9 Best Cheap Smokers to Save Money and Enjoy Delicious BBQ
Budget-friendly smokers offer quality, space-saving design, accurate temperature control, and consistent heat distribution. The Weber Smokey Mountain 18-inch Cooker Smoker stands out as the best affordable option, boasting durability, versatility, and a 10-year warranty.
Nothing beats the taste of low and slow, smoke-kissed brisket or fall-off-the-bone ribs that only the age-old tradition of smoking can provide. Novice smokers may be apprehensive about spending thousands of dollars on a cooking hobby. So, are there any quality cheap smokers that don’t break the bank?
The ancient art of smoking has re-emerged thanks to its undeniable quality, versatility, and flavor. We’ll be sharing the best cheap smokers to steer you away from leary, inexpensive models to affordable yet high-quality smokers.
Investing in a meat smoker will take your backyard barbeque to a new level. There are various types of smokers, from kettle grills to stick burners and charcoal to pellet, electric, and gas smokers. Today, we’re providing our readers with the 9 best cheap smokers under $500. These affordable smokers will take you a step closer to becoming a pitmaster.
Let’s get smokin’.
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1. Best Overall: Weber Smokey Mountain 18-inch Cooker Smoker
The Weber Smokey Mountain has a rich history dating back to 1981, and the brand still holds the crown for the best all-around charcoal smoker. Continuously tweaking and improving its smokers, Weber recently introduced the Weber Smokey Mountain 18-inch Cooker Smoker.
The new smoker tops almost every list of the best smokers, and it’s easy to see why. It is solid, versatile, affordable, and guarantees exceptional quality with its impressive 10-year warranty.
The Weber screams quality with its durable porcelain-enameled shell, removable fuel door, easy-to-adjust double dampers, and accurate temperature gauge. Our favorite feature is the double cooking grates allowing you to smoke multiple items simultaneously.
Compared to the traditional Weber Kettle grills, the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker gives you hours of stable temperature, better maintained lower temperatures, multi-cooking zones, and cold smoking.
Although designed to be a smoker, it easily converts to a grill. Place the fire grate and ring where the water bowl usually rests, and place the top grate in its usual place to enjoy grilling steaks and burger patties.
Specs:
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Size: 18 inches
- Weight: 39 pounds
- Dimensions: 21 x 19 x 41 inches
- Cooking capacity: 481 square inches
- Price (at time of publication): $420.00
Features:
- Compact vertical design
- Rust-resistant dampers
- Built-in water pan that helps regulate temperature
- Separate fuel door
- 10-year warranty
2. Best Gas: Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical 36-inch Propane Smoker
The Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical 36-inch Propane Smoker is perfect for novice and seasoned outdoor cooks alike. Opening the propane tank’s valve and twisting the smoker’s control knob is all it takes to get it going.
This mid-sized smoker provides 784 square inches of cooking space. Despite its large cooking surface, the smoker has a slender, vertical design that saves outdoor space. It also features four removable stainless-steel shelves, allowing you to smoke fun appetizers along with your cut of meat.
The tightly sealed doors ensure consistent temperatures, while the back vent can be adjusted to raise or lower the smoker’s temperature. Cooks can monitor the internal temperature using the thermometer placed on the front door.
Specs:
- Fuel: Propane gas
- Size: 36 inches
- Weight: 69.5 pounds
- Dimensions: 19.3 x 18.1 x 38.6 inches
- Cooking capacity: 785 square inches
- Price (at time of publication): $300.00
Features:
- Vertical design
- 40-inch propane hose
- Thermometer on the door
- Four 14 x14-inch stainless steel shelves
- Combination porcelain-enameled water or wood pan
- Two doors for optimal smoker access
3. Best Charcoal: 18.5-inch Classic Pit Barrel Cooker
The Pit Barrel Cooker is the first close competitor for the Weber Smokey Mountain dominating the charcoal smoker market. This popular drum smoker produces outstanding results with minimal effort and attention.
