Table of Contents
The best electric smokers give meats a unique smokey flavor and texture with little work. Some people might not like the idea of cooking with electricity. But the best electric smokers can make tender, smoky food with less work than other types of smokers. So, let’s take a look at how electric smokers work and what features you should look for if you want to buy one.
We recommend and review some of the best models in a number of categories, from the biggest to the smallest, and from the most advanced to some of the cheaper ones for people on a budget. We also say which one we think is the best, because everyone likes a winner.
Best Electric Smokers Comparison Table
Product Name | Manufacturer | Dimensions (in) | Weight (lb) | Price ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Masterbuilt Digital Smoker | Masterbuilt | 19.9 x 20.1 x 32.1 | 51.6 | 199 – 429 |
Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Smoker | Char-Broil | 16.5 x 18.1 x 32.5 | 50.2 | 239 – 379 |
Cuisinart 30-inch Electric Smoker | Cuisinart | 22 x 19 x 37.5 | 51 | 199 – 349 |
Smokehouse Big Chief Electric Smoker | Smokehouse | 24.5 x 18 x 12.2 | 21 | 119 – 159 |
Dyna-Glo DGU732SDE-D Electric Smoker | Dyna-Glo | 23.5 x 18.4 x 47 | 73 | 209 – 359 |
Bradley Stainless Smoker | Bradley Smoker | 14 x 24 x 31 | 42.9 | 299 – 499 |
Old Smokey Electric Smoker | Old Smokey | 15.5 x 15.5 x 29.5 | 24 | 149 – 199 |
Pit Boss Vertical Electric Portable Smoker | Pit Boss | 21.5 x 23 x 40.5 | 62 | 199 – 299 |
Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 730 square inches |
Temperature Range | 100°F to 275°F |
Digital Control | Yes |
Cooking Racks | 4 |
Wood Chip Capacity | 1.9 lbs |
Dimensions | 20.47 x 19.88 x 33.26 inches |
Weight | 51.6 lbs |
The Masterbuilt digital electric smoker is a very easy-to-use smoker for people who want to smoke meat but don’t want to deal with the trouble of a charcoal or offset smoker. The outside of the smoker’s main cabinet is made of steel, and the inside is made of aluminum.
The internal temperature can be set anywhere between 100°F and 275°F using the digital control panel. On the same panel, you can also set the cook time and turn the oven on or off. The rest is taken care of by the built-in thermostat.
- With 730 square inches of cooking space, you can smoke a wide range of meats.
- Digital controls make it easy to set the time and temperature exactly.
- There is plenty of room for different kinds of food on the four cooking racks.
- Wood chip loading system that is easy to use.
- With wheels, you can move around easily.
- The 100°F to 275°F temperature range may not be good for all kinds of smoking.
- Some users may find it hard to put the parts together.
The Good
The Bad
Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 725 square inches |
Temperature Range | 100°F to 275°F |
Digital Control | Yes |
Cooking Racks | 4 |
Wood Chip Capacity | 4 cups |
Dimensions | 18.1 x 16.5 x 32.5 inches |
Weight | 50.2 lbs |
The Char-Broil is almost the same size as the Masterbuilt, and both have 4 cooking racks. However, the Char-Broil has more “smart” smoker features. The unit comes with a remote control that lets you adjust the temperature and turn the smoker off from the comfort of your own home. Overall, it is one of the best electric smokers that you can buy.
The digital control panel on the top of the smoker lets you change the temperature inside and the amount of time it takes to cook. This unit has a glass door, so you can see all of the racks inside the smoker. Even though watching your food smoke isn’t the most exciting thing to do, being able to see how it looks without having to open the door is useful.
- The 725-square-inch cooking area is big enough to smoke big pieces of meat.
- Digital controls make it easy to set the time and temperature exactly.
- There is plenty of room for different kinds of food on the four cooking racks.
- Food thermometer that can be taken out and used to check the temperature inside of meat.
- Wood chip loading system that is easy to use.
- The 100°F to 275°F temperature range may not be good for all kinds of smoking.
- Some users may find that the wood chip capacity is low and needs to be filled up often.
