Black Friday and Cyber Monday make up the single biggest buying window of the year for grills, smokers and pizza ovens. Brands and retailers use the holiday season to clear current-year inventory and introduce next year’s updates, and that combination is exactly why genuine price movement tends to show up here more than almost any other time of year.
This guide works a little differently from a typical “deals” page. We don’t track live prices or count down to a sale — retailers change those by the hour, and Amazon’s own rules don’t let us quote them anyway — so instead we tell you honestly which grills and smokers are worth watching for when the sales start, what actually separates a real deal from a marketing wrapper, and the buying considerations that matter regardless of how deep the discount runs. Think of it as the shopping list to have ready before the sales hit, built from the same research-led picks in our individual grill and smoker guides. Here’s how we choose.
Our top picks at a glance
- Best overall: Weber Searwood 600
- Best budget pellet grill: Camp Chef SmokePro DLX 24
- Best for big gatherings: Cuisinart Clermont
- Best for searing: Pit Boss Sportsman 850
- Best overall charcoal smoker: Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18″
- Best easiest gift: Masterbuilt 30″ Digital Electric Smoker
- Best set-and-forget charcoal: Pit Barrel Cooker Classic
- Best for leveling up: Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset
- Best heavy-duty value offset: Char-Griller Grand Champ XD
- Best buy-once splurge: Yoder Loaded Wichita
- Best value propane cabinet: Cuisinart COS-244
- Best budget propane: Dyna-Glo 36″ Dual-Door LP
- Best simple, no-electricity gift: Masterbuilt Two-Door 30″ Propane Smoker
When do Black Friday grill and smoker deals typically start?
Retailers typically begin discounting outdoor cooking gear in the two to three weeks before Thanksgiving, with early-access promotions from brands like Weber, Traeger and Camp Chef often appearing in late October and early November. The heaviest activity is concentrated around Black Friday itself and continues through Cyber Monday, and many retailers extend smaller promotions into early-to-mid December for holiday gifting. Grills and smokers are seasonal hardware, so manufacturers and retailers are usually motivated to clear current-model-year stock before winter — part of why this category tends to see genuine markdowns rather than manufactured ones.
How to spot a genuine deal (not just a red banner)
A few honest signals separate a real deal from a marketing wrapper:
Check the price history, not just the “was” price on the tag. A price-tracking browser extension or a price-history site will show you whether a listing has genuinely moved to a new low, or whether the “original” price was inflated right before the “sale” began.
Be wary of manufactured urgency. Countdown timers that reset, “only a few left” banners that never change, and “deal of the day” labels that reappear the next day are common retail tactics, not reliable signals of real scarcity.
Check the seller, not just the price. A listing sold by Amazon or the brand’s own store is a safer bet than a similarly priced listing from an unfamiliar third-party marketplace seller, especially for anything backed by a manufacturer warranty.
Weigh the whole picture. A grill with free shipping and a strong manufacturer warranty at a modest markdown can be a better buy than a deeper discount on a model with a weak warranty or no accessories included.
Remember last year’s model. Manufacturers frequently update a model each year — a new Wi-Fi module, a slightly bigger hopper — and the outgoing version is often functionally identical to what replaces it. That outgoing model is frequently where the deepest Black Friday markdowns land.
What to look for, whatever you’re buying
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or buying a grill or smoker as a gift, a few fundamentals hold across every category below.
Fuel type and how hands-on the cook wants to be. Electric and pellet cookers are the most set-and-forget; propane is easy but tuned by hand; charcoal and offset smokers reward more attention with deeper, more traditional flavor. Match the fuel to the person, not just the price.
Cooking area versus footprint. A bigger number isn’t automatically better — check it’ll actually fit the patio or balcony it’s headed for, and that the household cooks enough to fill it.
Temperature range and control. A wide range with steady, forgiving control (PID pellet controllers, a thermostatic propane burner, a water pan on a charcoal bullet) makes a cooker more forgiving for a beginner or a gift recipient who’s new to it.
Warranty and brand support. Established brands with wide dealer and parts networks matter more once the newness wears off — a sale price is only a good deal if the cooker is still supported in year three.
