6 Best Offset Smoker Under 1000: Buying Guide and Review in 2024

Do you want your grilled meat to taste better? The secret is probably to use an offset smoker that combines wood and charcoal to ensure even heat spread.

That’s not all, though. 

Offset smokers also have the added advantage of not covering food with ash, soot, or creosote. 

However, if you are on a budget, you will find it challenging to get a smoker with impressive features at a price under 1000. So, to help you make the right choice when looking for the best offset smoker under 1000, I have selected the top 6 models on the market.

Top 6 Best Offset Smoker Under 1000

This section of my review will reveal the 6 best offset smokers under 1000 from four major brands. Some of these top offset smokers come from brands such as Dyna-Glo, Char-Griller, Caraya Grill, and Royal Gourmet. 

Here they are: 

1. Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Smoker

The Dyna-Glo vertical offset charcoal is one of the ideal smokers for any barbecue party. This smoker sports a stunning vertical design that allows for greater cooking efficiency. 

This charcoal smoker comes with a suitable build that allows over 100 lbs. of meat to grill. And with this ample grilling space, you would expect it to be overly large, but that’s not the case.

Generally, the Dyna-Glo is one of the best vertical smokers that works great to handle pretty much any meal you want to prepare. 

What are its dimensions?

The Dyna-Glo vertical offset comes with a 20.2 × 34.52 × 47.03 inch build. Additionally, it weighs about 25 lbs. capacity per grate.

Are you looking for one with special features? Then look no further than this grill. 

It has a wood box, and porcelain-coated charcoal fire that allows quick reloads into the smoker during long grilling sessions. 

For me, another special feature might be the removable ash-tray. It doesn’t seem necessary. But, it makes cleaning much easier.

My personal best?

One of the best features about the Dyna-Glo vertical smoker you will find amazing is the in-built stainless steel thermometer and adjustable flue for additional flavor. These features allow it to infuse smoke flavor as it grills while offering an easy-to-read and understand gauge.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

Dyna-Glo is famous for offering some of the best offset smoker grills, and this vertical charcoal is no exception. Consider this griller if you are looking for a cost-effective smoker with an electronic pulse ignition and removable components.

However, you might find it challenging during the first and subsequent assembling. Additionally, you will need to use it for a while before you finally get used to it.

2. Char-Griller Smokin Charcoal Grill

The Char-Griller E1224 comes sporting a double barrel-style grill like the previous models. However, Char-Griller goes as far back as thirty years to make a modern style barrel smoker with impeccable performance.

The Char-Griller E1224 has a durable grade steel design that protects it but increases its overall weight. I see this as a massive win because of its durability. But this makes it bulky and difficult to move. 

What are its dimensions?

The Char-Griller measures 6.2 × 29 × 50 inches, and it covers 830 square inches. The main grill cover is 580 square inches, and the side firebox 250 square inches. Additionally, its total weight is about 146 lbs.

Are you looking for one with a special feature?

This smoker has an adjustable grate height that allows toggling the meat easily for better grilling. Also, the pull-out charcoal drawer adds a nice touch for easier cleanup.

Here is the exciting part. 

It has an incredible design and features nonstick cast-iron grates for heating and cooking meat—efficient heat absorber and distributor.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

Undoubtedly, the Char-Griller E1224 is an excellent grill and smoker for outdoor use. It will efficiently grill any meat. However, it is not the best smoker for beginners. It is heavy, and a newbie will find it difficult to adjust the grate height pretty challenging.

3. Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D Charcoal Smoker

If you need one of the most versatile and the best grill smoker combos, you might want to consider the Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D. It sports a standing grill and the traditional barrel-style construction. 

This Dyna-Gl DGSS1382VCS-D features pre-installed five chrome-plated grates with sausage hooks in the top section. In addition, the doors of this smoker have an in-built thermostat, so you always know the temperature.

This smoker has a metal-thin thickness that places its price range at an affordable cost. But, unfortunately, it means you will have many issues with heat retention, especially when you are smoking something that requires extremely hot air.

The Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D measures 58 × 45.5 × 24.9 inches – with it taking much of its space in the vertical aspect.

Here is more about its features

One of the best features of this smoker is the slide-out charcoal box. It makes reloading wood chips or charcoal easy. In addition, the sausage hooks come in really handy if you like making homemade link versions.

The most exciting part.

The main catch for me is the five chrome-plated gates for cooking and grilling. In addition, it has a massive cooking space of about 1382 square inches.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

If you like cooking a lot of meat simultaneously, you might be the biggest fan of this smoker. The pull-out ash pan and pre-installed sausage hooks might also be a massive plus for you. However, the heat retention problem might cause you to weigh all your options.

4. Caraya Grill Charcoal Offset Smoker

The Caraya grill charcoal is a heavy-duty offset smoker that sports a solid and durable construction. This design allows it to last for a very long time. In addition, it comes with a steel build design and an anti-rust body. 

The Caraya grill charcoal offset smoker measures 45.5 × 25.5 × 42.5 inches. And the total weight of this smoker is about 29.5 lbs. 

Here is the big plus. 

The Caraya grill is among the best cheap offset smoker with attached firebox steel. And it helps to reduce smoking and offset the heat. 

One of the special features of the Caraya grill charcoal is the super-convenient side shelf for holding tools and food. It makes this smoker a handy box for storing things temporarily.

What made it fall on this list? 

It has one of the best heat control systems. It sports a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid that will efficiently circulate the temperature around every part of the smoker.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

If you like your smoker to have a heavy-duty and solid metal construction, this is the grill for you. But, you have to note that you might have slight heat retention issues and a slow cook problem.

5. Royal Gourmet CC1830SC Offset Smoker

If you need the best offset smoker under $500, then the Royal Gourmet CC1830SC is the right grill for you. This smoker comes with a high heat resistant feature that can withstand high surging temperatures up to 400°F. 

This smoker seamlessly attaches with its grill to ensure proper circulation of the smoke and rising heat. The doors on the CC1830SC Royal Gourmet are super easy to open for adding or removing ash.  

It sports a dual-style BBQ design that allows multiple cooking simultaneously with no hassle at all.

The Royal Gourmet measures 53.7 × 28.2 × 48.8 inches. It covers about 810 square inches of space – including 442.7 sq. in. and 184 sq. in. of porcelain-coated steel writing gates and chrome-plated warming rack, respectively.

Here is more to this model

The very adjustable and excellent performance of the Royal Gourmet is the best feature for me. You can use the lifting handles to lower or raise the fire pan to different levels. In addition, it allows you to manipulate the distance between the food and charcoal for optimum grilling.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway 

The Royal Gourmet CC1830SC is an excellent offset smoker with a proper heat control mechanism. If you need a smoker suitable enough to grill all your meats and cook food, you want to consider this griller. However, you might experience challenges adjusting the charcoal once hot.

6. Royal Gourmet CC1830FG Charcoal Grill

This model is my final top pick from some of the best reverse flow smoker on the market. It comes as a 2 in 1 seamless grill and smoker combination.

This Royal Gourmet smoker has a front shelf that offers more room space for seasoning your meats. At the bottom, it has a shelf for extra storage space for those that keep things temporarily in their smoker.

Its rust-resistant design adds to this smoker’s already mindblowing features. This means you can clean with water and be safe from any possible corrosion that might ruin the grill.

The Royal Gourmet CC1830FG is one of the best reverse flow offset smoker with a dimension of 41.54 × 27.56 × 48.62 inches. Besides, it covers a surface area of 811 square inches.  

Don’t worry about the size? Here is why

Although the Royal Gourmet CC1830FG has a reasonable amount of space, you can make up more room by swinging away from the warming rack. So, it isn’t just one exact size large smoking box.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway 

This Royal Gourmet smoker and grill is a perfect buy for outdoor home cooking of meat. Its adjustable charcoal plan and heat control system makes it suitable for several uses. However, you might want to go for another smoker if you are a beginner.

