Pellet Grills
Best Pellet Grills Under $500
The most competitive price band in pellet grilling. Under $500 you can now get nearly 700 square inches and a 28 lb hopper — if you give up the app.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
Best under $500
Z Grills 7002C
Z Grills · score 9.8/10 · Most kit included for the money
697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500.
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 | Z Grills 7002C697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500. | Most kit included for the money | 9.89.8 out of 10 | Check price |
| 2 |  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 |
| 3 |  Z Grills 600D2572 sq in, PID 3.0 and a storage cabinet for well under $400 — the best all-round budget pellet grill we track. | Best overall value under $400 | 9.89.8 out of 10 | $339.00Amazon |
| 4 |  Pit Boss 440 Mahogany SeriesSame 518 sq in as the 500 FB2 in a better-looking mahogany-finish body — pay the difference only if the look matters. | Buyers who want the cheap grill to not look cheap | 8.78.7 out of 10 | $410.99Amazon |
| 5 |  Z Grills 450EThe 450A2's sibling with a 2.0mm stainless lid and two probes. Better heat retention for the same money. | Cold-weather cooking on a budget | 9.39.3 out of 10 | $419.00Amazon |
| 6 |  Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0The portable to buy if you want app control and the ability to run off a vehicle's 12V supply as well as a wall socket. | Camping and tailgating with app control | 8.68.6 out of 10 | $447.00Amazon |
| 7 |  HALO Prime300300 square inches and a 10 lb hopper in a countertop cooker, which is more grate and far more fuel than any other portable here. | Long cooks away from the backyard | 8.68.6 out of 10 | $449.99Amazon |
| 8 |  Traeger RangerThe portable to buy if you want a griddle in the box: a cast iron plate is included, which no other cooker here offers. | Portable griddling and searing | 8.48.4 out of 10 | $479.99Amazon |
#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.
The snapshot table
Under $500 the right answer is the Z Grills 7002C: 697 square inches, a 28 lb hopper, PID 3.0 control, two meat probes, a grease bucket and a rain cover, all in the box. The only thing in this tier it loses to is the Pit Boss 700 Carbon’s brand support network.
| Grill | Cooking area | Hopper | Controller | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z Grills 7002C | 697 sq in | 28 lb | PID 3.0 | Most grill for the money, full stop |
| Pit Boss 700 Carbon | 718 sq in | 13.5 lb | LCD digital | Biggest grate, smallest hopper |
| Z Grills 600D2 | 572 sq in | With cleanout | PID V3.0 | Spend less, lose 125 sq in |
| Pit Boss 440 Mahogany | 518 sq in | 5 lb | LED dial-in | Buy it for the looks |
| Z Grills 450E | 459 sq in | With cleanout | PID 3.0 | Stainless lid, two probes |
| Traeger Ranger | Tabletop | 8 lb | Digital Arc | Portable, with a cast iron griddle |
Why this is the best tier to buy in
Under $400 you are choosing between controller quality and cooking area. Over $700 you are paying for software and finish. Between those two, around the $450-500 mark, you can have both a closed-loop controller and close to 700 square inches — and that combination covers almost everything a home cook will ever do.
The grills that get there do it by dropping connectivity. That is the trade, and it is the right one for most people: WiFi does not change the food, and the money it costs buys roughly 200 extra square inches at this level.
The 7002C is the most kit in a box
Z Grills includes a rain cover, two meat probes, a grease bucket and assembly gloves with the 7002C. Bought separately that is a meaningful fraction of the grill’s price. Add the 28 lb hopper — against Traeger’s 18 lb across their whole range — and the value case is hard to argue with.
One listing quirk worth clearing up: Z Grills markets it as an “electric” pellet grill. That confuses buyers, and it should not. Every pellet grill on this site needs a wall outlet to run its auger, fan and igniter, and every one burns wood pellets for heat. The 7002C is no more electric than a Traeger.
The hopper trap on the Pit Boss 700 Carbon
On cooking area the 700 Carbon wins this tier: 718 square inches, the most here. It also has automatic start-up and cool-down, porcelain grates, a grease bucket system and the Pit Boss five-year warranty.
