The Best Pellets for a Traeger

Does using non-Traeger pellets void the warranty?

No. Traeger grills take standard BBQ pellets, and every brand on this page states compatibility with all pellet grills — Camp Chef explicitly lists Traeger among the grills its pellets work in. Using another brand is a normal, supported thing to do.

What is true is that Traeger’s own pellets are genuinely good: made in USA, no binders, low ash, and a consistent pellet size. The problem is the format.

The 18 lb bag problem

Traeger sells 18 lb bags where almost everyone else sells 20 lb, and Pit Boss and CookinPellets sell 40 lb. That makes Traeger the most expensive pellets per pound of anything we track — and because Traeger grills have 18 lb hoppers, one bag is one hopper fill.

The one genuine reason to buy Traeger pellets

Consistency of pellet size. Traeger states its hardwood has a compact cell structure and a controlled moisture content, and the practical effect is very uniform pellets. Uniform pellets feed through an auger with fewer jams and fewer fines.

That matters most on a grill with a small hopper and a narrow auger — which describes a Traeger. It is a real argument, and it is the only one. If you have had auger trouble, buying Traeger pellets is a sensible troubleshooting step.

What we would buy for a Traeger

1. Camp Chef Competition Blend (20 lb) as the everyday bag. Kiln-dried for low moisture, explicitly rated for Traeger grills, and cheaper per pound than Traeger’s own.
2. Lumber Jack Competition (20 lb) if you want the published wood ratio.
3. Traeger Signature Blend (18 lb) if you have had auger jams and want the most uniform pellet, or if you simply prefer to keep it in the family.
4. CookinPellets (2 x 40 lb) if you cook a lot and have dry storage. Best cost per pound on the page.

The hopper is the real constraint, not the brand

Traeger’s 18 lb hopper gives you roughly fourteen hours at smoking temperatures. Pellet brand does not change that. What does help:

• A sealed storage bin next to the grill, so topping up mid-cook takes thirty seconds.
• Low-moisture pellets, which burn more efficiently and stretch the hopper slightly.
• On a Woodridge Pro or above, the digital pellet sensor — which is Traeger’s own answer to the same problem.