Pellet Grill vs. Vertical Pellet Smoker: Which Fits How You Cook?
Table of Contents
- Pellet Grill or Vertical Pellet Smoker: The Short Answer
- How Pellet Grills and Pellet Smokers Work
- The Pellet Grill: Smoke, Roast, and Sear on One Machine
- The Vertical Pellet Smoker: More Racks, Less Floor Space
- Pellet Grill vs. Vertical Pellet Smoker Side by Side
- Which One Fits How You Cook?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 22, 2026
Pellet Grill or Vertical Pellet Smoker: The Short Answer
Choose a pellet grill if you want one machine that smokes, roasts, and sears. Choose a vertical pellet smoker if most of your cooking is low and slow and you want more rack space in a smaller footprint. Both burn hardwood pellets and hold the temperature you set.
This guide compares the two using the Pit Boss Navigator Series we carry: the Navigator 850, 1300, and 1600 wood pellet grills and the Navigator 3-Series and 6-Series vertical pellet smokers. All five are freestanding units. Every number below comes from the product listings and the Pit Boss owner's manuals linked on each product page.
How Pellet Grills and Pellet Smokers Work
A pellet cooker runs on all-natural hardwood pellets and a little electricity. You fill the hopper and set a temperature on the digital controller. The controller then feeds pellets from the hopper to a burn pot, where an igniter lights them and a fan supplies air. As the cooker heats up or cools down, the controller adjusts the feed to hold your setting.
That's the main appeal over a charcoal or offset smoker: you set a number instead of managing a fire. Every Navigator grill and smoker we carry also connects to the Pit Boss Grills app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you can check and adjust the cook from your phone.
A few things are the same on all five models:
- Fuel: all-natural hardwood pellets only. Pit Boss states that other fuels void the warranty.
- Power: a standard 110–120V outdoor outlet (290W rated power, per the owner's manuals).
- Temperature set in 5° increments on the digital controller.
- Outdoor use only, never under an overhead combustible ceiling or overhang.
If you're still comparing pellet cookers with other smoker fuels, start with our guide on how to choose an outdoor smoker that fits your cooking style.
The Pellet Grill: Smoke, Roast, and Sear on One Machine
A pellet grill has a horizontal cooking chamber with grates, and the hopper and controller sit on the side. The Navigator grills run from 180°F to 500°F, which covers smoking, roasting, and baking.
The feature that sets the Navigator grills apart is the Flame Broiler™ Lever. Slide it open and food on the grates sits over direct flame, for searing up to 1,000°F. That means you can smoke a tri-tip low and slow, then finish it with a sear on the same grill.
The three sizes share the same 30 lb. hopper, temperature range, app control, and Flame Broiler™ Lever. The difference is cooking space and extras:
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Wood Pellet Grill: 932 sq. in. of cooking space, one meat probe included.
- Pit Boss Navigator 1300 Wood Pellet Grill: 1,329 sq. in., two meat probes, and a side shelf with a paper towel holder, trash bag holder, removable cutting board, and bottle opener.
- Pit Boss Navigator 1600 Wood Pellet Grill: 1,593 sq. in., with the same two probes and side-shelf extras as the 1300.
The Vertical Pellet Smoker: More Racks, Less Floor Space
A vertical pellet smoker is a tall cabinet with racks stacked on top of each other. Instead of spreading food out across a wide grate, you stack it. Both Navigator vertical smokers have five racks, a large viewing window so you can check food without opening the door, and three probe ports with one meat probe included.
The vertical smokers run from 130°F to 420°F. That lower starting point suits gentle, low-temperature smoking, and the cabinet design uses chimney exhaust and convection airflow to move heat and smoke through the racks.
- Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series Vertical Pellet Smoker: 1,118 sq. in. on five porcelain-coated steel racks, with a 50 lb. hopper.
- Pit Boss Navigator 6-Series Vertical Pellet Smoker: 2,224 sq. in. on five 25.7" × 17.3" porcelain-coated racks sized for full-size foil pans, with a 75 lb. hopper.
Pellet Grill vs. Vertical Pellet Smoker Side by Side
Here's how the two styles compare, using the listed specifications for each model.
| Model | Cooking Space | Temperature Range | Hopper | Assembled Size (W × D × H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator 850 pellet grill | 932 sq. in. | 180°F–500°F; searing up to 1,000°F | 30 lb. | 58.7" × 34.1" × 46.7" |
| Navigator 1300 pellet grill | 1,329 sq. in. | 180°F–500°F; searing up to 1,000°F | 30 lb. | 58.6" × 31.7" × 49.0" |
| Navigator 1600 pellet grill | 1,593 sq. in. | 180°F–500°F; searing up to 1,000°F | 30 lb. | 64.5" × 31.7" × 49.0" |
| Navigator 3-Series vertical smoker | 1,118 sq. in. | 130°F–420°F | 50 lb. | 35.7" × 24.5" × 53.2" |
| Navigator 6-Series vertical smoker | 2,224 sq. in. | 130°F–420°F | 75 lb. | 43.9" × 29.0" × 53.2" |
Temperature Range and Searing
This is the biggest practical difference. The Navigator pellet grills top out at 500°F on the controller and add direct-flame searing up to 1,000°F through the Flame Broiler™ Lever. The vertical smokers top out at 420°F and don't list a direct-flame searing feature.
