Imagine enjoying flavorful, tantalizing, and mouthwatering meat in the comfort of your home. Or cooking a delicious BBQ for your special occasion. Sounds great, right? To do that, you just need a good-quality smoker.
But smokers are quite expensive, and you don’t have enough money to purchase them?
Well, we understand that, and that’s why we have put in a lot of serious time and research to provide you with the solution.
Finding a reliable and budget-friendly smoker is exhaustive and time taking. So, we brought you a list of the top 10 best smokers under 300. We have provided a detailed review of each Smoker with its drawbacks and benefits. Just carefully go through this article, and you will have to find your dream smoker by the end of this write-up!
Top Piks of best smoker under 300
Weber Smokey Mountain
Specifications:
- Item Weight: 23 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 31.4 x 14.75 x 14.75 inches
- Inner Material: Stainless_steel
Our top choice is Weber Smokey Mountain, which has excellent heat retention and preserves smoked meat's flavor. Additionally, it is made with strong and sturdy material, easy to use and move around.
Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker
Specifications:
- Item Weight: 51.5 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 22 x 19 x 37.5 inches
- Inner Material: Stainless_steel
If you are a beginner or cook casually, then the Cuisinart COS-330 will be the best option. It's pretty simple to use and provides a great cooking experience.
Masterbuilt MB20071117
Specifications:
- Item Weight: 45.9 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 19.88 x 20.47 x 33.26 inches
- Inner Material: Stainless_steel
The 20071117 by Masterbuilt is another great option under the $300 price range. It has a user-friendly wood chip loading system and digital controls that make it an excellent option.
10 Best Smokers under $300 reviews
1. Weber Smokey Mountain | Best Overall
The Weber Smokey Mountain is at the top of the list because of its excellent features. Although its price is quite affordable, still it has flawless performance like the premium quality smokers.
It is made with high-quality material and will last for a long time. Furthermore, it’s not huge but spacious enough to smoke two large cuts of meat at a time. Thanks to its small size, you can also take it camping and to a friend’s home.
Coming towards its construction, porcelain enameled steel is used in its manufacturing. Its dampers are easy to adjust, and it comes with a separate fuel door. Hence, you can easily add additional coal to it whenever needed.
Don’t get mistaken about its affordable price, and Weber has incorporated a reliable temperature gauge with this Smoker. It can keep better track of temperature without any hindrance so that cooking will become quite easy for you.
You will be surprised to know that this beautiful Smoker comes with ten years warranty. Besides, most of the reviews for Weber Smokey Mountain are positive, and you can rely on it to fulfill your savory smoking needs.
No product is perfect, and so this is the case with this Smoker. It doesn’t come with handles, and it’s a bit difficult to move it around. Otherwise, it’s one of the best charcoal smokers under $300, so you must check it out.
Our Verdict
I made this smoker an amazing choice when I decided to buy this. My friend and I were cooking during a hiking trip. we cooked and grilled with this excellent smoker full day and prepared food for all our friends. I used Weber smokey mountain during the trip for the first time. I saw several qualities in it. This smoker utilizes charcoal and wood pieces that you can undoubtedly acquire. I like to drench the wood pieces, so they produce cleaner smoke and don’t catch fire excessively fast. I started with the crony strategy, spreading a heap of charcoal, getting out a pit in the center, and then pouring in hot charcoal. I began in a chimney stack starter.
Temperature, the board, is finished by the four flexible vents, three on the base and one on top in this smoker. While cooking, I open all vents until I reach the ideal temperature. Then, I leave the main one completely open and close the rest to a quarter to midway contingent upon the external temperature. To analyze the temperature, I watch the thermometer that comes based on the top. At last, I’ll get a WIFI temp check we can use with our telephone to check the temperature until we make other preparations for the trip.
2. Cuisinart COS-330 – the best vertical electric smoker
It has a vertical design and is an ideal option for spaces like an outdoor kitchen. The Cuisinart COS-330 has a spacious interior of 548 square inches, so you conveniently smoke large cuts of meat in it. Also, it comes with three racks made up of stainless steel and can be removed easily.
Best part? Its racks are dishwasher safe, and you won’t have any difficulty cleaning this Smoker. There are heating coils in this electric Smoker, providing a 1500-watt heating element. It has a high-quality dial and a built-in thermometer through which you can control its temperature.
Cooking in this Smoker is just a piece of cake. Want to know how? Firstly, you have to keep the food inside it, then add some water and wood chips. Adjust the temperature, and you are done. After some time, you will get delicious and savory vegetables and flavorful meat.
