Best Grills and Smokers of 2026: 6 Picks Worth Buying

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Picking from the best grills and smokers starts with how you like to cook. Gas grills are fast and convenient for weeknight burgers and chicken. Charcoal kettles give classic flavor for little money. Pellet grills make low-and-slow smoking almost hands-off, and some now sear well too. This list covers all three types, from a classic kettle to a premium outdoor kitchen centerpiece. Price ranges span from about $150 to well over $3,000, so knowing your cooking style first will save you money. Our picks are based on specs, manufacturer documentation, warranty terms, independent review consensus and owner-feedback patterns.

Quick picks

Product	Best for	Our verdict	Typical price
Weber Genesis E-325s	Family grilling	Buy	about $1,000–$1,300
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch	Classic charcoal flavor	Buy	about $150–$220
Traeger Ironwood XL Pellet Grill	Big cookouts	Buy	about $1,800–$2,300
Weber Searwood 600 XL Pellet Grill	Smoke and sear	Buy	about $1,100–$1,400
Traeger Pro 575	Low-and-slow smoking	Buy	about $700–$900
Traeger Timberline XL Pellet Grill	Outdoor kitchen centerpiece	Consider	about $3,300–$3,800

Grill prices swing with the season, so check the current price before you buy.

The best grills and smokers in 2026

The Genesis E-325s is a gas grill for people who grill often, not just on holidays. Its biggest strength is very even heat across the cooking grates, which means fewer hot and cold spots and less shuffling of food. A large sear zone gives you a dedicated high-heat area for steaks, chops and burgers, so you can get a good crust while cooking other food more gently elsewhere on the grill.

It is also built to last. Weber has a long-standing reputation for durable gas grills, and replacement parts for the Genesis line are widely available if something wears out years down the road.

The trade-offs are price and size. At about $1,000–$1,300 it is expensive, and it takes up real space on a deck or patio, so measure first.

Skip it if you only grill a few times a year. In that case, the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch delivers great results for a fraction of the cost, and you won’t feel bad about it sitting idle for a few months.

Who is the ideal Genesis buyer? A household that grills two or three times a week from spring through fall, cooks for four or more, and wants dinner on the table quickly after work. For that pattern, the convenience of gas plus Weber’s even heat makes a real daily difference.

The Weber kettle is one of the most recognizable grills in the country, and the Premium 22-inch version is still one of the best values in outdoor cooking. It is simple and tough, delivers great charcoal flavor and should last years with basic care. The Premium model’s easy ash cleanup makes the messy part of charcoal grilling much less annoying.

A kettle is also more versatile than it looks. With coals banked to one side, you can set up two zones: direct heat for searing and indirect heat for slower cooking like whole chickens or even a small smoke with wood chunks.

The trade-off is convenience. Charcoal takes longer to heat than gas, and you manage the fire yourself by adjusting vents and adding fuel.

Skip it if you want push-button convenience. For anyone who values flavor, a small budget or a second grill alongside a gas model, it is hard to beat.

It also makes a great first grill. Learning to manage a charcoal fire teaches heat control that carries over to any other grill you buy later, and at this price the risk is low. A kettle also makes a good second grill alongside a gas or pellet model, since it sears well and costs little to run.

The Ironwood XL is built for people who smoke big cuts for gatherings. It has a huge cooking area, so a few pork shoulders, several racks of ribs or a full brisket plus sides fit comfortably. Traeger’s Super Smoke feature boosts smoke output during cooking, and owners consistently praise the Ironwood’s excellent smoke flavor.

App control over Wi-Fi lets you set and adjust temperatures and monitor cooks from your phone, which is a real advantage on overnight brisket. Pellet grills feed hardwood pellets automatically to hold temperature, so you are not tending a fire for hours.

The trade-offs are typical of pellet grills: a weaker sear than gas or charcoal and ongoing pellet costs. Skip it if you want high-heat searing for steaks. In that case, the Weber Searwood 600 XL Pellet Grill is the better pellet choice, or pair the Ironwood with a kettle for searing.

