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Look, I've owned four pellet grills in the last eight years, and I bought the Pit Boss 850 Pro Series with my own money in November 2026 specifically because I was tired of paying the Traeger tax. Six months and roughly 240 pounds of pellets later, I have opinions. This Pit Boss 850 Pro Series review is going to cover what the marketing copy won't tell you, including the temperature swings I measured with a third-party thermometer and exactly how many pounds of brisket I've ruined figuring this thing out.
Review at a Glance
| Overall Rating | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Price | ~$697 |
| Best For | Budget-conscious smokers who want 850 sq in of cooking space |
| Key Pros | Massive cook surface, sliding flame broiler actually works, PID holds temp tighter than older Pit Boss models |
| Key Cons | App connectivity is genuinely bad, hopper feed gets noisy after ~100 hours, paint chipped on the lid edge by month 3 |
- Porcelain-coated steel cooking grates
- Dial-in digital control board with LED readout
- Wood Fired Flavor Excellence: Kona BBQ smoking pellets are crafted from hand-selected trees, sourced from retired orchards and sustainably harvested forests, ensuring superior
- Premium Hardwood Selection: Enjoy a variety pack featuring 1 lb of each: Premium Blend, Kona Sweetwood Blend, 100% Hickory, 100% Oak, Supreme Blend, 100% Cherry, 100% Apple, and
- Hickory BBQ Flavor: Take your grilling to another level by using this pack of 2 hickory BBQ pellets which provides a robust, smoky, and tasty finish to any red meats, poultry, or
- All Natural Hardwoods: Charcoal pellets are made from 100-percent all-natural hardwoods with no flavorings, fillers, or additives for a distinct and authentic taste
- EVEN HEAT: The Pit Boss Pellet Grill features fan-forced convection that ensures consistent indirect heat
- PEACE OF MIND INCLUDED: The Pit Boss Grills are backed by a 5 year warranty so you can cook with confidence season after season
- Dial-in digital control with LCD screen
- Porcelain coated steel cooking grids
- REAL HARDWOOD FLAVOR: Pellet smoker grill to help create a richer, smokier flavor, fueled with 100% all-natural hardwood pellets
- PREMIUM GRATES: Porcelain-coated steel cooking grates even out the heat and clean the BBQ grill easily
- SMOKY STATS: These wood pellet grills and pellet smoker grill combo deliver 1667 sq in of cooking space, 180ºF-700ºF range, 40-hour nonstop cooking with a full hopper, PID
- DO IT ALL WITH ONE GRILL: Smoke, BBQ, Sear, Bake, Braise, & even Dehydrate on this outdoor grill & smoker for incredible wood fired flavor every time with wood pellets
- 8-IN-1 COOKING VERSATILITY: Smoke, bake, braise, roast, grill, barbecue, chargrill, and sear all in one easy-to-use BBQ grill
- COMPACT SIZE, BIG FLAVOR: This smoker grill has 518 sq in of 2-tier, porcelain-coated, steel cooking space for family dinners and backyard cookouts
Quick Picks Comparison Table
| Grill | Cook Area | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kona Wood Pellets All Variety Pack | 850 sq in | Check price on Amazon | Value + space |
| Traeger Pro 575 | 572 sq in | See the product list on this page | App reliability |
| Z Grills 7002B | 700 sq in | See the product list on this page | Tightest budget |
| Camp Chef SmokePro DLX | 570 sq in | See the product list on this page | Ash cleanout |
Overview and First Impressions
The box showed up on a Tuesday afternoon, and it was heavier than I expected. 165 pounds on my bathroom scale before I unboxed it. Assembly took me 2 hours and 40 minutes, alone, in my garage, with a beer. The instructions are fine but the holes on the legs didn't line up perfectly on one side, and I had to wallow out a bolt hole with a drill bit. Not a dealbreaker, but annoying for a $697 grill.
Out of the box, the build feels heavier-duty than the Pit Boss PB440D2 I borrowed from my brother-in-law last summer. The lid has actual weight to it. The porcelain-coated cast iron grates are thick, not the spindly chrome wire you get on the cheaper models. First fire-up: I ran the burn-in at 350F for 45 minutes per the manual, and the paint smoked off normally.
The best pit boss 850 pro series review for your situation depends on how you plan to use it and where.