Then there is the hopper: 13.5 lb. At roughly 1.25 lb an hour at smoking temperatures, that is about eleven hours with nothing in reserve. For most cooks that is fine. For an unattended overnight brisket it is not. If long smokes are the plan, the Z Grills’ 28 lb hopper is the more useful grill even with 20 fewer square inches.
Where the Traeger Ranger fits
It does not compete with the others here on capacity and is not trying to. It is a tabletop grill with a cast iron griddle included — the only one in this tier that will cook eggs and bacon as well as ribs. If you have a small balcony, a truck, or a boat, it belongs on your shortlist for reasons the square-inch column cannot show. See best portable pellet grills.
The picks in full
#1 · Most kit included for the money
Z Grills 7002C
Z Grills · score 9.8/10
697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500.
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 697 sq in
- Hopper
- 28 lb, tool-free cleanout
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F
- Controller
- PID 3.0, LCD, two meat probes
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.6/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.8/10.
What it does well
- 28 lb hopper is close to Pit Boss territory and nearly double Traeger's 18 lb
- Rain cover, two probes, grease bucket and gloves included
- Two locking casters plus two wheels
- Pellet viewing window
Where it falls short
- No WiFi, so the app crowd should look elsewhere
- 450°F ceiling
- Z Grills calls it an 'electric' pellet grill in the listing, which confuses buyers — it burns wood pellets and needs a wall outlet, like every pellet grill here
#2 · 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
#3 · Best overall value under $400
Z Grills 600D2
Z Grills · score 9.8/10
572 sq in, PID 3.0 and a storage cabinet for well under $400 — the best all-round budget pellet grill we track.
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 572 sq in (24 burgers, 5 rib racks or 4 chickens)
- Hopper
- Hopper with cleanout
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F
- Controller
- PID V3.0, meat probes included
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.6/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.8/10.
What it does well
- Matches a Traeger Pro 22's 572 sq in for well under half the money
- PID V3.0 with auto-start and an intelligent temperature display
- Bottom storage cabinet and a side shelf with tool hooks
- Wheels with brakes, so it stays put
Where it falls short
- No app and no WiFi
- 450°F ceiling
- Powder-coated steel, not stainless — keep it covered
#4 · Buyers who want the cheap grill to not look cheap
Pit Boss 440 Mahogany Series
Pit Boss · score 8.7/10
Same 518 sq in as the 500 FB2 in a better-looking mahogany-finish body — pay the difference only if the look matters.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 518 sq in
- Hopper
- 5 lb
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F
- Controller
- LED digital dial-in board
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 5 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.4/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 8.7/10.
What it does well
- Porcelain-coated steel grates
- Mahogany-finish lid genuinely looks a tier above its price
- Simple dial-in board with an LED readout — nothing to go wrong
Where it falls short
- Costs more than the 500 FB2 for identical cooking area
- 5 lb hopper, no WiFi, single-probe board
- LED board is less precise than the LCD controllers on newer models
#5 · Cold-weather cooking on a budget
Z Grills 450E
Z Grills · score 9.3/10
The 450A2's sibling with a 2.0mm stainless lid and two probes. Better heat retention for the same money.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 459 sq in
- Hopper
- Hopper with cleanout and pellet view window
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F, +/-20°F
- Controller
- PID 3.0, large LCD, two meat probes
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.1/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.3/10.
What it does well
- 2.0mm stainless steel lid holds heat better than the painted steel on cheaper models
- Two meat probes included, not one
- Z Grills publishes its accuracy figure (+/-20°F) rather than leaving it vague
Where it falls short
- Same 459 sq in as the 450A2 — modest for the price
- 450°F ceiling
- No connectivity
#6 · Camping and tailgating with app control
Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0
Green Mountain Grills · score 8.6/10
The portable to buy if you want app control and the ability to run off a vehicle's 12V supply as well as a wall socket.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 215 sq in (17.25 x 12.5 in grate)
- Hopper
- Not stated on this listing
- Temperature range
- 150-550°F in 5°F steps
- Controller
- Digital WiFi controller
- Connectivity
- WiFi, free iOS and Android app
- Warranty
- Not stated on this listing
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.3/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 8.6/10.
