With many different types of grills and smoker options on the market today, it can be challenging to choose the one that suits your needs best. If you are wondering what the difference between a vertical pellet smoker and a pellet grill is, and which one is right for you, keep reading. This article will answer all your questions about the differences between pellet grills and vertical pellet smokers.
Pellet grills have taken over the grilling world because of their versatility, ease of use, and ability to cook delicious food. A pellet grill, also known as a pellet smoker or wood pellet grill, is a type of grill that uses wood pellets as fuel to smoke, grill, and roast food, rather than propane of charcoal. If you are in the market for a new grill you will surely see plenty of pellet grills in stores and online. Pellet grills look very similar to a regular grill except they typically have another chamber or hopper on the side to hold the wood pellets.
A vertical pellet smoker uses wood pellets as fuel to smoke food just like a pellet grill. However, there are some huge differences between a traditional horizontal pellet grill and a vertical smoker. In this article, we will cover the basics of how each type of cooker works, the main differences between them, what we like and don’t like about vertical smokers, and some of our favorite models.
Pellet Grills Vs. Vertical Pellet Smoker: What’s The Difference?
Although both of these outdoor cooking appliances use all-natural pellets to create heat and smoke to cook food, there are many differences between them. The key differences include their design, cooking capabilities, and cost. Let’s dig into each of these major differences so that you can decide which type of cooker is right for you.
Design
A pellet grill is designed like a traditional outdoor grill, with one large flat cooking surface. They have a hood or a lid that can be opened or closed to check on your food. The typical pellet grill offers about 600 – 1000 square inches of cooking space and a 10 to 20-pound pellet hopper. This is typically more than enough space to grill up a dozen hamburgers or smoke a full brisket. 20 pounds of pellets is enough fuel to run the grill for well over 12 hours.
On the other hand, a vertical pellet smoker is designed with a tall, narrow shape, with multiple cooking racks. They provide more vertical space for cooking large cuts of meat or multiple pieces at the same time. The vertical design offers better airflow to enhance the way smoke distributes inside the cooking chamber.
Typically vertical pellet smokers offer more rack space and larger pellet hoppers. Most vertical smokers offer between 1,500 to 2,000 square inches of cooking area and up to 60-pound pellet hoppers for long run times without having to refill the hopper.
Temperature and Cooking Capability
The biggest difference between a vertical smoker and a pellet grill is the maximum cooking temperature, and therefore the overall versatility of the cooker.
With a typical pellet grill, you can set the temperature anywhere between 180 degrees and 500 degrees (some high-end models will reach 700 degrees). That means you can smoke a pork butt for 12 hours low and slow at 2225 degrees, then immediately after the butt is finished ramp up the temperature to 500 to sear a boneless ribeye….all with the push of a button. The wide temperature range translates to unmatched versatility. You can smoke, grill, roast, braise, and bake with a pellet grill.
On the other hand, a vertical pellet smoker has a much smaller temperature range. That is because the main function of this cooker is to smoke food evenly at low temperatures. A vertical smoker offers you versatility in what foods you can cook from meats to vegetables and desserts.
But since the typical temperature range is 170 degrees to 300 degrees you are limited in how you cook. A vertical pellet smoker produces a ton of smokey flavor and is designed to smoke foods low and slow. You cannot grill burgers or sear a steak on a vertical pellet smoker. But the consistent heat and smokey flavor it provides make it a very popular choice for those backyard pitmasters who love barbecue.
Fuel
Both pellet grills and vertical pellet smokers use wood pellets as a source of fuel. Vertical pellet smokers are typically a big more fuel efficient because they are often well insulated and hold the heat better than a pellet grill.
There are also electric vertical smokers which use an electric heating element and wood chips to provide smoke rather than wood pellets. You can read about the difference between a pellet grill and vertical electric smokers here. Check out my guide on the best pellets for grilling and smoking.
Smoking Performance
Both traditional horizontal pellet grills and vertical pellet smokers are great at the smoking barbecue. The winner ultimately comes down to your personal preference and what you value most in a smoker. Both are very easy to use and hold consistent temperatures. Both create a ton of smoke and have the ability to change the smoke profile based on the type of wood pellets used.
Cooking Capacity
One of the biggest differences between vertical and horizontal smokers is cooking capacity. Generally, vertical pellet smokers offer much more space and cooking capacity than a pellet grill. Although there are many large-size pellet grills that can easily accommodate a full-packer brisket or multiple pork butts, they still only have one main cooking area.
But vertical pellet smokers are designed to have multiple shelves for a much bigger cooking area. The vertical design can accommodate much larger cuts of meat. The shelves are adjustable so you can customize the setup based on what you are cooking.