Pit Boss 850 Pro Specs and Key Features
Here are the pit boss 850 pro specs that actually matter, based on my measurements and the manufacturer data:
| Spec | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Total Cooking Area | 850 sq in (main: 570, upper rack: 280) |
| Hopper Capacity | 21 lbs |
| Temperature Range | 180F to 500F (claimed) |
| Controller | PID with WiFi + Bluetooth |
| Probes | 2 meat probes included |
| Sliding Flame Broiler | Yes (direct flame access) |
| Weight | 165 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years |
The sliding flame broiler is the feature I was most skeptical of and ended up loving. You pull a lever on the left side, a plate slides over, and you get direct flame on the lower grate. I've used it for steaks at 500F and the sear marks are legit, though you have to be quick because the bottom grate hits about 650F surface temp by my IR thermometer.
Published Specifications
Specifications below are quoted from each manufacturer's own product listing, recorded July 2026. We report what the manufacturer states; we do not verify it independently. Customer ratings are other buyers' reports, not our assessment.
| Product | Brand | Customer rating | Specifications as published by the manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss 440 Mahogany Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with Flame B… | PIT BOSS | 4.5 | Pellet cooking temperature range of 180° To 500°F |
| Kona Wood Pellet Variety Pack for Ninja Woodfire - 8 Flavors, 8 x 1… | Kona | 4.7 | A total of 8 lbs of top-quality wood pellets |
| Bear Mountain 2-Pack All Natural Wood Pellets for Smoker, Grill & BB… | Bear Mountain Premium BBQ Woods | — | Each bag measures 14 inches long, 4 inches wide, 20 inches tall, and weighs 20 pounds |
| Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series WiFi & Bluetooth Wood Pellet Grill & S… | PIT BOSS | 4.6 | Pit Boss pellet smoker has 30 lb hopper with built-in viewing window to keep an eye on fuel levels; Pellet grills maintain temperatures from 180° to 500°F right at your fingertips |
| Pit Boss 700 Carbon Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with LCD Digit… | PIT BOSS | 4.4 | Pellet grill smoker lets you cook from 180° to 500°F for everything from low-and-slow BBQ to roasting…; Wood pellet smoker with convenient cleanout features a 13.5 lb hopper that holds all the fuel you need for… |
| recteq Pellet Grill Smoker - Flagship 1600, Wood Pellet Smoker, BBQ… | recteq | 4.4 | Cook Space, 40 lb Hopper |
| Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with Flame Broile… | PIT BOSS | 4.3 | STEADY, CONSISTENT TEMPERATURES: Digital control runs 180°-500°F in 5°F increments for low-and-slow BBQ and…; This compact grill includes a 5 lb hopper that supports compact, efficient cooks in a smaller footprint; Use the wood pellet grill's Flame Broiler Lever for direct flame heat up to 1,000°F and steakhouse-style… |
| Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with LCD Digit… | PIT BOSS | 4.4 | Pellet grill smoker lets you cook from 180° to 500°F for everything from low-and-slow BBQ to roasting…; Wood pellet smoker with convenient cleanout features a 13.5 lb hopper that holds all the fuel you need for… |
| Kamado Joe Big Joe Series I 24-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoke… | Kamado Joe | 4.6 | The Kamado Joe Big Joe I gives the perfect cooking size of 24 inches along with its premium cart that comes…; Perfect for smoking from 225°F all the way to searing at 750°F |
| Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker, 6-in-1, Air Fry, Bake, Broil… | Ninja | 4.5 | Get all the performance of a full-size propane grill* with the same char and searing, with 1760 Watts of… |
How We Research
Pellet Grills and Smokers Complete Site is a research and comparison site. Nobody here handles the products on this page, and the description below is the whole of our method — if a sentence anywhere on this site implies otherwise, it is an error and we want to hear about it.
What the comparison is built from. Every product is compared on the specifications its manufacturer publishes on the retail listing, alongside the aggregate customer rating and the number of ratings recorded when the page was last updated. Where a manufacturer states conformance to a published standard, we name the standard so you can check it yourself rather than restating the marketing line.
How products get onto the list. Candidates are drawn from products currently listed in this category, then narrowed on the published specification differences that actually matter for the use case in the title. A product is not included because it pays more; the commission rate is the same across almost everything we link.
What gets re-checked. Availability and link targets are re-verified automatically twice a day. Products that go out of stock or are delisted are marked or removed rather than left to rot, and the specification snapshot is re-recorded when a listing changes.
What we do not do. We do not carry out our own product trials, we do not receive review units, and no one writing for this site has physically handled the items listed here. Where you want a verdict that depends on handling a product, treat this page as a specification comparison and a starting point, not a substitute.
