Surprise Your Tastebuds With the Best Vertical Pellet Smoker Specialty! (Top 5 Picks)

#1. Pit Boss Grills 77550 5.5 Pellet Smoker - Best Pick

Pit Boss is, hands down, one of the most popular vertical pellet smokers on the market. If this isn't enough of a reason, you should check it out, then wait to see what else it offers. The outstanding model is everyone's favorite as it has convenient dimensions that can fit in everyone's backyard.

The Pit Boss Grills 77550 vertical pellet smoker measures out 24 x 26 x 47 inches in dimension. It has a high-grade steel body with a copper finish that gives it a luxurious look.

Inside, you can find porcelain-coated cooking grates that will last you a lifetime! Not only do they offer an easy cooking process, but they are also super convenient to clean. They have a rust-resistant coating along with incredible construction that withstands high heat.

What's even more impressive is that this Pit Boss Grills 77550 smoker is double-walled, so it retains heat and prevents it from getting out. Meaning, you can smoke the meat even during rain and snow!

As for the cooking space capacity, you will be amazed! It offers an incredible 1853 square inches of cooking space with six cooking grates. Also, it has a 55 lbs of pellet hopper capacity, so you won't need to refill it that often.

Lastly, the Pit Boss Grills 77550 smoker includes a low and slow cooking technique for all the delicious specialties and a 24 hours run!

#2. Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker - Runner Up

Let's continue the review with one of the most popular brands of vertical pellet smokers - the Z Grills! With this vertical model, you will be allowed to smoke the meat and grill it, roast, bake, barbecue, or braise it too! It's your choice; Z-Grills is the only one here to deliver the best version possible.

The Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 Upgrade smoker offers one of the best cooking methods by using 100% natural wood pellet. You will get a richer wood flavor to the meat than you would with a usual smoker. It's safe to say you will not use charcoal or gas any time soon!

This smoker is all about efficiency! You could get around 20 hours of smoking with 20 pounds of pellets which is fantastic!

It's also super easy to start. Many people would think that pellet grills and smokers are tricky to start, but not this one.

It offers a digital temperature range, LED temperature readout, and an auto-start ignition. This is a fantastic model if you are a beginner!

The Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 Upgrade smoker model has an automated electric feed system that maintains a 10-degree temperature from your set temperature. It releases an optimal amount of smoke through the smoking racks. It's just enough for you to relax and enjoy cooking. Plus, it features a fan that eliminates the need for a rotisserie.

#3. PIT BOSS PBV3P1 Vertical Pellet Smoker - Budget-Friendly Smoker

The list of best vertical pellet smoker reviews would not be complete without another Pit Boss smoker! We understand that you were impressed with the previous Pit Smoker 5 Series vertical pellet smoker model, but you found it a bit too pricey. Well, I have a perfect alternative for you! It comes from the same brand, but it's affordable and suitable for those who do not need a lot of cooking capacity.

The series 3 PIT BOSS PBV3P1 vertical model is a lot smaller, but it indeed is incredible. It's somewhat similar to the previous model by including the same double-walled design that retains heat perfectly. Its thicker and sturdier design will allow you to cook even during unpredictable weather and fluctuating temperatures between 150-420°F.

With a total of 721 square inches of cooking capacity, the smoker is super functional for those who only need a smoker for smaller meat batches. It includes four removable porcelain-coated cooking grates that will make cleaning and cooking much more manageable.

This is a fully programmable vertical pellet smoker, so you can set the internal temperature and cooking temperature as you like.

It can offer you up to 18 hours of smoking as it has a 39-pound pellet hopper capacity. Also, the PIT BOSS PBV3P1 model includes a meat probe which is an excellent addition to such a budget-friendly smoker.

#4. Louisiana Grills Vertical Pellet Smoker - Best for Large Smoking Batches

Another highly popular vertical pellet smoker is the Louisiana Grills smoker! This is one of the top vertical pellet smokers if you need ample cooking space! Get ready because this just may be your best pick.

The Louisiana Grills vertical pellet smoker is made out of a black powder-coated steel body with rust-resistant protection to ensure durable and long-lasting use.

This smoker delivers all the convenient features to you! Starting with porcelain-coated cooking racks, you can achieve easy cleaning and even better cooking performance.

Just like most vertical pellet smokers, it has double-walled insulation, which ensures heat treatment. The smoker has a clear cooking chamber door, so you can check on the process without opening it.

For easy mobility and transport, the Louisiana Grills vertical pellet smoker includes caster wheels. Like we mentioned previously, you will get a massive cooking space capacity! The smoker consists of six racks of ribs and a cooking space of 2059 square inches.

Along with this, your cooking hours can be prolonged as the smoker includes a 60-pound pellet hopper capacity.

#5. ASMOKE AS300 Electric Pellet Tailgating Tabletop Grill - Best Portable Vertical Pellet Smoker

Are you looking for a portable grill and smoker you can take for your next camping trip? Look no further as we have reviewed the incredible ASMOKE pellet smoker and grill!

