There’s nothing like true low and smoked meat hot out of a traditional offset smoker. And, luckily for you, this tried and true type of smoker is an affordable option that’ll give you years of smoking enjoyment right in your own backyard.
When it comes to the best offset smokers under 1000, there’s plenty of options. In fact, you don’t even need to spend $1000 to get a decent offset smoker for home use.
So, if you’re shopping for an offset smoker in this price range you could:
- Save some money, read our reviews and choose one of these offset smokers that come in under about $600
- Splurge a little to get a next level offset smoker like the KBQ C-60 (review is at the bottom of this page) – winner of our most innovative luxury offset smoker and best luxury offset smoker.
- Buy two! An offset smoker is without a doubt the original. And, nothing compares to that true low and slow wood smoked flavor. But, sometimes you might want a set and forget experience, the convenience of propane or something that’s more portable. So, if you’ve got the budget for it, keep reading about our best offset smokers under $1000. Then, also check out our best portable smokers, best pellet smokers, best propane smokers and best electric smokers to find something that will serve a different purpose alongside your offset smoker.
But, we’ll stop rambling. Here are the reviews of the best offset smokers under $1000.
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Table of Contents
Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow Smoker - Best Overall
Taking our title of the overall best smoker under $1000 is the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse.
This barbecue is not only solid, reliable and gives great results, it’s kind on your wallet too. With the addition of a baffle plate, it’s reverse flow offset design evens out the heat and smoke distribution for a far better and easier cook than you get on a regular offset smoker.
Made from heavy-duty painted steel that’s thick enough that it won’t warp from high heat, you can smoke in the 619 square inch main chamber and simultaneously grill over the charcoal and/or wood fire in the offset firebox. The Highland Reverse also comes with extra racks so that you can even switch them out to make the main chamber into a really large charcoal grill if you’re entertaining and just want to be able to fire up some burgers or sausages quickly and easily.
In terms of temperature control, the quality dampers make it easy to make minor adjustments while the built-in thermometer does give a pretty accurate reading of the internal temperature. And, if you want even more precision, simply add a second temperature gauge to the existing bung.
Expect some smoke leakage around the doors. You could fix this by adding a LavaLock gasket when you’re putting this baby together. But, we’ve never noticed that this affected the awesome smoke rings and bark we get on the Oklahoma Joe Highland Reverse. We’ve even smoked on this in some reasonably cold and rainy conditions and turned out decent chow. Just expect to use more fuel and spend more time maintaining the temperature if you’re smoking on this unit in cooler climates.
But, at the end of the day, the Oklahoma Joe Highland Reverse Offset Smoker is a solid barbecue that’s equipped with everything you need for traditional charcoal and/or wood smoking in your own backyard. The medium-large capacity coupled with the reverse flow design presents unbeatable value and will last years and years with a bit of simple TLC.off
Stats for the Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Offset Smoker
Fuel type: Charcoal or wood
Barbecue material: Painted steel
Grate material: Porcelain-coated wire
Cooking capacity: 619 sq. in. primary, 281 sq. in. secondary
Model: 17202052
Assembled size (in): 53(H) x 57(W) x 33.5(D)
Weight: 180lbs
Warranty: 2 years
Pros of the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Offset Smoker:
- Reverse flow design creates a more even heat and smoke environment for outstanding results without having to turn or rotate meat
- Can be set up as a traditional offset smoker as well
- Medium to large cooking capacity is more than enough for most families and groups, even when entertaining
- Firebox doubles as a grill
- Comes with additional plates to switch out main cooking chamber to a dedicated charcoal grill
- Built onto a strong and sturdy cart with built-in storage and wheels that make it easy to move by yourself
- Heavy-gauge metal won’t warp and is thick enough to hold heat well in cooler climates
- Built-in temperature gauge plus an extra bung if you want to add another
- Large firebox door makes cleaning out ash easy
- Durable offset smoker that’ll see you through many years of awesome barbecue
Cons of the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Offset Charcoal Smoker:
- Expect a bit of smoke leakage around the door. Shouldn’t affect performance but you can easily and cheaply install a gasket if this bothers you
- The paint will peel if you run it too hot. But, simply sand back and resurface with a high-heat barbecue paint
Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker - Best Large
If you’re a bigger is better kind of person then this is the offset smoker for you! The Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker is the big bother of the Highland above. And, while the build and features are exactly the same, this beast offers more room to cook more meat for more people or to have more leftovers… something we think is never a problem!
Made from heavy-duty painted steel, the Longhorn Reverse has a strong and sturdy build that won’t warp and is suitable for cooking in cooler climates. It’s stand-alone wheeled cart design looks great in any backyard and gives you the extra space you need to store logs, charcoal, utensils and beer while the 10 inch wheels make it easy to move around without anyone else’s help.
In terms of smoking performance, the reverse flow design of the Longhorn Reverse provides unbeatable heat and smoke distribution for an offset-type smoker. You can even set it up as a traditional offset by removing the baffle plate and switching the chimney position. Although, we’re not sure why on earth you’d do this?!? It’s too awesome as is.
