Best Electric Smokers: 6 Analog and Digital Picks Compared

The best electric smoker for most backyards is the Masterbuilt 30-Inch Analog Electric Smoker. It does the one job an electric cabinet is bought for, holding a low, steady temperature while you get on with your day, and it does it with a single dial, a 1,500 W heating element, and three racks that Masterbuilt says fit up to 3 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 pork butts, or 3 racks of ribs. Its owner ratings also belong to this listing alone, which is not true of every model in this guide. If you want to set a cook time as well as a temperature, our digital pick from the same maker adds a side chip loader and a fourth rack.

Six electric smokers made the final list, and they differ more than their similar boxy shapes suggest: heating elements run from 700 W to 1,500 W, controls range from a plain knob to a digital panel with a timer, and wood goes in through a side loader on some and a tray behind the door on others. Every spec below comes from the Amazon listing for that exact product or, where we name the maker, from the maker’s own US product page, parts page, FAQ, or manual. Where the two disagree, we say which number we used.

This guide is general product information, not repair or electrical safety advice. Follow the safety instructions in your product’s manual, supervise children, and contact the manufacturer or an authorized service center if a product sparks, overheats, or has a damaged cord.

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Our Top Electric Smoker Picks

• Best Overall: Masterbuilt 30-Inch Analog Electric Smoker (MB20070210). An analog dial up to 275°F, 535 square inches on three racks, and a 1,500 W element, per Masterbuilt.
• Best Digital Model: Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker. Digital time and temperature control from 100 to 275°F, a side chip loader, and 710 square inches, per Masterbuilt. At 45.9 lb per the listing, it is also the lighter of the two digital cabinets here.
• Lightest Cabinet: Royal Gourmet SE2805 Analog Electric Smoker. 42.1 lb per the listing, the lowest weight of the six, with a 1,350 W element per Royal Gourmet.
• Best All-Stainless Build: SmokinTex The OG Electric Smoker. The only smoker here with a stainless steel exterior, per SmokinTex and the listings, plus double-wall insulation and four stainless racks.

Two smokers carry no title. The EAST OAK Classic 30-Inch lists the most cooking area of the five cabinets that give one, at 725 square inches, and adds a 12-hour timer, but its specs come from the listing alone and its owner ratings are shared with a different East Oak model. The Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is a three-rack analog cabinet whose specs we could not confirm on Char-Broil’s site. We explain both below.

Electric Smokers Compared

How We Chose

We searched Amazon US for electric smokers, digital electric smokers, and the electric lines of Masterbuilt, Char-Broil, and SmokinTex, then set aside listings that were not complete outdoor electric smokers, such as replacement parts, accessories, and units sold as renewed. Every remaining model had to be sold new on Amazon US, clear our minimum average owner rating from a minimum number of owner ratings. We allow no more than three models per brand, which is why Masterbuilt stops at three.

Some listings share one pool of owner ratings across several different products, which makes those ratings hard to read. Where two or three listings from the same brand showed exactly the same ratings, we kept one: a second East Oak listing (the Ridgewood, with a glass door and probe) and two other SmokinTex sizes came off the list for that reason. Amazon also still carries an older listing under nearly the same model number as our Best Overall; we use the current listing, which Masterbuilt’s own product page matches. The East Oak and SmokinTex picks that remain still carry pooled ratings, and we say so on their cards.

We then read each listing for power. All six are corded electric units sold on Amazon US, and none of the listings mentions a 220 to 240 V supply or an overseas plug. A search of federal recall records by brand and model number turned up no recall notice for any of the six. Finally, we checked the makers’ US sites. Masterbuilt confirms the specs we use for its two current models, including the element wattage through its replacement parts pages. Royal Gourmet confirms the SE2805’s area and wattage, SmokinTex confirms The OG’s element, temperature range, and rack layout, and East Oak still sells the Classic on its own store, though without a written spec sheet. We could not find the Char-Broil model on Char-Broil’s site, so its specs come from the listing.

Best Overall has to clear a higher owner-rating bar and rest on a large base of ratings that belong to that product alone. The EAST OAK Classic would have led on ratings, but because its ratings are shared with another model, we could not credit them to the Classic. The Masterbuilt 30-Inch Analog met every requirement, with its own ratings and a current product page at Masterbuilt. The other five follow our research order. The PelletSmokeLab Score shown on each card is a separate measure and does not set this order; the method is described on our How We Review page.

How to Choose the Best Electric Smoker

An electric smoker is a simple machine: an element at the bottom heats a pan or box of wood until it smolders, and a thermostat cycles the element to hold the cabinet near the temperature you set. Whether you call it an electric smoker or an electric smoker cooker, it works more like a slow cooker than a fire, a comparison SmokinTex makes for its own models. What separates one from another is how you set the heat, how much power the element has, how well the box holds that heat, and how you add wood during a long cook.