What to Consider when Looking for the Best Offset Smoker Under 1000

The sole aim of this section is to help make the right choice when buying the best smoker under 1000. 

There are numerous offset smokers to choose from on the market. 

As though this challenge is not enough, the models are similar in structure and function. 

Well, choosing the ideal offset smoker for you bring us to the next question.

What factors do you consider when heading out to purchase an offset smoker? Answering this question would help streamline your choices, enabling you to make quality decisions.

The first thing to consider is;

Budget and Price

There are several designs available, and each manufacturer adds a touch of difference to its product. This difference base on often aesthetic and functionality could affect the price of the offset smoker.

While we always suggest buying the best smoker available in the market, I suggest considering your budget. 

But do not get me wrong. 

You can still get a cheap offset smoker with the best smoker box for gas grill and other impressive features. 

That’s not all!

Offset smokers run on fuel, so factor in fuel cost while purchasing your smoker. The fuel could be propane gas, charcoal, or wood chips. Whichever design you choose, ensure fuelling it would not be too challenging for you.

Fuel Source and other Important Features

This is a factor I also suggest you should pay attention to when getting an offset smoker gas grill. 

Why?

 Well, it could spell the difference between soot-covered meat and a welly grilled one. 

Got your attention now, right? 

Speaking of fuel source, the questions you need to ask yourself includes;

Do I want an offset smoker that uses only charcoal and wood pellets as a fuel source? Or do you want the added advantage of grilling with propane gas and electricity?

Which did you choose? Your choice streamlines the options available for your perusal. The next feature on the list is the chimney.

Chimneys in offset smokers help you ascertain the quantity of smoke in the chamber. This would help you regulate the smoke levels.

So, what roles do the trays and baskets play?

To help prevent you from cleaning stress. They help catch charcoal, wood chips, and dripping water.

Better Ventilation

I cannot overemphasize the importance of air movement in an offset smoker. Aside from ensuring temperature consistency, it also makes your food cooks properly. 

I mean, who wants undercooked food?

So what feature is responsible for the regulation of airflow in the smoke chamber? Air vents!

As an experienced griller, I can confidently tell you that buying an offset smoker with small vents is a bad idea. Another wrong option is buying one whose vents are not adjustable. 

Hence, the advice here is, buy an offset smoker whose vents are adjustable and sizeable.

Size

I always advise friends purchasing an offset smoker to measure the space where they intend to keep it. 

Do you want to find out what would happen if you buy a smoker bigger than the available space? I don’t think so!

You may want to achieve a semblance of balance and symmetry in our designs, and an oversize smoker disrupts it. This is why measuring the space is important.

That’s not all.

When measuring, consider the protrusion of the firebox and grill gate so as not to measure wrongly. 

Cleaning and Maintenance

It is the consensus that food preparation should occur under the most sanitary conditions. 

So why buy the best offset smoker under 500 if it is difficult to maintain and clean? 

Features you should look out for when buying a smoker include; access doors, side lids, and drawers. 

What makes these features so important?

Aside from the fact that they make cleaning this grilling tool easier, it also helps maintain smoked meat quality.

Build Quality

There are several facets to this factor, and chief among them is the thickness of the steel used. The thicker the steel, the higher its insulation capacity.  The higher the insulation capacity, the higher its ability to retain heat over a long period. 

This makes ¼ inch thick steel perfect for making these smokers.

¼ inch steel? Yeah!

It is heavy-duty steel, which ensures temperature remains even in the main chamber during cooking. Using lightweight steel might make you ditch the whole idea of grilling after two trials. 

Funny right?

Let me explain. Ideal food preparation involves cooking food evenly, right? You might never be able to achieve this using an offset smoker made from lightweight steel. 

The lightweight metal loses heat to the environment, creating hot and cold zones in the main chamber. These alternating hot and cold zones ensure you do not achieve the perfect barbecue.

What’s more, you need to know. 