This Smoker under $300 is a perfect pick for casual cooks and beginners. It is made of durable and sturdy material but still has low weight; hence, it is easy to transport. However, it doesn’t come with a seal on the door, so it sometimes takes longer to cook.
Our Verdict
When I was new to smoking food. I have utilized my Weber propane barbecue to smoke a smidgen, yet I needed a genuine smoker. I chose to go with propane since it seemed like there would be less work to keep up with the temperature and smoke. The gathering was extremely simple, and directions were clear and simple to follow. I went out and purchased a bunch of four locking casters to introduce on the lower part of the legs. I needed to bore openings through the lower part of the feet to connect the casters.
The smoker is weighty, so having locking wheels is an unquestionable requirement since I will store this in my shed when not being used. Before my most memorable use, I concluded I ought to prepare the smoker. I was shocked that the producer did not notice the manual about preparing the smoker. I tracked down a lot of online proposals for doing this and figured everything would work out. In addition, I could get used to the temperature changes without gambling on any food. I would energetically prescribe this smoker to any novice.
3. Smoke Hollow 38202G – Best Propane Smoker
If you are a fan of the gas smoker, then get your hands on Smoke Hollow 38202G. It has everything you need for a high-quality premium smoker and still costs less than $300. Track us below to have a look at its remarkable features.
The Smoke Hollow 38202G features a sausage hanger and four cooking grinds. So, you can cook the whole meal in a single shift, isn’t that great?
There are chrome plated grates, and its cabinet is made from welded steel. While its gas system is made out of cast brass, it is undoubtedly one of the best gas smokers under $300.
Its assembly is quite easy, and its overall weight is 68 pounds. Since it comes with built-in handles, you will have no trouble moving it around. The Smoker Hollow 38202G operates on gas, so there is an increased low to high-temperature range, and you will have better control over it.
Another great feature of this cooker is its large fuel tray. This makes it possible to keep wood chunks inside it along with pellets and chips. The 38202G is a propane smoker and has less pre-heating time making it an ideal option for cold climates.
On the downside, its thermometer is less accurate, and some users were not happy with this thing. While others complained that it lacks a door gasket, so heat may leak from it sometimes.
Our Verdict
I have had this smoker for about 3 months and have utilized it multiple times. I’m still learning; however, I truly like it to some extent. It was all around bundled and extremely simple to gather, I mean to say that its setup is very easy. The greatest test I have had so far is getting it to the right temperature. When there, it holds a temperature pretty well. I purchased a double-test computerized thermometer and gasket material for the way to help.
The temperature is delicate to the valve position, yet the unit is huge enough that the process can’t be rushed to see the impacts. It will, in general, hold a temperature inside a few degrees. It can float more because of changing breeze conditions and surrounding temperature, yet when you get it to a decent temperature, you can essentially let it be. I used it only for 4 months, and I just gifted this to my friend. My experience was overall good with this.
4. Char-Broil 17202004 – Best Electric Smokers under 300
If you are a smoker enthusiast, you will be familiar with the name of Char-Broil. It is a popular brand and always comes up with awesome products that fulfill customers’ expectations. The same is the case with Char-Broil Deluxe digital, so let’s see what it stores!
Let’s be honest; smoking can be painstaking if you don’t have the right equipment. Since any fluctuations in temperature can spoil the taste of your food. However, the Char-Broil comes with an integrated thermometer design, meaning that you don’t need to worry about temperature adjustment.
This comes with remote control, and you can conveniently monitor the cooker’s temperature even if you are not around it. With its remote control, you can also adjust the target cooking time while enjoying the part/family gathering simultaneously.
It has a locking door latch and insulated walls for better heat retention. This means you will always be able to get tender, juicy, and flavorful meat. Besides, it comes with wheels, and you will have no trouble in the storage and transport of this Smoker.
Concludingly, it is one of the best Smokers under 300 dollars. But it operates on electricity so you can’t take it out camping. Otherwise, it’s a great pick.
Our Verdict
I’ve had this for a year, and I’ve utilized it ordinarily. It works marvelous, the best ribs salmon chicken I’ve made in my life. I suggest purchasing the cover immediately it requires a long time to get the smoke rolling; for example, I do the 321 technique while I’m doing ribs which implies I put it in the smoker for three hours enclosed by aluminum foil and fluid for two hours and afterward back out of the aluminum foil for one hour the main issue is if you don’t hold on until it begins smoking before you put your ribs.
Toward the finish of three hours, you’ll lose smoke since it will be enveloped by foil, so I generally set the temp to hold on until I spot it smoking, then I put the meat in. I’m shocked it’s the as-yet unchanged value that it was a year prior.
