The Best Value Smoking/Grilling Pellets 2023


Hi, I’m Chris. I started PelHeat.com back in 2007.

The growth in the range of pellet grills/smokers now available is pretty amazing, as I discuss in my A to Z list of pellet grill brands, with now over 30 options to choose from. Well, many of those brands also offer their own brand of pellets too. As there is such a huge range of BBQ wood pellets available, working out which flavour/wood species you should use and which BBQ pellets are offering the best deal can be confusing. No worry though. I’ve worked it out for you below with many, many hours of research on prices & availability 🙂

Best Grill/Smoker BBQ Pellets
Read on to find out what I’ve found to be the best value grilling/smoking pellets currently available

Disclaimer: Hey! By the way… any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon or other sites are affiliate links, and I earn a commission if you make a purchase.

Table of Contents

PelHeat Pellet Grill/Smoker Database

Research/compare over 240 pellet grills/smokers on sale today


Best Value BBQ Pellets Per Lb

I literally spent a week producing the searchable database below which now features over 160 different BBQ pellet options. Therefore, please share it on social media etc, if you find it useful.

Pellets$ per lbTypical Bag Price ($)Bag Size (lbs)Blend or Single SpeciesFlavorBrandAvailabilityAvailabilityAvailabilityAvailability
Expert Grill Bold Blend0.331030BlendHickory, PecanExpert GrillWalmart.com
Expert Grill Sweet Blend0.331030BlendApple, CherryExpert GrillWalmart.com
Expert Grill Five Star Blend0.331030BlendOak, HickoryExpert GrillWalmart.com
Pit Boss Peach Blend0.381540BlendOak, PeachPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Fruit Blend0.381540BlendCherry, Apple, MaplePit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Fall Blend0.381540BlendApple, HickoryPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Harvest Blend0.381540BlendApple, PecanPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Spring Blend0.381540BlendOak, Apple, CherryPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Freedom Blend0.381540BlendHickory, CharcoalPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Pitmaster Blend0.381540BlendCherry, Oak, Hickory, MaplePit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Trophy Blend0.381540BlendWhite Oak, Red Oak, HickoryPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Classic Blend0.381540BlendPecan, Hickory, MesquitePit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Competition Blend0.381540BlendHickory, Maple, ApplePit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Oak Pellets0.421740Single SpeciesOakPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comLowes.com
B&B Championship Blend0.421740BlendOak, Cherry, PecanB&BWalmart.comAceHardware.comAcademy.com
Bear Mountain Oak Pellets0.431740Single SpeciesOakBear MountainAmazon.comHomeDepot.comLowes.comAcademy.com
Bear Mountain Mesquite Pellets0.431840BlendMesquiteBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Bear Mountain Hickory Pellets0.431740BlendHickoryBear MountainAmazon.comHomeDepot.comLowes.comAcademdy.com
Bear Mountain Apple Pellets0.431740BlendAppleBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comAcademy.com
Pit Boss Charcoal Blend Pellets0.45920BlendOak, CharcoalPit BossWalmart.com
Pit Boss Hickory Pellets0.451840BlendHickoryPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
B&B Pecan Pellets0.501020Single SpeciesPecanB&BAcademy.com
Bear Mountain Pecan Pellets0.502040BlendPecanBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comAcademy.com
Pit Boss Pecan Pellets0.502040BlendPecanPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comWalmart.comLowes.com
B&B Oak Pellets0.501020Single SpeciesOakB&BLowes.comAcademy.com
B&B Mesquite Pellets0.501020Single SpeciesMesquiteB&BAcademy.com
Pit Boss Mesquite Pellets0.501840BlendMesquitePit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comLowes.com
B&B Cherry Pellets0.501020Single SpeciesCherryB&BAcademy.com
Pit Boss Cherry Pellets0.502040BlendCherryPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comLowes.com
Pit Boss Whiskey Barrel Blend Pellets0.52040BlendWhiskey BarrelPit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.com
Pit Boss Maple Pellets0.502040BlendMaplePit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comLowes.com
B&B Hickory Pellets0.501020Single SpeciesHickoryB&BAcademy.com
B&B Apple Pellets0.51020Single SpeciesAppleB&BAcademy.com
Pit Boss Apple Blend0.502040BlendApplePit BossPitBoss-Grills.comAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Camp Chef Cherry Pellets0.651320BlendCherryCamp ChefCampChef.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Camp Chef Hickory Pellets0.651320BlendHickoryCamp ChefCampChef.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.com
Camp Chef Apple Pellets0.651320BlendAppleCamp ChefCampChef.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.com
Bear Mountain Savory BBQ Pellets0.652640BlendOak, Hickory, MapleBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comAcademy.com
Bear Mountain Sweet BBQ Pellets0.652640BlendOak, Maple, CherryBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comAcademy.com
Bear Mountain Bold Pellets0.652640BlendOak, Mesquite, HickoryBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comAcademy.com
Bear Mountain Gourmet Pellets0.652640BlendOak, Hickory, Maple, CherryBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comAcademy.com
GMG Apple Blend Pellets0.671928BlendAppleGMGAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Bear Mountain Bourbon BBQ Pellets0.701420BlendWhiskey BarrelBear MountainAmazon.comLowes.comCostco.com
GMG Fruitwood Blend0.712028BlendCherry, Beach, PecanGMGAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
GMG Texas Blend0.712028BlendOak, Hickory, MesquiteGMGAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
GMG Gold Blend0.712028BlendOak, Hickory, MapleGMGAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Louisiana Grills Cherry Pellets0.722940BlendCherryLouisiana GrillsLouisiana-Grills.comAmazon.comBBQGuys.com
Louisiana Grills Mesquite Pellets0.732940BlendMesquiteLouisiana GrillsLouisiana-Grills.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.comBBQGuys.com
Louisiana Grills Charcoal Blend0.732940BlendOak, CharcoalLouisiana GrillsLouisiana-Grills.com
Jim Beam Pellets0.751520BlendWhiskey BarrelJim BeamAmazon.comHomeDepot.comTractorSupply.com
Louisiana Grills Whiskey Barrel Pellets0.753040BlendWhiskey BarrelLouisiana GrillsLouisiana-Grills.comBBQGuys.com
Louisiana Grills Apple Blend0.753040BlendAppleLouisiana GrillsLouisiana-Grills.comLowes.comBBQGuys.com
Louisiana Grills Competition Blend0.753040BlendMaple, Hickory, CherryLouisiana GrillsLouisiana-Grills.comAmazon.comBBQGuys.comLowes.com
Camp Chef Oak Pellets0.851720Single SpeciesOakCamp ChefCampChef.com
Camp Chef Mesquite Pellets0.851720BlendMesquiteCamp ChefCampChef.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.com
Cuisinart California Cherry Rum Pellets0.851720BlendRum BarrelCuisinartWalmart.com
Cuisinart California Red Wine Hickory Pellets0.851720BlendRed Wine BarrelCuisinartWalmart.com
Cuisinart Applewood Whiskey Pellets0.851720BlendWhiskey BarrelCuisinartWalmart.com
Cuisinart Maple Bourbon Pellets0.851720BlendMaple, BourbonCuisinartWalmart.com
recteq Ultimate Blend0.883540BlendWhite Oak, Red Oak, HickoryrecteqAmazon.com
Fire & Flavor Mesquite Pellets0.901820BlendMesquiteFire & FlavorHomeDepot.com
Fire & Flavor Cherry Pellets0.901820BlendCherryFire & FlavorHomeDepot.com
Broil King Hickory Pellets0.901820Single SpeciesHickoryBroil KingAmazon.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Fire & Flavor Hickory Pellets0.901820BlendHickoryFire & FlavorHomeDepot.com
Fire & Flavor Apple Pellets0.901820BlendAppleFire & FlavorHomeDepot.com
Fire & Flavor Signature Blend0.901820BlendCherry, Mesquite, OakFire & FlavorHomeDepot.com
Broil King Smoke Masters Blend0.901820BlendMaple, Hickory, CherryBroil KingAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Broil King Grillers Select0.901820BlendOak, Maple, CherryBroil KingAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Bear Mountain Cherry Pellets0.921820BlendCherryBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comAcademy.com
Z Grills Oak Pellets0.951920Single SpeciesOakZ GrillsZGrills.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.com
Weber SmokeFire Mesquite Pellets0.951920BlendMesquiteWeberBBQGuys.comLowes.com
Broil King Mesquite Pellets0.951920BlendMesquiteBroil KingAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Weber SmokeFire Cherry Pellets0.951920BlendCherryWeberHomeDepot.comLowes.comBBQGuys.com
