Pit Boss Smokers: Vertical Digital or Pellet Grill?
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Pit Boss is a barbecue brand known for its wood pellet grills and its marketing line of “Bigger, Hotter, Heavier”, and it also makes electric vertical smokers for people who want low-and-slow barbecue with as little fuss as possible. If you searched for “pitboss electric smoker”, you will find two very different kinds of machine carrying the Pit Boss name, and it helps to understand the difference before you buy one for yourself or as a gift.
The six models here fall into three groups: two digital electric vertical smokers (the 3-Series and the larger 4-Series) that heat with an electric element and use wood chips for flavor, one vertical smoker that burns wood pellets (the Navigator 3-Series), and three horizontal pellet grills that both smoke and sear (the portable 150, the compact 500 FB2 and the larger 700 FB2).
Pit Boss Smokers Compared
| Model | Type | Cooking space | Temperature range | Wi-Fi app |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss 3-Series Digital Vertical Smoker | Electric vertical | 880 sq in | 100°F to 300°F | Yes |
| Pit Boss 4-Series Digital Vertical Smoker | Electric vertical | 1,320 sq in | 100°F to 300°F | Yes |
| Pit Boss 500 FB2 Pellet Grill | Pellet grill, 5 lb hopper | 518 sq in | 180°F to 500°F | Not listed |
| Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series Pellet Vertical | Pellet vertical, 50 lb hopper | 1,118 sq in | 130°F to 420°F | Yes |
| Pit Boss 150 Pellet Grill | Portable pellet grill, 7 lb hopper | 256 sq in | 180°F to 500°F | Not listed |
| Pit Boss 700 FB2 Pellet Grill | Pellet grill, 21 lb hopper | 747 sq in | 180°F to 500°F | Not listed |
So what is the difference? An electric vertical smoker is a tall insulated cabinet with racks stacked inside. An electric heating element at the bottom provides steady heat, and you add wood chips to a tray for smoke flavor. It is about as easy as barbecue gets, and it plugs into a regular outlet. A pellet grill burns small compressed hardwood pellets. A motorized auger feeds pellets from a hopper into a fire pot, and a fan circulates heat and smoke. Pellet grills still need a power outlet to run the controller and auger, but the heat and smoke come from real wood, and they can reach much higher temperatures for grilling and searing. A hopper is simply the pellet storage box; the bigger it is, the longer you can cook without refilling.
Pit Boss 3-Series Digital Vertical Smoker for Easy First Smokes
PIT Boss
Pit Boss 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth Digital Vertical Smoker with LCD Digital Controller and Wood Chip Tray, 880-Sq. In. 4-Rack Cooking Space, 100°F to 300°F Temperature Range, Meat Probe, Black
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Pit Boss 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth
Best for: First-time smokers wanting plug-in simplicity
Pros
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth control
- 880 sq in cooking space
- 1,650-watt heating element
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Tops out at 300°F
- Rack count listed two ways
The Pit Boss 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth Digital Vertical Smoker is the 30-inch electric model with 880 square inches of cooking space. A 1,650-watt heating element provides heat, an LCD digital controller sets temperatures from 100°F to 300°F, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth let you check and adjust from your phone. You can add wood chips or pellets to the tray for a stronger smoke flavor.
It includes a meat probe with dual ports, a removable grease cup, an easy-access grease tray and rear wheels for moving it. The heavy-duty steel body and sealed door hold heat in. The title says 4 racks and the description says four porcelain-coated racks, while one feature says six, so expect four. It carries a 3-year warranty.
This is ideal for someone smoking for the first time: plug it in, load chips and let it run. Its 300°F ceiling means it will not grill or sear, so pair it with a grill for burgers. For another take on plug-in cabinets, see our guide to electric smokers.
Pit Boss 4-Series Digital Vertical Smoker for Big Batches
PIT Boss
Pit Boss 4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth Digital Vertical Smoker with LCD Digital Controller and Wood Chip Tray, 1,320-Sq. In. 6-Rack Cooking Space, 100°F to 300°F Temperature Range, Meat Probe, Black
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Pit Boss 4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth
Best for: Big families and batch smoking
Pros
- 1,320 sq in cooking space
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth control
- Meat probe with dual ports
- Rear wheels for moving
Cons
- Tops out at 300°F
- Rack count listed two ways
The Pit Boss 4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth Digital Vertical Smoker is the 42-inch big brother, with 1,320 square inches of cooking space. The title lists six racks, although the description mentions four porcelain-coated racks, so the rack count is unclear. Everything else matches the 3-Series: 1,650-watt element, 100°F to 300°F, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app control, meat probe with dual ports, grease cup and tray, rear wheels and a 3-year warranty.
The extra height means more ribs, sausages and jerky at once, which makes sense for big families or anyone who smokes food to share or freeze.
Choose the 4-Series if you regularly cook for a crowd. For occasional smoking, the 3-Series saves space.
