Best Electric Smokers (2026): 5 Digital and Vertical Smokers for Easy Barbecue
Five electric smokers compared on size, controls and smoke delivery, plus a smoking temperature chart for turkey, chicken and brisket.
Best overall: Masterbuilt 30″. Best large: Masterbuilt 40″. Best value: Char-Broil Deluxe. Best hands-off smoke: Bradley Digital 4-Rack.
Electric smokers are the easiest way into barbecue. Plug in, set the temperature and walk away. The right one depends on how much food you smoke at once and how often you want to refill wood.
For most beginners, the Masterbuilt 30-inch digital smoker: four racks, simple digital controls and a side chip loader. The 40-inch Masterbuilt handles holiday crowds, Char-Broil adds a meat probe for less and Bradley feeds wood automatically for long, steady smokes.
Try it first on a smoked turkey breast.
Quick Picks: The Best Electric Smokers
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Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker
A digital vertical smoker with four racks and a side wood chip loader.
Check Masterbuilt 30″ Price →Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Smoker with Window
A bigger Masterbuilt cabinet with a viewing window for holiday-size cooks.
Check Masterbuilt 40″ Price →Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker
An affordable digital smoker with a glass door and a meat probe.
Check Char-Broil Deluxe Price →Bradley Digital 4-Rack Electric Smoker
A smoker that feeds wood bisquettes automatically for hours of steady smoke.
Check Bradley Digital 4-Rack Price →Electric Smoker Comparison Chart
All five side by side. Tap any name to see today’s price on Amazon.
| Electric smoker | Racks / size | Controls | Wood | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker | 4 racks | Digital panel | Side chip loader | $$ |
| Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Smoker with Window | 40 in | Viewing window | Digital panel | $$$ |
| Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker | Digital panel | Glass door | Meat probe | $$ |
| Bradley Digital 4-Rack Electric Smoker | 4 racks | Auto wood feed | Digital panel | $$$ |
| Cuisinart COS-330 30-Inch Vertical Electric Smoker | 3 racks | Dial control | Compact | $$ |
Specs as stated by each brand. Price tiers are a rough guide and change often, especially around Black Friday: $$ under $300 · $$$ $300–600 · $$$$ over $600.
The 5 Best Electric Smokers, Reviewed
From a compact dial smoker to a 40-inch cabinet, each with its size and controls.
Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker
Masterbuilt’s 30-inch digital smoker is the classic set-it-and-forget-it starter. Set the temperature and time on the panel, load wood chips from the side without opening the door, and four racks hold a turkey breast, beef ribs and a batch of chicken wings at once.
- Easy digital controls
- Add chips without opening
- Good size for families
- Chip tray needs topping up
- Lighter smoke than charcoal
Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Smoker with Window
When one turkey breast is not enough, the 40-inch Masterbuilt gives far more rack space for whole turkeys, briskets and party-size batches. The glass window lets you watch the color develop without letting heat out, and the cover helps protect it between cooks.
- Lots of rack space
- Watch through the window
- Cover included
- Takes more patio space
- Window needs cleaning
Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker
Char-Broil’s Deluxe Digital smoker packs a glass door and a built-in meat probe into a lower price. The probe reads internal temperature on the control panel, so you know when chicken or brisket is done without opening the door.
- Built-in meat probe
- Glass door
- Good value
- Chip box is small
- Specs vary by version
Bradley Digital 4-Rack Electric Smoker
Bradley’s trick is the automatic feeder that pushes a fresh wood bisquette onto the burner every 20 minutes, so smoke stays clean and steady for hours without refilling chips. It is popular for fish, jerky and long smokes. Bisquettes are an ongoing cost.
- Steady, clean smoke
- No chip refilling
- Great for fish and jerky
- Needs Bradley bisquettes
- Higher price
Cuisinart COS-330 30-Inch Vertical Electric Smoker
Cuisinart’s COS-330 keeps things simple: a temperature dial, three racks and a compact footprint that suits a small patio. It is a straightforward way to try smoking chicken, salmon and vegetables before investing in a bigger digital model.
- Small footprint
- Simple to use
- Easy to clean racks
- Dial, not digital
- Fewer racks
Electric, Pellet or Charcoal Smoker?
Electric
The easiest: steady heat from a plug, wood chips for flavor. Lighter smoke and no bark-heavy crust.
Pellet
Burns wood pellets for real wood heat with digital control. Needs power and pellets.
Charcoal
The deepest smoke flavor, but you manage the fire and vents yourself.
Compare the top pellet grills and the best charcoal grills if you want a stronger smoke.
Smoking Temperature Chart
| Food | Smoker temp | Done at |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey breast | 250 to 275°F | 165°F |
| Whole chicken | 250 to 275°F | 165°F in the thigh |
| Beef brisket | 225 to 250°F | About 200°F for tender slicing |
| Salmon | 200 to 225°F | 145°F |
| Beef short ribs | 250 to 275°F | About 200°F |
Times vary with size and weather; always cook to temperature, not the clock.
How to Choose an Electric Smoker
Six things to check before you buy.
30 or 40 inches
30-inch cabinets suit families; 40-inch handles whole turkeys and parties.
Digital is easier
A digital panel holds temperature and counts down the cook time.
Side loader or auto feed
Add chips without opening the door, or let an auto feeder do it.
Watch without peeking
A glass door keeps heat in while you check on color.
Built-in or separate
A meat probe tells you when food is done without opening the door.
Holds heat in cold weather
Better insulation keeps temperatures steady on windy or cold days.
Smoking for the holidays? See smoked turkey and the best turkey fryers. Shopping for a pitmaster? Try these gifts for the dad who smokes meat.
Electric Smoker FAQs
What is the best electric smoker?▼
The Masterbuilt 30-inch digital smoker for most beginners: four racks and simple digital controls.
Are electric smokers worth it?▼
Yes for easy, hands-off smoking. They hold steady heat with almost no fire management.
Do electric smokers give real smoke flavor?▼
Yes, from wood chips, though the smoke is lighter than charcoal or pellet smokers.
How often do you add wood chips?▼
About every 45 to 60 minutes for the first few hours; meat takes most smoke early on.
Should you soak wood chips for an electric smoker?▼
No, dry chips usually smoke better. Soaked chips steam before they smoke.
What temperature should an electric smoker be?▼
225 to 275°F for most meats; fish often smokes at 200 to 225°F.
Can you use an electric smoker in the rain?▼
Only under cover. Keep the controls dry and plug into a GFCI outdoor outlet.
Can you use an electric smoker in winter?▼
Yes, but it may take longer to heat. An insulated blanket made for your model helps.
How long does it take to smoke a turkey breast?▼
About 30 to 40 minutes per pound at 250°F, until it reaches 165°F.
Do you need a water pan in an electric smoker?▼
Usually yes. Water helps keep temperatures steady and meat moist.
How do you clean an electric smoker?▼
Remove racks, drip pan and chip tray after each cook and wipe the walls once cool.
Is a 30 or 40-inch smoker better?▼
30 inches suits most families; 40 inches is worth it if you smoke whole turkeys or for crowds.
The Bottom Line
- Best overall: Masterbuilt 30″.
- Big crowds: Masterbuilt 40″; best value: Char-Broil Deluxe.
- Hands-off smoke: Bradley Digital 4-Rack.
- Small patios: Cuisinart COS-330.
Cook to temperature, not the clock. A probe thermometer and dry wood chips make every electric smoker better.