Royal Oak 100% Charcoal Pellets0.951920Single SpeciesCharcoalRoyal OakHomeDepot.com
Camp Chef Charwood Cherry Pellets0.951920BlendCherry, CharcoalCamp ChefCampChef.com
Camp Chef Charwood Hickory Pellets0.951920BlendHickory, CharcoalCamp ChefCampChef.com
Z Grills Hickory Pellets0.951920BlendHickoryZ GrillsZGrills.comAmazon.com
Weber SmokeFire Hickory Pellets0.951920BlendHickoryWeberAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.comBBQGuys.com
Oklahoma Joe’s Hickory Pellets0.951920BlendHickoryOklahoma Joe’sAmazon.com
Broil King Apple Blend Pellets0.951920BlendAppleBroil KingAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Weber SmokeFire Apple Pellets0.951920BlendAppleWeberAmazon.comWalmart.comLowes.comBBQGuys.com
Oklahoma Joe’s Apple Blend Pellets0.951920BlendAppleOklahoma Joe’sAmazon.com
Weber SmokeFire Grillmaster Blend0.951920BlendMaple, Hickory, CherryWeberHomeDepot.comLowes.comBBQGuys.com
CookinPellets Longhorn Blend0.953840BlendMesquite, Hard Maple, CherryCookinPelletsAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
CookinPellets Perfect Mix0.953840BlendHickory, Cherry, Hard Maple, AppleCookinPelletsAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
CookinPellets Black Cherry Pellets0.973840Single SpeciesCherryCookinPelletsAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.com
Grilla Grills Pecan Pellets12020Single SpeciesPecanGrilla GrillsGrillaGrills.com
Traeger Pecan Pellets12020BlendPecanTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
BBQGuys Oak Pellets12020Single SpeciesOakBBQGuysBBQGuys.com
Grilla Grills Mesquite Pellets12020Single SpeciesMesquiteGrilla GrillsGrillaGrills.com
Traeger Mesquite Pellets12020BlendMesquiteTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
BBQGuys Mesquite Pellets12020BlendMesquiteBBQGuysBBQGuys.com
Grilla Grills Cherry Pellets12020Single SpeciesCherryGrilla GrillsGrillaGrills.com
Kingsford Cherry Pellets12020BlendCherryKingsfordHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Traeger Cherry Pellets12020BlendCherryTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
BBQGuys Cherry Pellets12020BlendCherryBBQGuysBBQGuys.com
Kingsford Maple Pellets12020BlendMapleKingsfordHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Crown Royal Whiskey Pellets12020BlendMaple, WhiskeyCrown RoyalLowes.com
Kingsford Hickory Pellets12020Single SpeciesHickoryKingsfordAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.comLowes.com
Grilla Grills Hickory Pellets12020Single SpeciesHickoryGrilla GrillsGrillaGrills.com
Traeger Hickory Pellets12020BlendHickoryTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.comBBQGuys.com
BBQGuys Hickory Pellets12020BlendHickoryBBQGuysBBQGuys.com
Grilla Grills Apple Pellets12020Single SpeciesAppleGrilla GrillsGrillaGrills.com
Z Grills Apple Pellets12020BlendAppleZ GrillsZGrills.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Traeger Apple Pellets12020BlendAppleTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.com
BBQGuys Apple Blend12020BlendAppleBBQGuysBBQGuys.com
Traeger Meat Chruch Blend12020BlendOak, HickoryTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Traeger Brisket Blend12020BlendOak, Pecan, Black PepperTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Traeger Turkey Blend12020BlendMaple, Hickory, RosemaryTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Traeger Bold Blend12020BlendHickory, Cherry, RosemaryTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Traeger Signature Blend12020BlendHickory, Maple, CherryTraegerTraeger.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Kingsford Basil Sage Thyme12020BlendOakKingsfordAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Kingsford Garlic Onion Paprika Blend12020BlendHickoryKingsfordAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Kingsford Cumin Chili Blend12020BlendMesquiteKingsfordAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Kingsford Memphis Blend12020BlendHickory, Garlic, Paprika, RosemaryKingsfordAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Kingsford Southwest Blend12020BlendMesquite, Cherry, OakKingsfordAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Kingsford Grillmasters Choice12020BlendHickory, Cherry, OakKingsfordAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Oklahoma Joe’s Competition Blend12020BlendCherry, Hickory, MapleOklahoma Joe’sAmazon.com
Grilla Grills Competition Blend12020BlendHickory, Oak, CherryGrilla GrillsGrillaGrills.com
BBQGuys Signature Competition Blend12020BlendHickory, Oak, Cherry, AppleBBQGuysBBQGuys.com
CookinPellets Hickory Pellets1.034140Single SpeciesHickoryCookinPelletsAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.com
CookinPellets Applemash Pellets1.034140BlendAppleCookinPelletsAmazon.comHomeDepot.comWalmart.com
Memphis Grills Pecan Pellets1.052120BlendPecanMemphis GrillsBBQGuys.com
Memphis Oak Pellets1.052120Single SpeciesOakMemphis GrillsBBQGuys.com
Memphis Grills Mesquite Pellets1.052120BlendMesquiteMemphis GrillsBBQGuys.com
Z Grills Cherry Pellets1.052120BlendCherryZ GrillsZGrills.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Memphis Grills Cherry Pellets1.052120BlendCherryMemphis GrillsBBQGuys.com
Memphis Grills Apple Pellets1.052120BlendAppleMemphis GrillsBBQGuys.com
Knotty Wood 100% Pure Plum1.102220Single SpeciesPlumKnotty WoodAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
Knotty Wood 100% Pure Almond1.102220Single SpeciesAlmondKnotty WoodAmazon.comWalmart.comHomeDepot.comLowes.com
recteq Mesquite Pellets1.112018BlendMesquiterecteqAmazon.com
recteq Cherry Pellets1.112018BlendCherryrecteqAmazon.com
recteq Apple Pellets1.112018BlendApplerecteqAmazon.com
Lumber Jack Apple Blend Pellets1.154640BlendAppleLumber JackAmazon.comWalmart.com
Lumber Jack Mesquite Pellets1.182420BlendMesquiteLumber JackAmazon.comWalmart.com
Kingsford Bourbon BBQ Pellets1.182017BlendWhiskey BarrelKingsfordHomeDepot.com
Bear Mountain Maple Pellets1.202420BlendMapleBear MountainAmazon.comWalmart.com
Lumber Jack Pecan Pellets1.252520BlendPecanLumber JackAmazon.comWalmart.com
BBQr’s Delight Pecan Pellets1.252520BlendPecanBBQr’s DelightWalmart.comBigPoppaSmokers.com
Lumber Jack Oak Pellets1.252520Single SpeciesOakLumber JackAmazon.comWalmart.com
BBQr’s Delight Mesquite Pellets1.252520BlendMesquiteBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comWalmart.comBigPoppaSmokers.com
BBQr’s Delight Cherry Pellets1.252520BlendCherryBBQr’s DelightWalmart.comBigPoppaSmokers.com
BBQr’s Delight Hickory Pellets1.252520BlendHickoryBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comWalmart.comBigPoppaSmokers.com
BBQr’s Delight Apple Pellets1.252520BlendAppleBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comWalmart.comBigPoppaSmokers.com
BBQr’s Delight Oak Pellets1.282620
Single SpeciesOakBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comWalmart.com
BBQr’s Delight Contest Mix1.302620BlendPecan, CherryBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comWalmart.com
BBQr’s Delight Master Your Beef1.302620BlendHickory, Black Pecan, WalnutBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comWalmart.com
Myron Mixon Cherry Pellets1.352720BlendCherryMyron MixonAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
BBQr’s Delight Sugar Maple Pellets1.352720BlendMapleBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comWalmart.com
Traeger Whistle Pig Whiskey Barrel Pellets1.392518BlendWhiskey BarrelTraegerTraeger.comHomeDepot.com
Myron Mixon Hickory Pellets1.402920BlendHickoryMyron MixonAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
ASMOKE Apple Pellets1.53020Single SpeciesAppleASMOKEASMOKE.comAmazon.comWalmart.comBBQGuys.com
Z Grills Fruitwood Blend1.503020BlendApple, CherryZ GrillsZGrills.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Z Grills Competition Blend1.503020BlendMaple, Hickory, CherryZ GrillsZGrills.comAmazon.comHomeDepot.com
Lumber Jack Cherry Pellets1.553120Single SpeciesCherryLumber JackAmazon.comWalmart.com
Knotty Wood Cabernet Wine Pellets1.653320BlendRed Wine BarrelKnotty WoodHomeDepot.com
Mr. Bar-B-Q Mesquite Pellets1.753520BlendMesquiteMr. Bar-B-QAmazon.com
Wine Country Wine Infused Oak Pellets1.753520BlendRed Wine BarrelWine Country BBQWineCountry-BBQ.com
Giantex Applewood Pellets1.753520Single SpeciesAppleGiantexAmazon.com
Mr. Bar-B-Q Hickory Pellets1.953920BlendHickoryMr. Bar-B-QAmazon.com
Jack Daniel’s Pellets24020BlendWhiskey BarrelJack Daniel’sAmazon.comAceHardware.com
BBQr’s Delight Red Wine Barrel Pellets24020BlendRed Wine BarrelBBQr’s DelightAmazon.comAceHardware.com
Mr. Bar-B-Q Select Blend24020BlendHickory, Oak, AppleMr. Bar-B-QAmazon.com

