Offset smoker grills are the best when you want to slow cooking food. They can maintain a low cooking temperature for a long time. Although the best offset smokers may look simple, they are quite effective. Offset BBQ smokers come in different configurations, ranging from upright models to reverse flow units for every use. However, buying an offset smoker can be quite daunting. Buying a cheap offset BBQ smoker may save you money but they often come with a notoriously unreliable construction. Similarly, the expensive ones may be a heavy-duty smokers, they set you back several thousand dollars.
Review Summary
Editor Choice: Dyna-Glo DGS1382VCS-D Signature Series Offset Smoker
With this Dyna-Glo Signature Series offset smoker, you know you have all you need to host a perfect backyard BBQ party. Apart from the massive size of this grill, the durable construction, as well as other features like sausage hooks, cool to touch handle, and wheels, all contributes to making this grill perfect.
Best Value: Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker
For every Dyna-Glo fans, this vertical offset smoker is an affordable choice for anyone seeking a durable charcoal smoker with ample grilling space. Additionally, the excellent charcoal and ash management system of this grill designed with porcelain enamel steel makes it cleaning a breeze.
Best Overall: Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Smoker
Established in 1987, Oklahoma Joe is one of the pitmasters everyone wants to have in their home. This highland offset smoker is durably built tough with a 12-gauge black oil pipe and features a large cooking surface, lid-mounted temperature gauge, front and side shelf, and wheels for easy mobility.
Outdoor Camping: Royal Gourmet 30″ BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker
With this Royal Gourmet 30-inch grill, you are sure of one thing, and that is you get a traditional charcoal grill that offers you a dual style barbecue. Also, the offset firebox can be used as a small grill, which you can take along with you for camping or to the beach. Other features like the large cooking space, side, and front table with tool hooks and wheels make this grill even more interesting.
Grill Smoker Combo: Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker
Unlike other offset charcoal smoker that takes hours to assemble, Royal Gourmet designed this grill in such a way that you can put it together in a few minutes. Additionally, the ¼-inch diameter porcelain steel grate is durable and makes the perfect sear mark on your meat and veggies.
Best Charcoal Offset Smoker: Char-Griller 2137 Outlaw Smoker
This well-thought-out Char-Griller offset smoker is a perfect steel-wood grill designed with cast-iron grates that provide even heat and lock in the flavor of your food. Char-Griller also made use of a heavy gauge steel to construct the body and finished it with powder coating making it capable of withstanding the test of time.
Vertical Offset Smokers: Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical 18 Charcoal Smoker
With this Cuisinart 18-inch vertical charcoal smoker designed with a durable porcelain enamel bowl, you can smoke all of your favorite foods. Using this smoker is pretty easy, and it features two air vents giving you control over the amount of heat and smoke you leave in the cooking chamber.
Best Char-Broil Smokers: Char-Broil 18202079 Offset Smoker
Char-Broil is here again with a massive 40-inch charcoal grill designed with a 3-piece smoking chamber that helps you maintain the cooking temperature, and eliminate air loss. Other features like the ample grilling space, lid-mounted temperature gauge, and durable wheels make this grill desirable.
Best for Charcoal: Royal Gourmet CC1830-C Offset Smoker
The Royal Gourmet CC1830F-C charcoal grill is an easy to assemble grill with an ample cooking surface. Talking about the cooking surface, Royal Gourmet designed it with a porcelain coated main cooking grate, and a chrome swings away warming rack. Royal Gourmet also included a grill cover with this grill to help you store this grill away from dust.
Wood Pellet Offset Smokers: Z Grills ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Pellet Smoker
If you are a fan of pellet grill, this Z-Grill is a perfect wood pellet grill to consider buying. It is an ultimate 8-in-1 pellet grill with a pellet grill technology that makes using it super easy. Also, the large hopper capacity makes smoking with this grill easy as you wouldn’t have to constantly refuel.
Top 10 Offset Smokers Review
We have used our expertise to compile 10 of the top-rated offset smokers you should get in 2022. These smokers are affordable yet durable enough to last you decades. With these best-offset smoker reviews, you should be able to make the best buying decision that will serve your needs.