Price bands, not price promises. We show qualitative price bands ($ = most affordable to $$$$ = most premium) rather than numbers that go stale the moment a sale starts or ends — tap through to check the current price yourself.
The 13 best grills & smokers to buy in the sales for 2026
Drawn from the verified picks in our individual grill and smoker guides, re-checked for current availability and active safety recalls before this list went live. Ranked loosely by cooker type, but every entry names exactly who it’s for — skip to the fuel type and price band that fits your list.
Transparency first: This guide contains affiliate links. If we’re enrolled in an affiliate program, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects how we research or rank. Read our full affiliate disclosure policy.
1. Weber Searwood 600
What it is: Weber’s searing-forward pellet grill, built around a full-grate sear zone.
Best for: the splurge (for yourself or as a gift) that genuinely sears steaks and runs clean low-and-slow, backed by Weber’s dealer network.
Why we rate it: a 180–600°F range wider than most rivals, a full-grate direct-flame sear zone, and Weber Connect Wi-Fi/Bluetooth for monitoring — a complete pellet grill for someone who wants one cooker that does it all well.
Watch-outs: sits in the mid-to-premium price band, and Weber sells it mainly through its own site and specialty dealers rather than discounting it heavily on Amazon.
Pellet · 648 sq in (420 primary) · 180–600°F · 20 lb hopper · Weber Connect Wi-Fi/Bluetooth · $$$
2. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX 24
What it is: Camp Chef’s accessible, no-fuss pellet grill.
Best for: a first pellet grill, or a budget-friendly gift for someone who wants real wood-fired flavor without a big spend.
Why we rate it: 570 sq in of straightforward smoking and grilling, simple digital control, an easy ash clean-out, and Camp Chef’s established dealer support — a gentle, reliable way in.
Watch-outs: many versions skip Wi-Fi, and the build and insulation trail Camp Chef’s pricier Woodwind Pro line.
Pellet · 570 sq in · ~160–500°F · digital control · ash clean-out · $
3. Cuisinart Clermont
What it is: a huge cabinet-style pellet grill and smoker with French doors, an integrated sear zone and a 40 lb hopper.
Best for: the household that entertains often and wants maximum capacity for long, unattended smokes.
Why we rate it: 1,400 sq in across multiple oven-style racks, a big hopper for all-day cooks, an integrated sear zone and Wi-Fi monitoring — a lot of grill for the money.
Watch-outs: it’s large and heavy, and far more cooker than an occasional weekend griller needs.
Pellet · 1,400 sq in · 40 lb hopper · Sear Zone · Wi-Fi · French-door cabinet · $$$
4. Pit Boss Sportsman 850
What it is: an 8-in-1 pellet grill with a Flame Broiler lever that opens the cook surface to direct flame.
Best for: the value-minded cook who wants real sear marks without a separate grill taking up patio space.
Why we rate it: the Flame Broiler delivers direct-flame searing up to roughly 1,000°F — rare at this price — across a generous 849 sq in, with Wi-Fi + Bluetooth and cast-iron grates.
Watch-outs: fit-and-finish and app polish trail the premium brands, and it’s genuinely heavy to move once assembled.
Pellet · 849 sq in · 180–500°F (Flame Broiler to ~1,000°F) · 21 lb hopper · Wi-Fi/Bluetooth · $$
5. Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18″
What it is: the classic charcoal “bullet” smoker — a vertical cooker with a water pan that steadies the heat.
Best for: gifting a first “real” smoker to someone willing to learn a little charcoal in exchange for the best flavor and durability in the category.
Why we rate it: once the vents are set it holds low-and-slow temperatures for hours with only occasional tweaks, the porcelain-enameled build is close to bomb-proof, and the owner community is enormous, so help is never far away.
Watch-outs: it’s more hands-on than an electric or pellet smoker — budget a little time to learn a chimney and vents.
Charcoal · 481 sq in / 2 grates · water pan + built-in thermometer · $$
6. Masterbuilt 30″ Digital Electric Smoker
What it is: an insulated plug-in cabinet — set a temperature and time on the digital panel and the element holds it.
