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If you've searched for a Traeger vertical pellet smoker, stop looking — Traeger doesn't make one. Its entire lineup is barrel-shaped horizontal grills, from the Pro 575 up through the induction-equipped Timberline. The cabinet-style pellet smoker segment belongs almost entirely to a different set of players, and one company — Dansons — quietly owns two of the biggest names in it.
Vertical pellet smokers solve a specific problem: how do you fit a lot of cooking space into a small footprint? A horizontal grill like a Traeger Ironwood XL needs a 59-inch-wide patio spot for 924 square inches. A vertical cabinet gets you more rack space in a box the size of a mini-fridge, plus hooks for sausage and jerky that no horizontal grill offers. The tradeoff is real too: heat stratifies rack to rack, and pellet combustion in a tall, narrow chamber produces noticeably less smoke than a horizontal firebox or an offset.
This guide covers pellet-fired cabinet smokers only — no electric, no propane, no charcoal bullet smokers padding out the list. Every model below burns wood pellets through an auger and firepot, which means real combustion, real bark, and a real (if muted) smoke ring. Pit Boss and its sister brand Louisiana Grills dominate the field, but Camp Chef and Grilla Grills bring genuine engineering differences worth paying for.
This guide is built for anyone choosing between a vertical and a horizontal pellet grill, or between the half-dozen verticals that actually exist. Beginners smoking their first batch of jerky, high-volume cooks running multiple racks of ribs at once, and anyone tired of AI-written lists that mix a $79 electric smoker in with a $1,500 pellet rig will find a straight answer here.
Quick Picks
| Category | Pick |
|---|---|
| Best overall / most capacity | Pit Boss Navigator 6-Series |
| Best smoke flavor | Camp Chef XXL Pro WiFi |
| Best efficiency / insulation | Grilla Grills Mammoth |
| Best value | Pit Boss Copperhead 5-Series |
| Biggest hopper | Nexgrill Oakford 1400 |
| Best if buying at Costco | Louisiana Grills 7-Series |
| Budget entry point | Masterbuilt MWS 340B |
What Makes a Great Vertical Pellet Smoker?
A vertical pellet smoker is judged on four things: how evenly it holds temperature rack to rack, how long the hopper runs before a refill, how much real smoke it puts on the meat, and how much usable space it packs into its footprint. Everything else — touchscreens, app integrations, cabinet finish — is secondary.
Rack-to-rack temperature stratification is the defining weakness of the category. Because the firepot sits at the bottom of a tall, narrow chamber, the bottom rack consistently runs hottest and the top rack coolest. Pit Boss owners running a 5-rack cabinet at a 225°F setpoint routinely report the bottom rack overshooting while the top rack lags behind. One documented case measured a 50°F gap between the set temperature and actual cabinet temperature at a given rack. The fix isn't a firmware update — it's placing your probe at the rack you actually care about and rotating trays partway through a long cook.
Smoke output is genuinely lighter than a horizontal pellet grill, let alone a stick burner. Owners across brands describe pellet verticals as "outdoor convection ovens" — accurate, since the auger-fed firepot and forced-air convection that make temperature control effortless also move smoke through the chamber faster than it can cling to the meat. Two brands engineer around this directly: Camp Chef's XXL Pro has a dedicated Smoke Box that lets you burn real wood chunks or charcoal alongside the pellets, and Grilla's Mammoth uses a lipped deflector that holds wood chunks for the same effect. Everyone else relies on owners adding a pellet tube or smoke maze after the fact.
Hopper size and insulation determine how often you're refilling. Hoppers in this category run from 12 lb (Masterbuilt) to 80 lb (Nexgrill), and double-wall insulated cabinets — Grilla's Mammoth in particular — measurably stretch that fuel further: independent testing on the Mammoth logged 20–22 hour pork butt cooks finishing with roughly half the hopper's pellets still unburned.
And to close the loop on the Traeger question: the brand's own site lists only offset grills and water-bullet smokers under "smoker" types — no pellet cabinet. If you came here after a Traeger dealer told you to look at a "vertical Traeger," they meant a competitor's cabinet, not a Traeger product.
