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What Do Grill Smokers Cost?

The average food smoker or gas grills smokers model can cost a a few hundred dollars at a yard sale.  You might pay ten to twelve thousand dollars for a custom barbecue pit smoker. Charcoal water smoker models are likely the best value for a beginner, and generally start at under fifty to seventy dollars.  Electric or gas water smokers can be dug up for under a hundred dollars. A decent quality wood fired smoker can probably set you back five hundred dollars.

Unless you find a lucky deal at an estate or other sale, I would steer clear of very low priced smokers.  Cheap smokers are usually rife with hidden costs.  Weak, unsubstantial, and unfit construction promotes heat loss, so fuel costs escalate.  Keeping a steady smoking temperature is very hard with these.  Cheap and flimsy put together smokers won’t last very long,  most likely requiring replacement after less than a few years.

The old adage, “You get what you pay for” applies here as it does in may other areas of life.  Heavier purpose built construction will last longer, resist the damaging effects of heat and weather better, and keep the fuel costs down by not allowing the heat to easily escape during operation.  The smoking outcome is better as well since if the heat is maintained better, less effort is wasted in the cooking process and the food is smoked faster.  It’s much easier to control the temperature with a properly built smoker.  Isn’t temperature control one of the cornerstones of food smoking?  If you make the commitment to pay for quality up front, then you won’t go wrong.  Your investment will pay you back many fold with delicious smoked fare which will be the talk of the town and coveted by other pit masters.