Smoker vs grill: which do you need?

What makes a smoker different

A grill puts food close to a hot fire. Searing heat browns the outside fast, and most foods are done in minutes. A lid helps with thicker cuts, and you can create a cooler side for gentler cooking.

A smoker keeps food away from the fire and holds a low cooker temperature for many hours, usually with wood chunks, chips or pellets for smoke. Tough, fatty cuts become tender over that time. Bullet smokers like the Smokey Mountain stack a charcoal ring, a water pan and cooking grates in a tall body, so heat is gentle and steady. Offset smokers and pellet grills reach the same goal in different ways.

Smokey Mountain and Original Kettle compared

These two Weber models show the difference clearly. Figures come from their amazon.co.uk listings.

What you will actually cook

Be honest about your weekends. Most British barbecues are sausages, burgers, chicken pieces, halloumi and vegetables, cooked for a family or friends in under an hour. A grill does all of that well, and a 57 cm kettle has room for a family.

If you find yourself wanting pulled pork, brisket and ribs, and you are happy to start a cook in the morning and eat in the evening, a smoker makes that easier. The Smokey Mountain's water pan and tall shape keep temperatures steady with little fiddling, and its two grates add capacity in a small footprint.

Whatever you cook, burgers, sausages and chicken must reach the safe core temperatures set out by the Food Standards Agency. Our BBQ meat temperatures article explains them.

Can one cooker do both?

Yes, to a point. A kettle with a lid can smoke if you bank coals on one side and cook on the other, a method called two-zone cooking; see our two-zone set-up guide. Accessories such as charcoal baskets and smoking kits help, and Weber's Master-Touch GBS Premium includes one. You will tend the fire more often than with a dedicated smoker, but results can be excellent.

Kamados and pellet grills are other all-rounders. A kamado sears and smokes; a pellet grill smokes and roasts with little effort but rarely sears hard. Our pellet grill vs smoker article covers that trade-off.

Compare charcoal smokers →

Which should you buy?

Buy a grill if most of your cooking is quick and you want the most versatile first barbecue. A lidded charcoal kettle or a gas BBQ covers nearly everything, and you can try smoking on it. Buy a dedicated smoker if you already own a grill and want easier, steadier long cooks, or if low and slow is your main reason for barbecuing.

Our best charcoal BBQs guide includes kettles that grill and smoke, and our best charcoal smokers guide covers bullets and offsets.

Note:Smokers run for many hours. Place them on a stable, non-flammable surface away from fences and sheds, never leave a lit cooker unattended for long periods, and keep children and pets clear.

Frequently asked questions

Can you grill on a smoker? Some smokers can grill if you remove the water pan and move the grate close to the coals, but they are not ideal for searing.

Can you smoke on a gas grill? Yes, with a smoker box or foil pouch of wood chips and a two-zone set-up. See how to smoke on a gas BBQ.

Is a smoker worth it for a beginner? A beginner usually gets more use from a lidded grill first, then adds a smoker later if long cooks become a hobby.

Which is easier, a bullet smoker or an offset? A bullet smoker holds temperature with less tending. An offset needs fuel added regularly but offers more space.