Analog or digital controls

Four of the six use analog controls. On the Masterbuilt analog, you turn a dial to a setting up to 275°F, per Masterbuilt. The Royal Gourmet pairs an adjustable analog controller with a built-in thermometer, the Char-Broil relies on a gauge in the door, and the SmokinTex uses a temperature knob that its manual says you turn after the door is closed and locked. With any of these, you set a level, watch the gauge for the first hour, and nudge the dial if the cabinet runs hot or cool. None of the four analog listings mentions a timer, so plan to be home when the cook ends.

The two digital cabinets let you enter a number and a cook time. Masterbuilt’s digital panel sets the cook time and a temperature from 100 to 275°F, and the EAST OAK listing describes a digital panel with a built-in 12-hour timer. A digital panel is the better fit if you smoke overnight or want to program a cook time. An analog dial is the better fit if you prefer a single control and do not mind checking a gauge. For a first smoker, either works; the analog models simply have fewer settings to learn.

Wattage and insulation

Element size varies more than you might expect. Masterbuilt’s replacement parts pages list a 1,500 W element for the analog MB20070210 and an 800 W element for the digital MB20071117. The Royal Gourmet uses 1,350 W, per Royal Gourmet; the Char-Broil 1,200 W and the EAST OAK 800 W, per their listings; and the SmokinTex 700 W, per SmokinTex. A stronger element generally brings a cold cabinet up to temperature sooner and recovers faster after you open the door, but wattage is only half of the picture.

The other half is how well the box keeps heat in. SmokinTex builds The OG with stainless steel and double-wall insulation that covers every side except the bottom, and pairs that with a 700 W element and a top setting of 250°F. Masterbuilt describes both of its current models as fully insulated with a lockable door latch. The EAST OAK listing credits double-layer steel with internal foam insulation for holding its 800 W cabinet steady in cold weather, and the Royal Gourmet and Char-Broil both list an insulated chamber. When you compare two models, look at the element and the insulation together rather than picking the bigger wattage number on its own.

How the wood goes in

This is the difference you notice most on a long cook. The Masterbuilt digital and the EAST OAK have side chip loaders, so you add wood from outside without opening the main door; the EAST OAK listing says one load runs 2 to 3 hours. The Masterbuilt analog uses a wood chip tray instead, and Masterbuilt does not list a side loader for that model, so read the manual for how to add chips during a cook. The Royal Gourmet and Char-Broil use a chip box and chip tray.

Go easy on the amount. In its smoker FAQ, Masterbuilt says never to add more than ½ cup of wood chips at a time, and to wait until the previous chips stop smoking before adding more. It also says its electric smokers are designed for wood chips only, and that dry chips burn faster with more intense smoke while chips soaked for about 30 minutes burn slower with less intense smoke. The SmokinTex manual calls for ¼ to ½ cup of chips in the smoke box, and SmokinTex’s FAQ says its element heats the wood slowly enough that soaking is not needed. It also accepts wood chunks, with foil lining the box if you use chips.

Season it before the first cook

Every new cabinet needs a first run to burn off manufacturing residue. Masterbuilt’s FAQ says to put the water pan in place without water, run the smoker at 275°F for three hours, and add ½ cup of wood chips during the last 45 minutes, then let it cool completely. SmokinTex’s manual says to put one or two blocks of the included seasoning wood in the smoke box and run the smoker at 225°F for 4 hours, then discard any leftover seasoning wood. Follow the manual for your model, and plan the seasoning run for a day before you need the smoker for food.

Power: outlets and extension cords

An electric smoker is only as good as the outlet you can reach from a safe spot on the patio. The SmokinTex manual is the most specific of the documents we read: it says to plug the smoker into a standard, 3-prong, 120 V receptacle protected by a 15-amp breaker or fuse, to use properly grounded outlets only, and to keep any extension cord connection dry and off the ground. It also warns that a long or light-duty extension cord reduces the efficiency of the heating element.

Masterbuilt’s FAQ says that if you need an outdoor extension cord, it must be marked with the suffix letters “W-A” and carry a tag stating “Suitable for Use with Outdoor Appliances,” have working grounding terminals, be thicker than 16 AWG, and run no longer than 25 feet. Check your own model’s manual before you buy a cord, and if the nearest outdoor outlet is farther than that from where the smoker can safely sit, sort out the outlet first.

Smoking in cold weather

Cold air pulls heat through the cabinet walls, so a winter cook usually takes longer to come up to temperature. The SmokinTex manual notes that heat-up can take 20 to 60 minutes depending on the load and the starting temperature of the food, which is a useful reminder that a full cabinet of cold meat slows any electric smoker. Insulation is the feature that helps most here, and a longer extension cord works against you, per SmokinTex. One thing you cannot do is pull the smoker under cover to get out of the wind: Masterbuilt’s FAQ says not to use its smokers in covered areas, including garages or covered porches, or on combustible surfaces, and to keep them at least 10 feet from any structure or building. Plan for a longer preheat instead.