#1 Pit Boss Navigator 6-Series — The Biggest Cabinet You Can Buy
Pit Boss's newest and largest vertical is built around one number: 2,224 square inches of cooking space across five racks (each 25.7" x 17.3"), fed by a 75 lb hopper — the largest in the Pit Boss line and among the biggest in the category. The 130–420°F range in 5° increments, Wi-Fi + Bluetooth control board, rapid ignition, and rear-access grease management round it out. Internal + external lighting is a small but genuinely useful touch for after-dark checks.
Specs
- 2,224 sq in total (5 racks)
- 75 lb hopper
- 130–420°F, 5° increments
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth, included meat probe (3 ports)
- ~173 lb, 55.3"H x 44"W x 29"D
- 5-year warranty
Pros
- Largest cooking area and hopper in the Pit Boss lineup
- Rear grease access keeps the front of the cabinet clean
- Folding side shelf adds usable counter space
Cons
- Heaviest unit in this guide — plan for a permanent spot, not a portable setup
- Newest model in the category with the least accumulated owner history
Verdict: If capacity is the deciding factor — competition-level volume, multiple whole turkeys, or just not wanting to refill the hopper mid-cook — this is the cabinet built for it.
Perfect for: high-volume cooks and anyone feeding a crowd who's tired of running out of rack space.
#2 Grilla Grills Mammoth — Best Insulation and Efficiency
The Mammoth is the category's engineering standout. Its double-wall insulated chamber isn't a marketing line — Smoked BBQ Source's own pork butt cooks ran 20–22 hours and still had roughly 50% of the pellet fill left in the hopper, corroborating Grilla's claim of 48+ hours at 250°F on a single 40 lb fill. It ships with 5 stainless racks (10 positions) standard, expandable to 3,300+ square inches with a second rack set, plus a stainless hanging rack with 24 sausage hooks and a water pan included.
Specs
- 1,600+ sq in standard (5 racks, 10 positions); expandable to 3,300+ sq in
- 40 lb hopper
- 180–420°F (no cold-smoking below 180°F)
- Alpha Connect 2.0 Wi-Fi, 2 meat probes
- Includes 24-hook hanging rack + water pan
Pros
- Best-documented fuel efficiency in the category
- Genuinely expandable rack system for batch cooks
- Lipped deflector holds wood chunks for real smoke, not just pellet smoke
Cons
- Can't go below 180°F, so cold smoking is off the table
- Wi-Fi setup requires switching your home router to 2.4GHz first — a real friction point if your network is dual-band by default
Verdict: The Mammoth costs more than the Pit Boss verticals, but the insulation and smoke-boosting deflector are the two upgrades most owners of other brands wish they had.
Perfect for: long overnight cooks and anyone who's found other pellet verticals too smoke-light.
#3 Camp Chef XXL Pro WiFi — Built to Fix the Smoke Problem
Camp Chef designed the XXL Pro around the category's biggest complaint: weak smoke. Its dedicated Smoke Box lets you burn real wood chunks or charcoal alongside the pellet auger, producing noticeably heavier bark than a pellet-only chamber. It's also the most rack-flexible unit here — 8 total positions split across 4 meat racks, 3 jerky racks, and a 12-hook sausage rack, inside 2,408 square inches of total capacity.
Specs
- 2,408 sq in across up to 8 racks
- 30 lb hopper (real-world 25–30 lb, 10+ hours)
- 150–350°F (smoking range, not a high-heat griller)
- Wi-Fi via Camp Chef Connect app, dual probes
- Dedicated Smoke Box, Fan Mode for cold smoking, 33,000 BTU/hr
Pros
- Only unit in this guide with a purpose-built real-wood smoke chamber
- Rack variety (meat/jerky/sausage) beats every competitor
- Fan Mode enables true cold smoking, unlike the Mammoth's 180°F floor
Cons
- 350°F ceiling means it's a smoker only — no searing, no high-heat finishing
- Ash cleanout has been reported to stick, and the grease/ash cups can dislodge
- Door handle runs hot enough that a glove is worth keeping nearby
Verdict: If real smoke flavor matters more to you than raw square footage, this is the one built specifically to deliver it — the tradeoff is a hard ceiling on temperature.