Best for: the easiest possible smoker to give as a gift: genuinely plug-in-and-cook, with a side wood-chip loader so no one has to open the door to add smoke.
Why we rate it: well insulated for steady temperatures, roomy at 710 sq in over four racks, and about as close to “set and forget” as smoking gets.
Watch-outs: tops out around 275°F (no searing or crispy skin), and it needs a nearby outdoor outlet.
Electric · 710 sq in / 4 racks · digital, ~100–275°F · side chip loader · $
7. Pit Barrel Cooker Classic
What it is: a 30-gallon charcoal drum that cooks by hanging meat on hooks over the coals, with pre-set airflow that means almost no vent-fiddling.
Best for: charcoal flavor without the fire-management learning curve of an adjustable smoker — a genuinely “open the box and start smoking” gift.
Why we rate it: the fixed-vent design cruises around 250°F with little input, and hanging cuts cook evenly with excellent bark; it arrives ready to use with hooks, rods and a grate included.
Watch-outs: less fine temperature control than an adjustable smoker, and the hanging method takes a cook or two to get used to.
Charcoal drum · ~260 sq in grate + 8 hooks · ~250°F cruise · $$
8. Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset
What it is: the classic mid-tier offset “stick burner” that most cooks are pointed toward as their first serious offset.
Best for: the cook who’s mastered a bullet or kettle and wants to graduate to genuine wood-fired, hands-on barbecue without jumping straight to a welded pit.
Why we rate it: roughly 900 sq in of cooking area, 12-gauge construction, adjustable dampers, and one of the largest aftermarket communities for seals and mods in the category.
Watch-outs: it benefits from a gasket seal and a good leave-in thermometer, and it’s the most hands-on cooker on this list.
Charcoal/wood · ~900 sq in · 12-gauge steel · traditional or reverse-flow · $$
9. Char-Griller Grand Champ XD
What it is: a big, heavy barrel-style offset with genuinely thick steel for the money.
Best for: the value hunter who wants real thermal mass and capacity and doesn’t mind managing a traditional (hotter-near-the-firebox) layout.
Why we rate it: around 1,200 sq in of cooking area, roughly 1/8-inch (12-gauge) steel and about 250 lb of thermal mass — noticeably steadier than most barrels in its price band.
Watch-outs: heavy to position once it’s home, and as a traditional offset it runs a temperature gradient, so rotate food or add a baffle.
Charcoal/wood · ~1,200 sq in · ~1/8″ (12-ga) steel · traditional · ~250 lb · $$
10. Yoder Loaded Wichita
What it is: a made-in-USA welded offset built to be a genuine lifetime pit.
Best for: the serious cook on your list who’s earned (or is buying themselves) a “cry once” upgrade — heavy steel, precise control, decades of service.
Why we rate it: 1/4-inch steel construction, about 1,610 sq in of cooking surface, 304 stainless grates, and a removable heat-management plate that switches between more even reverse-flow-style cooking and higher-heat traditional airflow.
Watch-outs: sold direct and through specialist dealers rather than big-box retailers, it’s very heavy, and the price is a serious, deliberate commitment.
Charcoal/wood · ~1,610 sq in · 1/4″ steel · 304 stainless grates · removable heat-management plate · $$$$
11. Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical 36″
What it is: a tall, affordable propane smoker cabinet with four racks and separate wood and water trays.
Best for: the gas cook who wants a lot of vertical smoking capacity without spending much, and without an outlet nearby.
Why we rate it: 784 sq in across four 14-inch racks, a 15,000 BTU burner, a rear vent for control, and porcelain trays that lift out for easy cleaning.
Watch-outs: manual burner control and a basic door gauge, so plan on a separate thermometer; thinner steel is more weather-sensitive.
Propane · 784 sq in / 4 racks · 15,000 BTU · wood + water trays · $
12. Dyna-Glo 36″ Dual-Door LP (DGY784BDP)
What it is: an affordable gas cabinet with a clever two-door design so you can add wood and water without dumping heat.
