Two popular pellet grill brands, but which is the best? We tested Pit Boss vs. Traeger to find out.
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Pit Boss vs. Traeger: Who Makes the Better Pellet Grill?
Updated Sep. 17, 2024
A visit to your local home improvement or outdoor supply store will confirm one thing: Pellet grills are popular. A pellet grill allows you to infuse meats, vegetables and many other delicious foods with an incredible smoky flavor. And, as the name implies, these units rely on wood pellets as a fuel source, which sets them apart from gas or charcoal grills. But which pellet grill brand is best?
Many consumers debate between Pit Boss vs. Traeger. To determine which is worth the investment for delivering wood-fired flavor at home, our Product Testing Team recently put 11 pellet grills to the test. Here are the main differences between Pit Boss and Traeger pellet grills, based on insights from our firsthand testing.
What’s the difference between Pit Boss and Traeger?
Traeger and Pit Boss are two of the most well-known options on the market for pellet grills. Traeger created the first pellet grill in the late 1980s and has been improving the design and functionality ever since. Traeger’s specialty is wood pellet cooking, so its lineup includes pellet grills in a variety of sizes and functions. The brand also makes a few gas-powered cookers, like the Traeger Flatrock outdoor griddle series.
Pit Boss also has a selection of wood pellet grills, griddles, gas grills and charcoal grills. The pellet grills between the two brands are quite similar, with a cylindrical lid and body, a side hopper and side shelves. The main difference lies in performance and cost.
When it comes to warranty, Traeger’s pellet grills come with either a 7- or 10-year warranty, while Pit Boss pellet grills come with a 5-year warranty. Both companies also have a lot of accessories that make great gifts for grillers.
All About Pit Boss
Pit Boss pellet grills are constructed from steel and iron. The brand’s designs have many similarities, primarily differentiated by size and cooking space. The majority have four wheels, two of which are locking caster wheels, while the other two are much smaller.
Some models have additional features, including WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which allow you to monitor cook times and fuel levels via the included wired meat probe. Most Pit Boss grills have a temperature range of 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but some also have a Flame Broiler Level, allowing you to reach up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit for high-heat searing.
For easy cleanup, the Pit Boss pellet grills are designed with a steel bucket that collects grease. Foil liners are sold separately to swap out as needed.
Pit Boss sells its pellet grills on its website and through select retailers, including Walmart, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware and Amazon. The pricing of a pellet grill depends on the model, design and size. In general, Pit Boss models tend to be less expensive than other brands on the market, with even the largest and most advanced model coming in at less than $1,000. The options start at around $500 for full-size pellet grills, with a portable tabletop option costing $250.
How We Tested Pit Boss
During our pellet grill review, we put the Pit Boss Sportsman 820 Grill to the test. We evaluated it (and every other pellet grill we tested) on six key considerations:
- General specs: We analyzed the packaging and delivery experience and measured the cooking area, weight, dimensions and any additional size options.
- Features: What is the grill and its grates made of? Is there WiFi or BlueTooth connectivity? How about a touchscreen? We also took note of any inclusions, such as wood pellets or temperature probes. This is where we identified special settings, hopper capacity, external appearance and storage.
- Setup and assembly: We paged through each user manual and took note of any included tools. Then we timed assembly and rated the experience. To get the grills ready to cook, we also seasoned them and filled the hoppers with pellets.
- Performance: The most crucial test! To ensure we captured a wide cooking experience, we prepped salmon, chicken breasts, pork shoulder and corn on the cob. For each food, we recorded the type of wood pellets used, preheat time, cook time, temperature retention/regulation and final results. We reviewed the user experience of accessories and special features, phone applications (if applicable) and pellet consumption.
- Cleaning: After cooking, we explored how easy each grill is to clean, ranking the pellet emptying and overall cleaning experience.
- Value: How much does each grill cost? Does it come with a warranty?
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Pit Boss Sportsman 820 Grill
With a $699 price tag, the Pit Boss pellet grill ranks high on the value scale but ultimately falls short in performance. Over 800 square inches of cooking surface get wrapped in a nice, sleek package, but a wobbly fold-down table and only two wheels made this one of the less sturdy options. However, thanks to the manual’s clear directions, it was easy to assemble.
For the food, the seared pork chops came out beautifully charred. But our low-and-slow pork shoulder cooked incredibly fast. It had a nice color, but the center was a bit tough, with only a mild smoky taste. The corn, salmon and chicken all turned out mediocre, as well. The grates were fairly easy to clean with a steam brush, but the vent is tricky to operate. Ours glued shut after the salmon test and required additional cooking to burn off the stuck-on residue.
The biggest flaw we found with the Pit Boss pellet grill, however, is that the handle is in an awkward position, especially for a petite person. When cool, it’s cumbersome, but when the grill is hot, it’s a downright burn hazard.
All About Traeger
Since 1987, Traeger has only focused on what they do well—making wood-fired pellet grills. The brand boasts three main design series—the Pro, Ironwood and Timberline. Within each series, there are multiple sizes so you can find the best Traeger grill to fit your needs.
