Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
If you want one grill that can sear a steak fast and still hold low heat for ribs, a combo grill and smoker is the answer. That is the short answer to best bbq grill and smoker combo — the picks below each do both jobs, and a good one keeps you cooking without buying two separate machines. You will see fuel types compared (gas, charcoal, wood pellet) and what each one does for your cookout, so choosing feels simple.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind KitchPrep. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Combo grills mix fuel types so you can grill fast on one side and smoke slow on the other, without owning two separate machines. The Char-Griller Dual-Function is the crowd favorite here, with 4.6 stars across 400+ ratings. So read on for a clear look at the best BBQ grill and smoker combo.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best BBQ Grill and Smoker Combo
Most buyers who end up frustrated did not buy a bad grill — they bought the wrong fuel for how they actually cook. Start there. A combo is only worth it if its primary fuel matches your weeknight habit and its smoker side matches your weekend ambition.
Fuel type decides how much you tend the fire
Charcoal and wood give you real smoke flavor, but you load fuel and dial dampers by hand. Gas lights with a push of a button and holds a steady flame. Wood pellet grills feed themselves from a hopper and hold temperature with a controller, so you can walk away. Pick the level of hands-on work you actually want, not the one that sounds rugged.
Cooking area in square inches, translated
Total cooking area tells you guest capacity faster than any photo. Roughly, small combos around 500 sq. in. handle a family cookout, mid-size units near 700 to 870 sq. in. feed a party, and 1,000 sq. in. and up are built for large gatherings and long smokes. Check whether the number is total surface or primary grate only — they are not the same.
Offset smokers, reverse flow, and flame broilers
An offset smoker is a firebox attached to the side of the main chamber; heat and smoke travel across the food instead of sitting directly under it. Reverse flow adds baffles under the grates to even out hot spots. A flame broiler lever opens a path to direct fire for a hard sear. These are the features that separate a real smoker from a grill with a smoke setting.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Fuel Type | Cooking Area | Build Weight | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030★ Best Overall | Best all-round combo | Gas + Charcoal | 870 sq. in. | ~125 lb | Amazon |
| Royal Gourmet CC2036FBest Value | Feeding a big crowd | Charcoal | 1,200 sq. in. | 87.5 lb | Amazon |
| Sophia & William Offset SmokerCompact Smoker Pick | Sealed one-piece smoker | Charcoal | 512 sq. in. | 66 lb | Amazon |
| Z GRILLS 600D | Set-and-forget smoking | Wood Pellet | 572 sq. in. | 47.17 kg | Amazon |
| Pit Boss 700 FB2 | Searing on a pellet grill | Wood Pellet | 747 sq. in. | 119.1 lb | Amazon |
| Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo | Grill and smoke at once | Propane + Charcoal | 1,031 sq. in. | Heavy-gauge steel | Amazon |
| Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow | Serious offset smoking | Charcoal | 1,060 sq. in. | 226 lb | Amazon |
| Pit Boss 850 Navigator | Connected pellet cooking | Wood Pellet | 932 sq. in. | 175 lb | Amazon |
| Traeger Woodridge | Flavor-first pellet cooking | Wood Pellet | 860 sq. in. | Heavy, two-person move | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Char-Griller® Dual-Function 2-Burner 24,000 BTU Propane Gas and Charcoal Combination Grill and Smoker with 870 Cooking Square Inches in Black, Model E5030
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 400+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
Two fuels, one cart — gas on the left, charcoal on the right, no second machine needed.
This is the combo that earns its place at the top because it does the one thing buyers want most: it lets you switch between charcoal and gas with enough room to do a decent size cookout, as owners put it. The 870 square inches of total cooking space split across two chambers means you can fire the gas side for a quick Tuesday dinner and light the charcoal side on Saturday without touching the other. A 24,000 BTU output on the gas side reaches searing heat fast, and two stainless steel main burners give you separate temperature zones — one side screaming hot for steak, the other dialed back for a slow finish.
What wins people over is the build. The powder-coated sheet metal is genuinely heavy at roughly 125 lb, and it holds up in shipping and in the yard — buyers report “no damage in shipping” and call it sturdier than the grills they owned before. The porcelain-coated cast-iron grates hold heat and clean up without scrubbing, and the EasyDump ash pan lets you clear charcoal dust in seconds instead of digging it out. Electronic ignition lights the gas side with a button push, and dual temperature gauges let you watch each chamber at a glance.