Durability
Both pellet grills and vertical smokers are very durable. The specific longevity of a cooker really comes down to the specific brand and how it is maintained. They are both made out of steel and have electronic components like the temperature control mechanism. These components must be well protected from the elements like rain and snow. To ensure the best longevity you should make sure your pellet grill or vertical smoker has a high-quality cover to keep moisture out.
Also, both pellet grills and vertical smokers also have a few moving parts like the auger that deliver pellets to the firepot. Over time these parts can wear out. When shopping for a new pellet grill or vertical smoker it’s important to consider the warranty and the brand. The higher quality of the materials the longer your pellet grill or vertical smoker will last.
Price
Pellet grills can be much more expensive than vertical pellet smokers, running anywhere from $300 to over $3000.
There are several great quality vertical pellet smokers available from around $200 up to $700. If you want to see which models we recommend we have a guide to The Best Pellet Grills and best vertical pellet smokers.
Or you can check out my article on The Best Vertical Pellet Smokers if a vertical smoker is right for you.
How Do Pellet Grills Work?
Pellet grills work by heating all-natural hardwood pellets, which burn more completely and efficiently than traditional charcoal or propane grills. The pellets are placed in a hopper on the side of the grill, which feeds them into the fire pot. The rate at which they are added to the fire pot is controlled by a corkscrew-shaped auger. The fire pot is heated and a fan forces air into the fire pot, igniting the pellets.
The heat and smoke produced by the burning pellets provide a delicious smoky flavor that is unmatched by other types of outdoor cookers. A digital display on the pellet grill or your phone controls the temperature inside the cook chamber. The auger automatically adjusts the rate at which pellets are fed into the fire pot to maintain the set temperature.
A pellet grill must be plugged into a normal electrical outlet to power the auger, digital controller and display. Only a very small amount of electricity is used to initially heat up the grill and then power the fan and auger during use. The internal temperature of the cooking chamber is monitored by a digital thermometer.
How Do Vertical Pellet Smokers Work?
A vertical pellet smoker works the same way as pellet grills, but with a few different design elements. Rather than having a horizontal cooking surface, a vertical pellet smoker has several racks or shelves that are stacked on top of each other inside a tall, cabinet-shaped cooking chamber.
Here’s how a vertical pellet smoker typically works:
Like a pellet grill, the wood pellets are loaded into a hopper at the back or side of the smoker. An electric heating element located at the bottom of the unit ignites the pellets, creating heat and smoke. A fan blows the smoke and heats up through the cooking chamber, which is divided into several sections by the shelves.
The food is placed on the shelves, and the smoke and heat circulate around it, cooking it slowly and imparting a smoky flavor. The temperature and smoke level can be controlled using a digital controller, which adjusts the rate at which pellets are fed into the hopper and the fan’s speed.
Because the heat and smoke rise naturally in a vertical pellet smoker, it tends to create a convection effect, which means that the heat is distributed evenly throughout the cooking chamber, resulting in consistent cooking across all shelves. This makes it an excellent option for smoking larger cuts of meat, such as brisket or pork shoulder, as well as for cooking multiple items at once.
Comparison
Pros of a pellet grill:
Pellet grills are easy to use and set up.
Pellet grills offer the real wood-fired flavor that many people want with their meats and can create the char-grilled flavor too.
These grills are set and forget grills, so they don’t need constant monitoring to maintain the heat.
All pellet grills can also be used as smokers.
Pellet grills are more energy efficient than other propane or charcoal grills
Pros of a vertical pellet smoker:
Vertical pellet smokers are easy to use.
Some of these smokers are well-insulated and can be used in the winter when it is cold outside.
Vertical pellet smokers are fairly inexpensive compared to pellet grills.
Vertical pellet smokers have a much smaller footprint and don’t take up much space
More cooking space than pellet grills
Comparison Table
| Feature | Pellet Grill | Vertical Pellet Smoker |
| Cooking Style | Smoking, Grilling, Roasting, Braising, Baking | Smoking |
| Capacity | 600 – 1500 square inches (typically smaller cooking area) | 600- 2500 square inches (typically larger cooking area) |
| Temperature Range | 180 – 600 degrees F | 180 – 350 degrees F |
| Controls | Digital controls, Bluetooth and Wifi available | Limited control options, manual temperature adjustment |
| Fuel consumption | Efficient, but can use more pellets when cooking at high temperatures | Very efficient |
| Pellet Capacity | 5 – 20 pounds | 5 – 40 pounds (typically larger) |
| Price | $200 – $5000 dollars, larger units are often expensive | $200 – $800, can be more affordable |