Perfect for: jerky and sausage makers, and anyone chasing bark closer to an offset than a convection cabinet.
#4 Pit Boss Copperhead 5-Series — The Proven Value Pick
The Copperhead 5-Series is the most established vertical pellet smoker on the market, and it's the one AmazingRibs.com singled out with its Best Value Gold Medal. Double-walled insulation, a 60 lb hopper rated for roughly 35 hours of smoke time, and a 150–420°F PID-controlled range make it a capable all-rounder without the premium price of the Mammoth or XXL Pro.
Specs
- 1,513 sq in across 5 porcelain-coated cast-iron racks
- 60 lb hopper, ~35 hours smoke time
- 150–420°F, PID digital control
- Double-walled insulation, large window, 4 locking casters
- ~128 lb
Pros
- AmazingRibs Best Value Gold Medal winner
- Long hopper runtime for the price tier
- Small footprint relative to its cooking area
Cons
- No Wi-Fi on the base model
- Legs are thin, crimped sheet metal — not built for rough handling
- Control-panel protective film has been reported to peel over time
Verdict: This is the vertical most owners point new buyers toward, and the track record backs that up.
Perfect for: first-time vertical smoker buyers who want proven hardware over the newest features.
#5 Nexgrill Oakford 1400 — The 80 lb Hopper Sleeper
The Oakford 1400 is the least-covered model in this category and arguably the best-value sleeper. Its 80 lb hopper is the largest of any vertical pellet smoker here — bigger than the Navigator 6-Series' 75 lb — inside a build one Pitmaster Club reviewer described as feeling like "a well made rig," down to the set-screw latch tension adjustment.
Specs
- 1,400 sq in, multi-level, 19.5" wide cooking area
- 80 lb hopper (largest in this guide)
- 5-in-1 modes: smoke/bake/roast/braise/warm, up to ~420°F
- SureTemp controller with Wi-Fi + Bluetooth, i-Site pellet view indicator
- ~161 lb, 24" footprint, 52" stack height
Pros
- Largest hopper in the category by a meaningful margin
- Build quality (hinges, latches, casters) draws specific praise from reviewers
- Front-access grease cup and pellet-level indicator are practical touches
Cons
- Not sold on Amazon as a smoker — only accessories are listed there
- Can be genuinely hard to find in stock
Verdict: If hopper capacity is your top priority and you're comfortable buying through Home Depot rather than Amazon, this is the best-kept secret in the category.
Perfect for: buyers who hate refilling pellets and don't mind shopping outside Amazon for it.
#6 Louisiana Grills 7-Series — The Costco Twin
Louisiana Grills and Pit Boss are both owned by Dansons, and the 7-Series vertical is functionally the same hardware as the Pit Boss Copperhead 7-Series, sold through a different channel — heavily through Costco. At 1,979 square inches across 6 racks with two full-function programmable meat probes (one more than most Pit Boss equivalents include), it's worth comparison-shopping against its sibling before buying either.
Specs
- 1,979 sq in across 6 porcelain-coated steel racks
- 150–420°F
- 2 full-function programmable meat probes
- Heavy-duty steel with high-heat coating, 4 locking casters
- ~143 lb
Pros
- Two included probes vs. one on many Pit Boss equivalents
- Costco bundles frequently include a cover and shipping
- Identical Dansons hardware to the Pit Boss line at a comparable capacity tier
Cons
- Same twin-brand hardware means the same known issues reported on Pit Boss Copperhead controllers
- Availability tied to Costco's rotating stock
Verdict: Before buying a Pit Boss Copperhead 7-Series, check whether Costco has this exact unit for less — it's the same smoker.
Perfect for: Costco members who want Pit Boss-level capacity with a couple of added conveniences.
#7 Pit Boss Sportsman 5-Series — Wi-Fi Convenience, Fair Price
The Sportsman 5-Series sits just above the Copperhead 5-Series in Pit Boss's own lineup, trading the Copperhead's double-wall insulation for Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connectivity at a similar 1,679 square inches across 5 racks and a 60 lb hopper.