The Traeger Pro is the most basic option, with a side hopper and simple screen control for temperature. The Ironwood, the next step up, includes a touchscreen and WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity to control everything (including temperature and cook time) with the app. It also has convenient shelving on the side and underneath the grill. Timberline, the ultimate upgrade, is essentially an all-in-one outdoor kitchen that gives you a smoker and grill, along with an induction burner and plenty of helpful storage cabinet and prep space. Each model has a max temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit and operates pretty much the same. The main differences are found in the amount of cooking space and the special features. Traeger also has an extensive line of Traeger accessories you can use on any grill.
Traeger grills tend to run on the more expensive side, ranging from $800 to $3,500. The portable, smaller options come in at less than $500. Options in each series sell on Traeger’s website, and at retailers such as Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, BBQ Guys, Williams Sonoma and Amazon.
How We Tested Traeger
We tested four Traeger grills firsthand—the Traeger Pro 575, Traeger Ironwood XL, Traeger Timberline and Traeger Tailgater. Each grill was evaluated with the same testing methodology listed above. To our surprise, all four models passed with flying colors.
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Traeger Pro 575
The wallet-friendly Traeger Pro 575 is the perfect option for the budget buyer. While it doesn’t have a fancy touchscreen, it has an easy-to-follow LED screen and plenty of temperature modes. Other smart features include a meat probe, WiFi capability and a 572-square-inch cooking area.
In our cooking tests, we experienced nice, juicy chicken breast with a red, smoky exterior and moist salmon. This pellet grill produced tasty pork shoulder, too, creating a sweet and moist roast with a beautiful bark and interior smoke ring. A disposable drip tray with liners makes it easy to clean up afterward. Just keep an eye on the liners, as the heat can cause some warping and spillage. We also wish there was another set of wheels for easier mobility, but the middle-of-the-pack price point of $800 makes up for the slight flaws.
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Traeger Ironwood XL
Prep Kitchen Manager and grilling expert Catherine Ward has been using the Traeger Ironwood XL for over a year, and it’s the best option for serious smokers. It’s packed with smart features, including a massive cooking area, two tiers of cooking grates, a touchscreen control center and two included temperature probes.
Like other Traegers, this one requires time-intensive assembly and some seasoning before it’s ready to start smoking. But the cooking results are well worth it. We loved the smoky, pleasantly charred chicken it gave us in around an hour and a half of hands-off cooking. The Ironwood performed as one of the best in our pork shoulder test, providing us with a moist roast boasting the coveted red smoke ring. The pork chops and corn also did well, earning a light, smoky flavor. The only downside is that it doesn’t include disposable drip pan liners, making cleanup a bit of a chore. This machine also emits a lot of smoke at times, but it’s a rockstar with consistent, even heat.
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Traeger Timberline
For serious grillers and pit bosses, the Traeger Timberline is a wow-worthy upgrade. The attractive kitchen-ready design (including wooden shelves and a magnetic cutting board) is only the tip of the iceberg. This luxe option also boasts a large 880-square-inch cooking area, adjustable grates, and an induction burner on the side for glazes and side dishes. The touchscreen control panel is simple and user-friendly, to boot.
The food results were some of the best of the bunch. The grill produced near-perfect chicken that had lots of bark and a juicy interior, with a light mahogany top and mild, smoky flavor. Similarly, the pork chops received a little color along the edges, and the pork shoulder offered beautiful, complex flavors and a nice color. However, we would have loved to see a better sear on our chops. Like the Ironwood, though, cleanup left a lot to be desired. With a $3,300 price tag, we expected the experience to be much smoother.
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Traeger Tailgater
Last but not least, the Traeger Tailgater proves mini can be mighty. This pellet grill caps at 450 degrees Fahrenheit and weighs just 62 pounds, but it still provides plenty of space for pork shoulders and chops. It also imparts the perfect amount of caramelization to chicken breasts and a nice smoky finish to fish. We loved this model’s easy assembly and small footprint.
As the name implies, it’s portable enough to tote to a tailgate, especially since the legs fold up for even more compact storage. It’s also the cheapest Traeger we tested, costing just $480. There is a slight tradeoff in quality, as this was the least sturdy Traeger grill. Additionally, the smaller hopper means more refills during the cooking process.
The Bottom Line
Both Pit Boss and Traeger offer a variety of pellet grills across multiple sizes and designs. Traeger grills tend to be more expensive, but that price tag comes with excellent performance, durable construction and a longer warranty. Through testing, we found the range of temperatures and capabilities on Pit Boss to be middle-of-the-pack. Overall, we felt the performance of the Traeger models was superior. Pit Boss, however, comes in at a lower price per square inch.
For those interested in getting into cooking on a pellet grill while maintaining a tight budget, we’d recommend the Traeger Pro 575 or Tailgater. But if you’re cooking for a crowd, the Pit Boss Sportsman offers over 800 square inches of cooking surface for less than $700—just know that it comes with some flaws.Â
Originally Published: September 12, 2024