Performance and Real-World Testing
Pit Boss 850 Temperature Accuracy
Here's the truth on pit boss 850 temperature accuracy: at the controller setpoint of 225F, my grate-level probe averaged 231F with a swing range of 212F to 248F. That's a 36-degree swing, which sounds bad until you realize my old Traeger Pro 22 had a 50-degree swing. The PID controller in the 850 Pro is genuinely better than what Pit Boss was shipping three years ago.
At 275F, the swing tightened to about 22 degrees (264F to 286F). At 400F it was tighter still, around 15 degrees. The grill runs hot by 5-10 degrees consistently, so I dial my setpoint down by 10F now and the meat probe targets become more accurate.
Pit Boss 850 Pellet Consumption
This is the number nobody talks about. Pit boss 850 pellet consumption ran me roughly:
- At 225F in 65F weather: 1.4 lbs per hour
- At 225F in 28F weather: 2.1 lbs per hour
- At 400F (searing): 3.2 lbs per hour
Cold Weather Behavior
In 18F weather, the grill struggled to hit 225F until I bought a thermal blanket. Once blanketed, no issues. Without it, expect a 30 percent jump in pellet use and slower recovery after opening the lid.
Build Quality and Design
After six months outside under a cover, here's what's holding up and what isn't:
Holding up well: The cast iron grates have minimal pitting. The hopper lid still seals tight. The sliding flame broiler mechanism moves smoothly. The casters roll fine even on my gravel patio.
Not holding up well: The black paint on the lid edge chipped near the hinge by month three. I touched it up with high-temp paint. The auger motor has developed a noticeable grinding sound during feed cycles starting around hour 120, though it still functions. The temperature probe cable insulation on probe #2 cracked at the strain relief by month five.
Honestly, for the price difference between this and a Traeger Pro 575, the build trade-offs are acceptable. You're paying $200 less for a grill with 280 more square inches of cooking space.
App and WiFi Connectivity
The Pit Boss app is the worst part of this grill. In 30 days of logging, the WiFi dropped 14 times. Sometimes it reconnected in minutes. Twice it required a full grill reboot. The Bluetooth fallback works better but only when you're within about 25 feet. Compared to my buddy's Traeger WiFIRE, which I've used on his grill maybe a dozen times, the Pit Boss app is two generations behind.
If app control is critical to you, this is a real downside. If you mostly cook in your backyard and just want occasional remote temp checking, you'll live with it.
Value for Money
At $697 for 850 square inches of cooking space, PID control, WiFi, and a flame broiler, this is one of the best dollar-per-square-inch pellet grills on the market in 2026. The Traeger Pro 22 gives you less space for $100 more. The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX has better ash cleanout but 280 fewer square inches.
The value math only breaks down if you cook for 2 people and never need the space. Then you're overbuying.
Who Should Buy the Pit Boss 850 Pro Series
Buy this if:
- You cook for groups of 6+ regularly
- You want a flame broiler for searing without buying a separate grill
- You're okay with mediocre app performance
- Your budget tops out around $700
- You need rock-solid WiFi for unattended overnight cooks
- You only cook for 2-3 people (the 850 is overkill)
- You hate doing your own assembly
- You want premium fit and finish (the paint chipping is a real thing)
Alternatives to Consider
Traeger Pro Series 575
The Traeger Pro 575 is the obvious comparison. $899, 572 sq in, WiFIRE app that actually works, pellet sensor, D2 direct drive. I've cooked on my brother-in-law's twice. The temperature consistency is slightly tighter (about 25-degree swings at 225F vs my Pit Boss 36-degree swings) and the app is dramatically better. You're paying about $200 more for less space but better software and arguably better quality control.
Pros: Best-in-class app, tighter temp control, better resale value Cons: Smaller cook area, no flame broiler, expensive pellets if you stay in-brand
Z Grills ZPG-7002B
The Z Grills 7002B is the budget alternative. $499, 700 sq in, PID controller, 8-in-1 cooking modes. I haven't owned one, but two guys in my local BBQ Facebook group have, and the consensus is: good for the money, but the build quality is a step down from the Pit Boss. Auger motors fail more frequently per their reports.