The Ironwood XL is best for people who host regularly: family reunions, game-day parties or neighborhood cookouts where you need to feed a crowd. If most of your cooks are for four people, its capacity is more than you need, and the Traeger Pro 575 costs far less.

The Searwood 600 XL is Weber’s answer to the classic pellet grill weakness. It smokes low and slow like any good pellet grill but also sears better than most pellet grills, so one grill can handle both a brisket on Saturday and steaks on Sunday. It also heats up fast and includes app control.

That combination makes it the most versatile pellet grill in this list. If you want one grill rather than a gas grill plus a smoker, it is the strongest candidate.

The main trade-off is size: it is smaller than the Traeger Ironwood XL Pellet Grill, so very large cookouts are a tighter fit. Skip it if you want the largest capacity for big gatherings. For most families who want both smoking and searing, though, it hits the sweet spot.

It is also a good pick for people who already trust Weber after years with a kettle or gas grill and want to try smoking without giving up searing. Fast heat-up means it works for weeknight dinners, not just weekend projects.

The Pro 575 is the most affordable pellet grill here and the easiest way into Wi-Fi controlled smoking. It is built for easy, consistent low-and-slow cooking: set the temperature from your phone, load pellets and let it work on brisket, ribs or pulled pork while you get on with your day.

It is also versatile, handling roasting and baking as well as smoking. For a first pellet grill, it covers most of what people want at about $700–$900.

The trade-offs mirror the bigger Traeger: a weaker sear and ongoing pellet costs. Skip it if you want very high-heat searing; the Weber Searwood 600 XL Pellet Grill or a gas grill like the Weber Genesis E-325s is better for that.

The Pro 575 is a smart choice for a first smoker. It lets you learn barbecue without babysitting a fire, and the app control means you can step away from the grill during a long cook. If you later want stronger searing, a kettle makes an inexpensive partner.

The Timberline XL is a premium centerpiece for an outdoor kitchen. It adds an induction side burner, so you can sear, sauté or make sauces right next to the grill, and it is insulated for cold weather, which helps it hold temperature when you smoke in winter. The build is premium throughout.

The problem is price. At about $3,300–$3,800, it costs far more than the other grills here, and the Ironwood XL delivers much of the same smoking capability for much less.

That is why it lands in Consider. Buy it if you want a premium centerpiece grill with an induction burner and you smoke year-round. Skip it if value matters; the Traeger Ironwood XL Pellet Grill or Weber Searwood 600 XL Pellet Grill is the smarter buy for most people.

If you are designing an outdoor kitchen, live somewhere with long, cold winters and want to smoke all year, the Timberline XL’s insulation and side burner do solve real problems. Just be honest about whether those features are worth roughly double the price of the Ironwood XL. For most backyards, they are not.

How to choose a grill or smoker

Gas, charcoal or pellet

Each fuel suits a different cook. Gas is fastest to heat and easiest for weeknights; choose the Weber Genesis E-325s if you grill several times a week. Charcoal gives classic flavor and a hot sear for little money; choose the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch if you enjoy managing a fire. Pellet grills are the easiest way to smoke; choose a Traeger or the Searwood if low-and-slow barbecue is your goal.

If you can’t decide, think about the meal you cook most. Burgers, chicken breasts and vegetables on a Tuesday point to gas. Saturday brisket and pulled pork point to pellet. Steaks and a love of tinkering with fire point to charcoal. Plenty of households end up with two grills for exactly this reason, often a kettle plus either gas or pellet.

Searing vs smoking

This is the single most important decision for pellet grill buyers.

Pellet grills are excellent at holding low temperatures for hours, but most don’t sear as hard as gas or charcoal. If you care about steak crust, look at the Searwood 600 XL, which sears better than most pellet grills, or keep a kettle alongside a pellet grill. If you mostly smoke ribs, pork and brisket, a Traeger is a great fit.