Best for: the budget gas cook who wants a no-fuss cabinet with easy top-ups and doesn’t want to fuss over vents.
Why we rate it: 784 sq in over four adjustable grates, a 15,000 BTU cast-iron burner for steady heat in cold or warm weather, push-button electronic ignition, and a “smoke zone” marker on the gauge.
Watch-outs: manual valve control, and thinner steel wants a cover and some wind protection.
Propane · 784 sq in / 4 grates · 15,000 BTU cast-iron burner · electronic ignition + dual door · $
13. Masterbuilt Two-Door 30″ Propane Smoker
What it is: a tall propane cabinet with push-button ignition and two doors — one for food, one for the chip and water trays — running on a standard cylinder.
Best for: dead-simple gas smoking for someone without a convenient outdoor outlet, or who’s already comfortable with a gas grill.
Why we rate it: 730 sq in of cooking space, easy push-button lighting, and the two-door design that lets you add chips or water without losing chamber heat.
Watch-outs: no thermostat, so the burner and vents are tuned by hand; always handle propane safely and never run it indoors.
Propane · 730 sq in · push-button ignition · two-door · $
Grills & smokers compared
A side-by-side of the headline numbers. We show qualitative price bands ($ = most affordable to $$$$ = most premium) rather than figures that go stale the moment a sale starts or ends — tap through to check the current price yourself.
| Model | Fuel | Best for | Cook area | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Searwood 600 | Pellet | Overall | 648 sq in | $$$ |
| Camp Chef SmokePro DLX 24 | Pellet | Budget pellet | 570 sq in | $ |
| Cuisinart Clermont | Pellet | Big gatherings | 1,400 sq in | $$$ |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 850 | Pellet | Searing | 849 sq in | $$ |
| Weber Smokey Mountain 18″ | Charcoal | Overall charcoal | 481 sq in | $$ |
| Masterbuilt 30″ Digital Electric | Electric | Easiest gift | 710 sq in | $ |
| Pit Barrel Cooker Classic | Charcoal | Set-and-forget | ~260 sq in + hooks | $$ |
| Oklahoma Joe’s Highland | Offset | Leveling up | ~900 sq in | $$ |
| Char-Griller Grand Champ XD | Offset | Heavy-duty value | ~1,200 sq in | $$ |
| Yoder Loaded Wichita | Offset | Buy-once splurge | ~1,610 sq in | $$$$ |
| Cuisinart COS-244 | Propane | Value propane | 784 sq in | $ |
| Dyna-Glo Dual-Door LP | Propane | Budget propane | 784 sq in | $ |
| Masterbuilt Two-Door 30″ | Propane | Simple, no electricity | 730 sq in | $ |
Specs are drawn from manufacturer materials and reputable editorial reviews; always confirm current details and availability with the manufacturer or retailer before buying.
Frequently asked questions
When do Black Friday grill and smoker deals typically start?
Retailers typically start discounting grills and smokers in the two to three weeks before Thanksgiving, with early-access promotions from brands like Weber, Traeger and Camp Chef often appearing in late October. The heaviest activity clusters around Black Friday itself and runs through Cyber Monday, and smaller promotions often continue into early-to-mid December for last-minute gift shopping.
How can I tell if a “deal” is genuine?
Compare the listed price against the item’s price history rather than the “was” price on the tag — a price-tracking tool will show whether a listing has genuinely dropped to a new low. Be wary of countdown timers that reset and “only a few left” banners that never change, and check that the item is sold by Amazon or the brand itself rather than an unfamiliar third-party marketplace seller.
Is Black Friday actually the best time to buy a grill or smoker?
It’s one of the best windows of the year, alongside spring (when new-model-year units first arrive and last year’s models get cleared out). Grills and smokers are seasonal hardware, and retailers are motivated to move current inventory before winter, so genuine markdowns are common — just verify them the way we describe above rather than trusting a red banner.
Should I just wait for spring instead?
Not necessarily. Spring brings new-model launches and clears the outgoing year’s stock, which is also a strong buying window — but if you (or the person you’re buying for) want to be set up in time for a holiday cookout or a Thanksgiving turkey, Black Friday is the more useful window, and it typically offers comparable value on last year’s models.
