Best Weber Pellet Grill in 2026: Searwood vs Smoque, All Four Models Ranked
The Short Answer
The best Weber pellet grill is the Weber Searwood 600, and it is the right pick for anyone buying one cooker to do everything. It is the only Weber that smokes at 180°F and sears with direct flame across the entire grate at 600°F, and AmazingRibs gave it their Platinum Medal — their highest award — for that combination. If you already own a gas grill or a griddle and what you actually want is a smoker, buy the Weber Smoque instead and keep the difference: Smoked BBQ Source held an overnight 210°F cook rock-steady on its XL and estimated the Smoque gives about 90 percent of the Searwood's performance for less money. Cooking for crowds pushes you to the Searwood XL 600 (972 square inches, and the only Weber with a pellet fuel gauge) or the Smoque XL, which has the most total grate area of the four. Live tracked prices for every model are in the table below.
Weber's pellet lineup is unusually easy to shop once you understand it, because there are only two decisions: sear or no sear, then standard or XL. That is the whole matrix. The Searwood line sears, the Smoque line does not, and each comes in two sizes. Everything else — the Rapid React PID controller, the Weber Connect app, two included food probes, the porcelain-enameled build — is shared across all four.
Quick Picks: Weber's 2026 Pellet Lineup
| Weber Grill | Best for | Key specs | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Weber Searwood 600 | Best overall Weber — for the cook who wants one grill that smokes and sears | 648 sq in (420 main + 228 rack) · 180-600°F DirectFlame · 20-lb side hopper · 5-yr cookbox / 3-yr electronics | $999as of Oct 5 | Check Price |
| 2. Weber Smoque | Best for smoke-first cooks who already own something that sears | 594 sq in total (385 primary) · 500°F max · SmokeBoost at 180°F · 20-lb-bag hopper · 5-yr cookbox | $699as of Oct 5 | Check Price |
| 3. Weber Searwood XL 600 | Best for crowds and multi-meat cooks — the only Weber with a pellet gauge | 972 sq in (630 main + 342 rack) · 180-600°F DirectFlame · fuel gauge + low-pellet alerts · 157.8 lbs | $1,299as of Oct 5 | Check Price |
| 4. Weber Smoque XL | Most grate per dollar — big smoking capacity without paying for searing | 918 sq in total (595 primary) · 500°F max · 12 in wider than the standard Smoque, only 8 lbs heavier | $899as of Oct 5 | Check Price |
#ad — the Check Price buttons are affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are approximate and come from our tracked price registry, last refreshed October 5, 2026; the live retailer price always wins. See our affiliate disclosure.
Weber Searwood 600 Pellet Grill
Approx price — prices change often; the button shows the live price at the retailer.
Weber Smoque Pellet Smoker
Approx price — prices change often; the button shows the live price at the retailer.
Weber Searwood XL 600 Pellet Grill
Approx price — prices change often; the button shows the live price at the retailer.
Weber Smoque XL Pellet Smoker
Approx price — prices change often; the button shows the live price at the retailer.
1. Weber Searwood 600 — Best Overall Weber
Who it is for: the buyer replacing a gas grill and a smoker with one cart.
The Searwood 600 is the model that justifies Weber's second attempt at pellet cooking. The "600" is the maximum temperature, not a size, and that number is the point: the DirectFlame system puts stainless steel Flavorizer bars over an open firepot so flame reaches the whole main grate rather than a small zone above the burn pot. AmazingRibs verified a true 600°F across the entire cooking grate in their testing and awarded the grill their Platinum Medal, and they described the smoke quality as some of the best they have had from a pellet burner. Smoked BBQ Source measured the Rapid React PID holding within roughly 5°F.
The practical specs: 648 square inches of cooking space (a 420 sq in main grate plus a 228 sq in upper rack), a 20-lb side-mounted hopper, a Pull-and-Clean front drawer that collects grease and ash together, and a cast-aluminum weatherproof cookbox covered for 5 years.
Pros
- True 180-600°F range with direct flame across the entire grate
- AmazingRibs Platinum Medal — their highest award
- Rapid React PID held within about 5°F in Smoked BBQ Source's testing
- Pull-and-Clean drawer catches grease and ash in one place
- Cast-aluminum weatherproof cookbox, 5-year cookbox warranty
Cons
- Side shelves sold separately — the most common owner gripe
- Hot and cold zones: the right side runs hotter, roughly 50°F front-to-back
- No casters on a 125+ lb grill
- Costs meaningfully more than the Smoque for capability you may not use
Read our full Weber Searwood 600 review, or see it against the grill most buyers cross-shop it with in our Searwood vs Camp Chef Woodwind comparison.
