The Best Smokers for Big Barbecue Taste at Home

Best Overall

Weber 18-Inch Smokey Mountain Cooker

Orig. $455 $419 at Amazon $279 at Wayfair $419 at Home Depot

This Weber smoker proves that you don't need all the bells and whistles to be the best of the best. If you've been backyard smoking for years, you'll know how to control the airflow, right out of the box. It's also a great introduction to smoking for people who just want something basic that does the job of making tasty barbecue. This user-friendly smoker doesn’t have dials or controls to worry about and works much like a familiar charcoal grill, so beginners will be able to quickly get over the learning curve. But the grill has another "sneaky trick up its sleeve" that impressed us: a water pan that collects drips, keeps the interior humid for juicy results, and helps to regulate the temperature during smoking sessions.

This vertical smoker uses charcoal as the heat source and has two 18-inch cooking grates so you can fit plenty of food for the family or for a backyard party. A thermometer on the top lets you monitor the interior temperature, while a silicone plug in the side allows standard remote meat thermometers to slide through into the meat for perfect cooking every time. When smoking ribs for 6 hours, we found that it heated up fairly quickly, and we were able to keep the internal temperature to within a 20-degree range the entire time.

We did note that it's difficult to monitor the water level during cooking, but a full bowl will suffice for at least 10 hours of smoking. For additional versatility, this smoker can be configured to be used as a standard grill, as well. A final pleasant bonus? The included cover which keeps the smoker safe from the elements. Weber does sell this smoker in both a smaller 14-inch version, and a larger 22-inch option.

Fuel: Charcoal | Dimensions: 21 x 19 x 41 inches | Cooking Area: 481 square inches | Weight: 39 pounds

Best Portable

Traeger Tailgater Pellet Grill

$480 at Amazon View on Walmart $480 at Williams-Sonoma

One of the pitfalls of normal smokers is that they can't be taken along for camping trips, summer getaways, or tailgating parties. That's where Traeger's very portable smoker/grill comes in handy. This pellet smoker has an easy-to-use digital control, an electric auto-start ignition, and an auger system that feeds pellets into the fire, so all you have to do is make sure the hopper is full and the grill will do the rest.

This has 300 square inches of cooking space, so it’s not huge, but in two separate tests we found it adequate for a cookout. It handles four large steaks with ease and could fit a good-sized pork shoulder. We noted that the hopper is large enough for an all-day smoking session, though you do need to keep an eye on it. It can maintain a consistent temperature, but sometimes lost heat which results in a wild temperature swing. But at the end of the day, it holds its own against larger, more expensive (and less portable) models.

Assembly out of the box is easy—it does need a seasoning session—and it's easy to set up wherever you need it. We do recommend having a buddy around when it's time to get grilling as it can be a little awkward to move.

Fuel: Wood pellets | Dimensions: 37 x 18 x 36 inches | Cooking Area: 300 square inches | Weight: 60 pounds | Hopper Capacity: 8 pounds

Best Pellet Smoker

Weber Smokefire EX4 Pellet Grill

$864 at Amazon $1,099 at Walmart View on Weber.com

If you'd rather smoke your meats with wood pellets on a grill-smoker combo, the Weber Smokefire EX4 is definitely for you. We love a lot of things about it after both Lab and home testing, especially since it can be monitored remotely via its Wi-Fi technology. With 672 square inches of space, this can handle temperatures between 200 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit, so you'll be able to cook anything and everything.

After an easy setup, it was on to testing. Off the bat, having a built-in assistant via Weber Connect, came in handy. It had clear instructions on seasoning the grill, an important first step with pellet grills. The app also walks you through the cooking process, monitors the grill's internal temperature, and, through the included meat probes, helps you watch the meat's temperature while cooking. On the smoker itself, though, the LCD temperature and menu display is easy to read and can let you control the settings between smoke, bake, or grill.

