The 8 Best Electric Smokers of 2023 for Flavorful Home-Smoked Meats, V

If you enjoy the rich, smoky flavor that a charcoal grill delivers without all the prep, cleanup, and careful monitoring, then an electric smoker may be the perfect solution. As opposed to gas and charcoal smokers, the best electric smokers are easier to use and control, and they are extremely reliable, making them simple for beginner grill masters to operate.

To help you find the right model for your home and consider some of the most important factors for your cooking needs, we created a list of the best electric smokers on the market. Our picks include options that offer automated temperature control so you don’t have to babysit them, options with easy fueling to keep your device running, and budget-friendly options to fit a range of users.

“Electric smokers are great time savers, and you’ll be feeding your family crowd-pleasing meat in no time,” says celebrity chef and winner of the twelfth season of Food Network Star Hungry VX Chef Tregaye. “Look for heavy-gauge stainless steel or aluminum smokers; these materials are excellent at resisting rust and last for years.”

Carey Bringle, the pitmaster and owner of Peg Leg Porker, suggests finding an electric smoker that possesses durability and quality parts to avoid replacing it frequently. “I would look for a metal electric smoker with a good seal on the door and good grease management,” he says.

Our Top Picks

BEST OVERALL:

Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker at Amazon

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BEST BUDGET:

Smokehouse Electric Smoker at Home Depot

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BEST SPLURGE:

Traeger Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker at Amazon

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BEST TOP-LOAD:

Traeger Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker at Amazon

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BEST BRIQUETTE SMOKER:

Bradley Smoker 4 Rack Stainless Smoker at Amazon

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BEST FOR BEGINNERS:

Cuisinart Electric Smoker at Amazon

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BEST DIGITAL:

Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker at Amazon

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BEST BLUETOOTH:

Dyna-Glo Electric Smoker at Amazon

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Masterbuilt MB20070421 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker

AMAZON

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Why You Should Get It: It has an innovative side loader to add wood chips without having to open the door.

Keep in Mind: You may want to purchase a separate thermometer for more accurate temperature monitoring.

Our top pick for the best electric smoker is the extremely user-friendly and effective Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital electric smoker. It has a large cooking space capacity spread out over four chrome-coated smoking racks, providing enough space to cook six whole chickens. Whether you’re cooking a large bird or smoking vegetables, there’s plenty of room inside for all your favorite recipes.

The Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker sports an intuitive digital panel so you can operate the controls, temperature, and timer, and it’s conveniently located at the top of the unit so you won’t need to bend down to use it. You’ll also be able to easily monitor the cooking progress, time, temperature, and more.

This unit heats up extremely quickly; all you have to do is plug it in, turn it on, and set the temperature via the thermostat control. A clever patented wood-chip insert at the side of the unit allows you to load in your wood chips without opening the door. This allows you to keep all of the smoke and heat inside the device for more flavorful results.

The model is sturdy and fully insulated, and the door seals tightly shut thanks to a handy door latch, to keep all that heat and smokiness right where it should be. Like most electric smokers, this model is easy to clean since you don’t have any charcoal or wood remnants. Plus, there are plenty of accessories you can buy to further outfit your smoker. These include a smoker cover, a fish and vegetable smoking mat, and a slow smoker kit.

Instead of relying solely on the built-in thermometer, we recommend purchasing a separate device to monitor temperatures and ensure your food gets cooked thoroughly.

Price at time of publish: $280

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Why You Should Get It: It’s a basic, efficient, and lightweight smoker.

Keep in Mind: It isn’t as sleek looking as other models on our list.

If you want a quality, easy-to-use smoker without the high price tag, we recommend the Smokehouse Big Chief electric smoker. Apart from the electrical plug, it pretty much acts and feels like a traditional smoker. There’s no digital display, so it’s effortless to operate, and it provides just one consistently low temperature that makes it ideal for smoking.

This Smokehouse Big Chief Electric Smoker might be less than half the weight of our best electric smoker model above, but it offers more smoking capacity, with the space for up to 50 pounds of food. Its heating element is designed to heat up the wood chips you’ll put in the pan, and it’s designed with superior smoke circulation and ventilation to provide that delicious smoky flavor to your food.

This model comes in either front- or top-loading options depending on your preference, and it also included chrome-plated racks. It’s not the most attractive smoker on the market, but it sure does the job for those who don’t care about aesthetics. Thanks to its lack of daunting settings and options, this unit is pretty fool-proof, too. This, along with its budget-friendly price, makes this smoker a great option for beginners and experts alike.

Price at time of publish: $180

Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

AMAZON

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Why You Should Get It: This smoker allows you to smoke, roast, bake, braise, and barbecue all in one convenient device.