Size and capacity

Think about your typical cook, not your biggest one. A family of four rarely needs a huge grill. If you host big cookouts often, the Traeger Ironwood XL Pellet Grill has a huge cooking area. Also measure your space, including room for the lid to open and safe clearance from walls and railings as specified in the manual.

Fuel costs and convenience

Gas grills need propane tanks or a natural gas line, depending on the model. Charcoal is cheap but messy. Pellet grills need a steady supply of hardwood smoking pellets, and pellet costs add up if you cook often. Factor fuel into your budget, not just the grill price.

App control and accessories

Wi-Fi app control, offered on the Traeger and Weber pellet grills here, lets you monitor and adjust cooks from your phone. Even without it, a good instant-read meat thermometer is the most useful accessory you can buy for any grill, and a fitted cover protects your investment from the weather.

Cleaning and maintenance

Every grill needs regular cleaning to cook well and last. Brush grates after each cook, empty ash from charcoal grills, and clean grease trays and drip buckets on gas and pellet grills to reduce flare-up and fire risk. Pellet grills also need ash removed from the fire pot periodically, and pellets should be kept dry, since damp pellets can cause feed problems. Follow the maintenance schedule in your grill’s manual.

Weather and climate

If you grill or smoke through cold winters, insulation and build quality matter more. The Traeger Timberline XL Pellet Grill is insulated for cold weather. For other grills, a cover and a sheltered spot help, and pellet grills may use more pellets in cold, windy weather.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best grill for most families?

The Weber Genesis E-325s. It has very even heat, a large sear zone and a durable build, and gas makes weeknight grilling quick. It typically costs about $1,000–$1,300. If that is more than you want to spend, the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch delivers great charcoal flavor for about $150–$220, though it takes longer to heat.

Pellet grill or gas grill: which should I buy?

Buy gas if you grill often for quick weeknight meals and want strong searing. Buy a pellet grill if you love smoked barbecue and want an easy, app-controlled way to cook low and slow. If you want both, the Weber Searwood 600 XL Pellet Grill smokes well and sears better than most pellet grills, making it a good one-grill solution.

Is the Traeger Timberline XL worth it?

For most people, no. It has an induction side burner, cold-weather insulation and a premium build, but it costs about $3,300–$3,800. The Traeger Ironwood XL offers a huge cooking area and excellent smoke flavor for much less. Consider the Timberline XL only if it is the centerpiece of an outdoor kitchen and budget is not a concern.

Can you smoke on a charcoal kettle?

Yes. Set up a two-zone fire with coals on one side, put the meat on the other side and add a few wood chunks for smoke. Use the vents to control temperature. It takes more attention than a pellet grill, but a kettle like the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch can produce excellent smoked chicken, ribs and pork.

How long do grills last?

A well-built grill that is cleaned regularly, covered and stored sensibly can last many years. Durability depends on materials, climate and care. Weber kettles and the Genesis line have a strong reputation for longevity, and replacement parts are widely available. Check each manufacturer’s warranty terms before you buy, since coverage differs by part and brand.

Do pellet grills give real smoke flavor?

Yes, though the flavor is often milder than a traditional offset smoker or charcoal fire. Pellet grills burn hardwood pellets, and features like Traeger’s Super Smoke increase smoke output. Owners of the Traeger Ironwood XL in particular highlight its smoke flavor. If you want a stronger smoky taste, try different pellet woods and cook at lower temperatures, where pellet grills tend to produce more smoke.

The bottom line

The Weber Genesis E-325s is the best grill for most families in 2026 thanks to its even heat, large sear zone and durable build. The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch is the best value. For smoking, the Weber Searwood 600 XL is the most versatile pellet grill, the Traeger Ironwood XL is the big-cookout pick and the Traeger Pro 575 is the affordable entry point.

Planning a cookout? Our list of the best coolers keeps drinks cold, and if you also cook indoors, see the best air fryers.

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