During our Lab experiments, we put the Smokefire's smoking capabilities to the test. A low-and-slow pork roast helped us confirm that the smoke level and temperature are separately controlled. The smoker maintained a consistent and accurate temperature throughout the day—no wild temperature swings were observed at all. We were able to achieve a juicy and subtly smoky pork butt at a medium smoke level, rating it one of the best of the day. Afterward though, we found it difficult to clean out the ash bin and couldn't tell when it was full.

Through even more testing, we found that it excels at grilling. Aesthetically speaking, the Smokefire’s shiny black exterior and stainless steel accessories have a clean and sleek look, as do the carefully designed pellet hopper and ash collector.

Fuel: Wood pellets | Dimensions: 43 x 33 x 47 inches | Cooking Area: 432 square inches | Hopper Capacity: 20 pounds | Weight: 176 pounds

Best Budget

Char-Broil Bullet Charcoal Smoker

Orig. $230 $155 at Amazon $155 at Wayfair View on Charbroil.com

A smoker doesn’t have to break the bank, and this 16-inch bullet smoker from Char-Broil is the perfect example. It has two porcelain-coated cooking grates that offer a total of 388 square inches of cooking space. A temperature gauge on the lid makes it easy to monitor the smoker’s internal temperature for perfect cooking every time. The dampers are numbered to make it easy to remember the best settings for heat and smoke, and the ash pan is removable for easy cleanup when cooking is done and the fire is out.

For those who need more cooking space, there’s also a 20-inch version of this model, which we tested ourselves. The larger option impressed us on various fronts; We found that the outside and the handles stayed cool while it was in use, the light weight makes it easy to move alone, and overall the smoker is great for beginners. The only downside is the positioning of the charcoal tray and water basin, which makes it awkward to fill.

Fuel: Charcoal | Dimensions: 21.75 x 21.1 x 39.1 inches | Cooking Area: 388 square inches | Weight: 16.5 pounds

Best Kamado

Kamado Joe Big Joe II

$1,957 at Amazon $1,999 at Walmart $1,999 at Wayfair

The word "kamado" is the Japanese word for "stove" or "cooking range," although today it's a generic term for a ceramic grill that's especially excellent for smoking. Compared to metal charcoal grills, kamado grills take barbecue to a whole new level with superior heat retention that traps moisture and smoke inside, locking primo flavor deep inside the meat.

Although it is pricey, the Kamado Joe Big Joe II comes with rave reviews—a clear favorite among grillers. The red egg-shaped grill with locking wheels has a 24-inch cooktop divided among two half-moon-shaped tiers, allowing you to cook different foods in different styles at different temperatures simultaneously.

Powered by natural lump charcoal, smoke at 225 degrees Fahrenheit or crank it all the way up to 750 degrees to sear. It's mold- and water-resistant, so you can cook in the rain, too. A fiberglass mesh gasket and self-activating stainless steel latch ensure a strong, airtight seal for tender, smoke-flavored brisket, chicken, and more. Lift the top with just two fingers (it'll stay put exactly where you position it) and use the sliding ash drawer for a super easy clean.

If you're hoping to save a little money, you can always consider the smaller diameter, and lower price, of the Classic Joe II.

Fuel: Charcoal | Dimensions: 58.4 x 36 x 54 inches | Cooking Area: 450 square inches | Weight: 372 pounds

Best Indoor

Demeyere Resto Stovetop Smoker

$130 at Amazon $190 at Walmart $190 at Food52

Not everyone has outdoor space for smoking, and that’s where this stainless steel smoker comes in handy. The Demeyere Resto Smoker is designed to be used right on your stovetop, allowing you to make your favorite smoked foods indoors. The 4-piece design includes a 3-ply 18/10 stainless steel encapsulated base with welded side handles, a polished stainless steel lid, and two inserts.

To use this indoor smoker, you simply put wood chips in the base, place the rack on top, then add fish, vegetables, or meats and cheeses to the unit. It can be heated on any type of stovetop, including induction, and soon, you'll have tasty food with a rich smoked flavor. Plus, the unit can double as a steamer, allowing you to easily cook fish and vegetables, and it can simply be put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Fuel: Stovetop | Dimensions: 14 x 12.5 x 5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Weight: 6 pounds