Best Vertical Charcoal Smoker to Get That BBQ Party Started

Raring to get some smoked, juicy barbecue?

We have a list of the top vertical charcoal smokers to help you smoke food that will send everyone in the vicinity to mouth-watering states. 

Whether you have tight budget or looking for advanced features in a vertical charcoal smoker, our cooking experts rounded up the top 3 picks that will meet everyone’s expectations.

Top Vertical Charcoal Smokers

1. Weber Smokey Mountain 18”: Best Overall

Weber Smokey Mountain is probably the best charcoal smoker out there, period!

The Smokey Mountain’s job is to smoke meat. To be fair, it does just that INCREDIBLY WELL.

The design is meant to keep the heat steady as you begin your smoking session. In short, it WON’T break apart after just a few uses.

The grills are chrome-plated, so it's easy to wash. The body is made out of steel, helping it withstand the heat and the weather. The legs are also there to provide additional support. 

Indeed, this smoker is meant to last, with this premium and well-thought-of construction.

You can even convert this smoker into a grill if you suddenly crave grilled meat instead.

Pros:

• Versatile
• Steady heat temperature
• Built to last

Cons:

• Might be too small for some users

2. Dyna-Glo 36” Vertical Charcoal Smoker: Best Value

It’s understandable if you’re not keen on spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on the best vertical charcoal smoker.

But you don’t have to give up on quality even if you don’t bust your wallet.

The Dyna-Glo 36” Vertical Charcoal Smoker is worth every penny with the outstanding performance it gives you.

It has ample space inside, so you can easily smoke a turkey in it or about 25 chicken wings all at once. While it weighs 56 pounds, it isn’t heavy enough to leave you wheezing if you decide to carry it out from our garage.

Are you a beginner in the whole grilling business? This smoker will help you out since it has three modes of temperature adjustment:

1. A chimney-like smokestack that can be modified to your liking.
2. Adjustable dampers so you can achieve your desired cooking temperature.
3. A stainless steel thermometer with a smoke zone indicator.

However, some users say that you might have a better time smoking with this if you bought your own thermometer. (See the best grill thermometers here.)

Pros:

• Dual door design to access food and charcoal
• Wide grilling space
• Large water tray

Cons:

• Smoke may leak out
• The thermometer may not be completely accurate

3. Realcook Vertical 17 Inch Steel Charcoal Smoker: Best Budget

While it may be called a charcoal smoker, Realcook Vertical Charcoal Smoker  serves as a grill and fire pit rolled into almost 19 pounds of heavy-gauge steel.

Sick of smoking your meat? Throw it in the grill instead! 

Not really interested in grilled food at the moment? Why not toast some smores instead?

Since it’s not as heavy as other smokers out there in the market, you can easily bring this to camp to bond with your family or friends.

The thing is, this product isn’t as insulated [1] as other smokers out there. Nor does it have the best build quality. Still, it gets the job done nonetheless. Can you really complain when you get a three-in-one deal?

Pros:

• Versatility at its finest
• Can be easily transported
• Has two doors to check on meat and add more charcoal 

Cons:

• A bit challenging to control the heat
• Not as insulated compared to premium models
• Hinges are not as durable

Final Thoughts

There are MANY more options available, but we showed you are the best vertical charcoal smokers our cooking experts love the most.

Now that you have an idea of what you might like for yourself, we hope you get to throw the BBQ party of your dreams ASAP!

Check more of our guides below:

• What is the Best Indoor Smoker?
• The 4 Best Reverse Flow Smokers
• Your Top Options for Vertical Pellet Smokers