If you are not sure what pellets you need, it may be best to start by reading my article on how to choose the best pellets for your pellet grill/smoker.

Below are links to my articles on the best value pellets for the various pellet flavors. I’ve spent many hours producing the articles below, researching availability and prices. Enjoy 🙂

BLENDS
Custom BBQ Pellet Blends
LIQUOR
Reclaimed Bourbon Barrels etc
APPLE
Pork, Poultry, Veggies, Seafood
CHERRY
Pork, Poultry, Lamb, Seafood
HICKORY
Pork, Poultry, Lamb, Beef, Veggies
MESQUITE
Pork, Poultry, Beef, Seafood
MAPLE
Pork, Poultry, Veggies
OAK
Pork, Beef, Lamb, Seafood, Veggies
CHARCOAL
Strong Smoke, Grilling
PECAN
Pork, Beef, Poultry

I’ve produced a separate article on how to choose the best wood pellets for smoking meat, where I discuss additional topics like increasing smoke flavor intensity.


A to Z List of BBQ Pellet Brands

Below is a list of all the current biggest players in the BBQ pellet game. I provide details on whether they are 100% single wood species or blended hardwood pellets, along with bag sizes, typical prices and where they are available. Enjoy 🙂

A-MAZE-N Smoking Pellets

A supplier of pellet smoking tubes/baskets for gas grills A-MAZE-N also offer their own range of smoking pellets in 2lb boxes and 5lb bags. Hence, A-MAZE-N does not currently offer 20lb bags for dedicated pellet grills/smokers.