5. Smokehouse Products – Big Chief Electric Smoker
Smokehouse is an emerging brand that introduced some best products for kitchens on the market. The Big Chief Electric smoker by Smokehouse is one of their top-notch products, and here we are going to unveil its details!
It has a modern design and comes with chrome-plated grills that you can use for various purposes. They increase the functionality of the Smoker and are anti-corrosion, so, they last for a long time.
This Smoker can accommodate more than 50 pounds of meat. Hence, it’s suitable for large families, but small restaurant owners can also use it to make dishes in a stress-free manner. Coming to its construction, it is made with pure embossed aluminum.
Its complete design and hard body construction make it an ideal pick for outdoor use. This feature makes it even more suitable for restaurants but notes that it is not suitable for indoor use.
Using this device is pretty easy, and it comes with a user manual containing detailed guidelines about the Smoker. Hence, it’s a perfect option for beginners and worth considering. With the Smoker, you will also get a 1.75-pound bag of Chips ‘n’ chunks flavor wood.
CSA, UL, and CUL approve it, so you must check out this best wood smoker for under $300.
Our Verdict
I involved this smoker trying to smoke 16 pounds of turkey. I’ve been an accomplished home cook and an expert smoker for many years. I have smoked numerous turkeys, briskets, wings, pork butts, and so forth utilizing charcoal smokers. So, I understand what smoked meat should look and suggest a flavor like. In this item’s protection, I accept it is expected for cut-up bits of meat or fish, but the book it accompanied incorporated a recipe for an entire turkey.
I love this because it places around 1-2 cups of wood chips on the little dish straightforwardly on the component to make the smoke. It can get a limit for food of 166 (f), and it will be lower if you are in a chilly climate. So, I recommend you use it for one time at least.
6. Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-best Offset Charcoal Smoker
The Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D has a different design than the other smokers mentioned on this list. Below we have provided complete information about the design and performance of this best Smoker under $300.
It is versatile equipment that can be used for grilling other than smoking. This heavy-duty Smoker features special porcelain glazed non-stick grill grate that is durable and sturdy. Plus, its firebox comes with a side pullout tray. Hence, you can conveniently feed wood chunks, wood chips, and fresh charcoal in it.
Its stout stable legs keep it firmly secure in its place, while there are large steel wheels for easy movability. Keep in mind that its primary handle often gets hot during a long smoke session. So, make sure to use welding gloves or oven mites while adjusting or moving it around.
The assembly of DGSS1382VCS is also easy, and you can put it together in almost 2 hours. A common issue with most low-priced smokers is that they are hard to clean. Also, when you don’t clean them properly, their smoking performance is affected, and their life span is reduced.
You will be pleased to know that this Smoker by Dyna-Glo Signature is cleaning-friendly. The pull-out charcoal pain present in its firebox can be removed, so ash disposal becomes quite easy.
Our Verdict
Dyna-Glo is an amazing masterpiece. I brought it on my first anniversary to give to my wife. She is excellent at grilling brisket, chicken, pork, and other things. So, I buy it to gift her. We both made our first grill on it the next day, as I also purchased this blend smoker and cover for protection. Covers are necessities for any barbecue, and the Dyna-Glo cover suits this smoker perfectly.
We smoked a 17-pound brisket, an entire spatchcocked chicken, and 2 pounds of hotdog. I ran the brisket for around 10 hours, and it hadn’t changed the collagen to gelatin. It is still great, only not quite as delicate as it ought to have been. The chicken was in the smoker for around 4 hours and came out perfect. Likewise, barbecue pineapple went well for a short time. My wife and I enjoyed this masterpiece a lot, and our smoking went well with this. I enthusiastically suggested it to you as well.
7. Masterbuilt MB20071117 – Best Digital Electric Smoker
The Masterbuilt is the top choice of all those who don’t compromise on the flavor of smoked food. The MB20071117 is one of their best electric smokers under $300.
It provides you plenty of room to smoke your favorite food, thanks to its 700 square inches of cooking area. A digital control panel on its top side lets you control its power, cooking time, and temperature.
The Smoker is made with high-quality material, and its heat retention is incredible. Besides, it also has an adjustable air-dumper that lets you set the right amount of smoke. This means the smoking flavor won’t be compromised, and you will always get delicious food.
We greatly admire the feature of MB20071117 is its side wood chip loader. You don’t have to open the Smoker every time for adding the fuel as you can conveniently add it from the side. That’s why you will be able to cook consistently in minimum time, sounds great, right?
