Pit Boss Pellet Smokers have built a reputation for offering large pellet grills packed with features at prices that undercut many competing brands.
Over the last several years, we’ve cooked on multiple Pit Boss pellet grills, including the DX, Pro Series, Sportsman, Titan, Navigator, and vertical smoker ranges. While many models share the same core cooking system, the differences in temperature control, hopper size, usability, and features can have a significant impact on your day to day cooking experience.
The challenge is that Pit Boss offers a huge lineup, including retailer exclusive models that can make shopping confusing.
To help narrow down the options, we’ve selected the five Pit Boss pellet grills we believe offer the strongest value in 2026.
Quick Comparison Table
| Model | Best For | Cooking Area | Hopper Size | WiFi | Our Rating |
| Pit Boss 850 DX | Best Overall | 840 sq in | 21 lbs | Yes | 9.3/10 |
| Pit Boss Pro Series 1600 | Feeding a Crowd | 1,572 sq in | 33 lbs | Yes | 9.1/10 |
| Pit Boss Titan 1600 | Premium Features | 1,593 sq in | 40 lbs | Yes | 9.0/10 |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 7-Series Vertical Smoker | Dedicated Smoking | 2,119 sq in | 55 lbs | Yes | 8.9/10 |
| Pit Boss Navigator 550 | Portability | 542 sq in | 15 lbs | Yes | 8.7/10 |
Best Pit Boss Pellet Smoker & Grills
Our selections are based on hands on cooking experience, feature comparisons, build quality, ease of use, and overall value.
While Pit Boss offers dozens of models, these are the grills we would confidently recommend to most buyers.
1. Best Overall – Pit Boss 850 DX
The Pit Boss 850 DX strikes the best balance between price, performance, and features in the current Pit Boss lineup.
Unlike many retailer exclusive grills that simply receive cosmetic changes, the 850 DX includes several genuinely useful upgrades that improve the overall cooking experience.
The grill offers 840 square inches of cooking space, which is enough room for multiple pork butts, several racks of ribs, or a full brisket cook without wasting pellets heating unnecessary space.
One of the standout features is the upgraded PID controller with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. During testing, temperatures remained stable throughout long smoking sessions, requiring very little intervention once the cook was underway.
The Keep Warm mode is another feature we appreciated. Once your food reaches its target temperature, the grill automatically lowers the cooking temperature to help prevent overcooking.
You still get Pit Boss’s flame broiler system for direct flame cooking, although the usable searing area remains fairly small.
What We Like
- Excellent value for the money
- Stable PID temperature control
- Keep Warm mode adds real convenience
- Large enough for family gatherings without wasting fuel
- WiFi and Bluetooth included as standard
What We Don’t Like
- Direct flame grilling area is limited
- Initial app setup can be frustrating
- Ash cleanup still requires manual effort
Buy This If
- You want the best overall value in the Pit Boss lineup
- You regularly cook for family and friends
- You want modern features without spending premium money
Skip This If
- You need over 1,500 square inches of cooking space
- Direct flame grilling is your top priority
Our Rating: 9.3/10
2. Best for Feeding a Crowd – Pit Boss Pro Series 1600
If cooking capacity is your primary concern, the Pro Series 1600 is the easiest recommendation in the Pit Boss range.
With 1,572 square inches of cooking space spread across three cooking levels, there is enough room to handle large family gatherings, neighbourhood cookouts, and small catering jobs.
The 33 lb hopper supports extended cooks without requiring frequent refills, making it particularly useful for brisket and pork shoulder sessions that can run overnight.
You also receive an upgraded touchscreen controller, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, dual meat probes, and a removable burn pot system designed to simplify maintenance.
Temperature performance was consistent throughout our testing, and the larger cooking chamber did a good job maintaining heat across multiple racks.
The downside is obvious. This is a very large grill that demands a significant amount of patio space.
What We Like
- Massive cooking capacity
- Large hopper supports overnight cooks
- Touchscreen controller is easy to navigate
- Removable burn pot simplifies cleaning
What We Don’t Like
- Requires a large footprint
- Uses more pellets than smaller models
- App still trails competing brands
Buy This If
- You regularly cook for large groups
- You want maximum cooking space
- You need room for multiple briskets or pork shoulders
Skip This If
- Most of your cooks are for four people or fewer
- Patio space is limited
Our Rating: 9.1/10
3. Best Premium Pit Boss – Pit Boss Titan 1600
The Titan 1600 represents Pit Boss’s most advanced pellet grill platform to date.
It combines a huge cooking area with a 40 lb hopper and a more modern control system than many older Pit Boss models.