The catch is temperature range on the charcoal side. Owners find the gas side easy to control — one burner low sits around 300°F and both burners on high reach 500°F — but the charcoal chamber runs hot and fights you when you want to hold it below 400°F. You learn to work the vents. Assembly is the other honest note: the instructions claim about 45 minutes, and real builds take several times that, especially solo, because the cart is heavy. Once it is standing, though, that weight is what keeps it planted.
Dual burner control
- 870 sq. in. across gas and charcoal chambers, so one cart covers fast grilling and slow smoking
- 24,000 BTU gas side with two burners for real temperature zones, not one big flame
- EasyDump ash pan and porcelain-coated cast-iron grates keep cleanup quick
Needs seasoning time
- Charcoal side runs hot and is hard to hold under 400°F without vent fiddling
- Assembly takes far longer than the manual suggests, and the cart is heavy to flip solo
- No automatic temperature control — you watch the gauges and adjust
Weeknight griller: you want both fuels on one cart and don’t mind tending a charcoal fire by hand.
Small patio only: you want to set a temperature and walk away — the charcoal chamber needs your attention.
2. Royal Gourmet CC2036F Barrel Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker, Outdoor BBQ Grill with 1200 Sq. In. Grilling Area for Large Event Gathering, Black
The barrel that feeds ten without blinking, with a side smoker bolted on for good measure.
If your cookouts mean a full driveway of people, this is the pick. The 1,200 square inches of grilling area breaks down into 668 sq. in. of main cooking grates, a 260 sq. in. warming rack, and a 272 sq. in. offset smoker, and it all sits on a barrel-style body that swallows food in volume. Owners mention: “First this thing is amazingly large in size it feeds our family of 10 with easy!” Two 15-pound briskets can smoke side by side without crowding the chamber, and the attached offset smoker also handles small side dishes while the main grate works.
Heat control is the draw here. The charcoal pan adjusts across three height levels, which lets you raise or lower the coals to dial in your temp, and it holds up to 7.7 lb. of coal for long events without a refill. The side charcoal door lets you tend the fire up to 2.6 lb. at a time without pulling the whole grate out, and the removable grease drip cup and charcoal pan make cleanup a matter of lifting parts out instead of scraping. The porcelain-enameled steel wire grates take the heat without warping.
The honest trade-off is sturdiness when you move it. It tips the scale at 87.5 pounds, which is light for its size, and some owners feel that in the build — it holds up fine parked on a patio but you would not want to shift it around constantly. Paint on the chamber can flake after a few hot cooks, and you should cure it well before the first real burn. Assembly splits buyers: some finish in about 30 minutes with well-marked hardware, others find it tedious alone.
Backyard smoking: you feed a big household and want maximum food area for the money.
High wind areas: you want a lighter, sturdier cart you can wheel around the yard often.
3. Sophia & William Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker 512 Square Inches
A sealed one-piece smoke chamber that holds heat instead of leaking it out the seams.
Here is the smallest combo on this list by cooking area, and that is the point. The 512 square inches breaks into 366 sq. in. of porcelain-enameled iron cooking grates plus a 146 sq. in. offset smoker, which is enough for a family cookout without demanding a whole patio. Powder-coated heavy-gauge steel keeps the whole thing planted at 66 pounds, and the lid-mounted thermometer plus a side charcoal access door let you add fuel with minimal heat loss. The smoke stack has an adjustable cap so you can fine-tune airflow.
What sells this one is the sealed design. Unlike the Royal Gourmet barrel above, which has a bolt-on smoker box, this unit uses a one-piece smoker chamber — no seams for heat and smoke to escape. Owners with years of charcoal experience say it holds temperature far better than cheaper rivals and that charcoal barely burns down during a long cook. One reviewer with 48 years of grilling behind him called it the last charcoal grill he would need to buy, praising its heavy steel and tight seal.
Know the size before you commit. The smoker chamber is smaller than the main body and the warming tray sits close to the firebox, so you have to plan your cooks around limited space. Assembly is the recurring headache — the instructions are thin and buyers frequently report hardware coming up short during the build. A small contingent find the metal thinner than they expected at this size. If you want narrow footprint and proven smoke control from a compact frame, it fits; if you want room to spare, go bigger.
