Smoker Price Comparison: Best Smokers Under $500

Smoker prices by type: charcoal and offset smokers run about $160 to $419 (Royal Gourmet, Dyna-Glo, Weber Smokey Mountain), the electric cabinet is about $205 and the pellet grill was $449.99 when Amazon last had it in stock (October 18).

Five smokers compared: the cheapest is the Royal Gourmet CC1830W at about $160. Amazon has been out of stock of the Pit Boss 700 FB2 pellet grill since October 18, and third-party sellers asked about $769 on October 26, over this budget.

Under $500 you can buy four kinds of smoker: a charcoal bullet, a vertical charcoal cabinet, an electric cabinet, or a pellet grill. Each one asks a different amount of attention from you during a long cook, and that matters more than any spec. This guide compares five that fit the budget, using manufacturer specs, Keepa price history and patterns in owner reviews. Prices were checked on October 26; Amazon's checkout price is the one that counts.

Quick Answer

• Best overall: Weber Smokey Mountain 18" (about $419). A charcoal bullet with a water pan, 481 square inches on two grates and the largest owner base of any smoker here (5,500+ ratings at 4.7).
• Most food per dollar: Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D (about $211). Six adjustable grates and 1,176 square inches in a vertical offset cabinet.
• Least attention: Pit Boss 700 FB2 ($449.99 when last in stock at Amazon; about $769 from other sellers on October 26). A pellet grill with a digital controller; it feeds itself from a 21 lb hopper.
• Simplest electric: Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker (about $205; it has ranged from $205 to $250 since August). Plug in, add chips and water, no fire to manage.
• Lowest price: Royal Gourmet CC1830W (about $160). A charcoal grill with a small side firebox, for people who mostly grill and smoke now and then.

Comparison

The Picks

1. Weber Smokey Mountain 18"

$419.00 on Amazon →

The Weber Smokey Mountain 18" (model 721001) is a porcelain-enameled steel bullet: charcoal at the bottom, a water pan in the middle, and two nickel-plated 18.5-inch grates above it for 481 square inches in total. Vents on the bowl and the lid set the airflow, and the water pan buffers temperature swings, which is why owners describe it as the charcoal smoker that holds a low temperature with the fewest adjustments. Weber says it fits a whole turkey and a ham at the same time.

Its only temperature reading is the lid thermometer, which measures the dome rather than the grate, so a leave-in probe thermometer is worth adding. At about $419 it is the second most expensive pick here.

• Best for: buyers who want real charcoal and wood flavor without tending a fire every half hour.
• Who should skip it: anyone who wants push-button control, or who regularly fills more than two grates.

2. Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D

$211.04 on Amazon →

The Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D is a vertical offset cabinet: the charcoal burns in a porcelain-enameled box low on the side, and heat and smoke rise through six height-adjustable grates. Dyna-Glo rates each grate for 25 lb of food, and the total is 1,176 square inches, more than double the Weber for about half the price. A flue on the stack controls the draft, and the door gauge marks a "smoke zone".

The trade-off is control. A side firebox with a single flue asks for more fuel top-ups and vent changes than the Weber's water-pan design, and the gauge on the door is the only temperature reading. The cover is sold separately.

• Best for: large batches of ribs, sausage or jerky at the lowest cost per square inch.
• Who should skip it: buyers who want steady temperatures without adding fuel and adjusting vents.

3. Pit Boss 700 FB2

$769.39 on Amazon →

The Pit Boss 700 FB2 (model 11087) is the only pellet grill here. A digital controller holds a set temperature from 180°F to 500°F in 5°F steps, feeding pellets from a 21 lb hopper, so an overnight cook needs no refuelling. It has 747 square inches on two porcelain-coated racks, and a Flame Broiler lever opens the fire pot for direct-flame searing, which pellet grills usually do poorly.

When Amazon has it in stock it sits close to the $500 ceiling; from other sellers it has cost far more (about $769 on October 26). It needs a power outlet, and pellet smoke is milder than charcoal and wood. It is a newer listing with far fewer ratings (184, at 4.3) than the other picks, so long-term reliability is less proven.

• Best for: cooks who want to set a temperature and leave, and who also want to grill on the same machine.
• Who should skip it: anyone without a nearby outlet, or anyone after a heavy smoke ring and bark.

4. Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker

$204.99 on Amazon →

The Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker (18202077) heats an insulated cabinet with a 1,200 watt element. It has 544 square inches on three chrome-plated grates, a water pan, a wood chip tray, a grease tray, a door-mounted gauge and two door latches to keep smoke in. There is no fire to light and no fuel to manage beyond topping up chips.

"Analog" means there is no digital controller and no set-and-hold temperature, so the door gauge and a probe thermometer are how you track the cook. Electric smokers also give a lighter smoke flavor and less bark than charcoal.

• Best for: apartments with a patio outlet, beginners, and fish, cheese or poultry where light smoke suits the food.
• Who should skip it: brisket cooks chasing bark, or anyone smoking in cold weather.

5. Royal Gourmet CC1830W

$159.81 on Amazon →

The Royal Gourmet CC1830W is a barrel charcoal grill first: 443 square inches of porcelain-enameled grates plus a 184 square inch warming rack, with a 184 square inch side firebox for offset smoking. The charcoal pan adjusts to two heights and holds about 4.4 lb of coal, and there is a lid thermometer, a front table and a side table.

As a smoker it is a starter tool. The side firebox holds far less fuel than a dedicated smoker, so long cooks mean frequent refuelling, and the food nearest the firebox runs hotter than the far end of the grate.

• Best for: grilling most weekends and trying low-and-slow ribs or chicken now and then.
• Who should skip it: anyone planning regular 10-hour brisket cooks.

How to Choose

• Attention you will give it. Pellet and electric smokers hold their own temperature. Charcoal bullets need occasional vent changes. Budget offsets need fuel and adjustments throughout the cook.
• Flavor. Charcoal and wood give the strongest smoke and bark, pellets a milder smoke, electric the lightest.
• Capacity. About 450 square inches covers a family; vertical cabinets suit big batches of small items, while a full packer brisket needs grate width, not just area.
• Power and space. Pellet and electric units need an outlet. Charcoal units need a safe spot away from siding and deck railings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which smoker under $500 is easiest for a beginner?

A pellet grill such as the Pit Boss 700 FB2 or an electric cabinet such as the Char-Broil Analog asks the least: set a temperature, add fuel or chips, and check the food. The Weber Smokey Mountain is the easiest charcoal option because the water pan steadies the temperature.

Can these smokers fit a full brisket?

Check the grate width against the brisket, not just the total area: a whole packer brisket is often longer than a foot. If it does not fit flat, it can be separated into the flat and the point and cooked on two grates.

Do I need a water pan?

A water pan adds thermal mass and moisture, which steadies charcoal smokers in particular. The Weber and the Char-Broil include one; pellet grills usually run without.

Is an offset or a bullet smoker better under $500?

At this price a bullet like the Weber Smokey Mountain needs fewer adjustments than an offset, because the water pan and closed design steady the heat. Offsets suit people who enjoy managing a live fire.

What else should I buy with a new smoker?

A leave-in probe thermometer, because built-in lid and door gauges often read off from grate temperature; our meat thermometer guide compares wireless options. Charcoal smokers also need a chimney starter and heat-resistant gloves.