#1. Dyna-Glo DGS1382VCS-D Signature Series Offset Smoker – Editor Choice
Specification:
- Length: 45.5 inches
- Width: 24.9 inches
- Height: 58.8 inches
- Weight: 124.3 pounds
- Cooking area: 1382 square inches
- Construction material: Heavy-duty steel
Dyna-Glo Signature Review:
Design
This Dyna-Glo offset smoker grill is a vertical offset charcoal smoker and grill that cooks meats low and slow. This Signature series offset BBQ smoker is a heavy-duty smoker built tough with a steel body. The blade powder coating on this offset smoker protects the steel from rusting. Overall, the design of this offset smoker grill makes using this smoker easy as the charcoal grate and ash pan are removable for easy refueling and ash disposal. And the cool to touch spring handle offers safe access to the fuel or food.
Five Chrome-plated Cooking Grates
Included in this offset BBQ smoker are five chrome-plated cooking grates. The chrome plating makes the cooking grates non-stick, which lets you clean with ease. With the five cooking grates, you get an ample cooking space of 1382 square inches to handle cooking for a large crowd. At the top of the cooking chamber, there are pre-installed sausage hooks that provide you additional cooking flexibility. Additionally, the firebox is detachable and can be used as a portable grill.
Temperature Gauge
Dyna-Glo installed an analog temperature gauge on the door of this offset smoker. This stainless steel temperature gauge features a smoke zone and grill zone indicator for ideal cooking temperature. What’s even interesting about this offset smoker is that the temperature gauge lets you smoke with precision. So, you don’t have to open the door all the time to check on the progress of smoking. All you need is to set the ideal temperature and a timer and you are good to go.
Oversized Wheels
No doubt this Dyna-Glo offset smoker is pretty heavy as such, moving it in and out of your backyard can be a bit of a hassle. As such, Dyna-Glo designed this Signature Series smoker with two oversized wheels and two sturdy legs. The wheel helps make mobility easy and the legs make the smoker stable while smoking.
- The well-designed cooking chamber allows even distribution of heat for even cooking
- Ample cooking surface
- Durable construction
- Easy to clean
- The charcoal grate is too small
#2. Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker – Best Value
Specification:
- Length: 34.52 inches
- Width: 20.2 inches
- Height: 47.03 inches
- Weight: 57 pounds
- Cooking area: 1176 pounds
- Construction material: Heavy-duty steel
Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Review:
Design
This Dyna-Glo offset smoker is also a vertical smoker that allows you to achieve greater efficiency and improved smoke flavor in your food. The heavy-duty steel construction is not only durable but ensures even distribution of heat. Dyna-Glo also coated the body with black powder to protect the steel from rust and corrosion. The design of the charcoal chamber of this offset smoke keeps the charcoal or briquettes stacked tightly to increase burning efficiency.
Six Adjustable Cooking Grate
In the cooking chamber, Dyna-Glo designed this offset smoker with size adjustable cooking grates. As such, the cooking grates can accommodate different sizes of food. The porcelain-coated cooking grates make cleaning a breeze. Each grate can hold up to 25 pounds of food. At the bottom of the cooking chamber, you can place a water bowl.
Charcoal and Ash Management System
As you already know, the charcoal chamber stacks charcoal and briquette tightly. Furthermore, the ash pan is removable and you can use it for hours without worrying about ash disposal. The pain of cleaning a charcoal smoker has been one of the discouraging disadvantages of using a charcoal smoker. But with the porcelain-enameled ash pan design of this Dyna-Glo smoker slides out easily for cleaning.
Temperature Gauge
On this offset smoker is a stainless steel temperature gauge that allows you to grill with precision. The analog temperature gauge features an easy to read temperature ranging from 50 – 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It also features a smoke and grill indicator for infusing smoke flavor. To control the temperature of this smoker, use the steel smoke stack’s adjustable flue to fine-tune to the perfect cooking temperature.