Large cooking grates
- One-piece smoke chamber seals in heat and smoke where bolt-on boxes leak
- 512 sq. in. total — 366 sq. in. grates plus a 146 sq. in. offset smoker
- Side charcoal access door and a lid thermometer make fire control easy for a compact unit
Heavy to move
- Smaller smoker chamber and a warming tray set close to the firebox limit big loads
- Assembly instructions are sparse and hardware sometimes runs short
- Some buyers expected more metal thickness at this footprint
Family cookouts: a backyard cook who wants reliable smoke control in a tight footprint and does not need to feed a crowd.
Tiny balconies: your cooks regularly involve two large cuts at once — the smoker box will run out of room.
4. Z GRILLS 600D 8-in-1 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, 572 Sq In, PID 3.0
Set the temp, close the lid, and let the controller feed the fire for you.
If tending coals every twenty minutes sounds like a chore, this pellet grill removes it. PID technology here works as an intelligent temperature controller — it automatically tunes how much fuel feeds in and how fast the fan blows, in real time, to hold your set temperature across the whole cook. That is the difference between this and every charcoal combo on the list: no vents to chase, no hot spots to rotate around. Eight cooking modes cover bake, grill, smoke, BBQ, roast, braise, barbeque, and char-grill from one 572 sq. in. chamber.
The control board earns its keep. Owners routinely report the PID holds temperature within a tight window smoke after smoke, producing clean smoke instead of the dirty white stuff that comes from a starved fire, and that brisket and pork shoulder come off with a proper smoke ring. A searing function opens a direct-flame path for a caramelized crust — just keep the lid open while you do it. The side shelf with tool hooks and a bottom storage cabinet keep your gear within reach so you are not walking back to the kitchen mid-cook.
Two things to know. First, this is a small unit — it suits two to five people, and a whole turkey or full packer brisket will not fit, so think ribs and pork butt rather than holiday birds. Second, buyers who want heavier smoke flavor add a smoke tube, because the grill alone is gentler than a stick-burner. Ash cleanup also means pulling the drip pan and burner cover to vacuum out, unlike grills with a bottom ash gate. Build quality holds up well over months of regular use, though a small number of units have failed early.
Set and forget: you want genuine set-and-forget smoking and a controller that babysits the fuel for you.
Charcoal purists: you cook for a crowd or want to smoke a full turkey — the 572 sq. in. chamber runs out of room fast.
5. Pit Boss 700 FB2 Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with Flame Broiler and LCD Digital Controller, 747-Sq. In. Cooking Space, 180°F to 500°F Temperature Range, Meat Probe, 21 lb. Pellet Hopper, Black
A pellet grill that can also throw direct flame — the sear most pellet cookers cannot manage.
Pellet grills are famous for gentle, even heat and terrible at searing. This one fixes that. A Flame Broiler Lever slides a plate aside to expose direct flame and sear up to 1,000°F — the number that separates this from the Z GRILLS 600D above, which maxes out at a broiler you work differently. Meanwhile the digital control board holds temperatures from 180°F to 500°F in 5°F increments, so you can smoke low and slow at 225°F then crank up for burgers without changing fuel.
The 747 sq. in. of cooking space lands between the compact Z GRILLS and the larger Pit Boss 850 further down this list, and two tiers of porcelain-coated steel racks give you room to stack. A 21 lb. pellet hopper means long cooks run without a refill, two meat probe ports with one probe included let you track internal temps, and a solid bottom shelf keeps pellets and tools off the ground. Pit Boss backs the whole unit with a 5-year warranty, matching the Pit Boss 850 for the longest coverage here.
Setup and control are where buyers spend their patience. Assembly runs about two hours and the picture-only manual takes a couple of read-throughs, though nothing is truly hard. Once running, the controller holds temp within a few degrees of set. The most common gripe is layout — small items cook unevenly depending on where they sit, so you rotate them. A few owners also had the flame broiler mechanism get stiff or baked shut with grease. And shipping damage does happen occasionally on a grill this heavy, so inspect the box on arrival.
Beginner pellet users: you want pellet convenience plus a real sear zone, and a 5-year warranty matters to you.
Fast searing fans: you want a fast assembly or one-flip-and-done even cooking with no rotation.
6. Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel 3-Burner Propane Gas and Charcoal Smoker and Grill with 1031 sq. in. Cooking Area in Black
The rare combo that lets you grill fast and smoke slow at the same time, on the same cart.