Thick steel has a higher level of rust resistance than lightweight steel. You do not want those brown patches ruining the appearance of your offset smoker. Rust also degrades a metal’s quality, leading to uneven heating of the main chamber.

So, the paint job does not protect the smoker from rust? It does.

Good paint with heat resistance helps ensure a smoker retains its beauty for longer while improving its rust resistance.

The quality of the seals on the offset smoker also plays a vital role in the grilling process. 

How is that possible? 

If the seal is optimal, heat will not escape from the main chamber, ensuring a short cook time and even heating. This gives you a better grip on temperature controls while reducing the amount of fuel consumed.

Reverse Flow Smokers? Are They Better?

To answer this question, let us examine both types of smoke flow, namely; Regular flow and Reverse flow.

In the regular flow heat smokers, heat flow is one-directional. It flows from the firebox underneath to the main chamber, passing through the food straight to the chimney. 

In other words, the flowing smoke cooks the food. Pretty straightforward, right?

On the other hand, a reverse flow offset smoker ensures heat flow over food occurs twice before exiting from the chimney. It does this through the aid of a baffle system that retains heat under the cooking chamber.

Read on! That’s not all

There is a structural difference between smokers with these flow systems. Trust me! Knowing this could help you decide which to choose. 

Regular flow heat smokers have their chimney on opposing ends to its firebox. Reverse flow has both chimney and firebox on the same side.

What Accessories To Look Out For?

Accessories and extra features improve an offset smoker’s functionality and, in some cases, physical appearance. So, what accessories should the ideal offset smoker feature? Below is a list!

• Front shelf
• Cooking Utensils (If you are lucky)
• Cover
• Wheel lock

Furthermore, consider the portability of the offset smoker. A portable offset smoker is a joy to behold as it fits into those tiny spaces in the home. 

You might consider some of these accessories inconsequential, but I strongly suggest you do not compromise on the wheel lock. 

Well, you could compromise if you are comfortable with chasing your smoker down an inclined surface, especially on windy days!

FAQs

How Do You Maintain A Smoker At 255 Degrees Fahrenheit?

Sorry to disappoint you. 

Most smokers don’t have inbuilt temperature regulators. The absence of this feature implies that once you start cooking, you have to check it to ensure no change in temperature occurs constantly.

Stressful right? 

Making maximum use of the temperature gauge and air vents could help you maintain the temperature you desire.

What Differentiates A Reverse Smoker from A Regular Smoker?

You could argue that they are both smokers and probably use heat from the same fuel. 

Well, you are right on both counts, but you failed to consider the smoke movement within the smoke chamber.

That might sound quite confusing?

Smoke movement heats food once in the regular flow system and twice in the reverse flow system. 

Another difference is that tied to the first one is the positioning of the firebox and chimney. In the regular system, both accessories are in opposite directions of the main chamber. While in the reverse flow system, they are in the same end.

Vertical vs. Horizontal: Which One Smoker Better? 

There are so many arguments regarding which set-up is better, and I would not want to bore you with them. The difference between both set-ups is inherent in the direction of the heat source.

The vertical smokers have their heat source directly under the food. In comparison, the horizontal smoker’s heat source is beside the food. 

Here is the exciting part from my experience, food prepared with vertical smokers tastes better than horizontal smokers.

Unbelievable right? The firebox is directly below the food. Dripping food sauce lands on fuel and vaporizes. This vapor adds flavor to the smoke passing through the food.

You see, it’s not rocket science.

So, what is the catch? 

Heat! The fact that the firebox is directly underneath the food exposes it to excessive heat. This positioning makes cooking with the smoker a careful activity as food or skin could get hurt.

You see, there is no better or worse system. It’s simply a matter of choosing the system that works for you.

Wrap Up

An offset smoker is a current trend in grilling due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. 

I have carefully highlighted some factors you need to consider when purchasing the best offset smoker under 1000 in this article. There is absolutely no reason for you to buy the wrong model reading this article!