Keep in Mind: If you’re not going to make much use of the smart features, there are cheaper smokers on the market that can smoke just as well.

Once you’ve started smoking your own meals, it’s really hard to ever go back to store-bought smoked foods. The Traeger Pro 780 Wi-Fi Pellet Grill and Smoker is the ideal choice for anyone who is willing to spend a little extra for added convenience and quality when smoking their food.

This advanced smoker has many things going for it. For starters, it’s not just a smoker; it’s a six-in-one machine that can roast, bake, braise, and barbecue. This makes it extremely versatile and well-worth the sizable amount of space it takes up. It’s also extremely easy to use, sturdy, durable through years of regular use, and looks just as high-end as you’d expect from a smoker at this price. For even more style, opt for the version with a bronze top.

Surprisingly maneuverable, this smoker has wheels on the bottom and a hopper with 18 pounds of capacity so you don’t need to keep refilling your hardwood pellets. It comes with porcelain grill grates that are non-stick and easy to clean, and the controls are intuitive and beginner friendly.

The best part about it, however, is its Wi-Fi compatibility and accompanying smartphone app. The app allows you to remotely adjust the temperature and settings and monitor the food’s progress all from your smart device, eliminating the need to babysit the smoke or open the door unnecessarily. The app also comes with 1,500 wood-fire recipes to get you started.

If you prefer an electric smoker without all the bells and whistles, this may not be the right model for you. There are many other options on our list at a lower price with similar smoking effectiveness, so we recommend shopping a more toned-down device if smart features aren’t an important factor.

Price at time of publish: $1,000

Traeger Pro Series 34 Wood Pellet Grill Bronze

ACE HARDWARE

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Why You Should Get It: It’s a six-in-one baking, roasting, braising, barbecuing, and smoking machine.

Keep in Mind: It might be overkill if you already have a barbecue machine and are solely on the lookout for a good smoker.

This top-loading electric smoker allows you to add food to your machine without bending over constantly. The Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is designed to be easy to use while looking sleek. Eliminating the need for multiple outdoor cooking appliances, this all-in-one machine can smoke, grill, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue almost anything your heart desires.

This hefty and durable machine features precision temperature control and an ultra-large cooking capacity that, according to the brand, is big enough for up to eight whole chickens at once. Four all-terrain wheels at the base make it effortless to transport when you need to move it around on grass, concrete, stone pavers, and more. It also has dual meat probes that you can monitor via the outside display without needing to open the lid.

This smoker does everything for you automatically without you having to constantly monitor it. Simply preload the wooden pellets in the hopper, which are then pulled into the fire pot by an auger. A hot rod lights the pellets in the fire pot and an induction fan keeps the fire going to smoke your food. If you want a professionally smoked outcome without having to put in a ton of hard work, this is one of the best electric smokers you can buy.

Since it’s a six-in-one machine, it’s a little more expensive than other options on our list. If you already have appliances to grill, bake, and barbecue—or you simply don’t have use for them—we recommend shopping a more simplistic electric smoker.

Price at time of publish: $700

Bradley Smoker Original 4 Rack Stainless Smoker

AMAZON

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Why You Should Get It: It uses briquettes that allow you to smoke for up to nine hours without the need to refill.

Keep in Mind: Briquettes tend to be pricier than wood pellets or chips.

The Bradley Smoker Four-Rack Outdoor Electric Smoker allows you to try your favorite smoked recipes using briquettes instead of wood logs. There are four included racks that provide up to 572 square inches worth of space, and the racks remain sturdy even when pulled half-way out to check on your food.

The precise temperature gauge and user-friendly digital screen make it easy to operate, whether you’re a beginner or an expert at smoking food. The automatic wood feeding system allows you to keep your smoker running without having to feed new briquettes into the device every few minutes.

This sturdy smoker is made from rust-proof stainless steel that is easy to clean, allowing you to enjoy your appliance for many years to come. It has insulated carbon double walls, and there’s a smoke diffuser system that keeps the smoke circulating. If you use the manufacturer’s recommended briquettes, they’ll burn in this smoker for a round 20 minutes at a time, and you can preload them in the machine to keep your smoker running for up to nine hours.

Keep in mind that, while the briquette smoker itself is reasonably priced, briquettes tend to be more expensive than wood chips or pellets. If you’re smoking food frequently, it may be helpful to factor in the added cost of these briquettes before purchasing the smoker.

Price at time of publish: $400

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Why You Should Get It: It’s an easy-to-use smoker with plenty of room.

Keep in Mind: It doesn’t have a window to monitor food without opening the door.

