Find Your Perfect Cooker

Buy the 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker if you cook for 10 to 20 people, which covers most household needs. Buy the 22.5 inch PBX Cooker if you regularly cook for more than 20 people, host large gatherings, do catering, or compete in BBQ events. The 18.5 inch is the better value for most buyers; the PBX is the right call for serious enthusiasts.

Buy the Pit Barrel Junior if you cook for 4 to 8 people, want maximum portability, have limited outdoor space, or want the most affordable option. Buy the 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker if you cook for 10 to 20 people, host gatherings, or want the most popular all-around model.

No matter which size, a full load of charcoal in all the cookers is enough to keep a 6-7 hour burn time.

The 22.5 inch PBX Cooker is the best Pit Barrel for catering and large gatherings, with capacity for 20 to 40 people per cook. The increased rack and grate space accommodates multiple proteins simultaneously, and the longer charcoal burn time supports extended cooks without refueling.

The 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker is the best Pit Barrel for whole turkey, fitting (2)  birds up to approximately 16 pounds or (1) bird up to 30 pounds. The 22.5 inch PBX accommodates even up to (5) birds when using the stainless steel poultry hangerfor those serving extended families. The 14 inch Junior fits one turkey up to approximately 17 pounds using the turkey hanger.

All Pit Barrel models excel at ribs thanks to the vertical hanging design. The 22.5 inch PBX Cooker holds the most racks (up to 16-20), followed by the 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker (up to 8 -10 racks). The Junior holds up to 6 racks. For most home cooks, the 18.5 inch is the best rib smoker.

The 14 inch Pit Barrel Junior is the best Pit Barrel for tailgating. Its compact size, lighter weight, and easy transport make it ideal for parking lot cooking. It produces serious BBQ in 15 to 20 minutes from arrival, and fits in most vehicle trunks.

The 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker is the best choice for most beginners, offering enough capacity to learn on a variety of cooks while remaining manageable in size. Beginners with smaller households or tight outdoor space should consider the 14 inch Pit Barrel Junior.

For a family of four, both the 14 inch Pit Barrel Junior and 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker are good choices. The Junior is more affordable and portable; the 18.5 inch provides more capacity for hosting and meal prep. Most families of four are best served by the 18.5 inch for long-term value.

For most buyers, the 18.5 inch Pit Barrel Cooker is the best choice, offering the right balance of capacity (10 to 20 people), ease of use, and price. Choose the 14 inch Pit Barrel Junior for couples and tailgating, the 22.5 inch PBX Cooker for large gatherings and competition, or the 16.5 inch Badger Barrel for a mid-size option.