Best Smokers for Beginners

The best first smoker is the one whose way of holding temperature matches how much attention you want to give it. Electric and pellet smokers hold a set temperature on their own; charcoal smokers teach fire control but need more watching. This guide compares five beginner-friendly options using manufacturer specs, Keepa price history and the ratings on each listing. Prices were checked when the page was last updated; Amazon's checkout price is the one that counts.

Quick Answer

• Easiest: Masterbuilt 30" Digital Electric Smoker (about $245). Set the temperature and time on a panel; 11,000+ ratings at 4.4.
• Easiest wood-fired: Z Grills 200A Tabletop Pellet Grill (about $279). A small pellet grill with a PID controller and probes.
• Best charcoal smoker to learn on: Weber Smokey Mountain 18" (about $419). A water pan steadies the temperature.
• Grill that also smokes: Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" (about $219). The most rated product here (12,900+ at 4.7).
• Lowest price: Royal Gourmet CC1830S (about $144). A charcoal grill with an offset firebox.

Comparison

The Picks

1. Masterbuilt 30" Digital Electric Smoker

$244.90 on Amazon →

The Masterbuilt 30" Digital Electric Smoker (MB20071117) has a digital panel where you set the temperature, up to 275°F, and the cook time. A side loader lets you add wood chips without opening the door, and a water bowl adds moisture. Four chrome racks give 711 square inches; Masterbuilt says that fits up to 6 chickens, 2 turkeys, 4 pork butts or 4 racks of ribs. About 11,200 ratings average 4.4.

Electric smoke is lighter than charcoal or pellet smoke, the 275°F ceiling rules out crisp poultry skin, and it needs an outlet.

• Best for: beginners who want results on the first cook with almost nothing to manage.
• Who should skip it: anyone after a heavy smoke ring and bark, or who wants to grill too.

2. Z Grills 200A Tabletop Pellet Grill

$279.00 on Amazon →

The Z Grills 200A Tabletop Pellet Grill (ZPG-200A) is a small pellet grill, 25 by 20 by 13 inches, with 202 square inches of cooking space. A PID controller holds 180°F to 450°F, an LCD shows the temperature, and meat probes come in the box. Z Grills says the 8 lb hopper runs about 10 hours of low-and-slow without refilling. About 790 ratings average 4.3.

202 square inches is small: one rack of ribs or a small pork butt at a time. It needs power, and at the last check it was sold by third-party sellers.

• Best for: balconies, small households, and camping with power.
• Who should skip it: anyone cooking for more than three or four people.

3. Weber Smokey Mountain 18"

$419.00 on Amazon →

The Weber Smokey Mountain 18" (721001) is a charcoal bullet smoker with a water pan between the fire and two 18.5-inch grates. The water pan buffers temperature swings, and vents on the bowl and lid set the heat, so it is the charcoal smoker that asks the fewest adjustments once lit. About 5,500 ratings average 4.7.

It is the most expensive pick, and as charcoal it still asks you to learn lighting, vent settings and refuelling on long cooks. The lid thermometer reads the dome, not the grate, so add a probe thermometer (see our meat thermometer picks).

• Best for: beginners who want to learn real charcoal and wood smoking.
• Who should skip it: anyone who wants push-button control.

4. Weber Original Kettle Premium 22"

$219.00 on Amazon →

The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" (14401001) is a charcoal grill first. With coals banked to one side and the food on the other, it smokes ribs, chicken and pork shoulder well. It has a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, a lid thermometer, an aluminum damper and a One-Touch ash catcher. With about 12,900 ratings at 4.7, it is the most widely bought product on this page.

As a smoker its space is limited to half the grate, and long cooks need more fuel added than in a dedicated smoker.

• Best for: beginners who want one grill for weeknight grilling and weekend smoking.
• Who should skip it: anyone smoking large amounts at once.

5. Royal Gourmet CC1830S

$143.75 on Amazon →

The Royal Gourmet CC1830S is a barrel charcoal grill with an attached offset firebox: 475 square inches of porcelain-enameled grates, a 151 square inch warming rack and a 197 square inch firebox chamber. A side door on the firebox makes adding charcoal and removing ash easy, and the charcoal pan adjusts to two heights. About 7,200 ratings average 4.3.

Budget offsets need frequent fuel and vent changes to hold a low temperature, which is a steep start for a beginner.

• Best for: trying smoking for the least money, mostly on shorter cooks.
• Who should skip it: anyone who wants steady temperatures on an all-day cook.

What Matters Most for a Beginner

• How it holds temperature. Digital and PID controllers do it for you. A water pan helps charcoal. Offsets demand the most skill.
• Size. Buy for what you cook most weeks, not for the holiday turkey.
• A probe thermometer. Built-in lid gauges read the air near the lid. A probe in the meat is how you know it is done.
• Power. Electric and pellet smokers need an outlet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common beginner mistake?

Opening the lid too often. Each look lets heat and smoke out and lengthens the cook. Use a probe thermometer instead.

How much wood should I use?

A little goes a long way. In an electric or charcoal smoker, a handful of chips or two or three chunks at the start of a cook is plenty; too much gives bitter smoke.

Do I need to wrap meat in foil?

No, but wrapping a brisket or pork shoulder once the bark has set speeds up the stall, the long period when the internal temperature stops rising.

Can I smoke in cold weather?

Yes. Expect longer preheats and higher fuel use. Insulated electric cabinets and pellet grills with insulated blankets cope best.

What wood should a beginner start with?

Apple or cherry. They are mild and hard to overdo. Move to hickory or oak for pork and beef once you know what you like.