Capacity and fit

For a household that smokes a pork butt or a couple of racks of ribs on weekends, the three-rack cabinets cover it. Masterbuilt says its analog model fits up to 3 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 pork butts, or 3 racks of ribs, and its digital model up to 6 chickens, 2 turkeys, 4 pork butts, or 4 racks of ribs. SmokinTex rates The OG at about 38 lb of food on five rack positions. If you regularly cook for a crowd, the four-rack cabinets give you more room; if you cook for two, the Royal Gourmet’s 454 square inches is plenty.

Measure the spot before you order. Heights run from about 29 inches on the SmokinTex to just over 40 inches on the Masterbuilt analog, which Masterbuilt sells with legs. Five of the listings put weights between 42.1 lb (Royal Gourmet) and 56.4 lb (Char-Broil). The OG is heavier, at 75 lb per the listing and about 93 lb per SmokinTex, though it rolls on four wheels, two of them locking. The EAST OAK listing adds rear wheels and a handle.

Warranty and parts

Masterbuilt lists a 1-year warranty on both of its current models and sells replacement elements, controllers, and chip trays by model number. Its analog control with a 6-foot power cord is listed as a part for the MB20070210. The Char-Broil listing gives 1 year on the lid, grates, and other parts. SmokinTex’s own pages give different warranty terms, so confirm the warranty in writing before you buy.

Judge doneness with a thermometer

The dial or display on an electric smoker reads the cabinet air, not the food, and none of these six listings mentions a built-in meat probe. Use a separate meat thermometer and check the USDA FSIS safe minimum internal temperature chart for what you are cooking. Barbecue cooked until it pulls apart usually goes past that minimum, but the safe number is the one to reach first.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Skip every model here if you want to sear or grill; if high heat matters, the best smoker for you is not an electric cabinet. The two current Masterbuilt models and the EAST OAK top out at 275°F, The OG at 250°F, and SmokinTex’s FAQ says it has no recipe above 225°F. Skip them, too, if there is no outdoor outlet you can reach within the cord limits your manual allows.

Skip the analog models if you want to program a cook time. Skip the Masterbuilt analog if a side chip loader is a must; the digital Masterbuilt and the EAST OAK have one. Skip the EAST OAK if you want ratings tied to one specific model. Skip the SmokinTex if you need to lift the smoker often, given its weight, or if you want a wide cooking surface on each rack: its racks measure 14.5 inches square, per SmokinTex. And skip the Char-Broil if you want specs confirmed by the maker before you buy.

Electric Smoker FAQ

What is the best electric smoker for most people?

The Masterbuilt 30-Inch Analog Electric Smoker is our Best Overall: a simple dial up to 275°F, 535 square inches on three racks, a 1,500 W element, and a 1-year warranty, per Masterbuilt. If you want a timer and a side chip loader, the Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital is the step up.

Is an analog or a digital electric smoker better for a beginner?

Either works for a first smoker. An analog dial has fewer settings to learn, while a digital panel lets you set a time and a number and walk away. Pick by whether you want to program a cook time or simply set a heat level.

Can I use an extension cord with an electric smoker?

Follow your own manual. Masterbuilt’s FAQ allows an outdoor-rated cord marked “W-A,” with working grounding terminals, thicker than 16 AWG, and no longer than 25 feet. The SmokinTex manual says a long or light-duty extension cord reduces the efficiency of the heating element.

Do I need to soak wood chips for an electric smoker?

No. Masterbuilt says dry or soaked chips both work: dry chips burn faster with more intense smoke, and soaked chips burn slower with less. SmokinTex says its smokers do not need soaked wood. Start with a small amount, about ¼ to ½ cup, and add more only after the first batch stops smoking.

What should I check when reading electric smoker reviews?

Check that the review matches the exact model number, because similar names can hide different hardware: Amazon carries an older Masterbuilt analog listing with almost the same model number as our Best Overall, but with a different cooking area and controls. Check whether a listing shares its ratings with other models, as the EAST OAK and SmokinTex listings do. And check the maker’s spec page before trusting a wattage or a top temperature that appears only in a listing.

Final Thoughts

Start with the outlet, then choose how you want to control the heat and add the wood. Our picks by need:

• Best Overall: Masterbuilt 30-Inch Analog Electric Smoker (MB20070210). For simple dial control and a strong element on a three-rack cabinet.
• Best Digital Model: Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker. For setting time and temperature and adding chips without opening the door.
• Lightest Cabinet: Royal Gourmet SE2805 Analog Electric Smoker. For small households and smokers that get moved in and out of storage.
• Best All-Stainless Build: SmokinTex The OG Electric Smoker. For cooks who want stainless steel throughout and a heavily insulated box.

Whatever you choose, season it before the first cook, keep the wood light, and let the thermometer in the meat, not the dial, tell you when dinner is ready.

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