Equipped with quality dampers for easy heat adjustment, a built-in temperature gauge and an extra bung for those who like the more feedback, this durable smoker offers an unparalleled smoking experience in your backyard. Use as a charcoal and/or wood smoker, grill over the firebox, or, convert the main smoking chamber into an extra large charcoal grill by switching out the included grates.
The Longhorn Reverse is an awesome deal on an awesome barbecue that’ll see you through many, many home cookouts.
Stats for the Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker
Barbecue material: Painted 2.5mm steel
Grate material: Porcelain-coated wire
Fuel type: Charcoal or wood
Primary cooking capacity: 751 sq in
Secondary cooking capacity: 309 sq in
Total cooking capacity: 1060 sq in
Model: 17202053
Assembly required: Yes
Assembled size (in): 55.5(H) x 64.25(W) x 35.5(D)
Weight: 226lbs
Warranty: 2 years
Pros of the Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker:
- Reverse flow technology offers optimal heat and smoke distribution for an even cook
- Quality dampers make controlling temperature easy
- Professional-quality temperature gauge plus extra bung provides you with the feedback you need for accurate cooking
- Can also be set up as a regular offset smoker
- Heavy-gauge steel holds heat well without warping
- Wheeled cart makes this smoker an all you need purchase with built-in storage and easy move wheels
- Large cooking capacity is ideal for larger appetites or entertaining
- Stainless steel fuel basket holds charcoal for a more efficient burn and easy fire handling
- Large firebox door makes it easy to clean out ash
- Porcelain-coated racks are durable, rust-resistant and easy to clean
- Doubles as a grill over the firebox or can be set up as a large dedicated charcoal smoker
Cons of the Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker:
- Some smoke will leak around the door unless you seal with a high-heat gasket. We have used without the gasket and it hasn’t affected our results
- If you run too hot, the paint may peel. But, it’s easy to fix with some sandpaper by reapplying high-heat barbecue paint
Oklahoma Joe’s Combo Charcoal & Gas Offset Smoker - Best Combo
The taker of the third mention of the best offset smokers under $1000 again goes to Oklahoma Joe’s. And, this time it’s with their highly-rated Gas and Charcoal Offset Combo Smoker and Grill.
Great for anyone who can’t make up their mind about which type of smoker they’d like. Or, for the person who likes options, the Oklahoma Joe’s Combo features a smaller version of their traditional Highland Offset Smoker combined with a triple burner gas grill. So, this means you can charcoal and wood smoke, wood grill in the firebox, charcoal grill in the smoking chamber or grill over gas. Lots of options, lots and lots of great barbecuing sessions!
Offering a total of more than 1,000 square inches of cooking space, spread across these multiple fuel types, this heavy-duty steel construction is durable and strong enough to hold the heat well. There’s also dual built-in, professional-level temperature gauges and quality dampers to make dialing in the temperature easy.
Complete with a cart for simple storage and easy moving, the Oklahoma Joe’s Combo Gas and Charcoal Offset Smoker and Grill is the perfect and complete package for versatile cooking at home.
Stats for the Oklahoma Joe Combo Grill and Smoker
Barbecue material: Painted 2.5mm steel
Grate material: Porcelain-coated cast-iron
Fuel type: Charcoal, wood and gas
Cooking capacity: 325 sq. in. smoking, 325 sq. in. gas grill + 310 sq. in. shared between firebox grill and additional gas side grill
Model: 15202029
Assembled size (in): 50.6(H) x 74(W) x 31.5(D)
Weight: 205lbs
Warranty: 2 years
Pros of the Oklahoma Joe’s Combo:
- All-in-one gas grill, charcoal grill and smoker that gives a huge amount of cooking options
- Large capacity
- Heavy-gauge steel is strong enough to withstand high heats without warping
- Porcelain-coated grates are rust-resistant and easy to clean
- Temperature gauges give a fairly accurate reading for precise cooking
- Combined cart design means that this unit is literally all you need in your backyard; there’s storage and a safe, integrated place to leave your propane bottle
- Firebox has a large access door making it easy to clean
- Powerful propane burners are strong enough to effectively heat the grill
- Great value for money for a quality, combined grill and offset smoker
Cons of the Oklahoma Joe’s Combo:
- Cooking capacity is split over two fuel types so you can’t exclusively smoke or grill as much as you’d initially think
- Some smoke will leak around the offset doors. This shouldn’t be significant enough to affect your results. But, the fix is cheap and easy with some LavaLock gasket tape
Dyna-Glo Vertical Charcoal Offset Smoker - Best Vertical
This upright offset smoker is one of the best-sellers on this site. And, for a good reason too! Coming in at a bargain of a price, the Dyna-Glo Vertical offers a huge cooking capacity in an easy to use, efficient and heavy-duty steel frame. And, it’s got a whole host of positive reviews from users themselves too…
Ideal for anyone who’s got limited space but still wants to be able to smoke for a lot of people, there’s six removable shelves that hold about 150 pounds of meat at a time. Don’t expect the build quality to be as good or the metal as thick as the more expensive Oklahoma Joe’s. But, with an adjustable flue stack and a porcelain-enameled fire chamber, the temperature is fairly easy to control and it burns efficiently because you’re able to keep the charcoal briquettes tightly stacked.