A-MAZE-N Pellets
A-MAZE-N smoking pellets are available in 2lb boxes or 5lb bags: Images – Amazon.com

A-MAZE-N pellets are stated to be made in the USA and they offer 100% single hardwood species products such as Oak, Mesquite, Maple and Cherry. They also provide mixtures such as Oak with Italian or Chilli Pepper spices.

  • Pellet Flavours: 100% Oak, Mesquite, Maple, Cherry and Oak/Spice blends
  • Bag Size: 2lb boxes or 5lb bags
  • Typical Price: $8 per box to $15 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com & HomeDepot.com

ASMOKE Wood Pellets

You may not be aware of ASMOKE as they are a relatively new brand of budget pellet grills/smokers. I believe their AS300 to be one of the best tabletop pellet grills available.

Well, ASMOKE is also offering their own brand of pellets. Currently, they are just providing 100% Appelwood pellets from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) orchard trees.

Applewood makes good all-around hardwood grill/smoker pellets suitable for cooking a wide range of meat, fish and vegetables.

ASMOKE Pellets
ASMOKE 100% Applewood pellets: Images – Amazon.com

Bear Mountain BBQ Pellets

Based in Colorado, Bear Mountain BBQ has been producing a range of hardwood pellets for grills/smokers since 1990.

Unlike some other brands, Bear Mountain BBQ confirm that the source of their hardwood raw materials is sustainably and locally sourced from within the United States.

Bear Mountain BBQ produce a wide range of hardwood blends and flavours. However, it should be noted only their Oak and Alder pellets are 100% single-species products.

Bear Mountain BBQ Pellets
Bear Mountain BBQ produce a range of blended hardwood pellet flavours: Images – Amazon.com

Bear Mountain BBQ also produce a range of blended flavour options, such as their Bourbon blend for a mellow smoke flavour and their Gourmet blend for a smoky/sweet flavour.

They also have three other blends branded as Bold, Sweet and Savoury, containing different hardwood species blends.

  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Apple, Mesquite, Cherry, Maple, Pecan, Alder, Oak and various blends
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $17 to $25 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com & Walmart.com

BBQ’rs Delight Pellets

The first BBQ pellets I ever purchased were a selection of 1lb bags of BBQ’rs Delight pellets and their cast-iron smoker pot to use on my gas grill.

Now, with their 1lb flavour bags for use in smoker pots/tubes on gas grills, the flavours are 100% single wood species.

However, in their 20lb bags for pellet grills/smokers, their flavours are blended with Oak providing the base hardwood.

BBQ'rs Delight Pellets
BBQ’rs Delight pellets are available in 1lb flavour bags (for smoke tubes on gas grills), 10lb bags and large 20lb plastic bags: Images – Amazon.com

Along with the common flavours of Oak, Pecan, Apple, Cherry and Mesquite, BBQ’rs Delight offer some more niche blends.

These include Jack Daniels pellets made from the mellowing charcoal from Jack Daniel’s distillery. They also offer Orange, Peach, Sugar Mapel and Sassafras.

Their blend is a mixture of 80% Oak to 20% of the specific hardwood species flavour.

  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Apple, Mesquite, Cherry, Maple, Pecan, Alder, Oak and various blends
  • Bag Size: 1, 10 and 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $9 to $30 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com

B&B Grill Pellets

Its more than likely you are aware of the B&B brand if you have ever purchased charcoal, as they have been in business since 1961, and their charcoal is widely available.

Well, B&B has now decided to start offering pellets and in a wide range of flavours, including Apple, Cherry, Hickory, Mesquite, Pecan, Oak and their Championship blend.

B&B Grill Pellets
B&B is offering a wide range of pellet flavours, but oddly no charcoal pellets as yet: Images – Walmart.com

B&B pellets do appear to be 100% single wood species pellets, but I’m waiting back on confirmation of this, so don’t hold me to that as yet.

It is a bit odd that B&B, who built their brand on charcoal, don’t as yet offer charcoal pellets. Also, the availability of B&B pellets is rather limited, but the price per lb is good.

  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Apple, Mesquite, Cherry, Pecan & Oak
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $10 to $17 per bag
  • Availability: Walmart.com & Academy.com

Broil King Pellets

A manufacturer of gas grills, which now also produces its range of Broil King pellet grills. One of the few brands to currently offer a pellet grill with a rotisserie.

Broil King also offers their own range of grilling pellets. Most of their pellets are blended. However, they do also offer 100% Hickory pellets.

Broil King Pellets
Broil King smoking pellets are mainly hardwood blended pellets: Images – Amazon.com

The Broil King Apple Blend is a mixture of Applewood and Oak. The same is true for their Mesquite Blend.

Their two other offerings are Griller’s Select Blend which is a mixture of Oak, Maple and Cherry and Smoke Master’s Blend, which is a mixture of Maple, Hickory and Cherry.

  • Pellet Flavours: Apple Blend, Mesquite Blend, 100% Hickory and Griller’s Select and Smoke Master’s Blend
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $28
  • Availability: Amazon.com

BBQGuys Hardwood Pellet Blends

You have probably noticed BBQGuys links around PelHeat.com. That’s because they are now one of if not the biggest dedicated BBQ retailers in the US.

It’s taken longer than I expected, but besides just selling other brands of pellets, they have created their own pellet range.

BBQGuys Hardwood Pellet Blends
Since BBQGuys sell so many pellet grills/smokers, it makes sense that they now have their own brand of pellets: Images – BBQGuys.com

As BBQGuys states, the Competition Blend contains a ‘little bit of everything’, and they do state the Oak percentage, which is 60%.

That is true of all the BBQGuys Signature pellet blends. They have a 60% ratio of Oak pellets, apart from the ‘Oak Blend’, which isn’t really a blend. They are just 100% Oak.

  • Pellet Flavours: Competition, Hickory, Oak, Apple, Mesquite & Cherry
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $19 per bag
  • Availability: BBQGuys.com

Camp Chef Premium Hardwood Pellets

Camp Chef are well known in the pellet grill world for their SmokePro and Woodwind products, therefore they naturally also sell their own line of pellets.

Their premium hardwood pellets are produced in the USA from a selection of hardwood species, including Mesquite, Alder, Hickory, Appel, Cherry and Oak.

Camp Chef pellets are a ‘proprietary blend‘. Therefore, all flavours will have a base of Oak or maybe Alder.

Camp Chef Premium Pellets
Camp Chef Premium Pellets are hardwood blends with the new addition of Charwood (charcoal/hardwood) blends: Images – CampChef.com

Camp Chef pellets are also available as a Competiton blend which will be a mixture of several hardwood species.

Their latest offerings of Cherry Charwood and Hickory Charwood are a mixture of hardwood and charcoal.