What it does well
- 150-550°F is the widest range of any portable here — most stop at 450°F or 500°F
- Runs on 12V from a vehicle or 120V AC, so a campsite with no outlet is not a problem
- WiFi app control, which no other portable in this price range offers
- Chimney rotates 90° or lifts off completely, so it stores flat in a truck bed
- Arrives about 95% preassembled with the tools included
Where it falls short
- 215 sq in is a two-to-four-person grate, not a party grill
- Green Mountain Grills does not publish a hopper capacity or a warranty term on this listing
- The listing title says “Trek Prime 20” while its own feature bullets describe the “Trek Prime 2.0” — the maker contradicts itself
#7 · Long cooks away from the backyard
HALO Prime300
HALO · score 8.6/10
300 square inches and a 10 lb hopper in a countertop cooker, which is more grate and far more fuel than any other portable here.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 300 sq in
- Hopper
- 10 lb, rated 15-20 hours of runtime
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F
- Controller
- Digital display with slide-control searing damper
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- Not stated on this listing
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.3/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 8.6/10.
What it does well
- 10 lb hopper against 7-8 lb on most portables, so an overnight cook does not need a refill
- 300 sq in matches the Traeger Tailgater for grate area at a lower price
- Slide-control searing damper switches between smoking and searing without moving the food
- Runs on the included AC adapter, or an optional 12V 5Ah lithium battery
- Sunlight-readable digital display, which matters on a cooker designed for outdoors
Where it falls short
- The 12V lithium battery is sold separately, so off-grid use costs extra
- No WiFi and no app
- HALO does not publish a warranty term on this listing
#8 · Portable griddling and searing
Traeger Ranger
Traeger · score 8.4/10
The portable to buy if you want a griddle in the box: a cast iron plate is included, which no other cooker here offers.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- Tabletop chamber; Traeger does not state a square-inch figure on this listing
- Hopper
- 8 lb
- Temperature range
- Not stated on this listing
- Controller
- Digital Arc Controller with Keep Warm mode
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.1/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 8.4/10.
What it does well
- A cast iron griddle is included, so breakfast and a sear need no extra purchase
- Digital Arc Controller with a Keep Warm mode, which the cheaper portables do not have
- Traeger's dealer network and parts availability are the best in pellet grilling
- Built on Traeger's own portable platform, so covers and accessories are easy to find
Where it falls short
- Traeger publishes no cooking area and no temperature range on this listing
- 8 lb hopper, against 10 lb on the HALO Prime300
- No WiFi and no app at a price where the GMG Trek Prime 2.0 includes both
Our recommendation
Top pick
Z Grills 7002C
Most kit included for the money.
Runner-up
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)
Questions people actually ask
What is the best pellet grill under $500?
The Z Grills 7002C — 697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, PID 3.0 control and a cover, two probes and a grease bucket included. The Pit Boss 700 Carbon has slightly more grate area but a far smaller hopper.
Can you get a pellet grill with WiFi under $500?
Not one we would recommend. WiFi starts appearing reliably around $650. Dropping it is exactly how the grills in this tier afford 700 square inches.
Pit Boss or Z Grills under $500?
Z Grills for the controller, the hopper and the included accessories; Pit Boss for the grate area, the five-year warranty and the easier parts supply. Full comparison: Pit Boss vs Z Grills.
How big a hopper do I need?
For grilling and short smokes, 8-14 lb is plenty. For unattended overnight cooks, 20 lb is the floor and 28-30 lb removes the worry. The hopper arithmetic is laid out in best pellet smokers.
Is 450°F hot enough?
For everything except steak crust and pizza. If you want serious searing, either buy a grill with a direct-flame slider or add sear grates — the grates are much cheaper than the price step to a 500°F grill.
Sources
Read next
Pellet Grills
Best Pellet Grills Under $400
Four grills under $400, all with real PID temperature control.
Pellet Grills
Best Pellet Grills Under $700
The tier where you choose: WiFi, a 50 lb hopper, or insulation.
Reviews
Z Grills 7002C Review
697 sq in, 28 lb hopper, and everything you'd otherwise buy.
Reviews
Pit Boss 700 Carbon Review
718 sq in under $500 — the biggest grate in the tier.