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Pellet Grill for Small Patios
PIT Boss
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with Flame Broiler and LCD Digital Controller, 518-Sq. In. Cooking Space, 180°F to 500°F Temperature Range, Meat Probe, 5 lb. Pellet Hopper, Black
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series Wood
Best for: Small patios wanting smoke and sear
Pros
- 8-in-1 cooking
- Flame Broiler up to 1,000°F
- 180°F to 500°F in 5° steps
- Two probe ports
Cons
- Small 5 lb hopper
- Heavy at 136.6 pounds
The Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is a compact horizontal pellet grill with 518 square inches of two-tier cooking space. Pit Boss calls it 8-in-1: smoke, bake, braise, roast, grill, barbecue, chargrill and sear. The digital controller runs from 180°F to 500°F in 5-degree steps.
Its Flame Broiler Lever opens the fire pot so flames reach the grates directly, up to 1,000°F for steakhouse grill marks. It has two probe ports with one probe included, a solid bottom shelf and a 5 lb hopper. It weighs 136.6 pounds. The listing does not mention Wi-Fi.
This suits a small patio and a cook who wants both smoke and sear in one machine. The small hopper means refilling on long cooks; the 700 FB2 holds four times as much.
Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series Pellet Vertical Smoker for Long Smokes
PIT Boss
Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker with LCD Digital Controller, 1,118-Sq. In. 5-Rack Cooking Space, 130°F to 420°F Temp Range, Meat Probe, 50 lb. Pellet Hopper
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series WiFi &
Best for: Long overnight smokes with real wood
Pros
- 50 lb pellet hopper
- 1,118 sq in over 5 racks
- 130°F to 420°F range
- App control via Wi-Fi
Cons
- No searing function
- Warranty length not listed
The Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker combines the tall cabinet shape with real wood-pellet fire. It has 1,118 square inches across five porcelain-coated racks and a 50 lb hopper, by far the largest here, for long overnight smokes without refilling.
The controller runs 130°F to 420°F, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connect to the Pit Boss Grills app. A chimney exhaust and convection airflow circulate heat and smoke. There are three probe ports with one probe included, a stainless steel build, a high-temp door seal and a large viewing window. The listing does not state the warranty length.
Pick this if you want deep wood-fired flavor in a vertical smoker and plan long cooks like brisket or pork shoulder. It does not have a flame broiler, so it is not for searing steaks. For comparisons with other pellet cabinets, our pellet smoker guide may help.
Pit Boss 150 Wood Pellet Grill for Tailgates and Camping
Best for: Tailgating, camping and small balconies
Pros
- Portable with latch-lock lid
- Flame broiler up to 1,000°F
- Auto start-up and cool-down
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Only 256 sq in
- Heavy for a portable at 43 pounds
The Pit Boss 150 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is a tabletop grill you can latch shut and carry by its two handles. It offers 256 square inches on a two-tier rack, a 7 lb hopper, 180°F to 500°F, and a flame broiler for sears up to 1,000°F. Automatic start-up and cool-down cycles make it simpler to use.
It measures 24.8 by 18.6 by 14 inches and weighs 43 pounds, and it is backed by a 5-year warranty. As with all pellet grills, it needs a power source to run.
Great as a gift for tailgaters, campers and apartment dwellers with a small balcony where allowed. For cooking a whole brisket, choose a bigger model.
Pit Boss 700 FB2 Pellet Grill for Feeding a Crowd
Best for: Backyard cooks feeding a crowd
Pros
- 747 sq in cooking space
- 21 lb hopper
- Flame Broiler searing
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- No app control listed
- Large backyard footprint
The Pit Boss 700 FB2 Series Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is the larger version of the 500 FB2, with 747 square inches across two porcelain-coated tiers and a 21 lb hopper for low-and-slow cooks. It keeps the 180°F to 500°F controller in 5-degree steps and the Flame Broiler Lever for direct searing up to 1,000°F.
It has two meat probe ports with one probe included, a solid bottom shelf and a 5-year warranty. The listing does not mention Wi-Fi control.
Choose this for a backyard cook who hosts often and wants one machine for brisket and burgers. After a season of smoky cooks, a power washer makes quick work of the patio.
How to Choose the Right Pit Boss Smoker
Decide between electric and pellet. Electric vertical smokers are the simplest and most hands-off. Pellet models give stronger wood flavor and higher heat.
Do you want to grill too? Only the pellet grills (150, 500 FB2 and 700 FB2) reach 500°F and have flame broilers for searing. The electric smokers stop at 300°F.
Check cooking space. 256 square inches suits two to four people. 880 to 1,320 square inches suits big families or batch cooking.
Think about hopper size. For long smokes, the Navigator’s 50 lb hopper or the 700 FB2’s 21 lb hopper mean fewer refills.
FAQ
Does a Pit Boss pellet grill need electricity?
Pellet grills use power to run the controller and pellet feed. The electric vertical smokers plug in to heat as well.
Which Pit Boss smoker is best for beginners?
The 3-Series digital vertical smoker is the simplest: plug in, add wood chips, set the temperature.
Can the electric smokers sear steaks?
No. They top out at 300°F. Choose a pellet grill with a flame broiler for searing.
What is the Flame Broiler Lever?
It lets flames reach the grates directly for searing up to 1,000°F, according to Pit Boss.
Which models have app control?
The 3-Series, 4-Series and Navigator list Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