While not a 100% charcoal offering, they will offer a stronger smokey flavour over standard hardwood pellets with likely a slight bump up in temperature output too.

  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Apple, Mesquite, Cherry, Maple, Pecan, Alder, Oak and various blends
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $14 to $18 per bag
  • Availability: CampChef.com, Amazon.com & HomeDepot.com

CookinPellets

Since 2006, CookinPellets has been producing 100% single hardwood species pellets from American raw materials.

As they like to state on their packaging, ‘No Fillers! No Oak or Alder. As such, you should expect to pay a premium for these pellets over hardwood blended pellets.

CookingPellets.com Pellets
CookinPellets don’t use Oak or Alder for any of their pellets: Images – HomeDepot.com

Alongside their 100% Hickory or Black Cherry pellets, they offer two blends, Perfect Mix and Longhorn Blend.

Perfect Mix contains Hickory, Cherry, Hard Maple & Apple pellets, whereas the Longhorn Blend is Mesquite, Cherry and Hard Maple.

Note, neither of the CookinPellets blends contains any Oak or Alder. Their AppleMash pellets are rather unique, produced from a mix of apple fruit mash mixed with Hard Maple.

Though they recommend the AppleMash pellets are only used for smoking (180 to 350 degrees) and not high-temperature grilling.

  • Pellet Flavours: 100% Hickory, 100% Black Cherry, AppleMash, Perfect Mix and Longhorn Blend
  • Bag Size: 40lbs
  • Typical Price: $35 to $38 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com & HomeDepot.com

Crown Royal Whiskey Pellets

Crown Royal is a Canadian-based whiskey company. Their whiskey was originally produced as a gift in 1939 for the King and Queen of England.

Crown Royal Whiskey Pellets
Availability of these Crown Royal whiskey blend pellets seems pretty limited: Image – Lowes.com

These pellets are not made from just whiskey barrels. They blended pellets made from 50% Oak whiskey barrels and 50% sugar maple.

  • Pellet Flavours: Blended whiskey barrel pellets with Maple pellets
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $20 per bag
  • Availability: Lowes.com

Cuisinart BBQ Smoking Pellets

Already a well-known provider of kitchen appliances, Cuisinart are also now a player in the pellet grill game with their Woodcreek and TwinOaks pellets grills.

They also offer their own range of BBQ pellets focusing on flavours made from recycled liquor barrels.

The Cuisinart pellet flavours currently include Mapel Bourbon, California Red Wine, Cherry Rum and a mixture of all three called Master Blend.

Cuisinart BBQ Smoking Pellets
Cuisinart BBQ Smoking Pellets are Oak and reclaimed liquor barrel mixtures: Images – Amazon.com

The Cuisinart literature states, ‘These pellets are made from reclaimed liquor barrels and natural wood’.

Therefore, the pellets are a mixture of reclaimed Oak liquor barrels with additional hardwood (likely Oak) added.

Cuisinart does not currently provide details on the reclaimed liquor barrel to virgin oak blend mixture percentages.

  • Pellet Flavours: Mapel Bourbon, California Red Wine, Cherry Rum and Master Blend
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $15 to $25 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com & Walmart.com

Expert Grill Pellets

When it comes to budget pellet grills/smokers, the Expert Grill range offers pretty good value for money.

The same is true when it comes to their pellets. Walmart typically sell a 30lb bag of Expert Grill pellets for under 10$!

Expert Grill Pellets
Expert Grill currently sells Sweet and Bold Blend pellets: Images – Walmart.com

The Sweet Blend is a mixture of Apple and Cherry, while the Bold Blend is a mixture of Hickory and Pecan.

However, it is not stated what the mix percentages are, and there is likely a high percentage of Oak pellets in there too.

  • Pellet Flavours: Sweet Blend & Bold Blend
  • Bag Size: 30lbs
  • Typical Price: $10 per bag
  • Availability: Walmart.com

Fire & Flavor Hardwood Pellets

To be honest I know very little about the Fire & Flavor brand, and browsing their website I’ve not been able to find out any background on the company and its origins.

Fire & Flavor Hardwood Pellets
Fire & Flavour have only very recently started to sell BBQ pellets: Images – HomeDepot.com

There pellets are stated to be made in the USA (not sure where). Its not clear if their pellets are blended or single wood species pellets either.

  • Pellet Flavours: Apple, Cherry, Mesquite, Hickory & Signature blend
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $18 per bag
  • Availability: HomeDepot.com

Giantex Pellets

When I was browsing Amazon, I can across these Giantex branded pellets. Looking into the brand, they appear to be a reseller of a wide variety of furniture and accessories.

Giantex Pellets
If I had to guess, I’d say these Giantex Applewood pellets are rebranded ASMOKE Applewood pellets: Image – Amazon.com

The pellets they are selling are stated to be ‘100% Applewood’, and they are also selling tabletop pellet smokers identical to that as sold by ASMOKE above, who also sell Applewood pellets.

  • Pellet Flavours: Applewood
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $10 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Green Mountain Grills (GMG) Pellets

For the most part, GMG pellet grills/smokers are only available through smaller local retailers. However, GMG pellets are available from most of the big box stores.

None of the GMG pellet range offers a 100% single wood species. They are all blended hardwood pellets. For instance, the GMG Apple blend is a mixture of Applewood, Hickory and Oak.

GMG Pellets
GMG pellets are a variety of hardwood blends: Images – HomeDepot.com

However, the GMG Fruitwood blend does not contain any Oak, its purely a blend of Cherry, Beech and Pecan.

The other two blends are Gold which is a mixture of Oak, Hickory and Maple, along with their Texas blend which is a mixture of Black Oak, Hickory and a small amount of Texas Mesquite.

While GMG pellets may seem expensive per bag for blended pellets, note the larger than average bag size of 28lbs.

  • Pellet Flavours: Apple Blend, Fruitwood Blend, Gold and Texas Blends
  • Bag Size: 28lbs
  • Typical Price: $30 to $40 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com & HomeDepot.com

Grilla Grills Wood Pellets

Based in Texas, Grilla Grills have a selection of mid-range pellet grills ranging from their portable Chimp up to their rather unique Grilla. They also offer a stainless steel outdoor kitchen.

To go along with their pellet grills, Grilla Grills offer a range of hardwood blended pellet flavours, including Hickory, Apple, Mesquite, Cherry, Pecan and their Competition blend.

Grilla Grills Wood Pellets
Grilla Grills offer their own range of blended hardwood pellet flavours: Image – GrillaGrills.com
  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Apple, Mesquite, Cherry, Pecan & Competition blend
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $20 per bag
  • Availability: GrillaGrills.com

Kingsford Grill Pellets

A long-time producer of charcoal BBQ fuel since 1920, Kingsford is now offering their own range of BBQ wood pellets.

