes to cooking. Not only can it smoke your food, but it can also grill, bake, roast, sear, and braise to give you the best wood-fired flavor imaginable.
However, when it comes to choosing your new outdoor grill, there are a few lifestyle and cooking factors that you need to consider while you shop.
How to Find the Best Pellet Grill for You
When you start looking for the best wood pellet grill for you, it helps to think beyond just brand names or price tags. The right grill should match your lifestyle, cooking style, and how often you plan to use it. Whether you're a weekend warrior or an everyday backyard chef, asking the right questions up front can make all the difference. Keep these in mind as you search:
- What’s your price point?
- What is a good size pellet grill for your needs?
- What maintenance do you want to do on your grill?
- What kind of features are you interested in?
- What do you plan on cooking?
- Are you getting this as a grilling gift?
What Will You Be Cooking?
First things first: What do you plan on using your grill for? Is it for casual, everyday cooking like quick dinners, weekly meal prep, and keeping things simple? Or are you looking to go all in with competition BBQ and big BBQ parties? Pellet smokers are versatile enough to handle both, but your cooking style plays a big role in choosing the right one, especially if you plan on making large quantities at once.
If you’re planning to feed a crowd, size matters. The Timberline XL is built for big cooks, offering 1,320 square inches of cooking space, enough to handle 9 chickens, 8 racks of ribs, or 6 pork butts at the same time. It’s a powerhouse built for event grillers or backyard pitmasters who like to go big. If that’s not you and space isn’t as important, but you still want more flexibility, check out the Woodridge Elite. It gives you 970 square inches of cooking space, plus a side burner where you can sauté, simmer, or sear, so you can cook your entire easy dinner recipes or meal prep on one grill.
Prefer to take your grill on the go? If you're into camping, tailgating, or just want something to take on the go, one of our portable grills might be a better fit. They're easy to transport, quick to fire up, and still deliver wood-fired flavor wherever you set up. Whether you're grilling by the lake or in a parking lot, you won’t have to sacrifice performance for portability.
Alternatively, if you’re not interested in a pellet grill at all, an outdoor griddle is a great choice for anything from smashed burgers to a full American griddle breakfast platter.
Consider How Much Space You Have
The space you have is also important to keep in mind while grill shopping. Do you have a backyard? Patio? Apartment balcony? Truck bed? There are pellet grills big and small to fit whatever space you might have, but these are important things to keep in mind:
- While this might be obvious, you must have an outdoor space to keep your grill.
- Set your grill on a flat, fire‑proof base. A portable model only needs a level, non-flammable spot, while full-size rigs should sit on concrete, pavers, or a heavy-duty grill mat for maximum safety.
- To keep your grill and your home in tip-top shape, make sure to have an area with 12-18 inches of clearance around all sides and overhead ventilation.
- If you are using it on an apartment, balcony, or patio, check with your landlord or HOA.
- Power is essential to run a grill (unless you purchase or gas grill, the Flatrock 2 Zone Griddle, which runs on propane), so make sure you have an outdoor outlet or an outdoor-rated extension cord.
- Are you planning on moving frequently? While all the Traeger grills are equipped with wheels for easy moving, bigger grills like the Timberline and Ironwood are meant to be semi-permanent due to their size.
What Grill Features Matter to You?
Cook quality should always be the top priority when choosing a pellet grill, but the right features can take it to the next level. Built-in WiFi, hands-free cooking, superior smoke control, easy cleanup, and room for grilling accessories are the extras that can turn a great grill into the best grill.
Pro Tip: If you decide to purchase a Traeger Grill, every generation has more features. For example, our Woodridge base model has epic features like Set-It & Forget It, precision temperature control, WiFire connectivity, easy clean up, wireless meat thermometer capability, and Keep Warm mode, while our Woodridge Elite has added insulation, a pellet sensor, Super Smoke mode, and an additional cook station.
What’s Your Budget?
Lastly, you can’t forget about your budget. When considering your budget though, it’s important to keep two things in mind:
- With this grill need replacing anytime soon?
- Accessories should be budgeted in.
With a Traeger Grill, you’ll get value that lasts for a long time without breaking the budget. These pellet grills are engineered to near perfection and thoroughly tested by beta testers to ensure that they are the best grills for your buck. And with excellent Service Warranty limits for grills and accessories, and responsive Customer Support, it’s hard to go wrong.
If you’re between grills or want to explore more options, make sure to take our Traeger Grill Quiz and compare our products.