Specs
- 1,679 sq in across 5 adjustable racks (22.51" x 14.92" each)
- 60 lb hopper with cleanout
- 130–420°F, 5° increments
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth, 3 probe ports (1 included)
- ~140 lb
Pros
- App control adds genuine convenience over the non-Wi-Fi Copperhead
- Rapid igniter and chimney exhaust for straightforward startups
- Comparable capacity to the Copperhead at a similar price point
Cons
- Owners specifically report thin smoke output, describing the chimney as "generally for appearance only"
- Some reports of build-quality decline versus older Pit Boss generations
Verdict: Choose this over the Copperhead 5-Series if app control matters to you; choose the Copperhead if insulation and a longer track record matter more.
Perfect for: buyers who want phone-based temperature monitoring without stepping up to a Navigator or Camp Chef.
#8 Pit Boss Copperhead 7-Series — More Racks, More Hooks
The 7-Series steps up from the Copperhead 5 with a sixth rack, 6 meat hooks, and a second probe port, landing at 1,815 square inches. It's a reasonable step-up pick, but its retail availability has been inconsistent — worth confirming in stock before committing to it over the Louisiana Grills twin above.
Specs
- 1,815 sq in across 6 adjustable racks
- 55–60 lb hopper, ~35 hours smoke time
- 150–420°F
- 2 meat probes, 6 meat hooks, 300-watt igniter
- ~141 lb
Pros
- More rack and hook capacity than the 5-Series at a modest size increase
- Same double-walled construction and hammertone finish as the proven 5-Series
Cons
- Some retailers have flagged this model as discontinued or out of stock
- A documented case of three years of recurring controller failures, even after a board replacement
Verdict: Worth considering, but check the Louisiana Grills 7-Series first — same hardware, potentially better availability and a second probe as standard.
Perfect for: buyers set on Pit Boss specifically who need more than 5 racks and can confirm current stock.
#9 Masterbuilt MWS 340B — The Budget Entry Point
Masterbuilt is better known for its electric and propane verticals, but the MWS 340B is a genuine pellet-fired cabinet — the only true budget option in this guide. Its 977 square inches across 4 chrome racks and 12+ lb hopper make it the smallest capacity here, with a correspondingly modest 180–350°F range.
Specs
- 977 sq in across 4 chrome-plated racks
- 12+ lb hopper (frequent refills on long cooks)
- 180–350°F
- Digital control panel, 1 meat probe, removable crucible
- ~130 lb
Pros
- Lowest price point in the category by a wide margin
- Automated auger and digital cycle presets simplify operation for beginners
Cons
- Small hopper means real hands-on refilling during long cooks
- Narrower temperature range than every other model in this guide
Verdict: A reasonable entry point if you're testing whether a vertical fits your cooking style before spending Pit Boss or Camp Chef money — just budget for more frequent hopper refills.
Perfect for: first-time smoker owners on a tight budget, or a low-stakes second unit for jerky and small batches.
Comparison Table
| Model | Cook Area | Hopper | Temp Range | Connectivity | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss Navigator 6-Series | 2,224 sq in | 75 lb | 130–420°F | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | Largest capacity |
| Grilla Grills Mammoth | 1,600–3,300 sq in | 40 lb | 180–420°F | Wi-Fi | Best insulation/efficiency |
| Camp Chef XXL Pro | 2,408 sq in | 30 lb | 150–350°F | Wi-Fi | Real-wood Smoke Box |
| Pit Boss Copperhead 5-Series | 1,513 sq in | 60 lb | 150–420°F | None | Best proven value |
| Nexgrill Oakford 1400 | 1,400 sq in | 80 lb | up to ~420°F | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | Biggest hopper |
| Louisiana Grills 7-Series | 1,979 sq in | Large (Copperhead-class) | 150–420°F | None on base | Dansons twin, 2 probes |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 5-Series | 1,679 sq in | 60 lb | 130–420°F | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | App control at a fair price |
| Pit Boss Copperhead 7-Series | 1,815 sq in | 55–60 lb | 150–420°F | None | 6 hooks, 2 probes |
| Masterbuilt MWS 340B | 977 sq in | 12+ lb | 180–350°F | None | Lowest entry price |
Which Vertical Pellet Smoker Should You Buy?