It contains a grease tray and drip pan to make cleaning easy and quick. Besides, it’s quite easy to operate and takes less time to heat up than its competitors. The MB20071117 is backed with a 90-day limited warranty. It doesn’t produce sufficient smoke at low temperatures, and this weighs it down.
Our Verdict
This is my most memorable smoker, and I was searching for something that would be easy to use at a reasonable cost. I spent somewhat more to gain the advanced influence, and I’m happy to get this smoker as I ordered from Amazon in a quick shipment. Its experienced difficulty getting up to temp during the coldest long stretches of winter, yet I tackled that issue by getting a protected coat. As the weather conditions heated up, I started experiencing difficulty getting smoke. The section that holds the wood chip plate. It keeps it excessively far from the component to get smoke except if the component is truly hot. It appears to be others who had this issue likewise and prescribed twisting the section to draw the plate nearer to the component.
The smoker shows up collected except for opening the barbecues and adding the electronic keypad, which fits properly. You can have it ready to go in 10 minutes or less. Until then, I’ve smoked chicken wings, chicken legs, several steaks, and some salmon utilizing cherry wood Apple or hickory chips. No issues up until now. The food has been awesome, and the simplicity at which the smoker works is gladly received an incredible incentive for the size and cost.
8. Realcook Charcoal BBQ Smoker Grill – best outdoor smoker
Looking for a charcoal smoker that can preserve the natural taste of the food you cook? Then pick up the Real cook Charcoal BBQ Smoker without any second thought. This Smoker has amazing features that make it an ideal option for the smoking enthusiast.
Although it has a budget-friendly price still crafted by using premium quality material. Other than having porcelain enameled steel construction, it has some insulation for better heat retention. However, heat may leak from its side doors since those don’t have a good seal.
There are locking clasps available in this Smoker that firmly keep it together and minimize air leaks. The best part? The Real cook 20-inch smoker grill has heat resistant handle, so you can conveniently move it around even if it is warm.
Assembly of this Smoker is also hassle-free, and you can put it together in almost half an hour. Coming towards its performance, it is quite versatile and contains can do anything that you can expect from a high-capacity smoker.
Despite having an affordable price, Real cook provides you with sausage hooks. Hence, you can make your homemade fresh sausage if needed. It has a dripping water pan that collects most of the greasy discharge; hence, cleaning becomes easy.
This is the best charcoal smoker under $300 and ideal for anyone who wants to have a high capacity and vertical Smoker.
Our Verdict
I brought this smoker for my mother; she runs a small home-based business. She is a professional smoker grill expert. So, she trained newbies for smoking grills and other cooking staff. The first time I brought this, I tried my first cooking experience on it. I couldn’t move my bigger barbecue with a side box to my new home and needed to do some charcoal cooking, barbecuing, and smoking, so I went for this one. Its assembly was pretty good.
The gathering was somewhat of a bear, yet not hard to do, and I had the option to get it started up and prepare some speedy supper steaks that evening. The capacity to dangle from inside has been an aid for doing vertical smoking, and how the chip container attempts to diffuse the intensity was magnificent. The smoke’s incredible flavor improves pork more than my electric one does. I recommend it to you.
9. George Foreman – Best Indoor Outdoor Electric Grill
If you want a versatile smoker that can be used for indoor and outdoor use, then this one is for you. The GGR50B is reasonably priced, easy to use, and does a great job cooking various types of foods.
Wondering why it is called a George Foreman smoker? It’s because the GGR50B has a sloped plate design that George Foreman introduced. A grease tray is present in this Smoker that you can detach for easy cleaning.
This Smoker under $300 comes with a removable and non-stick grill plate. There are 240 square inches of vast cooking surface, and you can cook various food items in it without any hindrance. It has a sloped plate for draining fats and variable temperature control to provide a great cooking experience.
It shows temperature in the form of levels ranging from 1 to 5. Among these, the highest setting is level 5 which is used for searing meats. Besides, it has a domed lid that you can use for those foods which are not cooked properly on the contact grill. Like bulky vegetables, beef roasts and chicken halves, or chicken breasts.
Its non-stick surface is cleaning friendly but make sure not to use any abrasive brushes, or pads for this purpose.
Our Verdict
This George Foreman electric barbecue is incredible; how this barbecue prepares food like a gas barbecue flabbergasts me. My experience with it was spectacular. So, I gave this smoker to my girlfriend as a gift. She first puts on the barbecue marks, yet it tastes like a gas barbecue; without consuming the food, there are no problem areas. The intensity is so uniform, and the food prepares wonderfully without fail with the dampness selector top. We enjoyed it a lot.
