Sunday Stove

The Best Portable Pellet Grills

Five portable pellet grills from about $224 to $500, from a tabletop you can carry alone to a fold-down grill that fits a brisket, for campsites, tailgates and RVs.

By Nell Harlan · Updated Oct 24, 202620 grills compared

We earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. How that works

Smoked ribs at a campsite with no hookup are what you get from the Trek. It's about $461, and it plugs straight into your car's 12-volt outlet (or the wall at home), so you don't need a generator or an inverter to keep the fire going. The dial goes from 150°F for smoking up to 550°F, there's an app to check on the cook from the camp chair, and Green Mountain says a whole brisket or a turkey fits on the grate.

If your trips are tailgates with a power hookup and a lot of mouths to feed, the Tailgater (about $500) gives you more grate on folding legs. To carry the grill yourself from the car to the picnic table, get the 200A, about $239. The Pit Boss 150 is the cheapest way to get a seared steak out of a portable pellet grill.

Our picks

Best overallGreen Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0Check price on Amazon
Most grill spaceTraeger Tailgater 20Check price on Amazon
Best tabletopZ Grills 200ACheck price on Amazon
Best under $250Pit Boss 150Check price on Amazon
Best for camp breakfastTraeger RangerCheck price on Amazon

At a glance

  1. 1.Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0about $461
    Best for
    Campsites, tailgates and RVs
    Grate
    17.25 x 12.5 in
    Top heat
    550°F
    Power
    12V or 120V
  2. 2.Traeger Tailgater 20about $500
    Best for
    Tailgates for a crowd
    Grate
    300 sq in
    Top heat
    450°F
    Power
    120V outlet
  3. 3.Z Grills 200Aabout $239
    Best for
    Carrying it by yourself
    Grate
    202 sq in
    Top heat
    450°F
    Power
    120V outlet
  4. 4.Pit Boss 150about $224
    Best for
    Searing on a budget
    Grate
    256 sq in
    Top heat
    500°F, plus open flame
    Power
    Plug-in; 12V version sold separately
  5. 5.Traeger Rangerabout $480
    Best for
    Breakfast and dinner on one grill
    Grate
    184 sq in
    Top heat
    450°F
    Power
    120V, or an inverter

The 5 portable pellet grills, ranked

1 · Best overall
Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0

Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0

Plugs into a car's 12-volt outlet, reaches 550°F, and still fits a whole brisket.

$460.89as of 8:15 AM ET
Check price on Amazon
Buy it if

You camp or tailgate where there's no outlet, and you'd like ribs or a pork shoulder and not only burgers.

Skip it if

You'll carry it any distance. It rides on folding legs, but it's built like a small full-size grill, not a suitcase.

It runs on the car

The 12-volt plug is the reason it's first. Every other grill here wants a household outlet, or an inverter between it and your car, and the Trek just takes the power. The previous Trek also came with clamps for running it straight off a battery. At home it plugs into the wall like any pellet grill.

The grate is 17.25 by 12.5 inches, smaller than the Tailgater's, but Green Mountain says a full brisket or a turkey fits, which is what you want on an overnight cook at the lake. You set the heat in 5-degree steps, and the Wi-Fi app shows the cook on your phone. The chimney swivels flat or comes off for packing, and it shows up about 95% assembled.

Its legs are sturdier than the old Davy Crockett's, and a rod on the outside now slides the heat shield. You'll use it: on the last Trek the left side ran hotter until the shield was moved, and the grill read 10 to 12 degrees under its setting until it was calibrated in the app. Check it against a thermometer on the first cook, then set the offset in the app. I'd pay the extra for the cart only if it'll live on a patio between trips.

Flaws but not dealbreakers
  • The previous Trek had no way to empty the hopper, so switching wood flavors meant scooping pellets out by hand.
  • The last version weighed 63 pounds, heavy for a truck bed if you're on your own.
Wi-Fi and appFolding legsCover included95% assembled
2
Traeger Tailgater 20
Most grill space

Traeger Tailgater 20

300 square inches on folding legs, enough for 12 burgers or three racks of ribs.

$499.95as of 8:15 AM ETCheck price on Amazon
Buy it if

You tailgate with an outlet or a generator nearby and feed a group. Twelve burgers go on at once.

Skip it if

You want to smoke low, around 180°F to 225°F, and have the grill sit right on the number.

Read the full write-up

Smoked BBQ Source ranks the Tailgater first among portable pellet grills, and the reason is how it cooks: its reviewer called it the best performer of every portable he'd cooked on. Burgers at 450°F took about six minutes a side, though without much char. Three racks of ribs fit, and Traeger says two whole chickens do too.