2. Weber Smoque — Best for Smoke-First Cooks
Who it is for: the cook who wants ribs and brisket, already owns something that sears, and does not want to pay for DirectFlame.
The Smoque is Weber's low-and-slow specialist, and it is the better buy for a lot of people. It shares the Searwood's Rapid React PID controller, WiFi and Bluetooth, two included food probes and a 5-year cookbox warranty, and it drops the sear hardware and the price with it. Weber lists 594 square inches total with a 385 sq in primary grate, a 500°F ceiling, and a SmokeBoost mode fixed at 180°F. Weber's user guide says the hopper is designed to hold a 20-pound bag; Smoked BBQ Source's spec table lists 22 pounds.
In Smoked BBQ Source's test of the XL, the grill held 275°F and an overnight 210°F steadily, with grate temperatures nearly identical left to right after preheat. The honest limit is high heat: the same testers found steaks cooked evenly but the crust was mild and the grill marks light, and they suggested finishing in a cast-iron pan.
Pros
- Held 275°F and an overnight 210°F steadily in Smoked BBQ Source's testing
- Even left-to-right grate temperatures after preheat
- Same Rapid React PID, WiFi, Bluetooth and two probes as the Searwood
- 5-year cookbox warranty at Weber's lowest pellet price
Cons
- 500°F ceiling and no direct flame — light grill marks, mild crust
- Lighter steel than the Searwood, plastic wagon-style wheels
- Little prep space out of the box; shelves sold separately
- SmokeBoost is fixed at 180°F rather than adjustable
Our full Weber Smoque review covers both sizes, and if you are weighing it against the cheapest connected Traeger, see Weber Smoque vs Traeger Westwood.
3. Weber Searwood XL 600 — Best for Crowds
Who it is for: the host who runs two briskets or several pork butts at once and still wants a real sear.
The Searwood XL 600 is the same grill stretched from 24 inches to 36: 972 square inches (630 main plus a 342 upper rack) against the standard model's 648, at 157.8 lbs and 50.5 inches wide. Same 180-600°F range, same DirectFlame, same 20-lb hopper, same controller.
The one feature exclusive to this model is worth knowing about: the XL is the only Weber pellet grill with a fuel gauge and low-pellet alerts. On a 14-hour overnight cook with a 20-lb hopper, that is not a gimmick. For most households the standard 600 is still the right size, and we would put the difference toward the add-on shelf and pellets — but if you routinely feed a crowd, the XL is the Weber to buy. Our guide to pellet grill sizing walks through how much grate you actually need.
4. Weber Smoque XL — Most Grate Per Dollar
Who it is for: the high-volume smoker who wants maximum capacity and genuinely never sears.
The Smoque XL is the capacity play in Weber's lineup: 918 square inches total with a 595 sq in primary grate, which is more total grate area than anything else Weber sells on pellets. It is 12 inches wider than the standard Smoque but only about 8 pounds heavier, so the trade for the space is small. Weber's own site showed owners rating the XL 4.7 out of 5 across 221 reviews when we checked in September 2026 — the strongest owner sentiment of the four.
It inherits the standard Smoque's ceiling, though: 500°F, no direct flame. Buy on capacity, not on versatility.
What About the Weber SmokeFire?
Skip it. Weber discontinued the SmokeFire line after a 2020 launch marked by grease fires, flare-ups and software problems, and replaced it outright with the Searwood in 2024. The redesign addressed the specific complaints: the hopper moved from the rear to the side, the auger accepts any brand of pellets instead of favoring Weber's own, and the Pull-and-Clean drawer handles grease and ash. If you see a SmokeFire listed cheap, understand that you are buying a discontinued design whose replacement exists because the original did not work well enough.
How to Choose Between Them
Two questions, in this order:
- Will this be your only outdoor cooker? If yes, buy a Searwood. The ability to run 180°F for brisket and 600°F for steaks out of one cart is the entire reason the line exists, and no amount of saved money fixes a 500°F ceiling later. If no — you own a gas grill, a kettle, a griddle — buy a Smoque and spend the difference on pellets and a wireless thermometer.
- How many people do you cook for? Four to six people, standard size. Regular crowds, multiple large cuts, or overnight cooks where a pellet gauge matters, go XL.
