Pit Boss Pellet Grill Reviews


Pit Boss has a great reputation in the pellet grill market but how do their models perform in real life? Let’s find out!

About Pit Boss

Established in 1999, the Pit Boss brand has quickly emerged as a recognized name on the grill market. Aiming to produce models with an attractive price to performance ratio, they are carving out a loyal following nationwide.

Top Pit Boss Pellet Grill Models

*We select and review all products independently, based on our opinion and customer feedback. Some links on this page are affiliate links and if you make a purchase we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more info on our disclaimer page.

#1

1. Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 700 sq in
- Cart-style, porcelain-coated steel cooking grates

Our Rating

8.2

#2

2. Pit Boss 820FB Pellet Grill

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 820 sq in
- Cart-style, porcelain-coated steel cooking grates

Our Rating

8.4

#3

3. Pit Boss 440TG Pellet Grill

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 440 sq in
- Barrel-style cooking chamber, portable, stainless steel construction

Our Rating

8.3

#4

4. Pit Boss 700 Classic Grill & Smoker

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 700 sq in
- Barrel-style cooking chamber

Our Rating

8.8

#5

5. Pit Boss XL 1000 Pellet Grill & Broiler

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 150-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 1000 ssq in
- Porcelain-coated cooking grates

Our Rating

8.0

#1

1. Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 700 sq in
- Cart-style, porcelain-coated steel cooking grates

Our Rating

8.2

#2

2. Pit Boss 820FB Pellet Grill

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 820 sq in
- Cart-style, porcelain-coated steel cooking grates

Our Rating

8.4

#3

3. Pit Boss 440TG Pellet Grill

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 440 sq in
- Barrel-style cooking chamber, portable, stainless steel construction

Our Rating

8.3

#4

4. Pit Boss 700 Classic Grill & Smoker

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 180-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 700 sq in
- Barrel-style cooking chamber

Our Rating

8.8

#5

5. Pit Boss XL 1000 Pellet Grill & Broiler

- Fuel Type: wood pellets
- Temperature Range: 150-500 degrees F
- Cooking Space: 1000 ssq in
- Porcelain-coated cooking grates

Our Rating

8.0

Pit Boss 700 Pellet Grill

Design and Construction:

The Pit Boss 700 is an open cart-style pellet grill, composed of heavy-gauge stainless steel, with porcelain-coated steel cooking grates.

It's somewhat lighter than some comparable models, but on the plus side, this makes it easier to maneuver. A pair of oversized wheels is affixed to the legs on the right-hand side of the unit, which is black all over save for the silver-colored grease drip bucket.

Usability:

This unit is equipped with an 18-pound hopper, which is fairly standard for a grill this size. The cooking surface measures 700 square inches in total, making this a good fit for large families. The extra space might also come in handy for people who prefer to grill several ingredients at once.

While the digital control panel can be set to temperatures ranging from 170 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, the advertised range for the grill is actually 180 to 500 degrees. This is a decent range in theory, but the temperature control is somewhat dicey, especially at first. 

It seems to have a hard time remaining at the lower settings, which can be catastrophic for low-and-slow dishes like pulled pork. We would recommend keeping a close eye on the gauges through the first few uses.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Pit Boss 700 is the "smoke setting," which allows users to control how much smoke flavor will permeate the meat. This is as important for people who prefer only a mildly smoky taste as it is for die-hard smoked food lovers.

Features:

Fuel Type

Wood Pellets

Weight

117.9 pounds

Temperature Range

180-500 degrees Fahrenheit

Hopper Capacity

18 pounds

Grilling Surface

700 square inches

Pros

  • Decent price point
  • Generous amount of grilling space
  • Relatively small footprint
  • Impressive temperature range

Cons

  • Temperature gauge can be finicky at first
  • Steel is of mediocre quality

Pit Boss 820 Pellet Grill

Design and Construction:

This is another cart-style grill from Pit Boss, this one with a slightly larger barrel and footprint. Like the 700, it offers a heavy-duty stainless steel construction with porcelain-coated cooking grates.