Most combos make you pick a side per cook. This one does not. With a 36,000 BTU 3-burner propane section and a separate charcoal firebox, you can run a quick gas sear for burgers while wood smoke rolls over a pork shoulder in the offset chamber — all at once. That simultaneous capability is exactly why owners call it the best of both worlds. The 1,031 sq. in. of cooking area splits into 750 sq. in. of primary space (up to two pork shoulders, or 12 burgers) plus a 281 sq. in. firebox grate that fits six burgers or 15 wings.
Control is where this shines. Adjustable firebox and smokestack dampers let you shape both temperature and smoke flow, and dual lid-mounted gauges show the heat in each chamber. The porcelain-coated cast-iron grates hold heat and resist rust, a removable firebox ash pan makes cleanout quick, and heavy-gauge steel with a high-temp finish is built to take seasons of use. Assembly usually comes together in about an hour with two people, and the fit between parts is tight from the start.
The honest caveat is finish durability. A minority of customers note the smoker-box paint blistering or peeling after a small number of hot cooks, and the side shelves can rust if left exposed, so keep it covered and expect to touch up the firebox finish over time. Vents, cooking space, and value all land in mixed territory depending on expectations. It is a heavy, capable machine — just plan on some cosmetic maintenance. One note: the smoker uses charcoal and hardwood splits or chunks, which are sold separately.
Dual fuel flexibility
- 36,000 BTU propane side plus a charcoal firebox lets you grill and smoke simultaneously
- 1,031 sq. in. total — 750 sq. in. primary, 281 sq. in. firebox grate
- Dual temperature gauges and adjustable dampers give real control over both chambers
Grease tray leaks
- Smoker-box and shelf paint can blister or rust over time — cover it and plan touch-ups
- Fuel and wood splits are sold separately, an added cost after purchase
- At this weight and size it is a two-person move, not a patio shuffle
Versatile cooks: the host who wants to smoke and grill at the same time without owning two units or taking up two footprints.
Single fuel loyalists: you expect factory paint to stay flawless — this one wants a cover and cosmetic care.
7. Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Charcoal Smoker and Grill with 1060 sq. in. Cooking Area in Black
A 226-pound steel pit for the cook who wants to run a real offset every weekend.
This is the heavyweight — the one for someone who genuinely wants to smoke, not just grill. It weighs 226 pounds and uses heavy-gauge steel with stainless steel internals, which is why it holds temperature in freezing cold and summer heat alike. Cooking capacity is 1,060 sq. in. — 751 sq. in. primary and 309 sq. in. secondary — enough for multiple large cuts or an entire cook’s worth of briskets. The reverse-flow design uses four baffles locked beneath the grates to distribute heat and smoke evenly, and you can switch the smokestack location to run it as a traditional offset instead.
Owners describe it as built like a tank that rewards careful use, and they are not exaggerating. The reverse flow keeps temps balanced side to side, the large charcoal basket supports a steady burn for long cooks with fewer fuel drops, and the firebox door lets you load wood and clear ash without opening the main chamber. Cool-touch handles keep your hands safe during long sessions, wagon-style wheels make it movable around the patio, and a bottom shelf holds tools and extra fuel. If you want a serious long-haul pit, this is it.
Two honest things stand out. The paint on the firebox can peel or bubble over time — this is nearly universal on reverse-flow offsets, and the fix is simply high-temp paint touch-ups. The baffles are also awkward to clean, so veteran owners line them with foil to keep maintenance simple. This is a stick-burner at heart: owners feed hardwood, keep a red-hot coal base, and add a split every 45 minutes or so, which is not the same casual workflow as a pellet grill. Not a set-and-forget machine.
Offset enthusiasts: a serious backyard pitmaster ready to feed a stick-burner fire and chase a real smoke ring.
Quick dinner makers: anyone hoping to set a dial and walk away — this demands fuel-tending through the cook.
8. Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series WiFi & Bluetooth Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, Flame Broiler and LCD Digital Controller, 932-Sq. In. Cook Space, 180°F to 500°F Temp Range, Meat Probe, 30 lb. Hopper
A 932-square-inch pellet smoker you can check and adjust from your phone.
Where the smaller Pit Boss 700 FB2 above is a starter pit, this 850 Navigator is the fully-loaded version — bigger, connected, and built to hold a lot of food. The 932 sq. in. of cooking surface, held from 180° to 500°F, and a 30 lb. pellet hopper with a built-in viewing window mean you can smoke for hours without refilling or guessing how much fuel is left. Fan-forced convection spreads indirect heat evenly across the chamber, so one rack does not run hotter than another.
