Choose a pellet grill: cooking area, hopper size and temperature range

Size the grill by the main grate first

Most makers publish a total cooking area that adds one or more upper racks to the main grate. The main grate is the surface nearest the fire and the one that sets how many steaks, burgers or pizzas fit at once; the upper rack suits indirect cooking such as ribs or wings. The Traeger Ironwood's 616 sq in total is 396 sq in on a 22 in x 18 in main grate plus 220 sq in above it. The Weber Searwood 600 lists 420 sq in on its 24 in x 17.5 in bottom grate within 648 sq in. The Pit Boss Navigator 850 manual labels 581.9 sq in on the main grate and 350.4 sq in on the upper rack, and the Camp Chef Woodwind 24 lists 429 sq in lower and 382 sq in upper.

Read the numbers as published areas, not as a promise about a crowd. Serving counts such as four chickens or eight rib racks are manufacturer examples. Some makers publish only one figure, and a few publish two that disagree: Green Mountain Grills states 530 sq in in the Ledge Prime 2.0 specification block and catalog and 458 sq in in the same page's overview, without a main-grate figure. Accessory shelves that raise the total, such as GMG's RACKT shelves, are separate purchases.

Read both ends of the temperature range

The lowest setting matters if you smoke, and the highest if you sear or bake pizza. In this catalogue the documented lows run from 150 °F on the Ledge Prime 2.0 through 165 °F on the Ironwood to 180 °F on the Searwood 600 and Navigator 850, and the highs from 500 °F on the Ironwood and Navigator 850 through 550 °F on the Ledge to 600 °F on the Searwood. Camp Chef publishes no range for the Woodwind 24 on its store page, so the record stays unknown rather than borrowing a figure from an older Woodwind.

A direct-flame feature is a different claim from the controller range. Pit Boss's Flame Broiler lever and Camp Chef's Slide and Grill open the fire to the food, Weber describes DirectFlame cooking with a full-grate sear zone, and Traeger's manual describes indirect-heat cooking. Pit Boss's up to 1,000 °F figure is the manufacturer's claim for that direct-flame zone, not a set temperature, and no figure here is a measured grate temperature.

Match the hopper to your longest cook

Hopper capacities in this catalogue run from 20 lb on the Searwood 600 and Ledge Prime 2.0 to 22 lb on the Ironwood and Woodwind 24 and 30 lb on the Navigator 850. How long a fill lasts depends on the set temperature, the weather and how often the lid opens, so a hopper size is not a cook duration. A pellet level reading saves a trip outside on an overnight cook: Traeger documents an integrated pellet sensor, GMG's catalog lists a low pellet alarm, Pit Boss documents a hopper sight glass for checking by eye, and Weber's manual describes a fuel gauge on select Searwood models without naming which.

Check what the controller and app need

Built-in Wi-Fi still depends on the maker's app and a home network that reaches the grill outdoors. Traeger requires a 2.4 GHz router and an account, and says the grill must stay connected to receive operating, safety and security updates. GMG's PRIME app separates Server Mode over Wi-Fi from Local Mode over Bluetooth, and starting the grill needs Bluetooth within range. Weber and Pit Boss document Wi-Fi with Bluetooth but state no band. None of the sources recorded here states a subscription for app control; that silence is not a promise that one will never appear.

Count probes separately from probe ports. Traeger and Weber state two wired probes in the box, Pit Boss one probe for two ports, GMG two probe connections without a packed count, and Camp Chef neither figure for the Woodwind 24. Wireless probes are sold separately.

Plan the space, power and clearance

Assembled dimensions and weight tell you about the patio and the delivery, not the safe distance to your house. Each manual states its own minimum clearance to combustibles: 20 in for the Ironwood, 2 ft for the Searwood 600 and 36 in to the sides and back for the Navigator 850 and Ledge Prime 2.0, with further conditions about overhead construction, floors and enclosed spaces. Follow the manual for your grill and local fire rules.

Power needs differ too. Traeger states 100-120 V and 218 W and requires GFCI protection; Pit Boss states 110-120 V and a 290 W rating; Weber states 120 V with limits on extension cords; GMG's Ledge runs on 12 V DC from a 110-240 VAC input, with a DC cord for 12 V sources sold separately. Use the outlet and cord the manual specifies and a qualified electrician where it calls for one.

Confirm the package and the warranty terms

Match the model code before you pay. Traeger lists TFB61RLG for the US and TFB61RLGC for Canada, Weber sells the Searwood 600 as part 1500120, and Camp Chef sells the Woodwind 24 as PG24SSG with a side shelf or PG24SSGSKBB with a propane Sidekick Sear, a heavier package. Pit Boss shows a store SKU of 11111 beside model PB850M, and GMG publishes no part number for the Ledge Prime 2.0, which it sells through dealers.

Headline warranty years can cover only some parts. Traeger's 10-year limited warranty is a rust-through term on the body and shelves, with 3 years on the controller, auger and fan and 1 year on sensors and probes, and it requires purchase from an authorized seller. Weber lists 5 years on the cook box and 3 years on electrical parts and grates, Pit Boss 5 years on parts and electrical components, and GMG three years. Paid protection plans are separate purchases.