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Finding the right smoker can be daunting and there are typically some questions that arise during the process. Will this be the right one for me? Will this fit my needs? What are recent customers saying about it? Is this within my budget? No need to worry, we’re going to answer every questions with ease.
In this article, we’re going to review a handful of great models and help you find the best budget smoker! We’re going to work our way up in price and cover our pick under $60, $75, $100, $150, and $200.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Budget Smokers
Comparison of the Best Budget Smokers
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Can You Really Find a Quality Smoker That’s Affordable?
Yes, you can find smokers that are of high-quality products and affordable too. Often, people confuse themselves with the misconception that low price products lead you to low and cheap quality. Yet, this is not the truth for everything.
Let’s talk about smokers, which are available at an amazing price. For your convenience and feasibility, we have mentioned the best smokers that are affordable and perfect for cooking above. They produce less smoke, and you can carry these kitchen utensils everywhere easily. Thus, finding a quality smoker that is affordable too is not difficult at all.
How to Choose a Budget-Friendly Smoker
Buying a budget-friendly smoker might seem easy, but that’s not entirely the case. Cooking and eating are two of the most important parts of our lives, making it essential to choose only the best product. The aspects you need to consider before buying a smoker are:
Price
One of the most important factors that you need to think about before buying any smoker is its cost. You should buy a grill which gives an amazing result and is also not a burden on your pocket. A lot of products of this type are present in the market, but if budget is a problem, then you must be careful about its price.
Thermostat
Preparing delicious food within a short time is the main requirement for everyone. You need to buy a smoker, which allows you to set the temperature according to your usage. A grill with a maximum range for setting the temperature is preferable.
Maintenance and Cleaning
You should buy a smoker that is easy to use and clean. Cleaning and maintaining the smoker is not a piece of cake. So it is better to see if it is possible for you to clean the grill properly before investing in one.
Smoking Doesn’t Have to Come at a Cost
As we know, smoking and grilling can quickly become and expensive hobby. There are a plethora of smokers on the market today that are nearly a thousand dollars - something some of us would definitely like to avoid.
But quality doesn’t have to suffer as a result of settling on a smoker that is less than ultra pricey ones. We can’t wait to show you which ones made our list!
Willy's Top Picks - Best Budget Smokers
Here's the top 3 best budget smokers:
Review of the Best Budget Smokers
Let's take a look at the top models that made our list for the best budget smokers!
Best Smoker Under $60:
Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers are very happy and glad about the purchase of this smoker. They love the easy access door for adding charcoal and the built-in thermometer. Users found it quite easy to use. According to them, it has a perfect size and is affordable too. Customers, overall, are highly satisfied with it and have no complaints.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This smoker stands out to us because it is an ideal kitchen tool, which has excellent features and is inexpensive. The porcelain pan and two coated racks along with the water bowl are quite impressive. Moreover, it has a built-in thermometer that indicates the exact temperature reading. For these reasons, we recommend it to everyone.
First, and our top pick for the best budget smoker under $60 is the Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker. This popular model is one of Amazon’s Choice and for good reason.
For it’s reasonable price, this little bullet smoker is just that - a bullet who’s killing the smoking game. We’re going to review the best features Masterbuilt packed into this model then take a look at the pros and cons mentioned by recent customers. Let’s see what’s expected with this purchase!
Main Features of the Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker
- 395.4 sq. inches of available space for cooking
- Two smoking racks coated in porcelain
- Easily add charcoal through the front-access door
- Water bowl and charcoal pan are also coated in porcelain
- Built-in thermometer on the lid
Who Will Use This Most
Customers can use this smoker for cooking meat and chicken. They can even use it for grilling purposes. Since it is very small in size and easy to use, you can carry it to picnics and farmhouses. Chefs can use it to make delicious food. They can even use it to teach cooking to anyone.
Bottom Line
Summing it up, this charcoal smoker is great for cooking and grilling. It is portable, affordable, and easy to use kitchen equipment. It provides enough space for cooking food for a large party. Due to its coating, you don’t need to season the pan. Cleaning it is also very easy. So if you’re on a budget and need something for that perfect smokiness, this is the way to go.