Kingsford is offering a range of 100% single-wood species pellets and hardwood blended pellets.

Kingsford Grill Pellets
Kingsford is currently offering some of the best value BBQ pellets: Images – HomeDepot.com

Their 100% single wood species pellets include Hickory, Cherrywood and Maple.

The Kingsford blends include Classic, which is a mixture of Hickory, Oak and Cherrywood and Signature, which is a mixture of Oak, Cherry and Mesquite.

Due to the scale of Kingsford, the price per lb of their pellets is currently one of the lowest on the market.

  • Pellet Flavours: 100% Hickory, 100% Cherrywood, 100% Maple, along with Classic/Signature Blends
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $15 to $20 per bag
  • Availability: HomeDepot.com, Walmart.com & Lowes.com

Kona Premium Wood Pellets

The Kona brand has been around since 2014, and you may be aware of their BBQ utensils, but they are best known for their grill mats.

Kona Premium Wood Pellets
Kona offers a wide range of pellet flavours in 1lb and 8lb bags: Images – Amazon.com

Kona is providing pellets in small bags for smoking on gas grills. They provide 1lb bags of a range of different wood species in variety packs or larger 8lb bags of pellets.

  • Pellet Flavours: Cherry, Apple, Mesquite, Hickory etc
  • Bag Size: 1lb & 8lb bags
  • Typical Price: $29 to $36 (8 lb bags)
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Knotty Wood Barbeque Pellets

A relative newcomer to the market as they were founded in 2019, Knotty Wood is offering two unique pellet flavours in Almond and Plum that I’ve not previously seen from any other brand.

Their pellets are 100% single wood species in each bag. You actually see the plum wood pellets being used in my article on smoking a brisket on a pellet grill/smoker.

Knotty Wood Pellets
Knotty Wood currently just produce 100% Almond and 100% Plum pellets: Images – HomeDepot.com

Based in California, the founders behind Knotty Wood have Almond orchards right on their doorstep.

By developing their own pellet plant, they worked on developing the first Almond pellets to hit the market. Both Almond and Plum pellets will produce a sweet smoke profile.


Louisiana Grills Premium Blend Pellets

A subsidiary brand of Danson LLC which also own Pit Boss, Lousiana Grills pellet grills/smokers are a mid-range option, and they also have their own line of BBQ pellets.

All current Louisiana Grills pellet flavours are hardwood blends.

Louisiana Grills Pellets
Louisiana Grills offer a variety of hardwood blended pellets, including a charcoal blend: Images – Louisiana-Grills.com

Louisiana Grills pellets are some of the most widely available, though they are oddly not sold at Walmart.

Their New England Applewood pellets are a 40% Applewood to 60% Maple blend, and its a similar mixture for their Pennsylvania Cherry pellets.

While their pellets may seem a high price for blended pellets, note they are large 40lb bags.


Lumber Jack BBQ Pellets

A producer of a wide range of BBQ pellets of both blends and 100% single wood species pellets.

While Lumber Jack debarks the Oak that goes into their blends, they leave the bark on their other wood species to provide a stronger smoke flavour profile.

Lumber Jack BBQ Wood Pellets
Lumber Jack offers both 100% single wood species and blended hardwood pellets: Images – Amazon.com

What Lumber Jack does provide, which many other pellet blend brands don’t offer, is the breakdown of wood species in their blends.

For instance, their Apple Blend is 60% Red Oak to 40% Applewood, whereas their Fruitwood Blend is 80% Cherry to 20% Applewood.

As well as large 20 and 40-lb bags for dedicated pellet grills/smokers, Lumber Jack also offers smaller 1 and 10lb bags for smoking on a gas grill.

  • Pellet Flavours: 100% Oak, 100% Cherry, 100% Hickory, Char Hickory, Apple, Fruitwood, Mesquite and Pecan Blends
  • Bag Size: 1, 10, 20 and 40lbs
  • Typical Price: $20 to $48 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Maclean’s Outdoor Pellets

Established in 2012, Maclean’s Outdoor was started by Rob Maclean with his enthusiasm for all things BBQ, and they originally started by just selling wood chips from liquor barrels.

With their new range of smoking pellets, they currently focus on 5lb bags for pellet smoking on gas grills. However, it appears they are going to be offering larger 20 lb bags soon.

Maclean’s Outdoor Pellets
Maclean’s Outdoor is offering some of the most unique pellet flavours on the market: Image – HomeDepot.com

They offer an interesting range of liquor pellets (i.e wine barrel pellets), liquor blend pellets (i.e red wine/hickory) and non-liquor pellets (hickory).

As a result, the range of pellet flavours Maclean’s Outdoor offers is pretty extensive. It will be interesting to see how availability develops and how easy they are to get a hold of.

  • Pellet Flavours: Liquor, Liquor blends and Non-Liquor pellets
  • Bag Size: 5 to 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $8 to $12 for 5 lb bags
  • Availability: HomeDepot.com

Memphis Grill Wood Pellets

A brand of luxury stainless steel pellet grills, Memphis Grills has been one of the leading brands when it comes to outdoor kitchen pellet grills for many years.

Their flavours include Apple, Cherry, Hickory, Pecan, Mesquite and Oak.

Memphis Grills Barbecue Pellets
It would appear Memphis Grills pellets are a hardwood blend: Images – BBQGuys.com
  • Pellet Flavours: Apple, Cherry, Hickory, Pecan, Mesquite & Oak
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $20 to $48 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com & BBQGuys.com

Mr. Bar-B-Q Hardwood Pellets

You may have come across the Mr. Bar-B-Q brand for grill accessories and charcoal. Well, they have now decided to sell their own branded pellets.

Mr. Bar-B-Q Hardwood Pellets
It’s not clear if Mr. Bar-B-Q pellets are blended or single-species pellets: Images – Amazon.com

On the Mr. Bar-B-Q Hickory pellets, it states ‘made with real hickory wood’, which I certainly would hope to be the case, but it doesn’t say 100% hickory wood. So they could be blended pellets.

I’m waiting on feedback from the team at Mr. Bar-B-Q to find out. The select blend is stated to be a mixture of Hickory, Oak and Applewood.

  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Mesquite and Select Blend
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $35 to $39 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Myron Mixon Organic BBQ Pellets

You may be aware of Myron Mixon for winning various BBQ competitions dating back to 1996, and he has appeared on various TV shows etc.

Myron does actually have his own range of pellet smokers under the BARQ brand. Therefore, its not surprising that there are now Myron Mixon branded pellets.