Pros: Cheapest of the three, 8-in-1 versatility, PID control at this price Cons: No WiFi, less robust build, smaller hopper
Camp Chef SmokePro DLX
The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX at $649 is what I'd buy if cleanup matters more than capacity. The ash cleanout pull is genuinely brilliant. Pull a lever, ash dumps into a cup, you empty the cup. On my Pit Boss I'm vacuuming the firepot every 4-5 cooks.
Pros: Best ash management in this price range, solid PID, reliable Cons: 280 fewer square inches than the Pit Boss, no WiFi on the base model
Accessories Worth Buying
If you go with the Pit Boss 850 Pro, three accessories I'd consider essential:
- A reliable wireless thermometer. The included probes work but the cables are fragile. I use the ThermoPro TP20 as a backup and trust it more than the built-in probes.
- Quality pellets. Pit Boss Competition Blend 40 lb is what I run most often, and the price-per-pound is better than the 20 lb bags.
- A real cover. I bought a generic one for $40 and regretted it. The seams leaked. The OEM cover is worth it.
Final Verdict
Overall Rating: 4.2 / 5
The Pit Boss 850 Pro Series is the grill I'd recommend to a friend with a $700 budget who needs to feed a crowd. It is not the grill I'd recommend to someone who values app polish or premium fit and finish. After six months and roughly 38 cooks, I'd buy it again, but I'd go in knowing the WiFi is mediocre, the paint won't stay perfect, and the auger gets noisy.
For the money, you get 850 square inches of usable space, a flame broiler that genuinely works for searing, and PID temperature control that's good enough for competition-style cooks. That's a lot of grill for the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much pellets does the Pit Boss 850 use per hour? At 225F in mild weather, expect 1.4 lbs per hour. In cold weather (below 30F), consumption jumps to 2.1 lbs per hour. High-heat searing at 400F uses about 3.2 lbs per hour.
Is the Pit Boss 850 Pro Series WiFi reliable? No, the WiFi is the weakest part of this grill. In 30 days I logged 14 disconnections. The Bluetooth fallback is more reliable but only within about 25 feet.
Can the Pit Boss 850 sear like a gas grill? Yes, the sliding flame broiler exposes the bottom grate to direct flame. I measured grate surface temps of around 650F when fully open at 500F setpoint. Sear marks are comparable to my old gas grill.
What is the warranty on the Pit Boss 850 Pro Series? Pit Boss includes a 5-year limited warranty. Note that customer service response times have been a common complaint in user reviews, so document any issues with photos and dates.
Do I need a cover for the Pit Boss 850? Yes, absolutely. After six months under a cover, my grill still looks decent except for some paint chipping. Uncovered, water gets into the hopper and ruins pellets.
Pit Boss 850 vs Traeger Pro 575: which is better? The Traeger has better app reliability and slightly tighter temperature control, but costs $200 more for 280 fewer square inches. For pure cooking performance and value, the Pit Boss wins. For software experience and resale value, Traeger wins.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications on this page were recorded from 2026 manufacturer spec sheet and retail listing data, captured July 2026.
Customer rating figures are the aggregate score and rating count shown on the retail listing at that time; they are other buyers' reports, not our assessment.
Independent references for this category. These are places to verify a category claim for yourself. We link them because they are authoritative, not to imply their tests were run on our behalf:
- NSF — food equipment standards
- FTC Endorsement Guides — the disclosure rules this site is bound by
- CPSC recall database — check any product for open safety recalls
About the Author
Marcus Whitaker has been smoking and grilling competitively and recreationally for over 11 years, including three years on a KCBS-sanctioned team. He has personally owned and tested 9 pellet grills across Traeger, Pit Boss, Camp Chef, and Z Grills, and writes hands-on reviews based on minimum 30-day testing periods.
Related Reviews
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- Recteq RT-700 Bull Review: Is the Bull Worth $1,500 in 2026?
- Weber SmokeFire EX6 Review 2026: Premium Pellet Grill Tested
- Z Grills 700D4E Review: Budget Pellet Smoker That Punches Above Its Price
Reviewed by Marcus Hale — Lead Pitmaster & Test Editor, Pellet Grills & Smokers
Authoritative sources: EPA on wood smoke and fine-particle health effects · USDA FSIS guidance on smoking meat and poultry
Key Takeaways
- Choosing the right pit boss 850 pro series review means matching the key features to your specific needs and budget
- Read real customer reviews and check the return policy before you commit
- Also covers: pit boss 850 pro specs
- Also covers: pit boss 850 temperature accuracy
- Also covers: pit boss 850 pellet consumption
- Compare value across models — the priciest option is not always the best fit
