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Grill planner

Planner

Pellet grill grate area planner

Will the brisket fit, and how many burgers go on at once? Enter one rectangular grate and a square size for each item. Plain geometry: no recommendation, no serving estimate.

1. Your rectangular grate

Use one rectangular cooking surface, not the combined area of several racks. The example values are illustrative.

2. A square planning space

Choose the space one item needs, with a little room around it. Six inches is an example, not a recommendation.

Your result

Grate area
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Squares side by side
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Layout
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Rated grills whose listing states a cooking area

Best-rated first. The area is shown as each listing states it, often the main grate and upper rack added together.

Traeger Pro 229.4/10 · 572 sq in · hopper 18 lb
Traeger Pro 7809.3/10 · 780 sq in · hopper 18 lb
Pit Boss Navigator 6-Series Vertical9.2/10 · 2,224 sq in · hopper 75 lb
Traeger Ironwood 8858.3/10 · 885 sq in
Traeger Tailgater8.3/10 · 300 sq in
Traeger Woodridge8.0/10 · 860 sq in
Cuisinart CPG-256 Portable7.9/10 · 256 sq in
Pit Boss 500 FB27.9/10 · 518 sq in · hopper 5 lb
Pit Boss 850 Navigator7.9/10 · 932 sq in · hopper 30 lb
Traeger Woodridge Pro7.8/10 · 970 sq in
Pit Boss 1507.5/10 · 256 sq in · hopper 7 lb
recteq RT-B380 Bullseye7.5/10 · 380 sq in · hopper 15 lb

Short on patio space? Our small pellet grill ranking compares backyard grills that state 600 sq in or less.

How to read the result

All inputs are inches. Area = width × depth in square inches. Count = floor(width / square side) × floor(depth / square side). Squares stay aligned with the grate edges. We do not divide total area by square area because edge leftovers cannot necessarily hold another square. No conversion constants or serving assumptions enter this calculation.

For example, 12 by 9 inches gives 108 square inches but only two aligned 6-inch squares. More square inches alone do not prove that a long rack of ribs fits. Circular grates, curved corners, obstacles, upper-rack clearance and airflow are outside this tool.

Before choosing equipment

  1. Check the primary grate dimensions in the exact model manual.
  2. Separate upper racks from the primary cooking surface.
  3. Check lid height and access for turning or removing food.
  4. Follow manufacturer instructions for outdoor placement and operation.

Read the cooking area guide and our research methodology. This calculation does not establish cooking performance or safe operating clearances.

Frequently asked questions

How much grate space do I need?

It depends on what you cook, not on a rule of thumb. Measure the longest piece you plan to put on, add room to turn things, and let the planner count how many squares of your chosen size fit on one rectangular grate.

Does the warming rack count?

Not in this planner. Enter the dimensions of one rectangular grate. Many listings add the main grate and the upper rack into one total; the list below shows that figure exactly as each listing states it.

Does the planner recommend a model?

No. It only works with the measurements you enter. The list below shows rated grills whose listing states a cooking area, so you can compare the figures.