The Good
The Bad
Cuisinart 30-inch Electric Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 548 square inches |
Temperature Range | 100°F to 400°F |
Digital Control | Yes |
Cooking Racks | 3 |
Wood Chip Capacity | 3 cups |
Dimensions | 22.8 x 19.2 x 37.2 inches |
Weight | 51 lbs |
Even though this smoker takes out most of the guesswork, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that some of the other options do. During the cooking process, you have to open the door to add more wood chips. This lets heat out and slows down the cooking process. It took longer to clean this smoker because it didn’t have a drip pan to catch the grease that fell out.
Without a digital temperature controller, it was harder to dial in the right temperature for cooking. I used a calibrated thermometer to measure the actual temperature inside, and the thermometer that came with it was off by as much as 30 to 50 degrees. So, you can’t find a smoker that is easier to use.
- There is plenty of room for different kinds of food on the three cooking racks.
- Digital controls make it easy to set the time and temperature exactly.
- With a temperature range from 100°F to 400°F, there are many ways to smoke.
- The water pan is removable, which makes it easy to clean and maintain.
- Built-in thermometer to check the temperature of the meat from the inside.
- 548 square inches isn’t as much cooking space as some other models have.
- The 3 cups of wood chips may need to be refilled often during long smoking sessions.
The Good
The Bad
Smokehouse Big Chief Electric Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 576 square inches |
Temperature Range | 165°F |
Analog Control | Yes |
Cooking Racks | 5 |
Wood Chip Capacity | 5 cups |
Dimensions | 18.5 x 12.2 x 25 inches |
Weight | 22.9 lbs |
We recommend the Smokehouse Big Chief electric smoker if you want a good smoker that is easy to use and doesn’t cost a lot of money. Except for the plug, it works and feels pretty much the same as a traditional smoker. It doesn’t have a digital display, so it’s easy to use, and it always stays at a low temperature, which makes it perfect for smoking.
Even though this Smokehouse Big Chief Electric Smoker weighs less than half as much as our best electric smoker model above, it can smoke up to 50 pounds of food. Its heating element is made to heat up the wood chips you’ll put in the pan. It also has better airflow and smoke circulation to give your food that delicious smoked flavor.
- With 576 square inches of cooking space, you can smoke a wide range of meats.
- Five cooking racks give you plenty of room to cook many different kinds of food.
- Aluminum construction makes it last a long time.
- A simple analog control makes it easy to change the temperature.
- With 5 cups of wood chips, you can smoke for longer without having to keep filling up.
- Because it only goes up to 165°F, it might not be good for all kinds of smoking.
- Analog control may not provide as precise temperature control as digital options.
- Some users may find it a little hard to put together.
The Good
The Bad
Dyna-Glo DGU732SDE-D Electric Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 576 square inches |
Temperature Range | 165°F |
Analog Control | Yes |
Cooking Racks | 5 |
Wood Chip Capacity | 5 cups |
Dimensions | 18.5 x 12.2 x 25 inches |
Weight | 22.9 lbs |
The cheap Dyna-Glo Digital Bluetooth Electric Smoker looks great and is easy to use, whether you connect it to your phone or just use the digital display. With the Dyna-Glo app on your phone, you can fully control it even when you’re not near the machine. There are also digital controls with push buttons that make it easy to set the timer and temperature.
It has a built-in thermometer, so you can always get the right temperature, and the smoker will even let you know when you’ve reached the right temperature. Also included are four removable racks, including one rib rack with sausage hooks. This lets you smoke a wide range of meats, vegetables, and other foods. There is a see-through door that lets you put food in, take it out, and check on it while it’s smoking.
- With 732 square inches of cooking space, you can smoke large pieces of meat or multiple dishes at once.
- With a temperature range from 100°F to 400°F, there are many ways to smoke.
- Digital control panel with push-button controls lets you set the time and temperature exactly.
- There is plenty of room for different kinds of food on the four cooking racks.
- The double-walled insulation helps keep heat in and keeps the smoking temperature steady.
- A design that is heavy might require more work to move or store.
- The process of putting something together may take a long time and require careful attention to the instructions.
- Some people may find it hard to figure out how to use the digital control panel at first.
The Good
The Bad
Bradley Stainless Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 732 square inches |
Temperature Range | 100°F to 400°F |
Digital Control | Yes |
Cooking Racks | 4 |
Wood Chip Capacity | 4 cups |
Dimensions | 31.28 x 20.35 x 57.01 inches |
Weight | 73 lbs |
Bradley smokers are known for their special briquettes, which are fed into the smoker without making as much mess as chips or pellets. It’s easy to see how many are left, so you can add more if you want more smoke for your favorite smoked fish or a long smoking session. This model has four racks that are stable even when only partially pulled out.
