Traeger grills are widely regarded as the best pellet grills. But as you prepare to buy one, you have likely noticed there are several models and sizes to choose from–so which one is right for you?
We’ve got all the answers, as well as a side-by-side Traeger grill model comparison chart. So read on to discover which Traeger grill is right for you.
Best Traeger Grill Options
- Traeger Timberline Series: For the seasoned griller who values precise control and lots of cooking space for large gatherings. ($3,300-$3,800)
- Traeger Ironwood Series: For the enthusiastic griller ready to upgrade with advanced features while maintaining usability. ($1,800-$2,000)
- Traeger Pro Series: For the everyday griller who wants a reliable, user-friendly solution for consistent results. ($800-$1000)
Considerations When Buying a Traeger Grill
Smoked ribs and smoked mac & cheese on my Traeger 780 Pro
Before we dive into the different lines of Traeger grills, we need to give you a quick overview of what you should consider when buying a Traeger grill.
Family Size/Space Available
The last thing you want to do is spend a thousand dollars on a pellet grill only to find you have to do more work because your grill doesn’t fit enough food for your family. You’ll want to plan in advance for how many people you plan to cook for regularly.
Grill space is measured in square inches, and just to be safe, we recommend planning 100 square inches per family member or friend you plan to cook for regularly. This means a family of seven will need at least 700 inches of grill space, while a family of four will only need 400 inches.
If you plan to regularly host large BBQs, plan for that as well. However, don’t get too carried away, as the grill you buy must also fit on your patio or in your backyard, so measure that space as well. We recommend getting the largest grill that you can afford, which also fits in the space available!
Budget
Of course, it’s easy to buy a larger grill, but it isn’t always affordable, especially because Traegers tend to be on the higher end of grills. So, take a look at your budget and see how much money is available for a grill.
Keep in mind that you will also need to buy some tools and likely some grill accessories (like a grill cover and a bristle-free brush), so we recommend saving $100-$200 of your budget for these items and dedicating the rest to the initial grill purchase.
What You Plan to Cook Most
Smoked ribeye on my Traeger 780 Pro
After budget and size, you should think of what you plan to cook the most. If you want to smoke a turkey or regularly make a large brisket, then you will need a grill with plenty of clearance (and removable racks!)
But if you are a steak and burger person, clearance probably doesn’t matter, but cooking over an open flame is important, so you’ll want to choose a grill model that allows you to sear meats easily!
Available Accessories
It might seem weird to think of future accessories as you are buying a grill, but there are many extra features that you cannot add on later. For example, if you want a grill with Bluetooth connectivity, this is something you must decide on before you order.
Additionally, if you want to add a pizza oven attachment or smoking hooks for sausage, this is something you will need to consider in advance, otherwise, you may purchase a grill that isn’t compatible with your dream attachment.
Traeger Grill Model Comparison and Chart
Features | Timberline | Ironwood | Pro |
Capacity (square inches) | 880 1320 | 616 885 925 | 575 780 |
Grate Materials | Stainless steel | Stainless steel or porcelain coated cast-iron depending on the model | Porcelain coated cast iron |
Storage Space | Two shelves and a cabinet | One shelf on some models | None |
Wifi Enabled? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Accessory Options | All Pop and Lock | All Pop and Lock | None |
Clean Up System | EZ-Clean | EZ-Clean | Basic grease bucket |
Special Features | Side induction cooktop Super smoke mode | Super smoke mode | Turbotemp All terrain wheels |
Downsides | Heavy, don’t plan to move it. | Low storage space Some models have the old screen (not digital) | No storage Adding accessories will be difficult |
Timberline Series
The Timberline Series is one of Traeger’s most versatile grill lines. With only two models, the basic and the XL, you can’t go wrong when you pick this grill.
With several levels of stainless steel grill grates and a side induction cooktop, you can cook almost anything on this grill. Whether you are tossing some meats on the racks or a pot of beans on the induction cooktop, this is a truly one-and-done grill. We will break down some of the features for you below.
Large Capacity
The Traeger Timberline XL
The Timberline line is one of the largest capacity grills that Traeger sells. With 880 square inches in the base model and 1320 in the XL, you can regularly feed a large family.
The barrel has high clearance and three shelves, so you can load it up or remove the shelves and make a large turkey come Thanksgiving. On either model, there is a 22 lb hopper, meaning you can commit to those long smokes without having to refill!
Stainless Steel Grates
Personally, we aren’t huge fans of stainless steel grates. While they heat up faster than porcelain-coated cast iron, they do get significantly messier as you cook. One thing we love about Trager is that you can order other grates for their grills. So, if this is as big of a downside for you as it is for us, don’t worry you can get this grill and still swap out the grates.
Plenty of Storage Space
Some pellet grills give you a single rack, but both Timberline Traegers come with plenty of space for storing spices, grilling tools, and more! We also love that the Timberline has a pop-and-lock system, which allows you to add and remove a wide variety of accessories–whether you want hooks for hanging tools or a front shelf!
WiFire Technology
Don’t want to always be monitoring your grill? Both models in the Timberline series have wiFire technology, which allows you to adjust your grills’ settings from afar. No longer do you have to sit right by the grill for those long smoke sessions!
Easy Clean Up
Everyone loves grilling until cleanup time comes around. Luckily, the Timberline series has an EZ-Clean setup, which directs all the ash and grease to collect in a singular location for easy emptying when the time comes.
Downsides
Of course, every model has their downsides. With the Timberline series, you will find these models are huge, heavy, and difficult to move. If you plan to move soon, you’ll want to ship this grill to your new home as it weighs a massive 238 lbs.