The main grilling grate is fashioned of cast iron, while the upper secondary rack is made of stainless steel. Two large wheels lend mobility to the design, and a low shelf offers a place to store extra pellets or other cooking supplies.

Usability:

With a grand total of 820 square inches of cooking space, this model is designed to be the centerpiece of large backyard gatherings. A digital control panel allows users to control the temperature within increments of 5 degrees—a level of finesse that's rare in the world of pellet grilling. 

The temperature range is 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, making this a suitable choice for a range of dishes from smoked brisket to flatbread pizza. The unit even includes a flame broiler to give steaks and burgers an extra boost of flavor.

With a hopper capacity of 19 pounds, the Pit Boss 820 may require a reload or two during long cooking applications. We would recommend sticking with Pit Boss pellets, as different brands tend to gum up the auger.

Features:

Fuel Type

Wood Pellets

Weight

141.1

Temperature Range

180-500 degrees Fahrenheit

Hopper Capacity

19 pounds

Grilling Surface

820 square inches

Pros

  • Enormous cooking surface
  • Precise temperature control
  • Built-in flame broiler
  • Durable cast-iron grate for the main cooking surface

Cons

  • May be too large and cumbersome to suit some yards or patios
  • Some shipping issues reported

Pit Boss 440 Pellet Grill

Design and Construction:

This is Pit Boss's entry into the portable pellet grill race. With its straight-legged collapsible design, cleverly engineered wheels, and small size, it's ideal for camping and tailgating expeditions.

The unit is solidly black all over, with a barrel-style cooking chamber and premium-gauge stainless steel construction.

Usability:

The compact footprint and folding legs make this grill fairly easy to transport, but it's still slightly heavier than some travel-sized models. On the plus side, that gives it a heft and durability that much of the competition lacks.

On a similar note, the hopper has a capacity of just 5 pounds, but anything larger would add unnecessary bulk and heft to the unit. Grillers hoping to add more pellet capacity to their cooking experience can invest in a hopper extension, available through Pit Boss.

With a surface area measuring 440 square inches, this unit can cook about 20 burgers at once—an impressive number for a camping grill. A "hot rod" starter, which allows users to fire up the grill within mere minutes, is another nice touch.

Like the rest of the pellet grills in the Pit Boss line, this one is equipped with a digital temperature control panel, but its temperature range is slightly more impressive than its brethren, climbing all the way to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.

Features:

Fuel Type

Wood Pellets

Weight

92.5 pounds

Temperature Range

180-550 degrees Fahrenheit

Hopper Capacity

5 pounds

Grilling Surface

440 square inches

Pros

  • User-friendly
  • Durable construction
  • Portable design
  • Generous amount of cooking space for a travel grill
  • Starts quickly and reliably

Cons

  • Does a poor job at maintaining higher temperatures
  • Confusing assembly instructions
  • Small hopper

Pit Boss 700 Classic Grill

Design and Construction:

The Pit Boss 700 Classic is an imposing black-and-bronze structure with a sturdy barrel-style cooking chamber and a straight-legged, open cart style design.

The main frame is distinguished by heavy-duty powder-coated steel, while porcelain-enameled wire racks make up the cooking surface. Two of the legs end in thick, durable wheels, while the others are equipped with small "feet" for stability. There's a low shelf for storing extra pellets, and the hopper has a flat surface that can double as another shelf for condiments and barbecue tools.

Usability:

With a cooking surface of 700 square inches and a 21-pound capacity hopper, the Pit Boss 700 Classic is designed for long, carefree cookouts.

The company advertises 8-in-1 capability for this model—it can be used for grilling, barbecuing, smoking, searing, baking, char-grilling, roasting—even braising. Since the temperature range spans from 180 to 500 degrees, it should be able to handle all of these tasks with ease.

We've found that this unit delivers noticeably authentic wood-fired flavor, more so even than some of the competition. The generous temperature range, coupled with the large size, makes it an exceptionally versatile and high-performing pellet grill.

The main drawback? The control panels can be difficult to replace if they malfunction, which would obviously diminish the value of the purchase.

