Pellet Grill vs. Charcoal Grill: Which Is Better?

Aside from the term grill in their names, pellet grills and charcoal grills have nothing in common.

They are both talented in various areas, so it will come down to your budget and the sort of cuisine you want to perform.

We’ll evaluate the many benefits and downsides of each kind of grill to help you determine which one is best for you.

Pellet Grill vs Charcoal Grill Overview

We’ll get into the specifics later, but first, let’s get a short summary of what each style of barbecue accomplishes best.

What is a pellet grill?

A pellet grill is a barbecue that runs on compressed wood pellets. Sawdust, reclaimed wood, or agricultural waste are used to make the pellets.

Pellet grills are available in a number of sizes and are powered by electricity. This drives the grill’s digital controller as well as the auger that transports pellets from the hopper to the firebox, where they are ignited by a hot rod.

The microprocessor in the grill manages the quantity of pellets burned based on the temperature you specify.

The biggest advantage of utilizing a pellet grill is its simplicity. Learning how to operate one does not need a significant amount of work or time, as many other kinds of grills do.

Despite the name, they are better smokers or ovens than grills. Most pellet grills cook only indirectly and have a maximum temperature of 450-500F, which isn’t high enough for effective searing.

However, several firms have devised ingenious workarounds for this constraint, which we will discuss more later.

If you want to learn more about the top manufacturers, we have a comprehensive list of the finest pellet grills.

What is a charcoal grill?

Charcoal grills are rudimentary when compared to pellet grills.

As you would think, these grills create heat by burning charcoal briquettes (or lump charcoal).

One advantage of utilizing charcoal briquettes is that they create tremendous heat and smoke, which enhances the taste of grilled dishes, and they are often affordable.

However, maintaining perfect temperature control with charcoal briquettes may be challenging, and there is a steeper learning curve to getting the finest results from a charcoal grill.

If you want to learn more about the top brands, see our guide to the best charcoal grills. If you wish to examine a third barbecue type, we also offer a pellet grill versus gas grill comparison guide.

Pellet grill vs charcoal grill: All the features compared

We’ve evaluated both kinds on some common grilling characteristics to help you make the best choice on whether a pellet grill or charcoal barbecue is ideal for you.

Lets take a look at what sets them apart.

What type of cooking do you plan on doing?

Pellet grills, as previously stated, are best suited for low and slow-style barbecuing. They’re known for their delicious pork ribs and brisket.

The computerized controls make it simple to maintain a steady temperature over long periods of time. While you can cook on a pellet grill, you won’t be able to get the same high searing temperatures as a charcoal grill unless you have one with a searing attachment, such as the Camp Chef Woodwind, or a slide and sear system, such as the Pit Boss Sportsman.

If you mainly want to barbecue meals, charcoal grills are ideal. They are flexible enough that you can use them for indirect cooking or even smoking, but you will have little area to work with.

How does the grill affect the flavor of the food?

Pellet grills are incredibly efficient and emit very little smoke. Pellet grilled food has a delicate, moderate smoky taste that many people like for smoked dishes.

However, there are techniques to enhance the smoke taste of a pellet grill.

When used on a charcoal grill, charcoal briquettes generate a greater smokey taste, especially when coupled with wood chips or chunks, but it is more powerful and may be harsher on your palate.

How easy is each grill to use?

Pellet grills are often simpler to use than charcoal grills; just turn them on, select the temperature using the digital controls, and then sit back and relax.

The catch is that they do many more duties. Pellet grills may have a variety of functions, such as WiFi control and several smoke settings.

They also need energy to operate, which necessitates the presence of an outside outlet or generator nearby.

Before you can start cooking on a charcoal grill, you must first fire the coals and get the temperature just perfect.

On the other hand, charcoal briquettes fire fast and readily with a chimney starter, and once hot, theyre ready to cook on. You won’t have to bother about a temperature controller or an automated feeding system.

What is the initial cost?

Pellet grills are significantly more sophisticated than charcoal barbecues, and hence far more costly. The pellet grill’s computer-controlled engine controls pellet feed, powering the auger to manage cooking temperatures.

As a result, a suitable entry-level model from a reputable brand should cost between $450 and $800, while a more feature-packed or bigger model should cost between $900 and $1500.

Charcoal grills, on the other hand, are considerably simpler machines that are often half the price or less of their pellet grill counterparts. A high quality charcoal barbecue will cost approximately $300, but fancier ones with all the bells and whistles would cost closer to $700.