If you love ribs, we’d recommend the slight upgrade the wide model Dyna-Glo Vertical. This will give you the extra room to lay ribs out on the racks whole. It’s also even more enormous for not much extra investment. So, well worth the money in our opinion!
But, overall, the Dyna-Glo Vertical is a top option for an offset smoker that’s well under $1000. Grab yourself some high-heat silicone and gasket to seal this baby up a bit better when you put it together and you’ll have yourself a solid and reliable unit that delivers great results for a very small price.
Read our full review of the Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Smoker here.
Stats for the Dyna-Glo Vertical Charcoal Smoker
Barbecue material: Heavy gauge steel
Grate material: Chrome plated steel
Fuel type: Charcoal or wood
Primary cooking capacity: 1176 sq in
Secondary cooking capacity: None
Total cooking capacity: 1176 sq in
Model: DGO1176BDC-D
Assembly required: Yes
Assembled size (in): 50.2(H) x 35(W) x 21(D)
Weight: 57lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros of the Dyna-Glo Vertical Charcoal Smoker:
- Great value for money
- Huge cooking capacity that can be further upgraded by selecting the wide body version
- Small footprint to suit smaller backyards
- 6 removable cooking grates give flexibility with what you cook
- Built-in temperature gauge to make it easy to monitor your cook
- Comes with charcoal basket to keep coals nice and tight for improved burn efficiency
- Adjustable flue and firebox damper makes temperature control fairly simple
- Easy to clean due to grease management system and removable steel ash pan
Cons of the Dyna-Glo Vertical Charcoal Smoker:
- You can’t grill in the firebox as there’s no additional cooking grate
- Chrome-plated cooking grates aren’t super long-lasting
- Expect some smoke leakage around joins and the temperature gauge and consider sealing with high-heat silicone and a gasket for a tighter fit
KBQ C-60 BBQ Smoker Pit - Best Splurge
Now, the KBQ C-60 BBQ Smoker Pit isn’t one of the best offset smokers under $1000. But, if you can stretch your budget a bit then this smoker is an exceptional choice!
Taking the title of our best luxury offset smoker and best innovative offset smoker, the results that come out of a KBQ C-60 are hands-down, unbeatable! And, it’s so easy to use that even a first-timer can turn out competition-worthy meats from this sophisticated unit.
The KBQ C-60 runs purely off of wood providing that unparalleled, authentically smoked flavor. The firebox sits on top of the vertical cooking chamber where you need to add logs every 30 minutes or so to keep the fire going. From there, the trademarked inverted flame technology uniquely draws smoke from below, pulling it past the hot coals to make thin blue smoke, the stuff that pit masters dream of and take years to perfect!
But, it’s not just about making the perfect type of smoke. The KBQ C-60 also has a unique feature, the trademarked autodraft convection fan, which draws hot smoke from the firebox and passes it around the cooking chamber for even heat distribution. This not only means that you don’t need to worry about optimal meat placement and rotating the goods, it also reduces the cook time by 20-25% compared with a regular offset smoker.
Just like all offset smokers, it’s not a set and forget barbecue. But, trust us when we say that the time you spend cooking on this unit is WELL worth it! Made from 100% 18-gauge, 430 stainless steel with a set of adjustable stainless steel racks, the KBQ C-60 will see you through years of smoking enjoyment. So, when you consider how good your results will be on this ‘cue plus how long it’ll last, it’s a great deal on a next-level smoker that’ll blow all your friends and family away!
Read our full review of the KBQ C 60 Barbecue here.
Stats for the Karubecue C-60 Pit Smoker
Fuel type: Wood logs
Barbecue material: 18-gauge 430 stainless steel
Grate material: Stainless steel
Cooking capacity: 960 sq. in.
Model: C-60
Dimensions: 41.7(H) x 25.6(W) x 19.3(D)
Weight: 92lbs
Warranty: 2 years
Pros of the Karubecue C-60 BBQ Smoker Pit:
- Trademarked inverted flame technology creates the perfect, thin, blue smoke for unparrallelled flavor
- Creates consistently amazing results, every time, without having to spend years mastering the art
- Trademarked autodraft convection fans circulate heat around the cooking chamber for an even cook
- Thermostatically controlled heat regulation for effortless temperature control
- Reduces cook times by 20-25% compared to a regular offset smoker
- 100% quality stainless steel design is rust-resistant for durability and strength
- Large cooking capacity
- Removable racks that are interchangeable with catering trays for flexibility
- Vertical design doesn’t take up much space in your backyard
- Approved for competitive use
- Winner of numerous awards for it’s innovative design and incredible results
Cons of the Karubecue C-60 BBQ Smoker Pit:
- Although the temperature is regulated, it’s not a set and forget smoker. You need to add wood every 30 minutes to keep it running
- Logs need to be a very particular size to fit the firebox well
- Open flame design needs to be treated like a campfire – set up on a fireproof surface, kept at least 6 feet from anything combustible, keep pets and kids away and can’t be used during fire bans
- Also requires electricity to run the convection fans
- Not suitable for grilling
