Which smoker should I buy? A short quiz with reasons (UK)

Which smoker should I buy? It's a fair question, and the most useful part of the answer is often something people mention last: that there's already a lidded kettle in the shed. That changes things more than any spec sheet, which is why this picker asks about it. Seven questions, one shortlist and the reasons behind it.

How the picker decides

There's nothing clever hidden here. Each answer adds points to the smoker types it suits, and a couple of answers take points away. The type with the most points comes top, the next one is your runner-up, and any type that simply can't work for you is listed as ruled out with the reason. Each result shows the reasons that earned it the points, so you can see whether you agree.

These are our editorial rules about how each type of smoker works. We haven't tested these; we compare published specs and independent sources.

The seven criteria, one by one

Mains power

Pellet grills need a socket to run the auger and fan, and electric smokers need one for the element. Answer "no" and both are ruled out, full stop. Answer "yes" and they get a small nudge. If you're unsure, our guides to pellet grills and electric smokers cover safe outdoor power.

Fire-tending

This carries the most weight, and it's the one people answer least honestly in the shop.

• As little as possible pushes pellet and electric smokers hard, with a small nudge for a kamado, which holds steady once it settles.
• A check every hour or so favours a kamado first, then a bullet smoker or a kettle running the snake method.
• Happy to tend it all day strongly favours an offset, because feeding the firebox is the whole point of one.

Fuel

If you prefer charcoal and wood, the charcoal types (offset, kamado, bullet, kettle) get points. Pellets point to a pellet grill, electric with chips points to an electric smoker. "No preference" changes nothing.

How many you cook for

More than ten favours an offset, which tends to have the most grate space. Five to ten spreads a point across pellet, kamado, bullet and offset. Two to four nudges the kettle, bullet, electric and kamado, which are plenty for a household.

Space

A small patio or balcony boosts the compact shapes (electric cabinet, vertical bullet, kettle) and marks an offset down heavily. Plenty of room gives the offset a bump. An average garden is neutral. Read smokers for small gardens if space is tight.

Budget

We work in broad bands and never quote prices. "Keep it cheap" favours the kettle and the bullet smoker and marks the kamado and pellet grill down. "Happy to spend on a long-term cooker" favours the kamado, with smaller nudges for pellet and offset. The middle band spreads points across pellet, bullet and kamado.

Do you already own a kettle?

If you do, the kettle gets a bonus, and a much bigger one if you also chose the cheap budget band. That's deliberate: a kettle smokes a pork shoulder perfectly well, and it makes sense to find out whether you enjoy a ten-hour cook before buying a dedicated smoker. Our guide to smoking on a kettle BBQ shows how.

Ties and starting answers

The form starts with an answer already selected for each question, so check every one before you press the button. When two types finish level, the picker uses a fixed order (offset, kamado, pellet, bullet, electric, kettle), which is a tie-break and not a ranking.

What it can't know

It doesn't know how close your neighbours' washing line is or that you'll mostly cook sausages. Treat the result as a type to read up on. The offset vs kamado vs pellet comparison and the buying checklist are good next stops.

FAQs

Is the top result the right smoker for me?

It's the type that fits your answers most closely under these rules. Change the tending answer and it can flip completely.

Why did it suggest my kettle?

Because you own one and, usually, want to keep costs down. Try a few cooks on it; if you outgrow it, run the picker again.

Why was the pellet grill ruled out?

You answered that there's no outdoor socket. Pellet grills can't run without mains power, so the picker removes them rather than ranking them low.

Does it recommend brands?

No. It suggests a type of smoker. There's room under each result for specific models, but we only list one once its specs have been checked against the maker's UK page and dated. Until then the space stays empty, which is less exciting and more honest.