How easy is the temperature control?

A pellet grill’s temperature management is electrical, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process. However, for others, it takes a bit of the pleasure and expertise out of grilling.

Charcoal grills are more difficult to regulate temperature since they only have the option of adjusting airflow via vents to lessen or increase temperatures.

This is a bit of an art form since you have to make minor tweaks and then wait to see what happens.

This may be a concern if you are cooking at low temperatures for an extended length of time, but it is far less relevant for a fast burger or steak.

What is the fuel capacity of charcoal vs pellet grills?

Pellet grills can contain a lot more pellets, which may be used to generate a lot of smoke for smoking meat and fish for long periods of time, depending on the size of the pellet hopper.

Manufacturers will always specify the size of the hopper in pounds, but don’t assume that a larger hopper would let you to cook for longer periods of time. Larger grills use more pellets every hour, thus there is always a cost.

Pellet grills are thus suited for low and slow cooking, when the stable temperature and high pellet hopper capacity may be utilised to great use.

In contrast, charcoal grills often have a considerably smaller cooking surface and less capacity for fuel storage. This may restrict the amount of food you can prepare at one time.

Charcoal grills generate heat directly from the fuel source, thus you can only use as much fuel as there is within the grill at any one moment.

Because most charcoal grills are smaller than pellet grills, cooking a huge quantity of food for a large group of people may not be a possibility.

As a result, charcoal grills are better suited for shorter cooking requiring higher temperatures.

What is the temperature range?

Pellet grills generally have a temperature range of 180F to 500F, making them more adaptable for longer cooking when higher temperatures aren’t required or can be readily lowered down if necessary.

Charcoal grills have a maximum temperature of roughly 600F 700F, making them ideal for shorter heats that demand higher cooking temperatures and scorching your food.

How much maintenance do they need?

Pellet grills demand a little more work to keep clean. Every 2-3 cooks, remove the grates and deflector plate and vacuum off the accumulated pellet dust and unburned pellets.

Failure to do so may result in more severe problems.

Pellet grills are more prone to fail and need replacement components due to their more complicated design.

In contrast, charcoal grills can basically be brushed off between usage and will need no more maintenance other than a thorough clean after use.

What are the fuel costs of each grill?

This can vary depending on where you live, but in general, wood pellets are more expensive than charcoal and are not widely accessible in locations such as petrol stations. The cost of the energy needed to power the grill should also be considered.

Charcoal, on the other hand, is less costly and more widely accessible.

Are charcoal grills and pellet grills portable?

Because of their lighter weight, charcoal grills are reasonably simple to transport, and there are several portable models available at various price ranges. Pellet grills are bigger and more difficult to move unless you have a trailer.

People who like taking their barbecues on picnics or camping excursions may find this challenging.

Manufacturers have begun to release several smart portable pellet grill designs; if you choose one of these models, it may be simpler to move than certain charcoal grills.

Consider a pellet barbecue as your next tailgating grill.

Who are pellet grill best suited to?

Pellet grills are best suited to persons who want to cook for extended periods of time at low temperatures and with more precision.

They are also ideal for those who lead busy lives and have children since they are simple to put up and then leave for extended periods of time.

Some versions, such as Traeger and Camp Chef, offer WiFi connection, allowing you to monitor the temperature of your grill and food using a smartphone app.

Because of these features, pellet grills are great for pitmasters who desire a good smokey taste in their cuisine but are willing to forego the possibility of searing at high temperatures to get that flavor.

It should also be mentioned that virtually all pellet grills are expensive, making them less suitable for persons on a restricted budget.

If you are on a tight budget, you should choose Z Grills. They used to manufacture for Traeger before branching out on their own, and they offer excellent value grills.

Who is a charcoal grill best suited to?

Charcoal grills are best suited to persons who want to cook over genuine flames and are ready to put in some additional work to perfect temperature management.

They’re also perfect for folks who want to take their barbecue on the road but don’t want to purchase a trailer and generator to do so.

You can smoke them utilizing the Snake Method, but your grill space will be severely restricted.

Wrapping it all up

Which is better for you, the pellet grill or the charcoal grill, will depend on your situation and what you want to get out of your barbecue.

The pellet grill is your best pick if you want a set-it-and-forget option or something that is ideally suited for low and slow cooking.

The charcoal grill, on the other hand, is your best chance for good old-fashioned grilling with all the pleasure and difficulty that comes with it.