Product images: Amazon listings

Pit Boss 500 FB2 Review

Name: Pit Boss 500 FB2
Brand: Pit Boss
SKU: B0D7D9PJZ7

7.9Very good · out of 10#2 of 5 in our Small Pellet Grills ranking

If you're after a family-size 518 sq in grate, the Pit Boss 500 FB2 delivers, with 180°F to 500°F on the dial and a way to sear over open flame on top. One of our top 5 small pellet grills, it is made for steak lovers who also want low-and-slow.

Variants of this model

The same model in other versions, each with its own page.

Pit Boss 700 FB2 · 747 sq in · 7.2/10

Price$397Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed

Check the price on Amazon ↗

Compare side by side ↗

Specifications

Brand	Pit Boss
Category	Pellet grills
Listed cooking area	518 sq in
Listed hopper capacity	5 lb
Stated temperature range	180–500°F
Direct-flame searing	Stated, up to 1,000°F
Meat probes included	1
Cooking modes	8-in-1
Warranty	5 years
Buyer reviews	176 · 4.2/5
ASIN	B0D7D9PJZ7

Full listing title: Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with Flame Broiler and LCD Digital Controller, 518-Sq. In. Cooking Space, 180°F to 500°F Temperature Range, Meat Probe, 5 lb. Pellet Hopper, Black

Listing evidence

Listed cooking area	518-Sq. In Manufacturer documentation
Listed hopper capacity	5 lb. Pellet Hopper Manufacturer documentation

Updated October 2026

Exact listing, ASIN B0D7D9PJZ7

Rating from a published formula

Compared with its rivals

The Pit Boss 500 FB2 next to the two pellet grills rated closest to it.

Compare side by side ↗

Pit Boss 500 FB2

7.9Very good · out of 10

Cooking area: 518 sq in
Hopper: 5 lb
176 buyer reviews

$397 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changedThis product ↑

Pit Boss 850 Navigator

7.9Very good · out of 10

Cooking area: 932 sq in
Hopper: 30 lb
WiFi stated

$799.99 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changedSee the review ↗

Traeger Woodridge

8.0Very good · out of 10

Cooking area: 860 sq in
WiFi stated
168 buyer reviews

$899.99 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changedSee the review ↗

Cooking space, per the listing

Fed by a 5 lb hopper. Listings usually count the upper rack too, so measure your biggest cook against the main grate.

Why it made our list

518 sq in

The sweet spot for most backyards: a weeknight dinner for four, or a Saturday brisket with room for a few sausages next to it.

180–500°F

Low and slow at 180°F for brisket, and up to 500°F when you want to grill hot and fast.

Sears up to 1,000°F

The classic pellet grill weak spot is the sear. This one lets the flame reach the food, so steaks and smash burgers get a real crust.

What changes on cook day

Set it, close the lid, go and do something else: that is the pellet grill deal. Without WiFi you check the controller in person, which most people do with a drink in hand anyway.

Steak night stops being the weak spot: the direct-flame option lets the fire reach the meat, so you get a crust and not just smoke.

Weeknights or the whole crew?

A family of four, with room for guests on Saturday. 518 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 5 lb hopper is fine for an afternoon cook; keep a bag close for all-nighters.

Best for you if

You cook for the family most weeks and for friends now and then
You want one grill for low-and-slow and hot grilling: 500°F is the stated top end
You want steaks with a crust, not just smoked meat

Skip it if

You want to watch the cook from your phone: there is no WiFi here
You do long overnight cooks: the hopper holds 5 lb
Star ratings come first for you: 4.2/5 is below the 4.3 average of this ranking
You simply want our top pick: that's the Traeger Pro 22 (9.4/10)

What Pit Boss promises

These points come from the seller's own listing, so read them as the brand's claims.

Stated cooking area: 518 sq in
Stated hopper: 5 lb
Stated temperature range: 180–500°F
Direct-flame searing: Stated, up to 1,000°F
Cooking modes: 8-in-1
Warranty: 5 years

Setup and what you get

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.

Cook day. Per the listing, you can track the meat with the probe in the box and finish with a direct-flame sear.

