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Choose a grill from our check, how long the cook lasts and the bag you buy. The calculator multiplies a burn rate that a maker publishes (or yours) by the hours, prices the pellets at the bag's real store price, and tells you whether one hopper gets you to the end.
Example: a 12-hour pork butt. Enter yours.
For the three-year total. Example value.
How the calculation works
- Burn rate. By default, the grill's own brand figure for low and slow cooking when it publishes one: Pit Boss 2 lb/hr (rule of thumb on its blog), Z Grills 1.05 lb/hr (21 lb in up to 20 hours at 225°F, 10502B page) [calc], Yoder 2.0 lb/hr or less (20 lb for "approximately 10+ hours at 225°F") [calc]. Traeger, Weber and Camp Chef publish no low-and-slow figure, so for their grills we start you on Pit Boss's 2 lb/hr and say so in the result. Change it in the list, or type your own.
- Pellets burned = burn rate x hours.
- Cost = pounds burned x the bag's price per pound: the price the store showed on November 7, 2026, divided by the bag weight in its title or label.
- One hopper = the hopper capacity the maker publishes, divided by the burn rate. Refills = pounds burned divided by the hopper, rounded up, minus the first fill.
- Three years = grill price + cost per cook x cooks a month x 36. Electricity for the fan and igniter, covers, foil, grease buckets and repairs are left out.
Weather, wind, the lid you open and the temperature you set all move the real burn rate, often by a lot. Z Grills writes that its Multitasker uses "up to 40% less pellet consumption in cold winter conditions, thanks to sealed construction and full-length lid gasket": cold, in other words, raises consumption on ordinary grills. Treat the result as a planning number, then time one of your own cooks.
Burn rates the brands publish
| Brand | What it publishes | Pounds per hour | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss | "A good rule of thumb is to have 2 lbs. of pellets for every hour of smoking low and slow or 4 lbs. for every hour of grilling hot and fast." | 2 | brand blog |
| Pit Boss | "A good rule of thumb is to have 2 lbs. of pellets for every hour of smoking low and slow or 4 lbs. for every hour of grilling hot and fast." | 4 | brand blog |
| Z Grills | "21-lb hopper: up to 20 hours of continuous cooking at 225°F" | 1.05 [calc] | product page |
| Z Grills | "28 lb. hopper capacity supports up to 28 hours of non-stop cooking" | 1 [calc] | product page |
| Yoder Smokers | "holds a 20-pound bag of pellets and can run for approximately 10+ hours at 225°F" | 2 [calc] | product page |
| Camp Chef | "in good weather, on high setting, the grill will burn about 3 lbs. of pellets per hour" | 3 | FAQ (PDF) |
| Traeger | No pounds-per-hour figure on its product pages or support guides. Its support article "Fuel Input Rating" says the rating on the label under the hopper lid is measured "on its highest temperature setting in indoor lab conditions" and that you "would not achieve the fuel input rating for your specific grill in most cases". | not published | support article |
| Weber | No pounds-per-hour figure in the Searwood XL 600 listing we read. | not published | All Things Barbecue listing |
What a pound of pellets costs
Store prices on November 7, 2026, cheapest per pound first. A 40 lb bag usually costs less per pound than a 20 lb bag from the same brand.