With its durable frame and an external thermometer display to easily monitor your food, the Cuisinart Vertical Electric Smoker is ideal for beginners. It has side handles for portability, three removable non-rusting chrome racks, and a wide temperature range for more cooking versatility, so you can use it to roast or smoke foods. Four legs keep the smoker elevated off the ground so you don’t need to bend all the way down to insert or remove food, and the racks can be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

The sturdy door seals tightly shut to keep all the smoke in, however, there’s no window on it, so you’ll have to actually open the door to check on your food. This lets out all the smoke that adds flavor, so we recommend limiting the number of times you open the door while cooking. There are no controls other than a single temperature control that ranges from 100°F to 400°F, which makes it easy to use and versatile to cook with. There are two trays inside: one for water to keep the foods from drying out and one for wood chips or pellets to provide that smoky flavor.

Its budget-friendly price makes this a great option for anyone who wants to try their hand at smoking foods, yet it’s still reliable enough to use as you gain experience.

Though it’s best to keep it out of the rain and safely covered when not in use, the smoker is durable enough not to rust if it does come into contact with water. There’s also a smoker cover available to keep it adequately protected, but you’d have to buy this separately.

Price at time of publish: $199

4.2

Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker

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Why You Should Get It: It has a large glass door so you can check on your food without letting the smoke out.

Keep in Mind: The display is a little hard to read in direct sunlight.

The appeal of electric smokers is that they typically need very little monitoring and set up before and during use. The same is true of this Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker—it only requires the user to set a target meat temperature or a specific time duration before the machine does all the work.

We are impressed with the high-quality and durable construction of this machine that is sturdy with a functional yet attractive design that kind of looks like a mini bar fridge. This smoker comes with its own in-built meat probe, and it has a wood-chip box that can hold up to seven hours worth of pellets or chips before needing to be topped up. Its double-wall insulated construction and stainless steel locking latch keeps the smoke right where it should be.

The glass door, which is smoke-tight, provides a great view of everything you’re smoking inside without having to open it. There’s also a remote control that comes with the stainless steel version so you don’t have to get up from your deck chair to change the temperature. There are several purchasing options available when you buy the smoker, including the addition of several accessories and extras like the smoker cover, smoker cookbook, stand, or four packs of smoking chips.

While the digital display is intuitive and easy to read thanks to its bright blue LED light, it’s quite hard to decipher in direct sunlight, so keep this in mind when purchasing.

Price at time of publish: $395

Dyna-Glo DGU732SDE-D 30" Digital Bluetooth Electric Smoker

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Why You Should Get It: You can operate it via your smart device.

Keep in Mind: It doesn’t get hot enough to cook most foods, so it should be used solely as a smoker.

The budget Dyna-Glo Digital Bluetooth Electric Smoker looks fabulous and is a breeze to use, whether you connect it to your phone or rely on the digital display. You can fully control it via your smartphone with the Dyna-Glo app even if you’re nowhere near the machine. There are also digital push button controls to easily set the temperature and timer. It comes with an integrated thermometer, so you get the perfect temperature every time, and the smoker will even send you notifications if you’ve reached the selected heat.

Also included are four removable racks, including one rib rack with sausage hooks, allowing you to smoke a wide variety of meats, vegetables, and other foods. There is a see-through door to insert, remove, and monitor your food while it’s smoking, and there’s a bottom stainless steel drawer with individual slots for water and wood chips or pellets. The drawer opens separately to the door, and the door seals shut to avoid any smoke escaping.

This smoker provides a lot of room to smoke large quantities of food. However, it doesn’t hold high temperatures as well as other models on this list—especially if it’s cold outside—so even though it’s stated to reach 275°F, we recommend using it solely as a smoker.

Price at time of publish: $248

The Bottom Line

The Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker tops our list of the best electric smokers. This model has an innovative and patented side loader that allows you to add wood chips during the smoking process without having to open the door and compromise the temperature or smoke. The intuitive controls are easy to use and are located at the top of the machine so you can monitor the smoker’s progress easily.

What to Know About Electric Smokers Before Shopping

Weight

Electric smokers can weigh anywhere from 50 to 200 pounds. Smaller electric smokers are made for placing on a sturdy surface, like an outdoor countertop or table, whereas larger ones typically have their own stands or legs with wheels for easy maneuverability. Consider where you intend to place your electric smoker and how much you plan to move it around to help you figure out how heavy your smoker should be.

Materials

Most electric smokers are made of metal as this is the most durable material that can adequately take the smoker’s high heat. The best electric smokers are usually made from stainless steel, and some have tempered glass doors too so you can see inside when cooking.

Bringle advises looking for an electric smoker with a good door seal, and Chef Tregaye adds that you should ensure your smoker has sturdy legs, wheels, hinges, and latches. “These are the parts of your smoker that will be put under the most stress, so make sure they’re durable,” Tregaye says.