This ASMOKE AS300 portable smoker and grill will give the most flavorful aroma to your culinary specialties! It uses only natural applewood pellets.

One of the most impressive features this model offers is the versatile 8-in-1 cooking techniques. Yes, you heard that right! You can cook, grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, char-grill, broil, and sear to absolute perfection.

It offers just enough room and space for smaller batches with its two porcelain-coated racks. This is an ideal pick for all the backyard BBQ sessions and for those who lack space! Nonetheless, it offers 226 square inches of cooking area, which is more than enough for a smaller crowd.

The ASMOKE AS300 pellet smoker includes a smart temperature control system by offering a temperature range of 180 to 500°F. It features a LED digital temperature control panel with a special meat probe.

The air duct system is installed separately, so heat distribution is even and constant during the grilling process.

For a sound mind and a safe purchase, the product comes with a 5-year warranty. Plus, the acquisition includes bonus accessories such as a portable carry bag, waterproof grill cover, and a stainless steel meat probe.

1. Cooking Area Capacity & Racks

Let's start with the basics. If you invest in a vertical pellet smoker, you first need to check its capacity and the number of racks it offers. Logically, more expensive models will provide many racks and hooks and are suitable for bigger batches of meat.

But, if this is not as important to you, you can also go with a smaller model that includes two or three racks for your occasional smoking.

A bonus feature for the bigger models would be finding the one with hooks so you can hand other meat and save up on space. Also, consider whether the racks in the smoker are removable in case you need to customize the area a bit.

2. Material & Design

The material and design of the best vertical pellet smokers play a significant role here! As you could notice, many high-end models come with double-walled installations that trap the heat and do not allow for its easy getaway.

Best vertical pellet smokers should include tempered glass so you can check on the cooking procedure without opening the cooking chamber. Also, it would be best if they were built out of stainless steel so you can have a lifetime of safe use! The inside should contain porcelain-coated grates that are easy to clean and do not let any food get stuck to them.

If you need a model you can transport, search for the ones that have caster wheels for easy mobility.

3. Pellet Hopper

A pellet hopper is placed on the pellet grill or smoker side, and it holds all the wood pellets. Some of the models have a pellet purge system that enables you to clean out the leftovers of the wood pellet.

Here is the math; the more significant the pellet hopper capacity is, the longer the smoker can run. Simple as that! You will find that some pellet hopper models have a 50-pound capacity that lets them run for around 24 hours which is outstanding if you want to get the most delicious results!

Some of the hopper designs will be made out of tempered glass. You can always check how much wood pellet you have left.

4. Temperature Adjustments

If the vertical pellet smoker has temperature controls, you can then trust its flexibility!

Most of the best vertical pellet smokers will have a temperature range between 150°F to a whopping 500°F! This is super important if you are in a rush to smoke the meat before the big event.

But, if you are interested in a vertical pellet smoker purely for its low and slow cooking technique, then temperature adjustments shouldn't be the essential feature.

Who makes the best vertical pellet smoker?

If you want to get a vertical pellet smoker from a trustworthy brand, you should get one by Pit Boss. They are undoubtedly the most popular brands of vertical pellet smokers that will last you for a lifetime!

Another great choice would be the Louisiana Grills or Z-Grills, as they offer budget-friendly pricing for fantastic quality and even better cooking area capacity.

What is the best type of vertical smoker?

The best type of vertical smoker would be the one with multiple cooking racks, a hanging rack for sausages and other kinds of meat, a generous pellet hopper, and an optimal temperature range you can control.

Out top pick with these features is the Pit Boss Grills 77550 5.5 Pellet Smoker. Although it's somewhat pricey, you will be impressed with its great features and quality. This is our top pick for vertical pellet smokers, so you should see what else makes it an outstanding model.

Are vertical or horizontal pellet smokers better?

Vertical smokers, as well as horizontal ones, have a list of pros and cons. It all comes down to what kind of result you are looking to achieve.

With the vertical type of smokers, you can only smoke the meat but not grill it simultaneously. Of course, some models come with the grilling option too, but they are a rare find.

On the other hand, horizontal pellet smokers are versatile and allow you to grill, bake, roast, smoke, braise or even broil the meat.

Are Pit Boss vertical smokers good?

Yes, Pit Boss vertical smokers are good! They offer outstanding models if you are looking to invest in a high-quality pellet smoker with generous cooking area capacity and innovative features.

Pit Boss, vertical pellet smokers models, are equipped with precise temperature measurement, large stacks of cooking racks, a slow-smoking technique, and an excellent pellet hopper capacity. You cannot go wrong with either of their models!

Are offset smokers better than vertical?

Both offset smokers and vertical ones offer the most delicious cooking results, but which one is better?

A vertical smoker does not need electricity to run, whereas offset ones do. This is a plus point for portability, as it means you can install this smoker pretty much anywhere. Plus, they are portable, while you will have trouble with an offset smoker's mobility.

However, offset smokers are better in that they offer a greater cooking area capacity and cook more significant meat cuts since they can be laid down.