Comparisons
Pit Boss 500 FB2 vs 700 Carbon
The two budget Pit Boss barrels. One has far more capacity, the other has the sear slider — and the hopper difference is bigger than the grate difference.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
500 FB2 vs 700 Carbon
Pit Boss 700 Carbon Series
Pit Boss · score 9.4/10 · Under-$500 buyers who want real capacity
718 sq in for mid-$400s with no WiFi to pay for — the honest sweet spot if you cook from the patio, not the sofa.
Pit Boss list price as of 2026-11-07.
Also on Amazon — $450.42 (as of November 7, 2026)
Quick picks
Ranked by our value-weighted score. Prices are live from Amazon as of November 7, 2026 — tap a price to check it now, or tap a row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pit Boss 700 Carbon Series718 sq in for mid-$400s with no WiFi to pay for — the honest sweet spot if you cook from the patio, not the sofa. | Under-$500 buyers who want real capacity | 9.49.4 out of 10 | $379.99Pit Boss |
| 2 |  Pit Boss 500 FB2 SeriesThe cheapest full-size pellet grill we would actually recommend — 518 sq in, direct-flame searing, five-year warranty. | First pellet grill on a tight budget | 9.19.1 out of 10 | $357.30Amazon |
#ad We earn a commission on Amazon purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the ranking — here is the method.
Side by side
| Pit Boss 500 FB2 | Pit Boss 700 Carbon | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 518 sq in, 2 tiers | 718 sq in | 700 Carbon (+200 sq in) |
| Hopper | 5 lb | 13.5 lb with cleanout | 700 Carbon (+8.5 lb) |
| Temperature range | 180-500°F in 5°F steps | 180-500°F | Even |
| Flame Broiler | Yes — direct flame to 1,000°F | No | 500 FB2 |
| Controller | LCD digital | LCD digital | Even |
| Probes | 1 included, 2 ports | 1 included | Even |
| Grates | Standard | Porcelain-coated steel | 700 Carbon |
| Grease management | Tray | Bucket system | 700 Carbon |
| Auto start / cool down | Not stated | Yes | 700 Carbon |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | Even |
The hopper is the story
5 lb against 13.5 lb does not sound dramatic until you convert it. At roughly 1.25 lb an hour at smoking temperatures:
- 500 FB2: about four hours. Enough for ribs if you are standing there; not enough for a pork shoulder without refilling twice.
- 700 Carbon: about eleven hours. Enough for most long cooks with a little watching.
That is the single biggest functional difference between these two grills, and it is larger in practical terms than the 200 square inch gap.
What the Flame Broiler buys you
A sliding plate in the heat deflector. Open it and part of the grate sees direct flame, which Pit Boss rates to 1,000°F. That is genuine searing on a pellet grill, and it is the one thing the 500 FB2 does that the 700 Carbon cannot.
If steak is weekly, that may well settle it. If it is occasional, a set of sear grates on the 700 Carbon gets you most of the way for a small outlay — and you keep the bigger hopper and the extra grate.
The ones to consider instead
Both of these grills are beaten on controller quality by Z Grills at similar money. The Z Grills 600D2 has a PID board where both Pit Boss grills have LCD boards, and the 7002C has a 28 lb hopper — double the 700 Carbon’s.
What Pit Boss keeps: the five-year warranty against Z Grills’ three, the Flame Broiler on the 500 FB2, and the easier parts supply. Full picture: Pit Boss vs Z Grills.
The picks in full
#1 · Under-$500 buyers who want real capacity
Pit Boss 700 Carbon Series
Pit Boss · score 9.4/10
718 sq in for mid-$400s with no WiFi to pay for — the honest sweet spot if you cook from the patio, not the sofa.
Pit Boss list price as of 2026-11-07.
Also on Amazon — $450.42 (as of November 7, 2026)
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 718 sq in
- Hopper
- 13.5 lb, with cleanout
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F
- Controller
- LCD digital, one meat probe included
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 5 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.2/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.4/10.
What it does well
- 718 sq in at this price is more grate than any WiFi-equipped grill near it
- Porcelain-coated grates and a grease bucket system, not a bare tray
- Automatic start-up and cool-down cycles
- Hopper cleanout, so swapping pellet flavors is quick
Where it falls short
- No WiFi and no Bluetooth — you adjust it at the grill
- 13.5 lb hopper means a mid-cook top-up on anything past about eight hours
- One probe only
#2 · First pellet grill on a tight budget
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series
Pit Boss · score 9.1/10
The cheapest full-size pellet grill we would actually recommend — 518 sq in, direct-flame searing, five-year warranty.
$399.9911% off
Also direct from Pit Boss — $399.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 518 sq in across two tiers
- Hopper
- 5 lb
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F in 5°F steps
- Controller
- LCD digital, one probe included, two ports
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 5 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.9/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.1/10.
What it does well
- Full-size 518 sq in chamber for close to what a portable costs
- Flame Broiler lever opens direct flame for searing up to 1,000°F — rare at this price
- Five-year warranty is unusually long for a budget grill
Where it falls short
- 5 lb hopper is the real compromise: expect to refill on any long smoke
- No connectivity at all
- Thin-gauge body loses heat in cold weather, so winter cooks run longer
Our recommendation
Top pick
Pit Boss 700 Carbon Series
Under-$500 buyers who want real capacity.
Pit Boss list price as of 2026-11-07.
Also on Amazon — $450.42 (as of November 7, 2026)
Runner-up
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series
First pellet grill on a tight budget.
$399.9911% off
Also direct from Pit Boss — $399.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Questions people actually ask
Which is better, the Pit Boss 500 FB2 or 700 Carbon?
The 700 Carbon for most people — 200 more square inches and a 13.5 lb hopper against 5 lb. The 500 FB2 only if you want the Flame Broiler sear slider, which the Carbon does not have.
Is a 5 lb hopper enough?
For grilling and a short smoke, yes. For anything over about four hours you will be refilling mid-cook, which rules out unattended overnight cooking entirely.
Can you add a sear slider to the 700 Carbon?
No — it is built into the heat deflector design. The practical alternative is sear grates or a cast iron griddle, which cost far less than the capacity you would give up by choosing the 500 FB2.
Sources
Read next
Reviews
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Review
518 sq in with real searing, cheap — but a 5 lb hopper.
Reviews
Pit Boss 700 Carbon Review
718 sq in under $500 — the biggest grate in the tier.
Pellet Grills
Best Pellet Grills Under $500
Six grills under $500 — the tier where real capacity arrives.
Comparisons
Pit Boss vs Z Grills
The answer flips with your budget — here's where the line sits.