- Charcoal chamber stacks charcoal tightly for efficient
- Durable heavy-duty steel construction
- Adjustable flue fine-tunes temperature perfectly
- The cooking chamber can handle a large amount of meat
- No wheels for easy mobility
#3. Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Smoker – Best Overall
Specification:
- Length: 36.5 inches
- Width: 64.25 inches
- Height: 55.5 inches
- Weight: 238 pounds
- Cooking area: 1060 square inches
- Construction material: 12-gauge steel
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Review:
Design
Oklahoma Joe has been in the business of constructing the best BBQ smoker since 1987. They are all about constructing a Texas-style barbeque built tough to stand the test of time. Oklahoma Joe built this offset smoker with 12-gauge heavy-duty steel 2.5mm thick offers durability and a great heat retention ability. As such, using this smoker will ensure even heat distribution of even cooking. The cool to touch handle ensures you can safely access your food or fuel without hurting your hand. And the lid-mounted temperature gauge ensures you always stay within the desired temperature while smoking.
Cooking Space
The amount of cooking space available on this smoker can handle a large number of meats at a go. You get a primary measuring up to 751 square inches, and on the firebox is the secondary cooking surface measuring 309 square inches adds to the cooking versatility of this smoker. The steel cooking grates coated with porcelain enamel are easy to clean and rust-resistant. You also get extra storage space on this smoker made with wire gauzes like the front shelf that runs the length of the main cooking chamber and the bottom shelf which you can use to store tools and ingredients.
Dampers for Heat and Smoke Control
Dampers are all you need to ideally infuse smoke flavor in your food. Oklahoma Joe did not lack in integrating excellent dampers on this offset smoker to deliver the best smoke flavor in your food. The dampers are strategically placed to ensure the free flow of air in and out of the cooking chamber to ensure even temperature in the cooking chamber. Use the damper on the firebox to regulate the temperature of this smoker.
Easy Mobility
This large Oklahoma Joe offset smoker weighs 176 pounds, and features two wagon-style wheels that make it easy to move. Two sturdy legs give this smoker stability while smoking with it.
- Cool to touch handle
- Durable construction
- Easy to use dampers
- Built-in professional grade temperature gauge
- Susceptible to smoke leakage
#4. Royal Gourmet 30″ BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker – Best for Outdoor Camping
Specification:
- Length: 55.1 inches
- Width: 27.2 inches
- Height: 48.4 inches
- Weight: 54.2 pounds
- Cooking area: 800 square inches
- Construction material: Steel
Royal Gourmet 30 Review:
Offset Smoker and Charcoal Grill Combo
This Royal Gourmet offset smoker uses a dual style BBQ that gives you the combination of a charcoal grill and an offset smoker to enjoy smoked or grilled meat at the same time with no hassle. The offset side firebox does excellently well in producing enough smoke and heat to smoke meat slowly. The firebox also features a cooking surface though very small but you can grill some meat or vegetables on it.
Ample Cooking Surface
In total, you get up to 800 square inches of cooking surface on this offset smoker. To break it down, this means in the main cooking chamber you get 438 square inches of primary cooking surface and 179 square inches of a swing-away rack. The cooking surface on the fire ox is 183 square inches. Furthermore, the cooking surface in the main cooking chamber is made of steel and coated with porcelain which retains heat evenly to help lock in the juice making your meal more tender and cleaning a breeze. The front table, side table with tool hooks, and bottom check offer you extra storage space to store ingredients and tools.
Easy to Use
Using this charcoal offset smoker is pretty easy and straightforward. The air dampers are strategically placed making temperature control easier. Also, you can use the lifting handles to adjust the height of the fire pan to two different levels, controlling the distance between the food and the charcoal for better grilling. The lid-mounted temperature gauge allows you to easily monitor your smoking or grilling temperature. And the scald-proof handle ensures the handles are not too hot to touch, making it easy to access your food and fuel.
Wheels for Easy Mobility
Lastly, the two large wheels on this unit are designed to make moving this smoker in and around the patio and backyard easy.