If you're feeding a crowd or running competition-level volume, the Navigator 6-Series' 2,224 square inches and 75 lb hopper outclass everything else here — you'll refill less and fit more birds, butts, and racks at once.
If smoke flavor is your priority over raw capacity, the Camp Chef XXL Pro's Smoke Box is the only feature in this category built specifically to close the gap with an offset or a horizontal pellet grill's firebox.
If you want the best-documented, most proven hardware at a fair price, the Copperhead 5-Series has the longest track record and an AmazingRibs Gold Medal to back it up — start here if this is your first vertical.
If you're shopping at Costco anyway, check the Louisiana Grills 7-Series against the Pit Boss Copperhead 7-Series before buying either — they're the same Dansons hardware, and the bundle terms can tip the decision.
If you just want to try a vertical without committing, the Masterbuilt MWS 340B is the lowest-risk entry point, with the understanding that its small hopper means more hands-on attention during long cooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Traeger make a vertical pellet smoker?
No. Traeger's own site lists only offset grills and water/bullet smokers under its smoker category — there is no pellet-fired cabinet in its lineup. Shoppers looking for a "Traeger vertical" are describing a category Traeger doesn't compete in; Pit Boss, Camp Chef, and Grilla Grills are the actual options.
Q: Why is the bottom rack always hotter than the top rack?
The firepot sits at the bottom of the cabinet, so heat is strongest there and dissipates as it rises through the racks above. This is consistent across every vertical pellet smoker in this guide, not a defect in any one model. The practical fix is placing your temperature probe at the rack you're actually cooking on and rotating trays partway through longer cooks.
Q: Are Pit Boss and Louisiana Grills verticals actually different?
Not meaningfully. Both brands are owned by Dansons, and their vertical cabinet smokers use the same core hardware sold through different retail channels — Pit Boss mainly through Walmart and Tractor Supply, Louisiana Grills mainly through Costco. It's worth comparing the specific bundle and price at each retailer before deciding between them.
Q: Do vertical pellet smokers produce as much smoke as an offset or a horizontal pellet grill?
Less, generally. The convection airflow that makes a pellet vertical easy to run also moves smoke through the tall chamber faster than it clings to the meat, which is why owners commonly describe them as "outdoor convection ovens." Camp Chef's Smoke Box and Grilla's lipped wood-chunk deflector are the two features in this category built specifically to add real combustion smoke back into the equation.
Q: Can I cold smoke in a vertical pellet smoker?
It depends on the model's floor temperature. The Grilla Mammoth's minimum is 180°F, which rules out true cold smoking. The Camp Chef XXL Pro's Fan Mode is designed for cold smoking specifically, making it the better pick if that's a priority.
Q: How much rack space do I actually need?
For a family cooking ribs, chicken, or a single brisket at a time, 1,500–1,800 square inches (Copperhead 5-Series, Sportsman 5-Series) is plenty. If you're running multiple whole turkeys, several racks of ribs simultaneously, or batching jerky and sausage across dedicated racks, step up to the Navigator 6-Series or Camp Chef XXL Pro's 2,200+ square inch range.
Conclusion
The vertical pellet smoker field is smaller and more consolidated than most buying guides let on — strip out the electric and charcoal units that don't belong, and you're really choosing between Dansons hardware (Pit Boss and Louisiana Grills), Camp Chef's smoke-focused XXL Pro, Grilla's insulation-first Mammoth, Nexgrill's hopper-first Oakford 1400, and Masterbuilt's budget entry. There's no vertical Traeger to chase, and no reason to pretend a Weber Smokey Mountain belongs on the same list.
For most backyard pitmasters, the Copperhead 5-Series remains the safest starting point — proven, insulated, and reasonably priced. Anyone chasing real smoke flavor over convenience should look at the Camp Chef XXL Pro's Smoke Box instead, and anyone who wants the biggest cabinet available should go straight to the Navigator 6-Series or the Oakford 1400's 80 lb hopper.
Whichever you land on, pair it with wood pellets for the meat you're smoking, and if the smoke output still feels thin, a pellet smoker tube closes most of the gap for a few dollars. For a broader look at where pellet cabinets fit against horizontal grills, see our pellet grill vs. offset smoker and pellet grill vs. electric smoker comparisons.