The Pit Barrel Cooker’s “hook and hang” method includes eight stainless steel hooks, allowing you to suspend eight mouth-watering racks of ribs at once. It is designed to operate consistently at approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit, requiring little attention and providing great food with smoky flavors.
Specs:
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Size: 18.5 inches
- Weight: 57 pounds
- Dimensions: 36 x 25 x 25 inches
- Cooking capacity: 324 square inches
- Price (at time of publication): $400.00
Features:
- 30-gallon steel drum
- 8 stainless steel hooks and 2 steel bars
- Vertical design for increased cooking capacity
- Removable grill grate
- Air-tight construction for steady temperatures
- Easy clean-up
4. Best Electric: Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker
In the barbeque world, electric smokers equal ease, convenience, and affordability. The Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker is a budget-friendly and powerful option for novice smokers or seasoned pros.
The smoker has 711 square inches of cooking space and four chrome-coated smoking trays. It has straightforward digital control panels and thermostat-temperature control for consistent smoking. Its fully insulated body helps retain heat, and the removable drip pan catches greasy food drippings, ensuring easy clean-up.
The patented side wood chip loading system truly sets it apart from other electric smokers. It allows users to add wood chips without opening the door and losing heat.
Specs:
- Fuel: Digital Electric
- Wattage: 800 watts
- Size: 30 inches
- Weight: 46 pounds
- Dimensions: 20 x 33 x 19 inches
- Cooking capacity: 711 square inches
- Price (at time of publication): $250.00
Features:
- Insulated steel
- Digital control panels for precise temperatures
- 4 chrome-coated trays
- 1-year warranty
- Patented side wood chip loading system
5. Best Pellet: The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill
The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill is a smoker that guarantees pro-grade performance despite its budget-friendly price. It offers the best combination of heat control, grilling space, and easy-to-achieve flavors.
Camp Chef’s advanced digital controller unit keeps the smoker’s temperatures within 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit of the set temperature compared to the fluctuation of 60 degrees Fahrenheit of traditional smokers.
Cooks can adjust the amount of smoke the meal gets with the advanced Smoke Number. Users can use the 160-degree low-smoke or 220-degree high-smoke option.
Specs:
- Fuel: Pellets
- Size: 47 inches
- Weight: 140 pounds
- Dimensions: 45 x 21 x 51 inches
- Cooking capacity: 570 square inches
- Price (at time of publication): $500
Features:
- Gen 2 controller
- Smoke Number
- Sidekick compatible
- Ash cleanout knob
- 3-year warranty
6. Best Value: Char-Griller Smokin’ Pro Charcoal Grill
The Char-Griller Smokin’ Pro Charcoal Grill is a smoker with a classic offset firebox design for an authentic Texas-style barbeque and smoking session. It goes for a highly reasonable price and is a fantastic fit for first-timers. Better yet, it doubles as a charcoal grill that you can use for offset grilling.
The Smokin’ Pro features a heavy-duty steel grill barrel, an adjustable cast iron fire grate, a heat gauge, and a powder-coated steel firebox.
Specs:
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Size: 50 inches
- Weight: 120 pounds
- Dimensions: 31 x 50 x 60 inches
- Cooking capacity: 830 square inches (cooking grate: 850 square inches; firebox: 250 square inches)
- Price (at time of publication): $250
Features:
- Great price
- Heavy steel construction for years of durability
- Non-stick cast iron cooking grates
- Powder-coated steel firebox for smoking
- Easy dump ashtrays for easy clean-up
7. Best Large Capacity: Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Smoker
The Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Smoker is the best large-capacity smoker for those who don’t want to spend a fortune. It captures the maximum smoke flavor and accommodates a variety of meat cuts and foods with 1,176 square inches of cooking space.
The Dyno-Glo smoker’s offset functionality keeps direct heat away from your food, which avoids overcooking the bottom and ensures slow cooking and infused smoke flavor. The smoker’s powder-coated steel exterior and porcelain-enameled steel wood chip box guarantee it will last many years.
