The Best Pellet Grill Covers

Are pellet grill covers waterproof?

Most quality covers are water-resistant rather than fully waterproof, and that is the right design. A genuinely sealed cover traps condensation against the steel, which rusts it from the inside. What you want is a water-resistant fabric that sheds rain while still allowing some airflow.

Manufacturers phrase this inconsistently. Some say waterproof, some say water-resistant, some say both on the same listing. The practical point: a cover will keep rain off the grill and will not keep a grill bone dry in a humid climate. Lift it occasionally on dry days.

What 600D means

The D is denier — a measure of the fabric’s thread weight. 600D polyester is the common standard for grill covers and is a reasonable balance of durability and price. Higher numbers (1000D) are tougher and stiffer; lower numbers tear sooner.

Every third-party cover in our picks states 600D except the Kipiea, which also states UV resistance. If your grill sits in full sun, UV resistance matters more than denier, because sunlight is what makes a cover brittle and powdery after two seasons.

Fitment: the part people get wrong

Third-party covers are sold against lists of model numbers, and those lists are approximate. Two things to check before ordering:

1. Your exact model number — not just “Pit Boss 850”. Pit Boss has sold 820 Deluxe, 850 DX, 850SL and Navigator 850 variants, and the dimensions differ.
2. Whether you have a front shelf fitted. A folding front shelf adds depth that a standard cover will not accommodate when extended. Fold it down before covering, or buy a size up.

OEM or third party?

Traeger’s own BAC504 costs roughly three times a generic 600D cover and fits exactly. Whether that is worth it comes down to how much you value a guaranteed fit and matching appearance.

Our view: on a cheap grill, buy the generic — the cover costs a meaningful fraction of the grill and 600D is adequate. On an expensive grill, the OEM cover is a rounding error on the purchase and removes the fitment guesswork. There is also no warranty worth speaking of on third-party covers.

Why the cover matters more than people think

Three failure modes it prevents:

• Hopper moisture. Rain finds the hopper lid seam, pellets swell and crumble, and the auger jams. This is the most common pellet grill failure and a cover largely prevents it.
• Controller water ingress. The controller is electronics in a box bolted to the outside of the grill. Water gets in.
• Body rust. Powder-coated steel chips, and chips rust. Budget grills are thinner, so it matters more on exactly the grills whose owners are least inclined to spend on accessories.

One thing we will not tell you: that a cover makes a grill safe to leave out all winter in a wet climate. It helps considerably and it is not a garage. If you can bring the grill under shelter in the off-season, do.