Myron Mixon Organic BBQ Pellets
Myron Mixon is currently just offering a limited selection of pellet flavours: Images – HomeDepot.com

The range of pellets of currently limited to just Orchard blend, Sweet Smoke Cherry and Hickory pellets. Very little detail is provided as to whether these are blended or single-species pellets.

  • Pellet Flavours: Orchard blend, Sweet Smoke Cherry and Hickory
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $16 to $30 per bag
  • Availability: HomeDepot.com

Oklahoma Joe’s Premium Pellets

Oklahoma Joe’s produced their first pellet grills/smokers several years back now (Rider Gen 1), their current Rider Gen 2 models have some interesting features and good grilling performance.

It’s taken longer than expected, but Oklahoma Joe’s now sells their own branded pellets.

Oklahoma Joe's Premium Pellets
Oklahoma Joe’s Hickory, Apple and Competition pellet blends: Images – Amazon.com

Currently, Oklahoma Joe’s just sells three flavours, a Hickory blend, an Apple blend and a Competition blend which is made up of Hickory, Cherry, Maple and Oak pellets.

  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Apple & Competiton blends
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $20 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Ol’ Hick/Jim Beam Cooking Pellets

Ol’ Hick is a brand of cooking pellets from Energex, which is a wood pellet manufacturer with an office located in Pennsylvania, but pellet manufacturing takes place in Canada.

Ol' Hick/Jim Beam Cooking Pellets
These Ol’ Hick/Jim Beam pellets made from old bourbon barrels are growing in popularity: Images – Amazon.com

Under the Ol’ Hick brand, you can also get 100% single species Apple and Hickory pellets, but these are currently not that widely available and quite hard to get hold of.

However, the Jim Beam bourbon barrel pellets manufactured by Ol’ Hick/Energex are growing in popular and are pretty well stocked up.

  • Pellet Flavours: 100% Hickory, 100% Applewood & Jim Bean pellets
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $29 to $33 per bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Pit Boss Hardwood Pellets

A subsidiary brand of Danson LLC which also own Louisiana Grills, the Pit Boss Pro Series and Platinum Series are very popular ranges of budget to mid-range pellet grills/smokers.

Pit Boss also sell its own range of pellets. All Pit Boss pellets are currently hardwood blended pellets.

Pit Boss Pellets
Pit Boss pellets are some of the cheapest/best value on the market currently: Images – PitBoss-Grills.com

One of the best-value blended hardwood pellets, as you can often find Walmart selling a 20lb bag for under $10.

Pit Boss does not currently state their wood species blend percentages. For the price, I would predict a 20% fruitwood to 80% Oak mix.

They will not produce the most intense smoke flavour, but they are a good budget option.


RECTEQ Pellets

RECTEQ (formally REC TEC) produce a range of premium pellet grills/smokers (see here).

RECTEQ also offer their own hardwood blend of pellets called Ultimate Blend, which is a mixture of Red Oak, White Oak and Hickory.

RECTEQ Pellets
Ultimate Blend is a good all-rounder for smoking and grilling: Image – Amazon.com
  • Pellet Flavours: Ultimate, Apple, Cherry & Mesquite blends
  • Bag Size: 40lbs
  • Typical Price: $33 to $35 bag
  • Availability: Amazon.com & HomeDepot.com

Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets

Founded in 1953, Royal Oak is the largest producer in the US of natural lump charcoal. Therefore, it makes sense that Royal Oak has been the first to produce 100% charcoal pellets.

These 100% charcoal pellets have special attributes that set them apart from standard hardwood BBQ pellets.

Royal Oak 100% Charcoal Pellets
These 100% Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets are special and currently quite hard to get hold of: Image – HomeDepot.com

Not only will these 100% charcoal pellets produce more smoke flavour, but they will also produce more heat for grilling/searing, and they are also water-resistant!

The higher heat output of these 100% charcoal pellets may also be well suited to cooking pizza with pellets where you want the pizza stone to be getting up to very high temperatures for a nice crust.

100% charcoal pellets in any pellet grill will provide more functionality and eliminate the chance of an auger block due to swelling pellets. Check out my article on charcoal pellets to learn more.


Smoke Daddy/Pellet Pro Pellets

Smoke Daddy are a small scale manufacturer of pellet grills/smokers, they now offer their own charcoal/oak pellets in 20 lbs bags.

Smoke Daddy/Pellet Pro Pellets
Currently, the only pellets under the Smoke Daddy brand are these charcoal/oak pellets: Image – Amazon.com

As well as an enhanced smoke ring Smoke Daddy states their charcoal/oak blended pellets reduce the chance of a flameout situation which is a benefit I’d not previously though of.

  • Pellet Flavours: Charcoal and Oak blended pellets
  • Bag Size: 20 lbs
  • Typical Price: $25
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Traeger Hardwood Pellets

I’d encourage you to check out my Traeger pellets review article, where I discuss a blind taste test, a Traeger patent, and a lawsuit that was submitted against Traeger about their pellets.

As I discuss in my linked article on how Traeger wood pellets are made, Traeger does state in their promotional video that their fruitwood is mixed with Alder or Oak.

Therefore, Traeger pellets are blended hardwood pellets.

Traeger Hardwood Blended Pellets
Traegers hardwood blended pellets are widely available, but they’re not the best value: Images – Traeger.com

The Traeger range of blended hardwood pellets currently includes Apple, Cherry, Hickory, Mesquite, Pecan and their Signature blend, which is a mixture of Hickory, Cherry and Maple.

Traeger pellets are widely available but can be a pricey option since they are 20lb hardwood blended pellets.


Tropical Spark BBQ Wood Pellets

This brand appeared in 2019, and its pellets are produced in Costa Rica. They offer some of the most unique pellet flavours currently on the market.

You won’t currently find any other brand offering Guava flavoured pellets, for instance. Most flavours are offered in 1lb bags for pellet smoking on a gas grill.

Tropical Spark BBQ Wood Pellets
Tropical Spark is offering some very interesting/unique pellet flavours: Image – Amazon.com

However, they also offer 20lb bags of coffee-flavoured pellets which is an interesting idea. I’m not what meat/fish I’d cook with coffee pellets, but I wouldn’t mind trying them for baking a cake.

  • Pellet Flavours: Orange, Guava, Coffee, Fruit etc
  • Bag Size: 1lb and 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $36 for six 1lb pellet bags
  • Availability: Amazon.com

Weber SmokeFire Pellets

While being the biggest name in BBQ, Weber had a bit of a bumpy start with the introduction of their SmokeFire pellet grills.