| Pellet bag | Store | Price | Per lb [calc] | Bag size quoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss Competition Blend, 40 lb | Pit Boss | $19.99 | $0.50 | in the product title |
| Pit Boss Hickory Blend, 40 lb | Pit Boss | $19.99 | $0.50 | in the product title |
| Pit Boss Classic Blend, 30 lb | Pit Boss | $16.99 | $0.57 | in the product title |
| Pit Boss Classic Blend, 20 lb | Pit Boss | $12.99 | $0.65 | in the product title |
| Pit Boss Competition Series PitMaster Blend, 40 lb | Pit Boss | $29.99 | $0.75 | in the product title |
| Camp Chef Oak, 20 lb | Camp Chef | $15.99 | $0.80 | "A 20 lb bag of Camp Chef Hardwood Pellets" |
| Traeger BBQ Select, 30 lb | Traeger | $24.99 | $0.83 | "30lb bag" |
| Camp Chef Hickory, 20 lb | Camp Chef | $19.99 | $1.00 | "A 20 lb bag of Camp Chef Hardwood Pellets" |
| Traeger Hickory, 20 lb | Traeger | $19.99 | $1.00 | "20lb Bag" |
| Traeger Signature Blend, 20 lb | Traeger | $19.99 | $1.00 | "20lb Bag" |
| Z Grills Oak, 2 bags (40 lb) | Z Grills | $49.99 | $1.25 | "2 OAK WOOD PELLETS-40 LBS" |
| BBQr's Delight Two Pack (2 x 20 lb) | All Things Barbecue | $57.99 | $1.45 | "BBQr's Delight Wood Pellets, 20lb Bag - 2 and 4 pack version" |
| Z Grills Hickory, 2 bags (40 lb) | Z Grills | $59.99 | $1.50 | in the product title |
| Z Grills Hickory, 1 bag (20 lb) | Z Grills | $35.99 | $1.80 | in the product title |
Hours on one hopper
| Grill | Price | Hopper | Run time at 1 lb/hr [calc] | At 2 lb/hr [calc] | At 4 lb/hr [calc] | What the brand says |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss Navigator 6-Series vertical pellet smoker | $899.99 Pit Boss | 75 lb | 75 hr | 37.5 hr | 18.8 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 5-Series vertical pellet smoker | $649.99 Pit Boss | 60 lb | 60 hr | 30 hr | 15 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 7-Series vertical pellet smoker | $749.99 Pit Boss | 60 lb | 60 hr | 30 hr | 15 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series vertical pellet smoker | $649.99 Pit Boss | 50 lb | 50 hr | 25 hr | 12.5 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Lockhart Platinum pellet grill + smoker cabinet | $899.99 Pit Boss | 40 lb | 40 hr | 20 hr | 10 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Odessa (Onyx Edition) pellet grill | $697.99 Pit Boss | 33 lb | 33 hr | 16.5 hr | 8.2 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Navigator 850 pellet grill | $799.99 Pit Boss | 30 lb | 30 hr | 15 hr | 7.5 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 1100 pellet grill | $849.99 Pit Boss | 30 lb | 30 hr | 15 hr | 7.5 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Navigator 1300 pellet grill | $999.99 Pit Boss | 30 lb | 30 hr | 15 hr | 7.5 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Navigator 1600 pellet grill | $1,199.99 Pit Boss | 30 lb | 30 hr | 15 hr | 7.5 hr | no run time published |
| Z Grills 7002C2E WiFi pellet grill | $697 Z Grills | 28 lb | 28 hr | 14 hr | 7 hr | "28 hours of non-stop cooking with a full hopper" |
| Z Grills 700D4E WiFi pellet grill | $777 Z Grills | 28 lb | 28 hr | 14 hr | 7 hr | "28 hours of non-stop cooking with a full hopper" |
| Z Grills 1000D4E WiFi pellet grill | $827 Z Grills | 28 lb | 28 hr | 14 hr | 7 hr | "28-hour cook time with a full hopper" |
| Z Grills Multitasker 11002B WiFi pellet grill | $1,399 Z Grills | 28 lb | 28 hr | 14 hr | 7 hr | "28 lb. hopper capacity supports up to 28 hours of non-stop cooking" |
| Traeger Woodridge pellet grill | $899.99 Traeger | 24 lb | 24 hr | 12 hr | 6 hr | no run time published |
| Traeger Woodridge Pro pellet grill | $1,149.99 Traeger | 24 lb | 24 hr | 12 hr | 6 hr | no run time published |
| Traeger Woodridge Pro Plus pellet grill | $1,399.99 Traeger | 24 lb | 24 hr | 12 hr | 6 hr | no run time published |
| Traeger Woodridge Elite pellet grill | $1,799.99 Traeger | 24 lb | 24 hr | 12 hr | 6 hr | no run time published |