What you should not decide on is smoke quality, because it barely differs. Both lines use the same controller and the same pellet fire, and both have a dedicated low-temperature smoke mode (Weber's SmokeBoost at 180°F on the Smoque, the Searwood's 180°F floor).
Weber Pellet Grill Specs Compared
| Spec | Searwood 600 | Searwood XL 600 | Smoque | Smoque XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cooking area | 648 sq in | 972 sq in | 594 sq in | 918 sq in |
| Main grate | 420 sq in | 630 sq in | 385 sq in | 595 sq in |
| Temperature range | 180-600°F | 180-600°F | up to 500°F | up to 500°F |
| Direct-flame searing | Yes (whole grate) | Yes (whole grate) | No | No |
| Hopper | 20 lb | 20 lb | 20-lb bag (22 lb listed) | 20-lb bag (22 lb listed) |
| Pellet level sensor | No | Yes | No | No |
| Food probes included | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Cookbox warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Model number | 1500120 | 1500121 | 1500770 | 1500771 |
How We Ranked These
We ranked Weber's four current pellet models on the things that change the cook: verified temperature range and whether direct-flame searing is real, temperature stability from published independent testing (AmazingRibs and Smoked BBQ Source), usable grate area, hopper endurance, cleanup design and warranty length. Every price on this page comes from our tracked price registry rather than a number typed into the article, and we only rank models with a live, verifiable listing — which is why the discontinued SmokeFire appears as a warning rather than a pick. We have not run these grills in a lab; our evaluations combine published manufacturer specs, independent editorial testing we cite by name, verified owner reviews and real pellet-grilling experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Weber pellet grill in 2026?
The Weber Searwood 600. It is the only Weber that both smokes at 180°F and sears with direct flame across the whole grate at 600°F, and AmazingRibs awarded it their Platinum Medal for exactly that. Buy it if this will be your only outdoor cooker; buy the Smoque if you already own something that sears.
What is the difference between the Weber Searwood and the Weber Smoque?
Searing. The Searwood runs 180-600°F with DirectFlame across the entire main grate. The Smoque tops out at 500°F with no direct-flame system, and Smoked BBQ Source found its crust mild and its grill marks light. Both share the Rapid React PID controller, the Weber Connect app and two food probes, and the same testers estimated the Smoque delivers about 90 percent of the Searwood's performance for less money if you mostly smoke.
How much cooking space does each Weber pellet grill have?
Searwood 600: 648 sq in (420 main + 228 rack). Searwood XL 600: 972 sq in (630 + 342). Smoque: 594 sq in total, 385 primary. Smoque XL: 918 sq in total, 595 primary. The Smoque XL has the most total grate area in the lineup.
Which Weber pellet grill has a pellet level sensor?
Only the Searwood XL 600, which adds a fuel gauge with low-pellet alerts. The other three ask you to check the hopper yourself.
What happened to the Weber SmokeFire?
Weber discontinued it after grease fires, flare-ups and software problems, and replaced it with the ground-up Searwood line in 2024 — side hopper, any-brand pellets, Pull-and-Clean drawer. Buying a SmokeFire today means buying a discontinued design whose replacement exists because the original underperformed.
What warranty does Weber give its pellet grills?
Five years on the cookbox and three on the electronics for the Searwood; five years on the cookbox for the Smoque. That sits between Traeger's 7-year Westwood and 10-year Woodridge terms and the 3-year warranties typical of budget brands — see our pellet grill warranty comparison for the full table.
The Bottom Line
Buy the Searwood 600 if this is your only grill, the Smoque if it is your second cooker and smoking is the job, and step up to either XL only if you genuinely cook for crowds. Weber's advantage in this category is not raw specification — Traeger gives you more grate and a longer warranty at similar money — it is that the Searwood actually sears, which is the one thing pellet grills have historically done badly.
Best Weber Pellet Grill: Searwood 600
A true 180-600°F range with direct flame across the whole grate, an AmazingRibs Platinum Medal, and a weatherproof cast-aluminum cookbox.
Check Searwood 600 Price#ad — the button above is an affiliate link and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Explore more: Weber Searwood 600 Review | Weber Smoque Review | Weber Smoque vs Traeger Westwood | recteq vs Weber | Traeger vs Weber | How to Choose a Pellet Grill | Best Pellet Grills Under $1,000 | Current Deals