7 Best Pellet Grills Under $1000 Of 2024
Nothing beats a backyard barbecue with friends and family, but the one thing that might get stop you from having one is the price tag that many pellet grills hold!
If you are looking to purchase a pellet grill to have endless barbecues at home, but don’t have a massive budget to splurge, then why not look for pellet grills under $1000?
Which are the best pellet grills under $1000? The best pellet grills under $1000 will still work as well as the more expensive options, and will be durable, and offer great performance. They might not offer some of the extra bells and whistles that the expensive options do, but they will have enough cooking room for large groups.
There is no reason why you should splash out more than what you can afford when buying a pellet grill, as there are some great options under $1000 on the market.
Keep reading how to pick the best pellet grill under $1000, as well as to see our top 7 recommendations!
Buyer’s Guide
Take a look through this buyer’s guide tips on how to pick out the best pellet grill under $1000 that would be best suited to your needs and which will be perfect for your backyard barbecues!
Size
You would need to choose a pellet grill that is the right size for what you need. If you have limited space outdoors, then a smaller grill would be better, or if you would like to travel with the pellet smoker.
However, if you have more space outdoors and you won’t be moving the pellet grill around, then a smaller option could be better. Just keep in mind that extra-large pellet grills might be more than $1000.
Cooking Space
The cooking space available on the grill would depend on the size of the grill itself, but some do have bigger cooking spaces than others of similar size.
If you will be cooking for a family or a large number of people, you would obviously look for a grill that has a larger cooking space.
Just cooking for you and one or two other people though would require less space than this, and you wouldn’t want a space too big that it gets wasted.
Temperature Control
It is quite important to choose a pellet grill that has temperature control. The ideal temperature range is from 180-450°F and this should be sufficient to cook just about everything you need on the grill.
You do need a pellet grill that allows you to maintain a consistent temperature so that your food is cooked evenly and properly.
Easy To Clean
You won’t regret choosing a pellet grill that is easy to clean. Wood ash and drippings from food can be such a hassle to try to wash from small bits and corners on the grill.
It helps if the grill has a removable tray that can be cleaned easily, and if the grill can be removed and washed too.
Keeping the grill clean and in a good condition is vital to ensuring that it lasts longer and is more durable.
Durability
As the pellet grill will be kept outdoors, you would want it to be durable. It should be made from materials that will not degrade or be damaged too easily.
While outdoors, the pellet grill should still be kept undercover and protected from the elements; however, the materials should still be tough.
Stability
The pellet grill will get really hot as it cooks, and it will be holding all of your precious meat too. For this reason, the grill needs to be very stable.
It should not shake, move or topple over when in use, as this could cause serious injury and be such a waste!
Additional Features
There are some additional features that you might get from a pellet grill under $1000, although not as many as the more expensive options.
If possible, look for a pellet grill that has a warming rack, as this can help keep meat and veg warm while you cook the next batch.
It is also worthwhile to look for a pellet grill that has some storage, such as shelves or under-grill storage.
Heating Power
If possible, take a look at the BTU value of the pellet grill. The BTU (British Thermal Units) measures how hot the grill can get, which is a good indication of its cooking performance.
Portability
You might want to move your pellet grill from one place in the yard to another, and wheels on the legs can help with this.
This portable function gives you more freedom to use the grill where you want and makes moving the grill much easier.
The 7 Best Pellet Grills Under $1000
Here are recommendations for the best pellet grills under $1000.
These might be more budget-friendly than the other, premium grills, but they still offer everything you need from a pellet grill, and will be a reliable feature in your backyard!
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pit Boss 440D2 Wood Pellet Grill | Best overall pellet grill under $1000 |
| 2. | ZGrills ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill | Large-capacity 15lb pellet hopper |
| 3. | Traeger Grill Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill | Comes with digital pro controller |
| 4. | ZGrills 2021 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill | Auto-ignition grill |
| 5. | Pit Boss Table Top Pellet Grill | Conveniently sized for outdoor counter tops |
| 6. | Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Grill & Smoker Pellet Grill | Comes with free weather-resistant grill cover |
| 7. | Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill | Features a newly added Gen 2 controller |
1. Pit Boss 440D2 Wood Pellet Grill
The Pit Boss 440D2 is made with heavy-duty steel, complete with two large metal wheels that allow you to move the grill around easily.
This particular model is in a mahogany finish, which is complete with a high-temperature powder coat finish.
The pellet grill comes with a stainless steel thermometer for accurate temperature recording and a solid bottom shelf for added storage.
You can control the temperature with a dial-in digital control, which has an LED read-out. The temperature range is from 180-500°F, which is ideal to cook just about anything on the pellet grill.
There is a simple side plate for direct and indirect flame grilling and broiling, giving you the option of how you want your meat cooked.
The fuel type is 100% natural hardwood pellets, and the grill has a BTU value of 40,000 BTU. There is a convection cooling airflow for even and consistent cooking.
Just to make it even handier, there is a stainless steel bottle opener located on the grill!
2. ZGrills ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill
This is the ultimate 8-in-1 pellet grill, which can be used to barbecue, bake, roast, braise, smoke, grill, sear, and chargrill.
It gives you all the benefits of barbecue in one handy grill!