Where it struggles is the bottom of the dial. Set to 185°F it ran at 210 to 225°F, and it found holding anything under 250°F hard, so for a long smoke you set it lower than you want and keep an eye on it. The right side of the grill runs hottest, which puts the biggest pieces in the middle. Why does it sit second? It needs a 120-volt outlet, and the Trek's dial goes 100 degrees higher.

Flaws but not dealbreakers
  • The folding legs are awkward to set up and break down alone.
  • The buttons have no labels, so keep the manual handy for the first few cooks.
  • The 8-pound hopper is small for a grill this size.
Folding legs8-lb hopperDigital Arc controller12 burgers at once
3
Z Grills 200A
Best tabletop

Z Grills 200A

A suitcase-shaped smoker with a PID controller and a hopper that lasts about 10 hours low and slow.

$239.00as of 8:15 AM ETCheck price on Amazon
Buy it if

The grill has to go from the trunk to a picnic table in your own two hands.

Skip it if

You want to smoke a whole packer brisket. It won't sit flat on 202 square inches.

Read the full write-up

A real smoker in a suitcase

There are no legs at all. It's a box with two side handles and latches on the lid, 25 by 20 by 13 inches, that sits on any table, a tailgate or the floor of a balcony. Z Grills lists the 200A at 40 to 52 pounds depending on the version, either way lighter than the Traeger Ranger, its closest rival in this shape.

For a grill this small, the 8-pound hopper is generous. Z Grills says it lasts about 10 hours of low-and-slow cooking, which covers a pork butt without a refill, and the PID controller holds the heat tight: Smoked BBQ Source saw swings of only 5 to 10 degrees. The hopper does sit inside the cookbox, though, so a full rack of ribs may need trimming to fit. Honestly, at about $239 it's the one I'd hand to someone who isn't sure they'll smoke more than twice a summer.

Flaws but not dealbreakers
  • The grease tray doubles as the heat shield. Wrap it in foil or cleanup gets messy.
  • Vacuum the ash out every other cook so the fire keeps burning clean.
  • It tops out at 450°F. Steaks get grill marks if you leave the lid shut, not a deep crust.
Size

25 x 20 x 13 inches. It comes 90% assembled and is ready to light in about 20 minutes.

PID controller8-lb hopperLid latches3-year warranty
4
Pit Boss 150
Best under $250

Pit Boss 150

A slide plate opens the fire under the grate for a real sear, at the lowest price here.

$223.83as of 8:15 AM ETCheck price on Amazon
Buy it if

You want burgers and steaks with a real crust, not just smoked meat, and you'd rather not spend $400.

Skip it if

You'll leave it running overnight. The 7-pound hopper is the smallest here.

Read the full write-up

Most pellet grills hide the fire under a steel plate, which is why they smoke well and sear badly. Pit Boss puts a slide in that plate, the Flame Broiler: pull the lever and the fire is open under the food, and Pit Boss says it reaches 1,000°F there. Slide it shut and you're back to a gentle smoker from 180°F to 500°F. Pit Boss says the 256 square inches of grate hold about 13 burgers, and it backs the grill for five years.

It packs like a toolbox: the lid latches down, there's a handle on each side, and the 12-volt version of the same body measures about 26 by 18 by 15 inches. At about $224 it's also the cheapest grill in this guide, which matters if this will be your second grill.

Flaws but not dealbreakers
  • A 7-pound hopper means topping up on any cook longer than an afternoon.
  • Running it off the car means the 12-volt version, which costs almost twice as much.
Flame Broiler7-lb hopperLatching lid5-year warranty
5
Traeger Ranger
Best for camp breakfast

Traeger Ranger

A cast iron griddle comes in the box, for eggs and bacon in the morning and chicken at night.

$479.99as of 8:15 AM ETCheck price on Amazon
Buy it if

Your camping trips start with bacon and eggs and end with roast chicken, and you want one grill for both.

Skip it if

You'll carry it more than a few steps. It weighs about 60 pounds with the griddle, with no wheels.

Read the full write-up

The cast iron griddle in the box is what sets the Ranger apart. Lay it on the grate in the morning for fried eggs, bacon and pancakes, then take it off for dinner. T3's reviewer fit two whole chickens on the 184 square inches at once, and the chicken legs came out with very crispy skin. There's a Keep Warm mode too, handy when half the campsite is still down at the water.

It's heavy for its size, and it won't really sear: there's no open flame, and it tops out around 450°F. On a hot cook the 8-pound hopper burns down in a little over an hour. RV.com found the buttons took some getting used to, and on a camper's 12-volt system you'll need an inverter. I'd only pick it over the Z Grills 200A if the griddle matters to you, because the 200A has more grate and weighs less.