- Removable ash pan for easy ash disposal
- Access side door to add charcoal
- Great storage at the front, side, and underneath racks
- Durable construction with ample cooking surface
- The coating of the cooking chamber is not very heat resistant
#5. Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker
Specification:
- Length: 45.7 inches
- Width: 26.8 inches
- Height: 48.8 inches
- Weight: 57 pounds
- Cooking area: 800 square inches
- Construction material: Steel
Royal Gourmet CC1830F Review:
Excellent Design
The Royal Gourmet CC1830F is an excellently designed offset smoker that allows you to grill or smoke from the comfort of one unit. It is a perfect smoker for family use and when you have a few friends coming over. The durable steel body construction, and ¼ thick cooking grate rods all points to the fact that this offset smoker is built tough. The offset firebox is large and can contain up to 5 pounds of charcoal at once.
Great Performance
Using this offset smoker is pretty easy and straight to the point. Firstly, the easy to read temperature gauge offers convenience to monitor the grilling temperature. And with the help of the strategically placed dampers, controlling the temperature of this grill comes easy. With the help of the lifting handles, you can adjust the distance of the charcoal pan from your food for better grilling. Additionally, the scald-proof handles ensure the handles do not get too hot to touch.
Cooking Surface
One of the most important parts of a smoker/grill to take note of is the cooking surface. And for this offset smoker, Royal Gourmet designed it with an ample cooking chamber of up to 800 square inches. In the cooking chamber, you get 438 square inches of cooking space and 179 square inches of chrome warming rack. The offset smoker provides an extra 183 square inches of cooking area. Additionally, the two mesh steel front table and bottom shelf provide you with plenty of working space and storage space.
2-in-1 Control
It’s called a 2-in-1 control because the excellent damper system allows you to adjust the airflow at the firebox and on the cooking chamber. As such, you can adjust the vent as needed for better air flowing to give you great heat control.
- Two storage racks
- Affordably priced
- Durable construction materials
- Wheels and built-in thermometer gauge included
- The coating of the cooking chamber is not very heat resistant
#6. Char-Griller 2137 Outlaw Smoker – Best Charcoal Offset Smoker
Specification:
- Length: 49 inches
- Width: 29 inches
- Height: 50 inches
- Weight: 100 pounds
- Cooking area: 1064 square inches
- Construction material: Heavy-gauge steel
Char-Griller 2137 Outlaw Review:
Sturdy Construction
Char-Griller constructed this offset smoker tough with heavy-duty steel and powder coated it to give you years of durability. The bottom of this grill is built with double steel material to add to its durability. Moreover, the steel construction of this smoker retains heat perfectly and ensures even cooking. Furthermore, Char-Griller went ahead to use cast iron to construct the cooking grate, which is not only durable but also leaves the perfect sear marks on your meat.
Ample Cooking Surface
This Char-Griller smoker provides you with a massive cooking surface of up to 1063 square inches. You can comfortably grill 38 burgers on this smoker at a go. The main cooking area measures 725 square inches of cooking space and the warming rack measures 338 square inches of cooking space. Additionally, the bottom shelf, front table, and side table with tool hooks provide a convenient storage space to keep your tools and ingredients.
Total Control
The adjustable cast iron grate allows you to set the distance of your food from the charcoal to get the ideal temperature to smoke or grill. The dampers also give you the ability to regulate the airflow in and out of the grill to control the temperature. And with the help of the lid-mounted temperature gauge, you can easily keep track of the temperature of the grill.
Easy to Clean
Cleaning is always the hard part of using a charcoal smoker. But with the easy dump ash pan, you can easily dispose of the ash. So no more scooping up the ash after every grilling session. All you have to do now thanks to this innovation on this Char-Griller smoker is to remove the ash pan, dispose of the ash appropriately and replace the ash pan.
- Two durable wheels for easy mobility
- Equipped with the easy dump ash pan and adjustable grate which makes usage easy
- Professional grade temperature gauge
- Excellent air dampers
- Cast iron cooking grates require more effort to maintain
#7. Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical 18 Charcoal Smoker – Best Vertical Offset Smokers
Specification:
- Length: 22 inches
- Width: 24 inches
- Height: 43 inches
- Weight: 32 pounds
- Cooking area: 510 square inches
- Construction material: Steel
Cuisinart COS-118 Review:
Durable Vertical Design
This Cuisinart smoker is a durable 18-inch vertical smoker built with durable steel. The steel is further coated with porcelain-enamel, which not only protects the steel from rusting but also makes cleaning a breeze. The design of this vertical smoker is such that it comes with a removable lid and a side door, which both features cool to touch handles. The side door gives you access to the bottom grates and to add more charcoal. The latching base added the sturdiness of this smoker.
