Reviews
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Review
518 square inches, direct-flame searing to 1,000°F and a five-year warranty, for close to portable-grill money. The 5 lb hopper is the whole story.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
Cheapest with searing
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series
Pit Boss · score 9.1/10 · First pellet grill on a tight budget
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
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 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.
Who this is for
First-time buyers on a tight budget who mostly grill. If your cooking is burgers, chicken, sausages and steak with the occasional rack of ribs, the 500 FB2 does all of it, sears better than any Traeger at any price, and costs very little.
Who it is not for
Anyone who bought a pellet grill to smoke. Four hours of hopper means a pork shoulder needs two refills and a brisket needs three, with you standing there. That is not what people imagine when they buy a pellet cooker, and it is the most common source of first-year disappointment.
If smoking is the point, the Z Grills 600D2 at a similar price has more grate, a PID controller and a far bigger hopper.
The Flame Broiler at this price is remarkable
A sliding plate opens part of the grate to direct flame, which Pit Boss rates to 1,000°F. That makes this the cheapest pellet grill we know of that genuinely sears a steak — better, on that one job, than a Traeger costing four times as much.
If steak is a weekly event and budget is firm, that combination is hard to beat. See best pellet grills for searing.
The honest trade-offs
| Trade-off | Severity | Workaround |
|---|---|---|
| 5 lb hopper | High — about 4 hours smoking | None. This is structural. |
| No WiFi | Low for most buyers | A wireless meat thermometer |
| LCD board, not PID | Moderate on long cooks | None, but less relevant with a 4-hour hopper |
| Thin-gauge body | Moderate in cold weather | A cover always; a thermal blanket in deep winter |
| One probe for two ports | Low | A second probe is inexpensive |
The 440 Mahogany question
Pit Boss also sells the 440 Mahogany: the same 518 square inches and 5 lb hopper, with an LED dial-in board instead of the LCD, in a mahogany-finish body. It typically costs more.
Buy the 440 if you want the cheap grill to not look cheap. Buy the 500 FB2 if you want the better controller and the lower price. There is no functional reason to prefer the 440.
Our call
A legitimately good cheap grill, as long as you understand what the hopper means. Pair it with a cover and a sealed pellet bin and it will last years.
The picks in full
#1 · 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 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
Is the Pit Boss 500 FB2 good for smoking?
Only short smokes. The 5 lb hopper gives about four hours at smoking temperatures, so a pork shoulder needs refilling twice. It is a grill that can smoke, not a smoker.
Can the 500 FB2 sear a steak?
Yes, properly — the Flame Broiler slider exposes direct flame rated to 1,000°F. It is the cheapest pellet grill we know of that genuinely sears.
Should I buy the 500 FB2 or the 440 Mahogany?
The 500 FB2 — same 518 sq in and 5 lb hopper, better controller, usually cheaper. The 440 is for buyers who want the mahogany finish.
Sources
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