Specs:
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Weight: 66 pounds
- Dimensions: 21 x 35 x 50 inches
- Cooking capacity: 1,176 square inches
- Price (at time of publication): $270.00
Features:
- Large cooking capacity and small footprint
- 6 height-adjustable cooking grates
- Each cooking grate holds up to 25 pounds of food
- Porcelain-enameled charcoal chamber
- Stainless temperature gauge
- Large removable pan for easy clean-up
- 1-year warranty
8. Best Versatile: Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24-inch
Many gas smokers’ heat outputs are limited by factories. While smoking mostly requires temperature control between 200 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit, outdoor cooks deserve the freedom to choose between low-temperature and flash smoking.
To be safe, the USDA recommends cooking most meat to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit and poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. However, The Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24-inch gives users a wide temperature range from 160 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the most versatile gas smokers on the market.
Use the Smoke Vault for ribs, brisket, a whole turkey, baked pies, and even pizzas. Enjoy maximum controllability with its adjustable heat-control dials, door thermometer, and three damper valves.
Specs:
- Fuel: Propane gas
- BTU: 18,000
- Size: 44 inches
- Weight: 75 pounds
- Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 44 inches
- Price (at time of publication): $440.00
Features:
- Temperature range of 160 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Heavy gauge steel wood chip tray
- Three adjustable damper valves
- Large capacity and three adjustable trays
- Heats up quickly
- Removable porcelain base for easy clean-up
- 1-year warranty
9. Kamado Smoker: Graphite Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill
The Graphite Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill offers exceptional smoking performance with a lighter weight and price tag than ceramic Kamado grills. This baby grills, smokes, roasts, and makes clean-up easy too.
Like most kamado grills, the Akorn Char-Griller is an attractive egg-shape with cast iron cooking grates. However, unlike traditional kamados, it features a steel and graphite body rather than a ceramic one. Its bumpy exterior hides inevitable greasy cooking smudges, and the folding side shelves are convenient for prepping.
The grill can maintain temperatures from 200 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit for low-and-slow smoking to blasting hot grilling sessions. The included Char-Griller explains how to prepare a fire for high heat or low heat.
The triple-wall insulation retains heat for extended smoking and grilling sessions while keeping the exterior cool – great for kids playing outside. You’ll be impressed by the consistent temperatures throughout the cooking time.
Specs:
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Size: 47 inches
- Weight: 97 pounds
- Dimensions: 45 x 31 x 47 inches
- Cooking capacity: 447 square inches
- Price (at time of publication): $330.00
Features:
- Triple-wall insulation
- Heavy-duty steel construction
- Authentic cast iron cooking grates
- Easy dump ashtray
- Adjustable dampers
- Removable warming rack
- Folding side shelves
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Best Reasonably Priced Smoker?
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker is the best reasonably priced smoker. It’s near impossible to match the price, build quality, and authentic smokey flavor.
The 18-inch model is usually priced at around $420. However, you can rely on the 14-inch model for an even more affordable option.
What Kind of Smoker Should a Beginner Get?
Pellet grill, and electric, and gas smokers are the best choices for beginners. They require minimal effort, maintain a consistent temperature, and do not require added fuel during the smoking process.
What is The Best Smoker to Buy for Home Use?
You may have seen the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker on our list several times today, but we’re serious when we say it’s one of the best.
This Weber is ideal for home use. It is user-friendly without complicated dials or controls and works like a familiar charcoal grill.
What is The Best Smoker under $500?
The Weber Smokey Mountain 18-inch Cooker Smoker is the best smoker under $500. It costs around $420 and has a 10-year guarantee. The Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Smoker is the best large-scale smoker, selling for under $300.
What is The Best Budget Smoker for a Beginner?
The Cuisinart Vertical 35-inch Propane Smoker is the best budget smoker for beginners. You can simply open the propane tank’s valve, set it, and forget it. Gas smokers also produce better-tasting meat than their electric counterparts.
How Long will a Budget Smoker Last?
Budget smokers generally last between 3 to 10 years, depending on how often you use and maintain it. If you use your smoker regularly without proper maintenance, expect it to last a few years less than average.