With nearly 1,600 square inches of cooking space available, the Titan can comfortably handle large barbecue sessions while maintaining stable temperatures throughout extended cooks.
The larger hopper is one of the biggest advantages. In practical use, it significantly reduces the need for pellet refills during overnight smoking sessions.
The touchscreen controller is responsive and easy to use, while WiFi functionality allows you to monitor cooks remotely.
Compared with the Pro Series 1600, the Titan feels slightly more refined and modern.
What We Like
- Huge hopper capacity
- Modern controller design
- Large cooking surface
- Strong overall temperature performance
What We Don’t Like
- Costs noticeably more than the 850 DX
- Large footprint may not suit smaller gardens
- Heavier than most Pit Boss models
Buy This If
- You want Pit Boss’s flagship model
- Long unattended cooks are important
- You value hopper capacity
Skip This If
- Budget is your primary concern
- You only cook occasionally
Our Rating: 9.0/10
4. Best Vertical Smoker – Pit Boss Sportsman 7-Series Vertical Smoker
If your primary goal is smoking rather than grilling, the Sportsman 7-Series deserves serious consideration.
The vertical design creates over 2,100 square inches of cooking space while maintaining a relatively compact footprint.
This design makes excellent use of vertical rack space and allows you to cook multiple briskets, ribs, sausages, or trays of jerky simultaneously.
The enormous 55 lb hopper is one of the largest in this category and supports extremely long cooking sessions.
Temperature control is precise, and the vertical layout naturally promotes even smoke circulation.
The tradeoff is versatility. Unlike traditional pellet grills, this unit is designed primarily for smoking.
What We Like
- Massive smoking capacity
- Excellent hopper size
- Efficient use of space
- Great for long smoking sessions
What We Don’t Like
- Not ideal for grilling steaks and burgers
- Large cabinet design may not suit every setup
- Less versatile than horizontal pellet grills
Buy This If
- Smoking is your primary focus
- You cook large quantities of barbecue
- You already own a separate grill
Skip This If
- You want one cooker for everything
- High heat grilling matters to you
Our Rating: 8.9/10
5. Best Portable – Pit Boss Navigator 550
The Navigator 550 offers an excellent balance between portability and cooking capacity.
Unlike many portable pellet grills that sacrifice usable cooking space, the Navigator still provides enough room for family meals while remaining easier to move and store.
The folding design works well for camping trips, tailgating, holiday parks, and smaller patios.
During testing, temperature stability remained surprisingly strong for a grill of this size.
The smaller hopper naturally limits runtime compared with larger Pit Boss models, but for most portable applications it performs well.
What We Like
- Easy to transport
- Good cooking capacity for its size
- Reliable temperature control
- Suitable for camping and travel
What We Don’t Like
- Smaller hopper requires more frequent refills
- Less cooking space than full size models
- Limited prep space
Buy This If
- You travel frequently with your grill
- Patio space is limited
- You want a compact pellet grill
Skip This If
- You regularly cook for large groups
- Overnight cooks are common
Our Rating: 8.7/10
Which Pit Boss Pellet Grill Should You Buy?
For most people, the Pit Boss 850 DX remains the strongest choice. It delivers the best balance of cooking space, modern features, and overall value.
If you regularly cook for large groups, the Pro Series 1600 offers significantly more room without a huge jump in complexity.
Buyers looking for Pit Boss’s most advanced grill should focus on the Titan 1600, while dedicated barbecue enthusiasts may find the Sportsman 7-Series Vertical Smoker better suited to their needs.
The Navigator 550 fills an entirely different role and is best suited for portable cooking.
Pit Boss vs Traeger
Pit Boss continues to offer stronger value than Traeger at most price points.
You generally get larger cooking surfaces, bigger hoppers, and direct flame grilling capability for less money.
Traeger still leads in software quality, app functionality, and overall refinement.
If value is your priority, Pit Boss remains the stronger choice. If app performance matters most, Traeger still holds an advantage.
Pit Boss vs Camp Chef
Camp Chef has moved further into the premium segment in recent years.
The Woodwind Pro remains one of the best pellet grills available, particularly thanks to its smoke box system.
Pit Boss generally offers larger cooking areas for the money, while Camp Chef delivers better controllers, stronger app performance, and more refined overall design.
Final Thoughts
Pit Boss continues to dominate the value end of the pellet grill market.
The 850 DX remains our top recommendation because it combines dependable performance, useful features, and an approachable price point.
Whether you need a compact portable grill, a dedicated smoker, or enough cooking space to feed a crowd, there is a Pit Boss model capable of doing the job.