This makes it easy to check on food or take it out without worrying that it will fall. Also, you don’t have to watch over your food because the Bradley electric smoker can keep making smoke for up to nine hours without adding more wood. The whole inside is made of stainless steel, so it won’t rust and is easy to clean.
- 572 square inches of cooking space is plenty for smoking different cuts of meat.
- The unique wood puck system gets rid of the need to load wood chips by hand and keeps the smoke flavor consistent.
- There is plenty of room for different kinds of food on the four cooking racks.
- The stainless steel construction makes it last for a long time.
- Because it only goes from 100°F to 280°F, it might not be good for high-heat or fast smoking.
- Lack of digital control may mean that smoking sessions need to be watched and changed more.
- A design that is heavy might require more work to move or store.
The Good
The Bad
Old Smokey Electric Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 572 square inches |
Temperature Range | 100°F to 280°F |
Digital Control | No |
Cooking Racks | 4 |
Wood Puck Capacity | 9 pucks |
Dimensions | 14 x 24 x 31 inches |
Weight | 43 lbs |
This classic-style smoker is pretty simple, but that’s not a bad thing. It has a flat top that lets juices run back onto your food. On top of the heating element is a tray that holds the wood chips that give the food that perfect smoky taste. This is one of the best electric smokers that you can buy right now.
Also, it has a heat thermostat that lets you switch between different cooking times and styles. It only weighs 24 pounds, which makes it easy to move from one backyard to another. For a limited time, if you apply for and are approved for a Wayfair credit card, you can get $40 off this portable smoker if it’s part of your first order of $250 or more that qualifies.
- With 280 square inches of cooking space and a small size, this grill is great for smaller outdoor spaces or for taking with you.
- Simple analog control with temperature settings that can be changed makes it easy to use.
- There is enough room on the two cooking racks to smoke different kinds of food.
- The design is light and portable, making it easy to move and store.
- The 150°F to 250°F temperature range may not be good for all kinds of smoking.
- A smaller kitchen may not be the best place to cook big pieces of meat or for a big group.
- It doesn’t have any extra features, like a built-in thermometer or digital timer.
The Good
The Bad
Pit Boss Vertical Electric Portable Smoker

Specification | |
---|---|
Cooking Space | 901 square inches |
Temperature Range | 150°F to 450°F |
Digital Control | Yes |
Cooking Racks | 4 |
Wood Chip Capacity | 5 lbs |
Dimensions | 29.5 x 52 x 25 inches |
Weight | 68 lbs |
This one from Pit Boss has a big window in the front so you can watch your food cook. You can control what’s going on inside with a digital control panel that has push buttons and an LED display. There is also a programmable meat probe that lets you check how hot your meat and vegetables are inside. This thing is interesting because you can even make pizza in it.
The cool blue color of the outside makes it stand out on your patio. At Pit Boss Grills, we’ve made a smoker that blows away the other ones on the market. With the double-walled cabinet and 1650 watts of power, the Pit Boss Analog Electric Smoker can reach temperatures as low as 100°F and as high as 325°F.
- With 901 square inches of cooking space, you can smoke a lot of food or cook bigger pieces of meat.
- With a temperature range of 150°F to 450°F, there are many ways to smoke.
- The 68-pound weight is fairly heavy and may require more effort to move.
The Good
The Bad
FAQs
Electric smokers aren’t as flexible as gas ones because they can only handle a smaller range of temperatures. (a feature that makes them excellent for cold smoking). Gas smokers can reach higher temperatures and are much easier to move around, so they can be used in a lot of different ways.
The Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital electric smoker is our top pick for the best electric smoker because it is easy to use and works well. It has a lot of cooking space spread out over four chrome-coated smoking racks, which is enough space to cook six whole chickens.
With an electric smoker, the only thing that burns is the wood chips, so your fuel source doesn’t send any extra dirt into the air. Or, for that matter, into your food.
The cons of an electric smoker are that the heating element wears out quickly, it can’t make a lot of heat, and it won’t work right if it’s full. But the pros of electric food smokers will always be more important than the cons. Price is easy on the wallet.