Features:

Fuel Type

Wood Pellets

Weight

120 pounds

Temperature Range

180-500 degrees

Hopper Capacity

21 pounds

Grilling Surface

700 square inches

Pros

  • Versatile unit with good temperature control
  • Large hopper
  • Attractive, durably built model
  • Delivers impressive smoke flavor
  • Well-designed grease management system

Cons

  • Replacement parts can be difficult to come by
  • Auger can feed pellets into firebox too quickly, leading to poor fuel efficiency

Pit Boss XL 1000

Design and Construction:

This is an enormous grill by anyone's standards, with an oversized barrel-shaped cooking chamber and an open cart design with sawhorse-style legs. The lower shelf is composed of a single slab, rather than the wire racks that distinguish most Pit Boss pellet grills. There's also a lightweight sliding tray on the right-hand side of the unit, designed to hold meats for searing.

The main barrel is bronze in color, while the legs, base, and hopper are all black. A silver grease bucket rests beneath the side tray, which is also silver in color. The XL is made of quality stainless steel, from the frame to the porcelain-coated cooking grates. Although it's a heavy unit by anyone's standards, four rolling casters give it maneuverability.

Usability:

What excites most buyers about this model are the 1000-square inch grilling capacity and the 31-pound hopper, both of which combine to make this one of the largest pellet grills on the current market. Although these qualities will only be appreciated by the most dedicated grillers, this gigantic offering has plenty of other features to recommend it.

The temperature range stretches from 150 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. While this isn't quite low enough for cold-smoking, which is typically done at between 68 and 86 degrees, it's suitable for a variety of other cooking applications. 

A built-in meat probe is included with the digital control panel, allowing users to keep an eye on both the internal temperature of the grill and the progress of the meat itself.

The hopper is equipped with a purge feature, which allows chefs to swap out the pellets while grilling. This provides a convenient and innovative way to experiment with different wood flavors. 

The unit imbues smoked foods with a nuanced and well-balanced flavor. For obvious reasons, the XL should be considered only by those who have a yard or patio large enough to accommodate it, but for grilling enthusiasts, it can be considered a bargain.

Features:

Fuel Type

Wood Pellets

Weight

181 pounds

Temperature Range

150-500 degrees Fahrenheit

Hopper Capacity

31 pounds

Grilling Surface

1000 square inches

Pros

  • 1000 square inches of cooking space
  • Built-in meat temperature probe
  • Plenty of storage space
  • Oversized hopper
  • Sliding plate included for searing

Cons

  • Finicky temperature control
  • Time-consuming assembly
  • Giant footprint

FAQ

Where are Pit Boss grills manufactured?

Pit Boss was founded in 1999 as a subsidiary of Danson, Inc. The company is based out of Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada.However, two combination warehouse and distribution centers have since opened in the United States: One in Ramsey, Minnesota; and one in Tacoma, Washington.

Is Pit Boss a good brand to buy?

Pit Boss is a decent brand with a solid following. The company's founder set out to create an alternative to Traeger, which was the standard bearer for pellet grills at the time.

barbeque meat sitting on the pit boss grill

To make pricing for the product more competitive, cheaper materials were used in the construction, but the units are still fairly durable when they're cared for properly.

Is the pit boss pellet grill waterproof?

No pellet grill is entirely waterproof. Pit Boss models are carefully crafted to make them water-resistant, but there will always be a danger of moisture seeping into the hopper or cooking chamber.

To avoid this, it's a good idea to invest in a customized grill cover. The company sells a variety of them in an effort to preserve their products and help customers make the most out of their investments.

We would also recommend removing any leftover pellets from the hopper and storing them in an airtight container when the grill is not in use. Pellets can grow moldy or suffer damage from rodents if they're left out for long periods of time.

What is the warranty for Pit Boss grills?

Pit Boss offers a five-year warranty for its pellet grills. This policy was implemented in late 2018, replacing its former single-year warranty plan.

Note that the warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, such as rust and oxidization damage. If the structural framework or electrical components are faulty, then the company will replace them.If, however, the cooking grates are worn and rusted after several years of frequent use, the buyer will be responsible for the cost of the replacement.

David Walker
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