Using a gas smoker when you grill is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to give your food a fantastic smokey flavor. Smokers can also be used for searing and grilling food, and one of the best things about gas smokers is that they can be so much cheaper to use than wood chip or pellet models.
Propane smokers are often small, can handle a wide variety of foods, and are a fantastic way to add a smokey flavor to your meals. This list contains what we consider to be 8 of the best propane smokers on the market. If you’re looking for the best gas smoker overall or something more specific, read on!
Our Guide to 8 of the Best Propane Smokers
In addition to choosing what we consider to be the strongest propane gas smoker overall, we have also listed some of our favorite smokers based on specific propane smoker features.
Table of Contents
Best Overall: the Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker with Thermostat Control
As far as we’re concerned, this propane smoker by Masterbuilt is the best offering for anybody looking for an all-purpose gas smoker that truly delivers. With a cooking area of 792 square inches, you have plenty of space to experiment with making and smoking all different kinds of foods. This liquid propane gas appliance also has a thermostat for temperature control, which is exceptionally easy to use. The built-in temperature gauge can be used to regulate how much gas goes to the burner, directly controlling the level of heat this propane smoker produces.
Another of the key features of this propane smoker is its cooking racks. The Masterbuilt comes with four chrome-coated smoking racks in the cooking zone. This particular LP gas smoker comes in two sizes, too. However, we would generally recommend the larger version for most home cooks. Changing out the propane tank is quick and simple with this natural gas smoker and is much faster and neater than working with water and wood chips. The stainless steel burner is hardy and produces a very even flame.
The nifty double door design that this smoker supports makes accessing the cooking zone safe and effortless. Also, we love the transparent door design that lets you see your food as it cooks. As far as we’re concerned, this is one of the best gas smokers out there, period. We would recommend this model to home cooks from all kinds of backgrounds and levels of experience.
Best Budget Model: the Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical 36″ Propane Smoker
If you’re just getting started with smoking food, you might not want to dish out on an expensive vertical propane smoker. This is wise because budget models can be a great way to try smoking without having to make a significant financial investment in something that might not end up being right for you. The Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical liquid propane smoker is one of our favorite budget options for those who are new to smoking food.
With 784 square inches of cooking space, the Cuisinart uses natural gas incredibly efficiently. Heat and smoke are both produced very evenly and consistently. Adding wood chips and water to the smoke hollow is easy, thanks to the two-door design. Instead of being made of cast iron, Cuisinart produces its smokers with alloy steel, making them both especially resilient and lighter. Accessing the wood chip box is easy, too, thanks to the layout of the smoker’s interior.
The grill racks within the Cuisinart are made of tough stainless steel. Combine this with its straightforward design, great price, and 784 square inches of cooking space, and it’s hard not to recommend this propane smoker to anybody looking for a great introduction to cooking with gas smokers.
Best Portable: the Masterbuilt MB20050116 MPS 20B Patio-2-Portable Propane Smoker
You might not associate smoking food with portability, but Masterbuilt’s Patio-2-Portable can show you a whole new world! This little propane smoker is surprisingly powerful and exceptionally simple to use. With push-button ignition, you can get things going as soon as you’re ready to cook. The wood chip tray and water pan are compact but have more than enough space for smoking a variety of foods when you’re on the go.
Given how few options there are for portable propane smokers in general, it’s impressive how well this model performs. The temperature control is highly visible, allowing for a very precise and controlled end result. Invest in a portable smoker like this, and you can create truly delicious meals on the go. In addition to smoking, you can use the Patio-2-Portable for grilling and more. This makes it an excellent choice if you’d like to cook while camping or on the road.
It’s clear that the Patio-2-Portable has been designed for any and every occasion. With fold-out legs, it’s easy to set this smoker up and use it just about anywhere. Despite its small size, this smoker holds its temperature very well, too. You don’t need to worry about it running out of steam before you’re done cooking. All in all, we can definitely recommend this smoker as a portable option for chefs looking to smoke or grill on the go.
Best Mid-size: the Smoke Hollow PS40B Propane Smoker by Masterbuilt
Sometimes a bigger smoker is too big, but you need more space than what a compact model can provide. This is where this offering by Masterbuilt comes in. Offering impressive performance with push-button ignition and easy storage for wood chips, Masterbuilt’s PS40B is the perfect solution if you need a high-quality smoker for smaller quantities of food.
Despite not being the largest offering that Masterbuilt produces, this smoker still has an impressive range to cook with and multiple racks for you to use. The wood chip tray and water pan are both very sturdy, and much of the body is made of stainless steel. This is a resilient and dependable model for cooks who want something to rely on without breaking the bank or investing in something excessive.
Best Vertical: the Char-Broil Vertical Liquid Propane Gas Smoker
Many propane smokers have a vertical frame, but some smokers make better use of this design feature than others. If it’s especially important to you to invest in a vertical model, we would encourage you to seriously consider the Char-broil Vertical Liquid Propane Gas Smoker. Char-broil Vertical is full of great features, like the external warming rack and porcelain water and wood pan. With the Char-broil Vertical Propane Smoker, cooking a range of foods is effortless and quick.
Best for Flavor: the Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24″
Great flavor is hard to come by, but some smokers just seem to provide tastier results than others. If good flavor is your greatest priority, then the Camp Chef Smoke Vault might be the best choice for you. Camp Chef is known for making ingenious appliances, and the Camp Chef Smoke Vault is no exception. Its appearance is both elegant and impressive, and this device produces some of the most delicious smokes we’ve tried to date.
Best Cheapest Model: the Dyna-Glo DGY784BDP 36″ Vertical LP Gas Smoker
Sometimes, you don’t need the fanciest gear or appliance to get the job done. The Dyna-Glo is one of the cheapest high-quality smokers you can find, and it should be more than enough for many grilling enthusiasts and home cooks. With a sturdy, vertical design and large interior space, the Dyna-Glo is a great option for both entertaining large gatherings and cooking for the family.
The fact that it is affordable doesn’t mean the Dyna-Glo is of poor quality. In fact, this model is made of good, sturdy materials and lasts remarkably. If you’re considering trying smoking but don’t want to spend a large amount of money on a new hobby, then the DGY784BDP is definitely worth your consideration.
Best High-end: the Broil King 923614 Vertical Propane Smoker
If you’re looking for the model with the most sophisticated features, then the Broil King is definitely worth considering. The Broil King offers incredibly precise temperature management, impressive interior capacity for cooking all kinds of meals, and is made of steel.
Size is another advantage of the Broil King. This model features 16 meat hooks in its interior, making it very easy for you to arrange your food while it cooks. It also has a two-walled shell, giving it superior heat retention and making cooking and temperature management very predictable and consistent. If you’re looking for the Rolls Royce of gas smokers, then the Broil King might just be for you!
Other Brands to Consider:
In addition to the brands and models we have discussed in this buyer’s guide, we can also recommend that potential buyers check out Pit Boss and Traeger, two great grill manufacturers.
We hope this buyer’s guide has given you all the information you need to choose the right gas smoker for you. Whether you’re looking for a great all-rounder or something more niche, you should be able to find the perfect match for you on this list. Grilling is truly one of life’s greatest joys, and great smokers can take things to the next level. There really is nothing like it!