So if steaks, burgers, and chops are a regular part of your week, the pellet grill covers them on its own. If you buy a vertical smoker, plan on a separate grill for high-heat cooking. The trade-off on the low end runs the other way: the vertical smokers start at 130°F, while the grills start at 180°F.
Cooking Capacity and Footprint
Vertical smokers get more cooking space out of less floor space because they stack racks instead of spreading out. Compare the listed numbers:
- The 3-Series vertical smoker lists 1,118 sq. in. of cooking space at 35.7" wide. The Navigator 850 grill lists 932 sq. in. at 58.7" wide.
- The 6-Series vertical smoker lists 2,224 sq. in. at 43.9" wide. The largest grill, the Navigator 1600, lists 1,593 sq. in. at 64.5" wide.
Clearance matters as much as the unit itself. Pit Boss's manuals call for at least 36 inches from combustible construction at the sides and back of the Navigator pellet grills, and at least 12 inches for the vertical smokers. On a smaller deck or patio, that difference can decide which one fits.
Keep in mind that square inches measure rack area, not what a given cut of meat needs. A rack's height and spacing affect what fits, so check the product page and owner's manual if you plan to smoke large cuts or use full pans.
Pellet Use and Hopper Size
The product listings don't give a pellet burn rate, and real use varies. In general, a pellet cooker uses more pellets at higher temperatures, in cold or windy weather, and over longer cooks. A bigger hopper doesn't make a cooker more efficient. It means fewer refills during a long cook.
The grills share a 30 lb. hopper with a pellet cleanout, so you can empty it or switch pellet flavors. The vertical smokers carry more: 50 lb. on the 3-Series and 75 lb. on the 6-Series, which means fewer refills on long smokes. Pit Boss's manuals recommend storing pellets in an airtight container to keep out moisture.
Cleanup and Care
Both styles leave ash and grease behind, and both are designed to make that easier to deal with:
- Navigator pellet grills: a removable undermount burn pot with an ash cleanout, plus the hopper pellet cleanout.
- Navigator vertical smokers: a rear-access grease tray and simple ash management.
Follow the owner's manual for cleaning steps and how often to do them, and for anything it says to do before your first cook. For background on preparing a new smoker, see our guide on how to season a new metal smoker before first use. Where the two differ, the Pit Boss manual comes first. A fitted cover for each model is sold separately.
Which One Fits How You Cook?
A Navigator pellet grill is likely the better fit if you:
- Want one machine for smoking, roasting, baking, and searing
- Grill steaks, burgers, or chops often and don't want a second grill
- Have room for a wider unit plus 36 inches of clearance at the sides and back
A Navigator vertical pellet smoker is likely the better fit if you:
- Mostly smoke low and slow: brisket, ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, sausage
- Cook in quantity for holidays, game days, or parties
- Have limited floor space, or already own a grill for high-heat cooking
Some households end up with both: a vertical smoker for big smoking days and a grill for everyday meals. If you're starting with one, think about what you cook most weeks, not just on the biggest day of the year.
See all five side by side in our Pit Boss Pellet Grills & Smokers collection, browse the full Smokers collection, or read more about the lineup on our Pit Boss brand page. Current prices are on each product page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a pellet grill and a pellet smoker?
Both burn hardwood pellets and hold a set temperature. A pellet grill has a horizontal cooking chamber and a wider temperature range; the Navigator grills run from 180°F to 500°F and add direct-flame searing up to 1,000°F. A vertical pellet smoker stacks racks in a tall cabinet for smoking; the Navigator vertical smokers run from 130°F to 420°F.
Can you sear on a vertical pellet smoker?
The Navigator vertical smokers top out at 420°F and don't list a direct-flame searing feature. If searing matters to you, a Navigator pellet grill, with its Flame Broiler™ Lever, or a separate grill is the better choice.
Does a vertical pellet smoker hold more food than a pellet grill?
For the floor space it takes up, usually yes. The Navigator 6-Series lists 2,224 sq. in. of cooking space across five racks, compared with 1,593 sq. in. on the Navigator 1600 grill, and it's about 20 inches narrower. What fits also depends on rack spacing and the size of your cuts.
Do pellet grills and pellet smokers need electricity?
Yes. The Pit Boss Navigator grills and smokers plug into a standard 110–120V outlet to run the controller, igniter, auger, and fan. The owner's manuals list 290W rated power.
Are these Pit Boss units freestanding or built-in?
All five Navigator models we carry are freestanding. Their specifications list the pellet grills as freestanding and the vertical smokers as freestanding vertical cabinets. Follow the clearances in the owner's manual wherever you place them. For more answers, see our Pit Boss FAQ.
From a single pellet grill to a full outdoor kitchen, Backyard Kitchens Direct can help you find the right pieces for the way you cook. Questions before ordering? Call (904) 621-2505.