| Camp Chef Woodwind 24 (side shelf) pellet grill | $749.99 Camp Chef | 22 lb | 22 hr | 11 hr | 5.5 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss FB2 700 pellet grill | $549.99 Pit Boss | 21 lb | 21 hr | 10.5 hr | 5.2 hr | no run time published |
| Z Grills 10502B WiFi XL pellet grill | $559 Z Grills | 21 lb | 21 hr | 10.5 hr | 5.2 hr | "21-lb hopper: up to 20 hours of continuous cooking at 225°F" |
| Pit Boss FB2 850 pellet grill | $599.99 Pit Boss | 21 lb | 21 hr | 10.5 hr | 5.2 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 850 pellet grill | $749.99 Pit Boss | 21 lb | 21 hr | 10.5 hr | 5.2 hr | no run time published |
| Weber Searwood XL 600 pellet grill | $1,299 All Things Barbecue | 20 lb | 20 hr | 10 hr | 5 hr | no run time published |
| Yoder Smokers YS480s (standard cart) pellet grill | $2,249 All Things Barbecue | 20 lb | 20 hr | 10 hr | 5 hr | "holds a 20-pound bag of pellets and can run for approximately 10+ hours at 225°F" |
| Yoder Smokers YS640s (standard cart) pellet grill | $2,699 All Things Barbecue | 20 lb | 20 hr | 10 hr | 5 hr | "holds a 20-pound bag of pellets and can run for approximately 10+ hours at 225°F" |
| Z Grills Pioneer 450B pellet grill | $399 Z Grills | 18 lb | 18 hr | 9 hr | 4.5 hr | no run time published |
| Traeger Westwood pellet grill | $699.99 Traeger | 18 lb | 18 hr | 9 hr | 4.5 hr | no run time published |
| Traeger Westwood XL pellet grill | $799.99 Traeger | 18 lb | 18 hr | 9 hr | 4.5 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Carbon 500 pellet grill | $349.99 Pit Boss | 13.5 lb | 13.5 hr | 6.8 hr | 3.4 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Carbon 700 pellet grill | $379.99 Pit Boss | 13.5 lb | 13.5 hr | 6.8 hr | 3.4 hr | no run time published |
| Traeger Ranger portable pellet grill | $479.99 Traeger | 8 lb | 8 hr | 4 hr | 2 hr | no run time published |
| Traeger Tailgater portable pellet grill | $499.99 Traeger | 8 lb | 8 hr | 4 hr | 2 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss FB2 150 Portable portable pellet grill | $329.99 Pit Boss | 7 lb | 7 hr | 3.5 hr | 1.8 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss Portable Battery Powered portable pellet grill | $549.99 Pit Boss | 7 lb | 7 hr | 3.5 hr | 1.8 hr | no run time published |
| Pit Boss FB2 500 pellet grill | $399.99 Pit Boss | 5 lb | 5 hr | 2.5 hr | 1.2 hr | no run time published |
Before a long cook. Pellet grills are outdoor appliances: keep the clearances your owner's manual sets from the house, railings and anything that burns (Camp Chef's FAQ for its 24-inch grill suggests "10 feet away from any structure"), and never run one in a garage or enclosed porch. Store pellets dry: Camp Chef's FAQ lists wet pellets as a cause of an auger that stops turning. Follow the manual's start-up and shut-down steps.
Comparing grills rather than cooks? Start with the pellet grill comparison, or check how many burgers fit on each one.
Frequently asked questions
How many pounds of pellets does a pellet grill use per hour?
It depends on the temperature, the weather and the grill, and few makers publish it. Pit Boss's rule of thumb is 2 lb an hour low and slow and 4 lb hot and fast. Z Grills says its 10502B burns a 21 lb hopper in up to 20 hours at 225°F, about 1.05 lb an hour [calc]. Camp Chef's FAQ says its 24-inch grill burns about 3 lb an hour on high in good weather.
How long does a 20 lb bag of pellets last?
20 lb divided by the burn rate: 10 hours at 2 lb an hour, 20 hours at 1 lb an hour, 5 hours at 4 lb an hour [calc].
How much does a 12-hour smoke cost in pellets?
At 2 lb an hour, 24 lb of pellets [calc]. At the cheapest bag we read on November 7, 2026 (Pit Boss 40 lb, $19.99, $0.50 a pound) that is about $12; with a $1.80-a-pound bag, about $43.
Can I leave a pellet grill on overnight?
That is a question for your owner's manual and your own judgment, not for a calculator. The calculator only tells you whether the hopper holds enough pellets for the hours you plan, at the burn rate you choose.