Later after she grilled 6 chicken bosoms on, I was astonished. She told me that its removable barbecue is a smart idea, and pulling real barbecue off the stand is also adaptable.
10. Old Smokey Electric Smokers under $300
Old Smokery Electric smoker has been in the market since 1953 and is still considered one of the best propane smokers under $300. Want to know why? Scroll down!
It has a pretty simple design and looks like a tin can attached to a heating element. Don’t get mistaken about straightforward design; its performance is better than even some expensive smokers. The Old smokey electric smoker is built to last and provides an excellent-tasting BBQ.
An advanced heat thermostat is attached to this device that offers a variety of cooking time styles and settings. A heat regulator and advanced sensors will automatically adjust its inner temperature. So, after setting its temperature once, you can comfortably sit or can do the other chores at the home.
It is an ideal option for all those folks who are fond of using simple devices. With this amazing Smoker, you don’t have to face sudden electronic fails or display malfunctions.
Furthermore, it has a tight-fitting lid that doesn’t let it lose precious smoke or heat. Tight sealing means condensation is created inside this device that will further enhance the flavor of the meat. It has an efficient electric heating system, and there is no need to adjust and maintain its temperature manually.
Our Verdict
This is the fourth one of the old smoky electric smokers we’ve purchased over the past thirty years. We feed turkey to our canines. We have an enormous pot that we place a frozen turkey (22 pounds or less) into and, afterward, let the Old Smokey run for around twelve hours. My wife and I love to smoke on it. The outcome is an impeccably cooked turkey. If you haul the pot out of the Old Smokey and channel the liquids now and again, the turkey comes out quite brown, similar to what you cook for Thanksgiving.
Typically, however, we leave it in until it is cooked. It isn’t cooked like that, yet the canines couldn’t care less. The Old Smokey electric barbecue is an exceptionally simple cooking method. You can place little sticks of wood in a plate at the base to add wood flavor. Other electric barbecues might work; however, the Old Smokey has been a brilliant and solid decision for us, and each has gone on for around a decade with genuinely heavy use.
Best Smoker Under $300- Buying Guide
Every product has some specific buying points, and knowing them can make your purchasing decision easy. For your convenience, below, we have discussed the important points that you should consider while purchasing a smoker!
Durability:
Although your main objective is to get a smoker for under $300, you should still pay attention to its durability. It depends upon the construction of the material, so check out the Smoker’s material that is used in its construction.
Smoker Type:
Smokers are of various types like indoor, outdoor, barrel, and vertical, Smokers. They operate either on wood, charcoal, propane, or even on electricity. Be clear about your requirements, and it will help you decide which Smoker will be best for you.
Cooking Space:
If you have a large family or want to purchase a smoker for events, then pick up one that has a large cooking space. The Masterbuilt 20071117 has a spacious cooking space of 709 square inches in this list.
Temperature Range:
Temperature is probably the most important factor in smoking. Ideally, you should look for equipment that maintains a consistent temperature and is easy to operate. Note that temperature fluctuations can spoil your cooked items’ taste, so be careful in this regard.
Grate’s quality and Number:
Don’t forget to check out the quality and Number of grates. It is quite obvious that Smoker with a large cooking area has more grates and vice versa.
Usability:
If you are a complete beginner, then a simple and easy smoker to use will be best for you. Some smokers have a user-friendly design and automatically maintain their temperature after one adjustment. While in others, you have to adjust the temperature multiple times manually.
Ease of Cleaning:
Not all smokers are easy to clean since some come with non-removable grates and ashtrays. You should always choose Smoker, which is cleaning-friendly and dishwasher-safe.
Portability:
This is highly important, especially for those who want to have an outdoor smoker. If your Smoker is heavy and doesn’t come with wheels, it will not be easy to move it around. However, some smokers are lightweight and come with wheels and side handles, so moving them around is just a piece of cake.
Reviews:
The people who have already used that equipment will provide you with the most authentic information. By reading customer reviews, you will have a better idea about the positive and negative points.
Warranty:
It will be great if a smoker has less than $300 and is still backed with a warranty. Smokers mentioned in this list have a 1-3 years warranty. But there’s a masterpiece having a 10-year limited warranty. Guess which one? Weber Smokey Mountain!
Conclusion
Picking up the right equipment for smoking is highly important; otherwise, you won’t be able to cook delicious foods. It’s a myth that only expensive Smokers give better results. You can cook delicious meals by using the smokers mentioned above.
We have listed the top 10 best smokers in this price range. Among these, some operate on gas, some on wood, and others on electricity. Read their description and select which suits you best according to your needs.
Still undecided? Have a look at our top picks!