And, as we already mentioned, it has stainless-steel grates, which we aren’t a fan of. But these can be changed.
Ironwood Series
The Ironwood Series is a step down from the Timberline series (in most aspects), and there are three models to choose from. The Ironwood series doesn’t have the side induction burner and is, therefore, more suited to those who exclusively want to grill or smoke their food.
The Ironwood series has the porcelain-coated cast iron grates, which are naturally nonstick and require no oil prior to cooking. If you need a smaller grill, the Ironwood line has many to choose from, giving you a pellet grill to suit any household. Below, we break down some of the best features of the Traeger Ironwood series.
Capacity Options
The basic Ironwood model has 616 square inches of cooking space, providing plenty of room for a smaller family while also not taking up half of your patio. The Ironwood 885 has 885 square inches of cooking space, while the XL gives you a whopping 925 inches of cooking space.
The top of the Ironwood model is domed, giving you space for some larger items, but not quite to the same degree as the Timberline models. The space is divided by one shelf, so you have two levels for cooking food.
The pellet hopper size will vary depending on the model you choose, but the smallest is the 20lb on the Ironwood 885, so you’ll have room for at least 20 lbs no matter what model you choose, giving you lots of options for longer smokes!
WiFire Technology
The Ironwood models all come with Traeger’s WiFire technology, allowing you to control your grill from afar. Plus, with an easy to use digital touch screen, you should have no problems setting and adjusting the temperature on your grill.
Easy Clean Up
Similar to the Timberline series, the Ironwood series has the EZ-Clean grease and ash system which collects all of the discards in one easy to empty cup. While you’ll still need to brush the grates after use, this clean up system makes a huge difference when compared to a non-Traeger grill.
Accessory Options
The Ironwood series has a pop-and-lock system, making it easy to customize your grill. Whether you want to add extra storage, or maybe a roll for butcher paper, you can do all of this and more with the simple attachment and detachment system. It’s so easy you can even have different accessories for each meal you plan to make!
Super Smoke Mode
Something we love about the Ironwood line is that they have a super smoke button. When engaged, this feature increases the smoke output when the temperature is set to between 165°F and 225°F. This means you can get extra smoke flavor in any of your favorite low and slow recipes.
Downsides
The Ironwood doesn’t have the same built in storage as the Timberline series, rather it has a single rack across the bottom. While you can add your own storage via the accessories, know that your grill won’t have much when it first arrives, especially if you order the 885 which doesn’t even have a shelf across the bottom.
Additionally, note that the Ironwood 885 (or 650) don’t have the upgraded digital control screen. While they still have WiFire technology, they aren’t quite as nice as the regular Timberline or the XL.
Pro Series
Do you have a smaller family, or perhaps limited balcony space for your Traeger? Then you likely want to take a look at the pro series. With two sizes to choose from, the Pro series are on the small size for Traeger grills, allowing you to still enjoy their set it and forget it pellet technology even if you are space restricted.
With porcelain coated cast-iron grates, you will be able to create some amazing meals with a Traeger pro. Let’s take a closer look at some of the details.
Capacity Options
Smoked beef ribs on my Traeger 780 Pro
The Traeger Pro 575 has 575 square inches of cooking space, while the Pro 780 has 780 square inches of cooking space. The smallest on our list so far, these grills still have enough room to cook for 5-7 people, with two shelves to choose from.
While this might seem small compared to the grills we listed earlier, know that 575 square inches is enough space for 24 burgers, 5 racks of ribs, or 4 chickens–meaning you still have plenty of space to cook for guests when they come over!
With an 18 lb hopper, you can cook low and slow for hours on end!
TurboTemp
TurboTemp is a special temperature monitoring program which allows your Traeger to rise to temperature quickly, and recover easily after the lid is lifted. This will lower the amount of time it takes to cook your dinners, especially if it's a meal that requires frequent lid opening!
All Terrain Wheels
While the Ironwood and Timberline series grills are simply massive, this one is meant to be moved. It isn’t light by any means, still weighing in at 120-150 lbs, but it has all terrain wheels which allow you to wheel it from one location to another.
If you think you will be traveling with your grill at any point, or perhaps plan to move it indoors during the winter season, this is a better choice, especially if you don’t need massive amounts of grill space.
WiFire Enabled
Pro series Traeger grills are equipped with WiFire technology, allowing you to control your cooking sessions from afar.
Accessories
Unfortunately, the Pro series doesn’t come with the pop and lock system the Timberline and Ironwood have. This means it isn’t as easy to accessorize. Plus, the initial design doesn’t really have many shelves, so this grill is better for someone who doesn’t plan to accessorize too much.
Downsides
As mentioned above, the accessory options are limited for the accessorizing of this grill, but if you enjoy the simple basics and don’t plan to add accessories, this won’t be a problem.
For example, the Pro series doesn't have the "super smoke" feature, but you can get around that pretty easily with a $20 smoker tube.
And while the Pro series does have a grease management system, it isn’t the same as the EZ-Clean system found on the Ironwood and Timberline models. Although this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does make it harder to clean than other models.
The Final Verdict: Which Traeger is Right For You?
Overall, the right Traeger for you will depend on your family size and lifestyle. For those who need to cook for a lot of people with frequency, you’ll want to get a grill from either the Timberline or Ironwood series.
If you have a smaller family and don’t care about adding accessories, then a grill from the Pro series will suit you just fine. No matter what Traeger grill you order, you can’t go wrong and you will love cooking on a grill with some of the top tech in the industry.
For more information before you buy a Traeger grill be sure to check out our 10 Things to Know Before Using a Traeger, and our How to Clean a Traeger Guide.
