Product images: Amazon listings
We like the Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series for the mix: 543 sq in of cooking space, a stated 180–500°F range and a meat probe in the box. It made our top 5 small pellet grills: a great match for easing into wood-fired cooking.
| Brand | Pit Boss |
|---|---|
| Category | Pellet grills |
| Listed cooking area | 543 sq in |
| Listed hopper capacity | 13.5 lb |
| Stated temperature range | 180–500°F |
| Meat probes included | 1 |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| ASIN | B0FVP8XQSV |
Full listing title: Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with LCD Digital Controller, 543-Sq. In. Cooking Space, 180°F to 500°F Temperature Range, Meat Probe, 13.5 lb. Pellet Hopper, Black
| Listed cooking area | 543-Sq. InManufacturer documentation |
|---|---|
| Listed hopper capacity | 13.5 lb. Pellet HopperManufacturer documentation |
Rated 7.1/10, #4 of 5 in our Small Pellet Grills ranking. Made for easing into wood-fired cooking.
The Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series next to the two pellet grills rated closest to it.
Fed by a 13.5 lb hopper. Listings usually count the upper rack too, so measure your biggest cook against the main grate.
The sweet spot for most backyards: a weeknight dinner for four, or a Saturday brisket with room for a few sausages next to it.
Low and slow at 180°F for brisket, and up to 500°F when you want to grill hot and fast.
Read the inside of the meat without opening the lid, so the heat and the smoke stay where they belong.
You set a temperature, the controller feeds the pellets, and you get your afternoon back. No app here, so you will walk out now and then to read the controller.
The probe in the box tells you when the meat is done, so the lid stays shut and the smoke stays in.
A family of four, with room for guests on Saturday. 543 sq in fits ribs and a tray of wings at the same time, without being so big that a Tuesday dinner looks lost on it.
The 13.5 lb hopper is fine for an afternoon cook; keep a bag close for all-nighters.
These points come from the seller's own listing, so read them as the brand's claims.
Assembly day. Plan an hour or two with a second pair of hands. Most manuals ask for a first burn-in before the first cook.
Its spot. Level ground, a few feet from the wall and anything that can melt, an outlet in reach. A cover keeps the pellets and the controller dry between cooks.
Warranty & support. 3-year warranty, as stated in the listing
These are the seller's promises, not ours. Keep your order confirmation, and ask who handles repairs before you order the Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series.
Listed at $405.83 on Sep 30, 2026. Grill prices move, sometimes within a week, so treat it as a guide: the button always shows today's price and stock.
Feeding more people? The Traeger Pro 780 lists 780 sq in of cooking space (9.3/10).
Steak night matters more than brisket? The Pit Boss 500 FB2 adds a direct-flame sear (7.9/10).
Need one for the campsite? The Traeger Ranger is built to travel (9.3/10).
What we'd buy the Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series for is 543 sq in of cooking space, with a stated 180–500°F range as a bonus. No buyer reviews yet, so this Pit Boss pellet grill has to win you over on paper. Our main reservation: the Traeger Pro 22 sitting above it at 9.4/10. We'd pick it if you cook for the family most weeks and for friends now and then; otherwise, put it next to the Z Grills 600D2 8-in-1 first.
Before the Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series lands on your porch, check whether you will miss WiFi: there is no app here, so long cooks mean walking out to read the controller.
543 sq in is stated, often the main grate and the upper rack added together. Measure your biggest cook (two briskets? six racks of ribs?) and lay it out in our grate area planner.
It plugs into a regular outdoor outlet for the igniter, the fan and the auger. A grounded outlet close by beats a long extension cord.
The hopper holds 13.5 lb. How long that lasts depends on the temperature and the weather, so keep a bag next to the grill for long low-and-slow cooks.
Plan to vacuum the ash out of the fire pot every few cooks, and keep the grease tray clean: that is where most flare-ups start.
How the Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series stacks up against the closest alternative in our ranking, the Z Grills 600D2 8-in-1.
| Criterion | Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series | Z Grills 600D2 8-in-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 7.1/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Cooking area | 543 sq in | 572 sq in |
| Hopper | 13.5 lb | Not stated |
| Temperature range | 180–500°F | 180–450°F |
| PID controller | Not stated | Stated |
Pick the Z Grills 600D2 8-in-1 if you want our higher-rated option (7.2/10), with more cooking space (572 sq in) and a PID controller; stay with the Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series for a bigger hopper (13.5 lb) and a wider stated range (180–500°F).
We rate it 7.1/10 (good), #4 of 5 in our small pellet grill ranking. The rating comes from its documented listing alone, as no customer-review record is captured yet.
Its listing states 543 sq in of cooking space, a stated 180–500°F range, a meat probe in the box and a 13.5 lb hopper. Those are the seller's figures; how it holds temperature in your own wind and weather can't be read from a listing.
How much you really cook: 543 sq in is stated, often the main grate and the upper rack added together. Measure your biggest cook (two briskets? six racks of ribs?) and lay it out in our grate area planner. Power at the spot: it plugs into a regular outdoor outlet for the igniter, the fan and the auger. A grounded outlet close by beats a long extension cord. Pellets and long cooks: the hopper holds 13.5 lb. How long that lasts depends on the temperature and the weather, so keep a bag next to the grill for long low-and-slow cooks. Cleaning: plan to vacuum the ash out of the fire pot every few cooks, and keep the grease tray clean: that is where most flare-ups start.
We link to the exact listing on Amazon, where today's price, stock and seller apply. It is an affiliate link, and it has no effect on the rating.
If the Pit Boss 500 Carbon Series hasn't sold you yet, see where it ranks, read our guides for this kind of buy or browse all pellet grills.