Using the pellet grill technology, you can get wood-smoked flavors easily, and you will definitely taste the difference using this wood-powered grill.
PID technology helps to hold the tightest temperature possible throughout the cooking process, giving you consistent results.
The temperature range of the pellet grill is from 180-450°F, which gives you different cooking options.
This grill was designed for small families, with 452 square inches of cooking space. This small space offers a big flavor though and gives you great tasting results time and time again.
Made from sturdy steel construction and a high-temperature powder coating finish, this grill is long-lasting and as durable as can be.
The large-capacity 15lb pellet hopper offers longer cooking time, so you don’t have to spend your grilling time refilling the pellets, and rather just enjoy the grilling process!
3. Traeger Grill Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill
With the Traeger Grill Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill, you will never need to use gas or charcoal again, thanks to the versatility of this grill.
It is the ultimate way to achieve a wood-fired taste using 100% natural wood pellets.
The versatile grill can offer barbecue cooking, at a hot or low temperature, and at a low and slow pace. It is a 6-in-1 versatile grill, which can grill, smoke, bake, braise, roast, and BBQ food to tasty, juicy perfection.
With precision temperature control, the digital pro controller has advanced grilling logic, which will maintain a temperature of about 15°F from what you have set it to. The max temperature is 450°F.
Made with powerful steel construction and a durable powder coat finish, the grill is strong and long-lasting. The grill gates are also so easy to clean too.
A large cooking capacity of 884 square inches means you can cook a whole lot of food in one go!
4. ZGrills 2021 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill
This is another grill from ZGrills but is a bigger version than the ZPG-450A.
This pellet grill has 3 different grill layers and 1060 square inches of cooking and warming space.
You can enjoy precise temperature control using the digital control board, which helps to auto-ignite the grill, letting you set the temperature from 180-450°F.
This 8-in-1 versatility grill can perform many functions, similar to that of an oven, so it will definitely offer you endless cooking options outdoors.
A great smoke taste is fueled by natural wood pellets, so the smoke flavor is completely natural too.
The special design of the firebox creates a type of burn pot cyclone of airflow that allows for maximum heat distribution and complete combustion of the pellets, all while ensuring minimal waste.
With added storage and a table, as well as all the smoke and heating features, this is definitely a pellet grill worth considering!
5. Pit Boss Table Top Pellet Grill
If you have limited space outdoors but still want to enjoy the benefits of a pellet grill, or if you don’t need to grill too much at one time, the Pit Boss Table Top Pellet Grill is a great option.
The pellet grill features a dial-in digital control with LED read-out, making temperature control and consistency much easier. The temperature range of the grill is from 180-500°F.
There is a side plate for direct and indirect flame grilling, so you can choose how you want your food cooked. The porcelain-coated steel cooking grid is non-stick and will help your food cook to perfection.
Using a fuel type of 100% natural hardwood pellets, your food will be given a beautifully natural smoky flavor, while being cooked evenly and consistently thanks to the temperature control.
The size of the grill might not be too big, but the favor that it gives food is huge!
6. Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Grill & Smoker Pellet Grill
The Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Grill & Smoker Pellet Grill has a cooking area of 450 square inches and comes with a 15lb hopper capacity.
The grill is super versatile, being able to grill, smoke, roast, barbecue, braise, and even roast food—all in one grill!
It comes with a stationary side shelf and a collapsible front shelf to make cooking and preparing food easier outdoors.
Included with the grill is a free weather-resistant grill cover which is the perfect combination of convenience and durability.
The cover is wind and water-resistant and will help protect the grill from the elements and UV rays.
All-terrain wheels and a stable handle make this wood pellet grill easy to move around from the deck to the garden and then back into storage when it is not in use.
The grill is so easy to use, as it is thermostatically controlled like a kitchen oven, and it will even add in its own pellets to the hopper to maintain a consistent temperature—taking the worry out for you!
7. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill
The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill gives you easy and reliable smoking time and time again.
It features a newly added Gen 2 controller which is easy to use and control.
This grill also introduces Smoke Control and PID technology to ensure consistent temperatures.
You can adjust the Smoke Number on the grill to tailor how much smoke your meat gets, so not only will you get flawless cooking, but it will be exactly to your tastes as well.
There are adjustable smoke settings from 160-500°F. The menu dial is easy to use and is high-visibility and low-glare, so you can see it at all times.
An ash cleanout system means that cleanup is a breeze, and the grease management system means that less time is spent cleaning up after cooking.
There is a side attachment compatible feature, which could fit a sidekick or a sear box, depending on what you would use.
With all the features you could want, and a good amount of cooking space, this is a great option for families!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve gone over some of the best pellet grills under $1000, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!
Are wood pellets safe to use?
Wood pellets burn cleaner than most other fuels such as propane or charcoal, which means that it is safe to use.
The smoky flavor that wood pellets give off is also great for flavoring food. The type of wood you use will determine the smoky flavor given to food, and it is always best to use 100% natural hardwood.
Do you need to flip burgers on a pellet grill?
You should flip burgers on a pellet grill.
For a burger that is around 1 ½-inches thick, you should cook the burger for around 4 minutes a side, flipping it after 4 minutes on the first side to allow for even cooking. However, you should only flip the burger once.