Dimensions and Capacity

The best electric smokers come in all shapes and sizes. Tabletop options can be anywhere from 18 to 25 inches in height and 15 to 20 inches in width, while the larger models that have their own stands can be 30 to 55 inches high and 20 to 55 inches wide. Capacities range from 500 square inches to 900 square inches, depending on the electric smoker’s size.

When considering which size electric smoker is right for you, consider the types of food you’re planning to make and how large the quantities will be. If you don’t plan on smoking large birds such as chicken and turkey, you can probably buy a smaller size than someone who hosts frequently.

Fuel Type

The beauty of an electric smoker is that it doesn’t need anything other than electricity to run. While other smokers require charcoal, gas, propane, wood pellets, or briquets to operate—which can often be a messy and bothersome endeavor—all you have to do with an electric smoker is plug it in.

However, the best electric smokers will allow you to add wood chips—which Bringle recommends—as this will add a more genuine smoked flavor to your foods. An electric smoker with wood chip capacity will have its heating element or coil under the wood chips to create smoke, providing delicious and perfectly smoked food.

Temperature Range

Though electric smokers are available with temperature ranges of 100°F to 500°F, Bringle suggests that the best range for an electric smoker is 100°F to 300°F. The most important thing, however, is keeping the smoke in.

“Make sure whatever smoker you buy has doors and dampers that close with a tight seal that doesn’t allow any smoke to escape,” Chef Tregaye says. “With an electric smoker, most of the temperature regulation will be taken care of for you, but some models will feature a damper system that allows you to really nail down the temperature you’re going for.”

Chef Tregaye also suggests looking for a smoker with accurate temperature gauges so you can check the temperature while keeping it sealed.

“Better yet, opt for a remote wireless thermometer that can monitor the smoker’s internal temperature as well as the temperature of your meat at the same time for the best accuracy,” Chef Tregaye says.

Temperature Probe

A temperature probe is a gadget with a pointy metal stem designed to be inserted into the food to ensure that it’s cooking at the right temperature. Some electric smokers come with this extra item included, and many even have a built-in temperature probe. Bringle says that while a temperature probe is a nice touch, it’s not a must. However, he advises that any electric smoker you get should have a unit thermometer.

Your Questions, Answered

What’s the difference between electric smokers and wood-fired smokers?

The main difference between electric smokers and wood-fired smokers is that the electric models use an electric heating element. “For the novice smoker, eclectic smokers can be great because of the precise temperature control and the ability to set it and forget it,” Bringle says.

Along with easier temperature control, most electric smokers can usually cook more food at a time than wood smokers. “While wood smokers only have a single cooking grate, electric smokers may have a half-dozen or more cooking racks, each of which can be filled with meats or veggies,” Chef Tregaye says.

Can I use an electric smoker in the house?

Smokers of any kind are not designed to be used indoors. “Even an electric smoker should be used outdoors or under a covered patio,” Bringle says. “The risk of a grease fire is real with any smoker. As with any cooking, keep a watchful eye and ensure that you are cooking in a safe place where the fire risk is low.”

Chef Tregaye advises putting your smoker on a flat and even surface, and ensuring that it's at least 10 feet away from your home so the heat doesn't damage the siding.

Do I need to soak wood chips before using them with my electric smokers?

It’s not necessary to soak your wood chips before putting them in your electric smoker, both Chef Tregaye and Bringle agree. However, Bringle says that “doing so might give them a slightly longer burn.”

Who We Are

This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over 10 years of commerce writing experience. Kat is also the commerce editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing. For this article, Kat reviewed multiple electric smokers, researching factors such as each smoker's weight, dimensions, capacity, fuel type, and temperature range. She also spoke to Carey Bringle, the pitmaster and owner of Peg Leg Porker, and celebrity chef, and winner of the twelfth season of Food Network Star, HUNGRY VX Chef Tregaye Fraser.

01/ 31/ 23

Best Overall

Masterbuilt MB20070421 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker

Best Budget

Smokehouse Big Chief Electric Smoker

Best Splurge

Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

Best Top-Load

Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker in Bronze

Best Briquette Smoker

Bradley Smoker Original 4 Rack Stainless Smoker

Best for Beginners

Cuisinart 30-Inch Electric Smoker

Best Digital

Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker

Best Bluetooth

Dyna-Glo DGU732SDE-D 30" Digital Bluetooth Electric Smoker

The Bottom Line

What to Know About Electric Smokers Before Shopping

Weight

Materials

Dimensions and Capacity

Fuel Type

Temperature Range

Temperature Probe

Your Questions, Answered

What’s the difference between electric smokers and wood-fired smokers?

Can I use an electric smoker in the house?

Do I need to soak wood chips before using them with my electric smokers?

Who We Are

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