Two Tiers of Smoking Rack
The two stainless steel smoking racks that comes with this smoker is one of the features we love so much about this Cuisinart smoker. The two tiers of smoking rack offer you up to 510 square inches of cooking surface. Below the cooking rack is a porcelain-enamel steel bowl that holds water, preventing your meat from getting too dry while smoking.
Dual Venting System
The dual venting system at the top and bottom comes in handy in regulating the temperature of this smoker. And the vertical design of this grill ensures best is evenly distributed in the cooking chamber.
Easy to Clean
Since the steel body of this vertical smoker from Cuisinart is coated with porcelain-enamel, cleaning it would be so easy. And the stainless steel grates are non-stick and easy to clean as well. The ash pan also makes ash disposal easy.
- Portable and easy to transport
- Lid thermometer included
- More control over smoke and heat
- Easy to clean
- No hook to hold the lid
#8. Char-Broil 18202079 Offset Smoker – Best Char-Broil Smokers
Specification:
- Length: 61.7 inches
- Width: 22.9 inches
- Height: 46.2 inches
- Weight: 101.1 pounds
- Cooking area: 895 square inches
- Construction material: Steel
Review:
Well Designed Offset Smoker
This 40-inch Char-Broil offset smoker is a durable smoker you can consider buying as is built with heavy-gauge steel material, and coated with black powder to protect the steel from rust. The offset firebox allows you to smoke meat slowly to get that perfect smoke-infused flavored meat. The inclusion of the two 8-inch durable wheels makes moving this heavy smoker around the yard effortless.
Cooking Surface
You get enough cooking surface on this smoker to handle all your cooking desires. The 895 square inches cooking space can hold up to 28-32 burgers conveniently. The main cooking chamber offers you 739 square inches of cooking space while the cooking grate on the firebox measures 275 square inches. Furthermore, the side table and bottom shelf offer you sufficient storage and preparation space.
Temperature Control
You can control the temperature of this smoker with the aid of the top and bottom air dampers, which reduces or increases the airflow. Plus with the aid of the lid-mounted easy-to-read temperature gauge, you can monitor the temperature of the grill.
Convenient Cleanup
The offset firebox features a side door, which you can easily open to remove the ash for disposal. Also, the porcelain-enamel coated cooking grates are non-stick and easy to clean as well.
- Affordably priced
- Ample grilling space
- Easy to clean
- Durable wheel for easy mobility
- There is a problem of smoke leakage
#9. Royal Gourmet CC1830-C Offset Smoker – Best for Charcoal
Specification:
- Length: 45.7 inches
- Width: 28 inches
- Height: 48.8 inches
- Weight: 57.3 pounds
- Cooking area: 800 square inches
- Construction material: Steel
Royal Gourmet CC1830F Review:
Excellent Design
The Royal Gourmet CC1830-C is an excellently designed 30-inch offset smoker that allows you to grill or smoke from the comfort of one unit. It is a perfect smoker for family use and when you have a few friends coming over. The durable steel body construction, and ¼ thick cooking grate rods all points to the fact that this offset smoker is built tough. The offset firebox is large and can contain up to 5 pounds of charcoal at once.
Great Performance
Using this offset smoker is pretty easy and straight to the point. Firstly, the easy to read temperature gauge offers convenience to monitor the grilling temperature. And with the help of the strategically placed dampers, controlling the temperature of this grill comes easy. With the help of the lifting handles, you can adjust the distance of the charcoal pan from your food for better grilling. Additionally, the scald-proof handles ensure the handles do not get too hot to touch.
Cooking Surface
One of the most important parts of a smoker/grill to take note of is the cooking surface. And for this offset smoker, Royal Gourmet designed it with an ample cooking chamber of up to 800 square inches. In the cooking chamber, you get 438 square inches of cooking space and 179 square inches of chrome warming rack. The offset smoker provides an extra 183 square inches of cooking area. Additionally, the two mesh steel front table and bottom shelf provide you with plenty of working space and storage space.