Is a “last year’s model” a good deal, or should I always buy the newest version?
Often, a last year’s model is the smarter buy. Manufacturers frequently update a model each year with a new Wi-Fi module, a slightly bigger hopper, or an updated control panel — but the outgoing model is usually functionally the same cooker, and it’s frequently where the deepest Black Friday markdowns land. Check exactly what changed before assuming the newest version is worth paying extra for.
Do grills and smokers actually go on sale on Amazon, or mostly at brand stores?
Both. Amazon carries most of the models in this guide and reliably discounts them around Black Friday, but brands like Weber and Yoder sell some models primarily through their own site and specialty dealers, where their own promotions can matter more than what Amazon is doing. We link to Amazon first since that’s where most readers shop, but it’s worth a quick check of the brand’s own site too.
What should I check before buying a grill or smoker as a gift?
Match the fuel type to how hands-on the recipient wants to be, check that there’s room to actually put it — offsets and cabinet smokers need real patio space — and confirm whether it arrives assembled, or budget assembly time if it’s a holiday-morning gift. A gift receipt is also wise: fuel preferences and sizing are surprisingly personal.
Is anything on this list under an active safety recall?
We screen every pick in this guide against the CPSC recall database before publishing, and none of the 13 products above is currently subject to an active recall. Three 2026 CPSC recalls do cover metal wire-bristle grill brushes — Weber (February), Nexgrill (March) and Cuisinart (July), about 15.1 million brushes in total — but none of them covers the grills or smokers featured here; a wire brush is a cleaning accessory, not a cooker. Always double-check the exact model and batch against the CPSC’s site before buying any secondhand or older unit.
Related guides
Want the full picture behind these picks? See our complete guides to the best pellet grill & smoker combos, the best smokers for beginners, the best offset smokers, and the best vertical & propane smokers. New to charcoal? Our how to start a charcoal grill guide covers chimney starters and safe lighting for options like the Weber Smokey Mountain and Pit Barrel Cooker above. Want something small enough to tailgate or take camping instead? See our best small & portable gas grills guide. Shopping specifically for a pellet grill? See our dedicated Black Friday pellet grill deals guide, our Black Friday gas grill & Weber deals guide if a gas grill is on your list, or our Black Friday pizza oven & Ooni deals guide if a pizza oven is on your list, for a deeper look at those categories. If a kamado grill is on your list instead, see our best kamado grills guide. Buying a grill or smoker as a gift? Round it out with one of our best instant-read meat thermometers, a grill cover to protect it, and a jar from our best BBQ rubs & seasonings guide.
How we choose
We don’t run a testing lab, and we never fake “as tested.” Every pick in this guide first appeared in one of our individual grill and smoker buying guides, built from manufacturer specifications and reputable editorial testing. For this deals hub specifically, we re-checked each pick for current availability and re-screened every model against the CPSC recall database immediately before publishing — a product being a good cooker isn’t enough if it’s no longer sold or has been recalled since we first covered it. We use qualitative price bands instead of prices that go stale, and we never track live discounts, countdown timers, or claim a deal is time-limited. Read more on the How We Choose page.
Sources
Manufacturer and retailer product pages: Weber (Searwood 600, Smokey Mountain Cooker 18″), Camp Chef (SmokePro DLX 24), Cuisinart (Clermont CGWM-080, COS-244), Pit Boss (Sportsman 850), Masterbuilt (30″ Digital Electric Smoker, Two-Door 30″ Propane Smoker), Pit Barrel Cooker Co. (Classic), Oklahoma Joe’s (Highland Offset), Char-Griller (Grand Champ XD), Yoder Smokers (Loaded Wichita), Dyna-Glo (36″ Dual-Door LP DGY784BDP). Editorial and owner-review coverage: AmazingRibs, SmokedBBQSource, BBQGuys, Chowhound. Availability and current-model verification, and safety screening: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall database. Details were current at the time of research (July 2026); confirm current pricing, availability and recall status with the manufacturer or retailer before buying.