Best Smoker Under $100:
Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers are very impressed by the quality of this kettle. They love the colors and outstanding features of this product. They have written that this is a long-lasting and fantastic grill. According to buyers, people should not hesitate to buy this smoker at all. It can help you perform various tasks at an affordable price.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We give a big shout out to this smoker because it can handle quite a good amount of meat in one go. It has a single touch cleaning system and a built-in thermometer. We love its design and look. The porcelain coating protects the smoker from rusting and peeling as well.
Coming in next is the Weber 741001 Original Kettle and our pick for the best budget smoker under $100!
In an act to replicate the kettle that we all grew up with, the Original Kettle is the perfect grill for campers, griller, entertaining, and even expert chefs.
There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel. Weber knows what works and offers an amazing model to be loved by all. Before we cover the pros and cons, let’s check out the main features.
Main Features of the Weber Original Kettle:
- Built-in thermometer on lid
- 10 year limited warranty from Weber
- 363 sq. inches of cooking space within the heavy duty 22 inch steel grate
- Removable aluminum ash catcher makes dumping ash a breeze
- Bowl and lid are both porcelain-enamel coated and able to withstand high temperatures
Who Will Use This Most
This smoker is very useful for restaurants and hotels. Customers can use it to make a lot of food, including burgers and grilled vegetables at a time. You can easily insert charcoal for grilling and doing a BBQ. Professional cooks can also use this kettle for quicker and easier cooking.
Bottom Line
Summarizing this product, it is a cheap and perfect utensils required for cooking. This kettle has a lid, which will protect you from burning and hurting. It is not problematic at all. You can use it without any tension or stress. A little bit of knowledge about cooking can help you in making amazing food with this product.
Best Smoker Under $150:
Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Purchasers are very satisfied and gratified by this smoker. They have written that the fear of breaking and damaging is no more with this unit. It is a life-changing grill and an excellent smoker. Some customers have also mentioned that it is a waste of money. But it is still one of the best ongoing products in the market.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It has an ash dump pan, which will help the user in cleaning and washing the smoker. We find this product to be great because it provides uniform heat to the food. The flavor of the food that it prepares is also very tasty. Plus, you can grill a good amount of food by using very little charcoal.
Number four on our list and the best smoker under $150 is the Char-Griller Akorn JR. Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill!
This compact design is ideal for a number of different environments and can easily be taken on trips. This is perfect for single chefs, family outings, and year-round smoking sessions. Let’s have a look at the main features then see what recent customers had to say about their experience!
Main Features of the Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill:
- Lid is hinge locking
- 153 sq. inches of cooking space
- Ash pan can be easily dumped making cleaning simple and smooth
- Dual airflow dampers on top and bottom help regulate airflow and temperature
- Triple wall steel construction insulates to provide a one of a kind smoking experience
Who Will Use This Most
Since this smoker is portable and simple to use, you can take it along with you while going for a picnic. It is also beneficial in cooking food during camping, RVing, and tailgating. Beginners can also use it for cooking and grilling.
Bottom Line
All in all, this grill is an easy-to-go product. It is an affordable charcoal smoker with amazing features. It has perfect insulation and ceramic grills and protects you and your food from burning. This is an ideal smoker for RVing and camping and will fulfill all your expectations.
Best Smoker Under $200:
Camp Chef Smoke Vault 18"
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers have mentioned that this is a very easy-to-use smoker. It is great for BBQs and smoking your favorite foods. This smoker is not a waste of money at all. It can cook perfect food without using a lot of resources. It is worth praising and great for commercial use. It has received a lot of appreciation from customers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This smoker stands out to us because it uses less heat and produces less smoke. It has two smoking racks, which you can adjust according to your needs. It comes with recipe books, ideas, and cooking tips that can help beginners who are learning cooking. The burning drum, jerky rack, damper valves, and matchless ignition are very impressive. These features automatically attract customers towards themselves.
The Camp Chef Smoke Vault is an outstanding smoker designed to lock and secure meats or veggies, safely storing them until you’re ready to indulge.
The sleek and professional design of the 18” model we’ll be reviewing is beautifully constructed and features an eye catching stainless steel door. Proudly carried by the Smoke Hollow name, this smoker is crowded with features. Let’s take a look why it made our list for the best budget smoker under $200!