Dual Air Vent
It’s called a dual venting system because the excellent damper system allows you to adjust the airflow at the firebox and on the cooking chamber. As such, you can adjust the vent as needed for better air flowing to give you great heat control.
- Free grill cover included
- Dual air vent for easy temperature regulation
- Cool to touch handles
- Durable construction and wheels
- The coating is not heat resistant
#10. Z Grills ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Pellet Smoker – Best Wood Pellet Offset Smokers
Specification:
- Length: 49 inches
- Width: 28 inches
- Height: 45 inches
- Weight: 84 pounds
- Cooking area: 452 square inches
- Construction material: Steel
Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Review:
Durable Design
Z Grills is a U.S. based manufacturer that has been manufacturing high-quality smokers and grills for more than 30 years now. For the ZPG-450A, Z Grills made use of durable steel material coated with resistant paint to prevent rusting. The large hopper that can hold up to 15 pounds of pellet lets you grill with confidence. Other features about the design like the foldable shelf, and heavy-duty all-terrain wheels all combine to make this pellet grill unbeatable.
6-in-1 Versatile Cooking Option
This pellet grill is a completely versatile grill you can use for a wide array of cooking options. The advanced wood fire technology ensures efficient burning of pellets, as you can use about 20 pounds of pellet for 20 hours on this smoker. You can even vary the temperature between 180 and 450 degrees to either smoke, grill, roast, bake, BBQ, or braise.
Cooking Surface
Although this pellet smoker might not be the biggest in the industry, it sure does offer you ample grilling space to handle all your cooking desires. You get up to 324 square inches of main cooking surface and 128 square inches swing-away warming rack to handle cooking for a family or a few friends coming around. The grates are made with cast iron and coated with porcelain to prevent rusting or food sticking to it.
Easy to Use
Using this pellet grill comes easy thanks to the complete digitizing of its control. The digital temperature control lets you consistently and precisely set the temperature you want to grill or smoke your meat. Moreover, the excellent waste management system makes using this pellet smoker easy.
- Digital temperature control is easy to use
- Large hopper capacity
- Excellent grease management system
- Electronic auto ignition
- Hopper does not feed pellet properly which cause the grill to stall at times
Best Offset Smokers Buyer’s Guide 2022
1. Size
Size is the key feature to look out for when buying a smoker. Smoking meat takes a lot of time as such, it’s best to get an ideal size that will accommodate all you need at a go. So, before you make a purchase, measure the area where you are planning to keep the smoker. Remember all offset smokers are big because of the protruding firebox so always put that into consideration.
2. Materials
Having a durably built offset smoker can stand the test of time and harsh weather. Aim for an offset smoker built out of heavy-gauge steel as they are more durable. Also, aim for an offset smoker with heat resistant coating to prevent paint chipping on the first contact with heat. Cast iron grates are the best but they are a bit of a hassle to maintain. You can also go for stainless steel or porcelain-enamel steel cooking grates although they are not as durable as cast iron but are easier to maintain.
3. Easy Clean
Aim for smokers with features that make cleaning up after every grilling session easy. Features like an easy dump ash pan is a nice inclusion to have in your smoker. If the smoker is coated with porcelain it would be easier to clean as well. Chrome grates, stainless steel grates, or grates coated with porcelain enamel are easier to clean as well. Also, ensure the smoker comes with an excellent grease management system.
4. Advantages
Advantages like the inclusion of wheels make mobility easy. Also if the smoker has a cool to touch handle it would make it easy to open the doors or lids easily. A temperature gauge is another feature that gives a smoker the advantage to easily monitor the temperature of the smoker.
5. Portability
Lastly, portability is not a feature well-spoken about but is a nice feature to aim for especially when you are not planning on smoking for a crowd. A portable smoker would be easy to transport for camping or tailgating.
Conclusion
In conclusion, with the best offset smoker, you can make that smoke-infused steak or brisket painlessly. You just need to do right now is to choose a smoker from the review that fits your budget, and the ideal size for your need and you are good to go. We love feedback and would love to hear your thoughts about your experience with any of the smokers in this review.