Flaws but not dealbreakers
  • No wheels or stand, so it stays wherever you set it down.
  • No real sear on steaks.
Size

About 21 x 20 x 13 inches.

Cast iron griddleKeep Warm mode8-lb hopperMeat probe

Who this is for

Anyone who wants smoked ribs, wings or pulled pork away from home: at the campsite, the tailgate, the RV park or a small balcony where a full pellet grill won't fit. For a backyard with room to spare, a full-size pellet grill gives you more grate and a bigger hopper for the money. If your trips are mostly burgers and hot dogs and you'd rather not deal with power at all, a portable propane grill is lighter and lights in seconds.

How to choose

Where the power comes from

Every pellet grill needs electricity for the auger, the fan and the igniter. The Trek runs on 12 volts from a car outlet. The others here want a household outlet, so at a campsite without hookups you'll need a generator or a power inverter wired to your vehicle.

Legs or a tabletop

Fold-down grills like the Trek and the Tailgater stand on their own and hold more food, but they're the heavier ones to load. The suitcase-style 200A, Pit Boss 150 and Ranger sit on a table and fit in a small trunk.

How long the hopper lasts

Most portables hold 7 to 9 pounds of pellets. That's around 10 hours at smoking temperatures, but barely more than an hour at 400°F, so count on bringing a bag along.

Will you sear?

The Pit Boss 150 is the only one here with open flame under the grate. The Trek reaches 550°F, the hottest dial here without open flame. The 450°F grills smoke and roast well but don't char.

What I'd skip

Traeger Trailhead

A small Traeger that comes with a power inverter so it runs off your truck. The Trek plugs into the car's outlet without one.

Pit Boss 150 Battery Powered

The same Pit Boss 150 set up for 12-volt power, at about $434. That's nearly twice the price of the plain 150, and only about $25 less than the Trek.

Cuisinart 8-in-1 Portable Pellet Grill

About $319 for 188 square inches on the main rack. The Z Grills 200A has 202 for about $80 less.

ASMOKE Portable Pellet Grill, Guga's Pick

A built-in rechargeable battery is a real draw, but it costs about $500 for 271 square inches. The Trek covers the car-power side for less.

Camp Chef Pursuit 20

Smoked BBQ Source's runner-up, but it isn't sold on Amazon in the US right now.

How I picked

Folds up or sits on a table, with a latching lidSmokes low and reaches at least 450°FDigital temperature controlAt least 180 square inches of grateReviewer reports on heat, temperature swings and carryingOn Amazon US

These five came out of 20 portable pellet grills, from a $224 Pit Boss to a $500 battery-powered ASMOKE. Cooking results come from Smoked BBQ Source, AmazingRibs, T3 and RV.com, along with the makers' own specs. Prices are Amazon's on October 24, 2026.

Pinterest pin for The Best Portable Pellet Grills
Save it for laterPin this guide and find it again when you are ready to buy.Save to Pinterest

Common questions

What is the best portable pellet grill?

For most people, the Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0. It runs off a car's 12-volt outlet as well as a wall plug, reaches 550°F, and fits a whole brisket. For a tailgate crowd with an outlet nearby, the Traeger Tailgater gives you more grate.

Can you run a portable pellet grill off a car battery?

Some can. The Trek takes 12-volt power directly from a car outlet, and Pit Boss sells a 12-volt version of its 150. Grills that need 120 volts, like the Tailgater, the Ranger and the Z Grills 200A, need a generator or a power inverter connected to your vehicle.

What's the smallest pellet grill you can buy?

The tabletop models are the smallest that still smoke properly. The Traeger Ranger is about 21 x 20 x 13 inches, the Z Grills 200A 25 x 20 x 13. Both sit on a picnic table and fit in a small trunk.

How long does a hopper of pellets last on a portable pellet grill?

It depends on the heat. Z Grills says the 200A's 8-pound hopper lasts about 10 hours of low-and-slow smoking, while T3 found the Ranger's 8 pounds went in a little over an hour at around 400°F. For a long cook, bring a spare bag.

Is a portable pellet grill worth it over a portable gas grill?

If you want smoked food away from home, yes. A gas grill is lighter and quicker for burgers, but it can't hold 225°F for hours with real wood smoke. If you only grill hot dogs at the beach, gas is the easier tool.

The verdict

The Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0

If you cook where there's no outlet, get the Trek: it runs on the car's 12 volts and fits a brisket. If there's power and a crowd, the Tailgater is the bigger grill, and the Z Grills 200A is the one to carry alone.

Check price on Amazon$460.89 as of 8:15 AM ET

More from Sunday Stove

Grilling & SmokingThe Best Pellet GrillsGrilling & SmokingThe Best Portable Propane GrillsPots & PansThe Best Ceramic Nonstick Pans