Main Features Camp Chef Smoke Vault 18":
- Includes water pan
- Easily visible built in door thermometer ranging from 50℉ to 550℉
- Matchless snap-ignition makes start up a walk in the park compared to other models
- 2 adjustable racks - cook meats of all sizes with ease
- 3 adjustable dampers to control heat and smoke output
Who Will Use This Most
This smoker looks great and is easy to use. Cooking schools can use it to teach their students cooking without facing any difficulty. The tips and ideas book can provide a lot of help to users. Chefs can also use it to cook delicious food using less heat. It can also be used in weddings for live cooking because it has an amazing design.
Bottom Line
In a nutshell, you will find your investment to be put in the right place with this unit. Every single penny you will spend on it is worth it. You can use it and carry it to various places. It can also cook delicious food within a few seconds. It is an amazing product that every kitchen must-have.
5. Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Nearly all recent reviews mention that this is a must-have kitchen utensil. The setup is very easy and simple, and users have enjoyed using it quite a lot. According to them, the size is perfect and provides great value for money as well. However, some of them have also mentioned that the gauge isn’t accurate every time. Despite that, the majority have recommended others to invest in it as well.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The firebox, which has a door for cleaning purposes and a side shelf, is an impressive feature of this smoker. We also like the 3 smoking chambers that prevent heat and air loss. It has a temperature gauge, which can be used for setting the temperature. You will never regret buying this product.
Second on our list and our pick for the best budget smoker under $75 is the Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker!
The standard smoker is the model we’ll be reviewing today but we want you to know this smoker also comes in a deluxe and deluxe plus charcoal starter edition.
This model also made the list on our Best Grill Smoker Combo article! Without further ado, here are the main features!
Main Features of the Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker
- 140 sq. inches of cooking space in firebox area
- 290 sq. inches of cooking space in main area
- Full control over heat and smoke output
- Steel firebox grate adjusts vertically
- Easy to clean out ash thanks to door and adjustable damper
Who Will Use This Most
This offset smoker is very useful for restaurants, especially those who are known for BBQs and grilled food. Families can even use it for grilling fish and vegetables. Cooking schools can also use it to teach their students the perfect cooking techniques. All in all, if you love to cook, this utensil is an ideal choice for you.
Bottom Line
In a nutshell, this product is an excellent grill and stove. It cooks the food according to your needs. You can also set the gauge by yourself. Cleaning and using it is not difficult at all. We are sure that you will love this product and enjoy smoking sessions with it.
Conclusion
In the end, we hope we’ve contributed a great deal toward your next purchase and smoking excursion. While the Camp Chef is our top pick, that doesn’t mean that the others won’t serve you well. When it comes to picking the perfect smoker, there are a ton of things to evaluate, including budget. The products we’ve outlined all come with a great deal of benefits but surely there are qualities to be weary of based off recent customer’s history.
The bottom line is - out of these smokers, our top pick is the Camp Chef Smoke Vault 18". It was hard for us to find things that people didn’t like, it’s simply a great valued, well-rounded smoker.
If this review was helpful (or not helpful for any reason), be sure to leave a comment below. We love hearing from readers and can’t wait to hear about which smoker you settled on. Happy Smoking!
People Also Ask
There are hundreds of smokers available in the market. However, it is not an easy task to choose the best one. At the same time, there are thousands of questions arising in your mind. So, to sort out your issues, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions.
Which is Better, Propane, or Electric Smoker?
Propane smokers are better when compared to electric smokers. They give an enhanced smoky flavor and delicious food. They are also relatively cheaper. You don’t need to worry about electricity and water. Thus, buying a propane smoker is more advantageous than buying an electric one.
Do Electric Smokers Use a Lot of Electricity?
With the advancement in technology, smokers have also improved a lot. Thus, now, electric smokers do not use a lot of electricity. According to research, the majority of models only use 880 watts of power per hour. This won’t cost you a lot of money.
Do You Soak Wood Chips For Propane Smoker?
No, there is no need to soak the wood chips for a propane smoker. You can smoke on the least level of heat that the grill can hold and reduce the time needed for cooking. To get maximum smoke, soak the wood chips for 30 minutes in water. After this, you need to place the drained chips on the heated coals.
