Best Pellet Smokers (2026)
The Traeger Ironwood 885 is the top pick by cooking area: 885 square inches, a 20 lb hopper, an integrated pellet sensor, and insulated dual-wall construction. All three smokers here carry a 3-year warranty.
Side by side
On narrow screens, scroll horizontally to compare all columns.
| Model | Cooking area | Hopper | Temp range | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Ironwood 885 | 885 square inches | 20 lbs | 165°F to 500°F | 3-year |
| Traeger Pro 575 | 575 square inches | 18 lbs | 165°F to 500°F | 3-year |
| Z Grills ZPG-450A | 459 square inches | 15 lbs | 160-450 °F | 3-year |
The picks
Traeger Ironwood 885
Biggest capacity pick
The Ironwood 885 gives you 885 square inches of cooking area fed by a 20 lb hopper, which means whole packer briskets and long cooks without refilling. The D2 controller has a digital display, an integrated pellet sensor warns before the hopper runs dry, and insulated dual-wall construction holds temperature in cold weather. It weighs 175 lbs, so pick its spot once.
- cooking area: 885 square inches
- hopper: 20 lbs
- temp range: 165°F to 500°F
- weight: 175 lbs
- warranty: 3-year
Traeger Pro 575
The mainstream pick
The Pro 575 covers 575 square inches with an 18 lb hopper and the same 165°F to 500°F range as the Ironwood. WiFIRE connectivity controls the cook from a phone, and one Traeger meat probe comes in the box. At 124 lbs it is the lightest Traeger here, and the 3-year warranty matches its bigger sibling.
- cooking area: 575 square inches
- hopper: 18 lbs
- temp range: 165°F to 500°F
- weight: 124 lbs
- warranty: 3-year
Z Grills ZPG-450A
The compact pick
The ZPG-450A runs 459 square inches of cooking area from a 15 lb hopper across a 160-450 °F range. An advanced PID controller manages the temperature curve, the lid is high temperature powder coated steel, and the assembled unit measures 45 L × 28 W × 49 H inches at 84 lbs — the one to pick when patio space decides.
- cooking area: 459 square inches
- hopper: 15 lbs
- temp range: 160-450 °F
- weight: 84 lbs
- warranty: 3-year
FAQ
How big are the pellet hoppers on these smokers?
The Traeger Ironwood 885 holds 20 lbs of pellets, the Pro 575 holds 18 lbs, and the Z Grills ZPG-450A holds 15 lbs.
What warranty do these pellet smokers carry?
All three carry a 3-year warranty: the Ironwood 885, the Pro 575, and the Z Grills ZPG-450A.
What temperature ranges do they cover?
Both Traegers run 165°F to 500°F. The Z Grills ZPG-450A runs 160-450 °F.
Which of these has WiFi control?
The Traeger Pro 575 has WiFIRE connectivity. The Ironwood 885 uses the D2 controller with a digital display, and the Z Grills uses an advanced PID controller.
How much do these pellet smokers weigh?
The Traeger Ironwood 885 weighs 175 lbs, the Pro 575 weighs 124 lbs, and the Z Grills ZPG-450A is 84 lbs assembled, measuring 45 L × 28 W × 49 H inches. Weight matters twice: moving the smoker to its spot, and how much thermal mass the body carries into a winter cook.
Manufacturer sources and retrieval dates
Specifications were recorded from the linked manufacturer pages on the UTC dates shown. These are retrieval dates, not guarantees that current specifications remain unchanged.
- traeger.com — 575 — retrieved
- traeger.com — 885 — retrieved
- zgrills.com — Zpg 450a Pellet Grill — retrieved