Barrel Smokers Hub
Barrel Smokers:
Real BBQ In
Half The Time
A vertical, charcoal-fueled cooker that delivers competition-quality BBQ without the complexity, the dials, or the all-day commitment.
A barrel smoker is a vertical, charcoal-fueled cooker built from a single steel barrel that produces deep, authentic BBQ flavor without the complexity of traditional smokers. Also known as drum smokers or vertical barrel cookers, these compact units have become the preferred choice for backyard cooks who want competition-quality results without spending all day tending a fire. The Pit Barrel Cooker takes the classic barrel smoker concept and refines it into a ready-to-cook product with no temperature dial, no water pan, and no babysitting required.
01 / The BuildWhat Is A Barrel Smoker?
A barrel smoker is exactly what the name suggests, a steel barrel converted into a vertical BBQ cooker. The original ugly drum smoker movement in the BBQ community proved decades ago that this simple design could produce extraordinary BBQ. The Pit Barrel Cooker takes that proven concept and engineers it for the modern backyard with food-safe porcelain enamel coating, precisely calibrated air vents, and a hanging system that lets you cook 8 racks of ribs at once. No welding, no scrap metal, no DIY guesswork.
02 / Real FireReal Fire, Real BBQ
Barrel smokers cook with real charcoal and real fire, producing the deep, authentic flavor that defines true American BBQ. Compare this to pellet smokers, which cook food using compressed wood pellets fed by an electric auger. Pellet grills are convenient, but they function more like outdoor ovens than traditional smokers, producing milder smoke flavor and lacking the rich char and bark that competition cooks chase. A barrel smoker like the Pit Barrel produces BBQ the way it has been made for generations, with charcoal under the meat and fat dripping into the coals to create a vaporized, savory bath that bastes the food as it cooks.
03 / The MethodFast And Hot Cooking Saves Your Weekend
The Pit Barrel Cooker is designed for fast and hot cooking at 275 to 310 degrees Fahrenheit, not the 225 degree low-and-slow approach used by most traditional smokers. This higher temperature range cuts cook times roughly in half. Ribs finish in 3 to 4 hours. Pork shoulders in 6 to 8. Faster cooking does not mean lesser BBQ. The vertical hanging design and sealed barrel work together to produce tender, smoky food with serious bark, all in a fraction of the time.
Light the charcoal. Place the food. Walk away. The cooker handles the rest.
04 / The ConvenienceSet-It-And-Forget-It Simplicity
Most charcoal cookers require constant fiddling. The Pit Barrel does not. Light the charcoal as instructed, place your food on the hooks or grill grate, close the lid, and walk away. The cooker self-regulates to its ideal temperature range and holds it for 6 to 7 hours without any adjustment from you. There are no dampers to adjust mid-cook, no water pan to refill, and no fire-tending required. Once you understand the basic lighting procedure, every cook is essentially the same simple process.
05 / The FootprintCompact And Portable, Big Capacity
Barrel smokers are uniquely suited to small spaces. The 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker takes up roughly the same patio space as a kettle grill but cooks 8 to 10 racks of ribs at once. The 14 inch Pit Barrel Junior is small enough for apartment patios and tailgating, and light enough for one person to easily move. For backyards where space is limited but BBQ ambitions are not, the barrel smoker design delivers maximum cooking capacity in minimum footprint.
06 / The ValueAffordable Real BBQ
Barrel smokers offer some of the best value in BBQ. The Pit Barrel lineup ranges from approximately $350 for the Pit Barrel Junior to around $600 for the largest PBX Cooker, dramatically less than most pellet grills, kamados, or competition-grade offset smokers. There are no electronics to fail, no proprietary parts, and no specialty fuel required. The cookers run on standard charcoal available at any grocery store, and basic care keeps them running for a long period of time.
07 / The RangeVersatile Cooking, No Special Equipment Needed
The Pit Barrel handles ribs, pork shoulders, brisket, whole chickens, turkeys, sausages, jerky, vegetables, and traditional grilling. The included steel hooks let you hang up to 8 racks of ribs vertically, while the included grill grate handles steaks, burgers, and direct cooking. No additional wood is required for incredible flavor, though wood chips can be added to the charcoal basket if you want extra smoke. Everything you need to start cooking is included with the cooker.
Everything included, except the charcoal. Every Pit Barrel ships with the steel hooks, hanging rods, charcoal basket, and grill grate. The only thing you need to add is a bag of standard charcoal from any grocery store and the food you want to cook.
08 / The LineupBrowse Our Barrel Smoker Lineup
Choose from four barrel smoker models built for different households and uses. Every model ships ready to cook with all essential accessories included and qualifies for free domestic shipping on orders over $99.99.
Pit Barrel Junior
The most portable and affordable. Ideal for couples, apartment patios, and tailgating. Light enough for one person to move.
Shop Junior →Badger Barrel
A mid-size option with unique features. Bigger than the Junior, smaller than the flagship, and built for households that want flexibility.
Shop Badger →Pit Barrel Cooker
The most popular barrel smoker in America. 8 racks of ribs, two pork shoulders, or two whole turkeys at once.
Shop The Classic →PBX Cooker
Built for large gatherings, catering operations, and competition cooks. The biggest cooker in the Pit Barrel lineup.
Shop PBX →Find The Right Barrel Smoker
For Your Backyard.
Real charcoal. Real smoke. Real BBQ. In half the time.
Shop The Lineup →