However, as I discuss in my SmokeFire Gen 1 vs Gen 2 article, I think they now have an excellent pellet grill, its just the pellet smoking side of things they need to work on.

Well, Weber also sells their own range of hardwood blended pellets.

Weber SmokeFire Pellets
Weber offers a few different blends of hardwood pellets: Images – BBQGuys.com

Weber does provide the mix details on their pellets. For instance, their Hickory pellets are 40% Hickory and 60% Oak, and their Apple pellets are 40% Apple and 60% Maple.

Weber pellets are not currently as widely available as other major brands, such as Traeger & Pit Boss, and they are priced between those brands.

  • Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Mesquite, Apple, Cherry & Grill Master blend
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $17 to $25 per bag
  • Availability: HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com & BBQGuys.com

Wine Country BBQ Pellets

Tom from Wine Country BBQ previously read my articles about how to make pellets back in the day. He let me know about their new brand of oak-infused wine pellets made in Northern California.

Wine Country BBQ Pellets
Looking to try something different? Maybe consider these wine-infused oak BBQ pellets: WineCountry-BBQ.com

In terms of the availability of these BBQ pellets in stores, if you check out their website through the link below, they are currently available from Seatle down to San Francisco.

  • Pellet Flavours: Wine-infused oak pellets
  • Bag Size: 3.5 lbs & 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $25 to $35 per bag
  • Availability: WineCountry-BBQ.com

Z Grills BBQ Pellets

A brand of budget pellet grills/smokers, Z Grills also offers their own range of BBQ pellets. Are Z Grills blended hardwood pellets? Well, their Oak pellets state ‘100% Oak’.

However, their other pellet flavours do not state that they are made from a 100% single-wood species.

Z Grills BBQ Pellets
For a budget brand, Z Grills pellets are actually pretty expensive: Images – ZGrills.com

Therefore, outside of the Z Grills Oak pellets, it would indeed appear their other pellet flavours are comprised of a hardwood blend.

If that is the case, at $24 to $30 for 20lb bags, Z Grills pellets work out as a pretty expensive option, which is rather odd for a budget pellet grill/smoker brand.

  • Pellet Flavours: Oak, Hickory, Apple, Cherry, Fruitwood & Competition blend
  • Bag Size: 20lbs
  • Typical Price: $21 to $30 per bag
  • Availability: ZGrills.com, Amazon.com & HomeDepot.com

Which Pellet Flavour Is Best For Which Food?

Now, below is just a general guide on pellet flavours for which food suggestions. Everyone has different tastes, and only with trial and error are you going to find out what is really going to work best for you.

However, the information below will give you a good starting point on pellet flavour/food combination ideas.

  • Alder – Great for cooking poultry and salmon
  • Apple – Works well with pork, seafood and lamb
  • Cherry – A good allrounder
  • Charcoal – Stronger smoky flavour/higher heat
  • Hickory – Works well with pork and BBQ ribs
  • Maple – Nice for cooking vegetables and cheese
  • Mesquite – Particularly suited to red meats
  • Oak – The ‘foundation’ of BBQ wood pellets
  • Pecan – Best suited for cooking poultry
  • Walnut – Especially nice for game and red meats
  • Whiskey/Liquor Blends – Red meat and fish
  • Fruitwood Blends – Allrounder for sweet smoke

My Tips For Getting The Best Deal On BBQ Pellets

So I thought I would provide some final tips/tricks to getting the best deal on BBQ pellets and how to understand what you are actually purchasing.

Blended vs 100% Single Species Pellets

You should have noticed above I discuss which brands are hardwood blended flavours and which are offering 100% single wood species pellets.

Now, there is nothing ‘wrong’ with hardwood blended flavours.

Its just for example, if you are looking for the strongest flavour possible from a particular wood species, you will get that from 100% single-species pellets.

However, blended pellets are generally the cheaper option if you’re on a budget.

Check the Bag Size vs Price

While many brands sell BBQ pellets in 20lb bags, some are sold as 28 lbs, some as 30 lbs and some even as large as 40 lbs.

Hence, when comparing prices, make sure you divide the price of the bag by its weight so you can compare the price per lb of pellets.

Also, buying several bags at a time when delivered can often get you a much better deal on the price per lb of pellets.

Protect Your Pellets

There is no point in searching for the best BBQ pellet deal, only to let your pellets get damaged and wasted. This means a couple of things.

First, handle bags with care to avoid creating dust within the bag, and I personally sieve my pellets before placing them in the hopper. You also need to protect your pellets from moisture.

That means not only properly resealing an opened bag of pellets if pellets remain in the bag but not leaving pellets in the hopper for an extended period of time, as eventually, humidity will get to those pellets.

How To Test Wood Pellet Quality
The ‘Snap Test’ is a good quick means to determine the quality of BBQ wood pellets

BBQ Wood Pellets General FAQ

Can any brand/type of BBQ pellets be used in any pellet grill?

Yes, you don’t have to use Traeger pellets in a Traeger pellet grill, for example.

However, its always important to check whatever pellets you use have minimal dust/fines (I sieve my pellets) and that the pellets are hard and snap cleanly (this means they haven’t absorbed water).

Can you reuse/finish off a previously opened bag of BBQ pellets?

If the bag was properly sealed and protected from moisture/humidity after been opened the pellets are probably fine.

To test though, break some pellets, a clean snap means the pellets still have a good density and have not taken on moisture/humidity. If the pellets still have a good surface shine with minimal cracking, that also indicates the pellets are still of good quality.

Are grill/smoking pellets the same as heating pellets for stoves/boilers?

No, heating pellets for stoves/boilers are predominantly made from softwood residues which produce poor-quality smoke.

BBQ pellets produced for grilling and smoking are only made from specially selected hardwood residues. Hence, don’t be tempted to burn stove pellets in your grill/smoker, you’ll regret it.

What is the pellet usage/consumption rate of a pellet grill/smoker?

Typically when smoking (say around 250 degrees) pellet usage will be around 1-2lbs per hour. When grilling pellet usage will typically go up to about 3lbs per hour maybe more.

Lots of factors impact pellet usage, weather conditions (colder weather you’ll use more), is the pellet grill/smoker insulated? How large is the cooking chamber? etc

Are BBQ wood pellets made in the USA?

Yes, pretty much all of the BBQ pellets you find at Walmart, HomeDepot and Lowes etc are produced in the USA. This includes major brands such as Traeger, Pit Boss etc.


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Chris - PelHeat.com

Hi, I’m Chris. I started PelHeat.com back in 2007. This website is intended to be an educational resource on BBQ pellets, pellet grills & smokers. I hope you find the information useful.

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