Warranty & support. 5-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 FB2.

What buyers say

Buyers give it 4.2/5, a solid record, slightly below this ranking's 4.3 average. 176 reviews is a fair sample, enough for the average to mean something.

The numbers

Buyer rating: 4.2/5
Reviews: 176
This ranking's average: 4.3/5

Price and availability

Listed at $397 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.

$397 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed

Check the price on Amazon ↗

Better fit elsewhere?

Feeding more people? The Traeger Pro 780 lists 780 sq in of cooking space (9.3/10).

Need one for the campsite? The Traeger Ranger is built to travel (9.3/10).

The verdict

The Pit Boss 500 FB2 earns its place with a family-size 518 sq in grate and 180°F to 500°F on the dial. 176 buyers have had their say, which is plenty to go on. Where it falls short: their 4.2/5 average sits under the 4.3 of this ranking. We'd pick it if you cook for the family most weeks and for friends now and then; otherwise, put it next to the Traeger Pro 22 first.

Compare side by side ↗See the ranking →

The one thing we'd check first

Before you order the Pit Boss 500 FB2 and wait for the delivery truck, check whether you will miss WiFi: there is no app here, so long cooks mean walking out to read the controller.

Before you buy

How much you really cook

518 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 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.

How it compares

How the Pit Boss 500 FB2 stacks up against the closest alternative in our ranking, the Traeger Pro 22.

Criterion	Pit Boss 500 FB2	Traeger Pro 22
Our rating	7.9/10	9.4/10
Cooking area	518 sq in	572 sq in
Hopper	5 lb	18 lb
Temperature range	180–500°F	180–450°F
Direct-flame searing	Stated	Not stated
Buyer reviews	176 · 4.2/5	2,471 · 4.5/5

Pick the Traeger Pro 22 if you want our higher-rated option (9.4/10), with more cooking space (572 sq in) and a bigger hopper (18 lb); stay with the Pit Boss 500 FB2 for a wider stated range (180–500°F) and a direct-flame sear option.

Compare side by side ↗See the Traeger Pro 22 review →

The score in detail

Buyer rating (45%)

37.8 / 45

4.2/5 average

Review volume (35%)

21.3 / 35

176 buyer reviews

Documented specifications (20%)

20.0 / 20

100/100 listing documentation score

How we rated it

Our rating: 7.9/10

Our rating is a score out of 10. It weighs what buyers say, the specs the listing states and our editors' read of how it compares with its rivals. It is separate from the buyer star rating.

Buyer rating (45%): the average buyer rating on the listing, damped when there are fewer than 50 reviews.
Review volume (35%): more reviews mean more reliable evidence, on a logarithmic scale up to 5,000 reviews.
Documented specifications (20%): how completely the exact listing documents the attributes that matter.

A commission is never an input to the rating. Read the full methodology.

Read the methodology →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pit Boss 500 FB2 any good?

We rate it 7.9/10 (very good), #2 of 5 in our small pellet grill ranking. It is based on 176 buyer reviews averaging 4.2/5 and the specifications stated in the listing.

What do you get with the Pit Boss 500 FB2?

Its listing states 518 sq in of cooking space, a stated 180–500°F range, direct-flame searing up to a stated 1,000°F, a meat probe in the box, a small 5 lb hopper and 8-in-1 cooking. Those are the seller's figures; how it holds temperature in your own wind and weather can't be read from a listing.

What should I check before ordering the Pit Boss 500 FB2?

How much you really cook: 518 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 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.

Where can I buy the Pit Boss 500 FB2?

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.

Keep comparing

If the Pit Boss 500 FB2 hasn't sold you yet, see where it ranks, read our guides for this kind of buy or browse all pellet grills.

Where it ranks

Best Small Pellet Grills in 2026 →

Read this before you buy

Choosing a Pellet Grill: Start With the Cook, Not the Badge →Pellet Grill Cooking Area: Primary Grate vs Total Racks →Pellet Grill Temperature Control: Probes and Claims →

Pellet grills ↗All Pit Boss products Comparison tool All product reviews