Full connectivity is the standout. WiFi and Bluetooth let you read temperatures and make adjustments from your phone without walking outside, and two meat probes track the food itself down to the degree. A folding front and side shelf with tool hooks gives you prep space — a real upgrade over the single shelf on the 700 FB2 — plus a bottom shelf for pellets and accessories. An easy-access grease tray collects drippings, and the whole unit carries the same 5-year warranty as the 700 FB2.
The catch is weight and price. At 175 pounds this is a two-person assembly and a two-person move, and the instructions are laid out in a way that rewards doing the base and legs first before bolting them on. A minority feel the price sits high for what you get, so it makes most sense if big-capacity connected cooking is exactly what you are after. Roughly 45 minutes of assembly is typical once you commit to it.
Tech savvy cooks: you want large-capacity pellet cooking you can monitor and adjust from your phone.
Offline grillers: you want something easy to move alone, or you are not sold on app-based control — this is a heavy, connected machine.
9. Traeger Woodridge Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, 860 Sq In, WiFi
The pellet grill for the cook who wants deep wood flavor and total app control.
Traeger built its reputation on wood-fired flavor, and this is the pick for someone who wants that taste first. The 860 sq. in. of cooking area is the headline number here — enough, per the manufacturer, for up to six chickens, eight rib racks, or six pork butts, which puts it in the same large-capacity class as the Pit Boss 850 above. It runs 180–500°F and covers six cooking styles: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ, all from one pellet hopper.
The app is the experience. Temperature is controlled and monitored remotely through the Traeger App, so you can start a cook, set a timer, and track food temperature via the included probe without standing over the grill. The EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg collects ash and grease in one place for fast disposal — owners specifically call out how easy cleanup is. And if you like to grow your setup over time, the P.A.L. Pop-And-Lock rail system accepts Traeger shelves, hooks, and storage bins, plus ModiFIRE cooking surfaces (all sold separately).
Two things to weigh. Temperature control can overshoot — some cooks find it heats hotter than the set point at times and needs a manual nudge down. And it is heavy with a lot of assembly pieces, so budget three hours and a helper if you can get one; a single person can manage it but it takes patience. Comes with one wired probe. If you value flavor and app convenience over rock-steady dial accuracy, it earns its place.
Traeger loyalists: flavor-focused cooks who want remote app control and an expandable accessory system.
Budget shoppers: the Pit Boss 850 if you want two probes and a larger 30 lb. hopper instead of a 21-less app ecosystem.
Understanding the Specs
Fuel type and what it does for you
Gas lights with a button and holds a steady flame, so it fits fast weeknight cooks. Charcoal gives real smoke flavor but you load fuel and work the dampers by hand. Wood pellet units feed themselves from a hopper and hold temperature with a controller, which is why the pellet picks here can be left unattended while the charcoal combos want your attention. The best match is the one that fits how you actually cook most nights.
Cooking area, hopper capacity, and temperature range
Cooking area in square inches tells you guest capacity — check whether the number is total surface or primary grate only, because they differ. Hopper capacity on a pellet grill sets how long you can smoke before refilling, and a viewing window lets you check fuel at a glance. Temperature range matters most when you want both low smoking and high searing from one machine; a wide range like 180°F to 500°F covers both ends, and a Flame Broiler or direct-flame zone adds the sear.
FAQ
What is the difference between a combo grill and a regular grill?
Is a gas and charcoal combo grill better than a pellet grill?
How much cooking area do I need to feed a family?
Do I need a cover for an outdoor grill and smoker combo?
How long does assembly take on a combo grill and smoker?
Can a pellet grill really sear a steak?
What is reverse flow on an offset smoker?
How much charcoal does a combo smoker hold for a long cook?
Can I use a combo grill in bad weather or move it around easily?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most buyers, the bbq grill and smoker combo winner is the Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030 because it delivers both fuels on one 870 sq. in. cart, lights with a button on the gas side, and earns the highest owner satisfaction on this list at 4.6 stars across 400+ ratings. If you want pellet convenience with a sear, grab the Pit Boss 700 FB2 and its Flame Broiler. And for large-crowd smoking with a bit more room, the Royal Gourmet CC2036F is the one to reach for.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of September 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, KitchPrep earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.
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