A pellet grill is easy to run and steady on temperature, and that very cleanness is why some owners feel the flavor is a little polite. A pork shoulder for tacos or beef cheeks done barbacoa-style can come out tender and well cooked, but with less smoke than you hoped for. A smoke tube is the simple fix: a perforated metal tube filled with pellets that smolders on the grate while the grill does its usual job.
Our pellet grill accessories guide covers thermometers, covers and pellet storage, and our smoker box guide is written for gas grills. This one is only for tubes on a pellet grill. We compare length, shape and stated burn time from the maker or listing, and write “Not stated” where neither gives it. You should also know that a tube is optional, and not every owner thinks it is worth it.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.
Quick verdict: which smoke tube to buy
For most pellet grills, the best smoke tube for pellet grill cooking is the Pit Boss 9-inch Pellet Tube Smoker: it comes from a pellet grill maker, is sold by Amazon and states about three hours of smoke. If you want the name owners most often mention, look at the A-MAZE-N Tube Smoker. For the longest burns, the LIZZQ 12-inch set of two states up to five hours per tube. If you want one for short cooks from the maker itself, buy the recteq 6-inch.
Here are five at a glance. All seven are reviewed below, and after them we cover how to light and place a tube so it stays lit.
Five smoke tubes side by side
Who each tube suits, its size and material, and the smoke time as stated by the maker or listing.
| Tube | Best for | Size and material | Stated smoke time | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pit Boss 9-inch Pellet Tube SmokerBest overall
|
Most pellet grills | 9 in; stainless | About 3 hours | View on Amazon |
A-MAZE-N Stainless Steel Tube SmokerSpecialist maker
|
Pellets or chips, hot or cold | 8.25 in; stainless | “For hours”; no figure | View on Amazon |
recteq 6-inch Smoke TubeBest for short cooks
|
Chicken, fish, quick cooks | 6 in; stainless | Not stated | View on Amazon |
Kingsford 8-inch Hexagon Pellet Smoker TubeBest hexagon
|
Grates with wide spacing | 8 in; hexagon | “A smoking session” | View on Amazon |
LIZZQ 12-inch Pellet Smoker Tube, Set of 2Best for long smokes
|
Long cooks and cold smoking | 12 in x 2; 304 stainless | Up to 5 hours each | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Smoke times are makers’ figures, and pellets, airflow and grill temperature will change them.
Do you need a smoke tube on a pellet grill?
Not always. A pellet grill burns hardwood, so the smoke is real, but it is often a thin smoke. Owners on the AmazingRibs Pitmaster Club forum report that pellet cookers make very little smoke at higher temperatures, and that a tube helps there. They also say it helps with cold smoking cheese or salt, and with fast food that spends little time on the grate.
Others are satisfied without one, and some have stopped using theirs. One poster couldn’t keep a tube lit on either a pellet or a gas grill, and a poster on another forum says you do not get as clean a burn in a tube. These are owner reports, not controlled tests. We found no side-by-side comparison, so treat a tube as a cheap experiment. Try a cook without one first, and buy a tube if you want more.
Our picks for the best smoke tube for pellet grill cooking
Seven tubes from seven makers cover the differences that matter: length, shape and who stands behind it. They are simple objects, and a lot of near-identical tubes sell under dozens of names, so we favored makers you can identify over any promises in the title.
1. Pit Boss 9-inch Pellet Tube Smoker – From a Pellet Grill Maker
We lean toward a tube from a company that builds pellet grills, and this one is simple and clear about what it does. Pit Boss states about three hours of smoke from a 9-inch stainless tube, for hot or cold smoking, and names pellet grills, gas grills and gas smokers.
Three hours is a useful length. It covers the first stretch of a pork shoulder for tacos, when the meat is still cool and takes smoke most readily, without tending anything. It also covers a whole chicken or a batch of salsa vegetables from start to finish, and at 9 inches the tube fits easily to one side of most pellet grill grates.
The listing does not state a shape or a weight. If it is round, it can roll, so set it along the grate bars rather than across them. Light it with a torch, let it burn for several minutes, blow out the flame, and put it on the grate.
Why we like it
- Made by a pellet grill maker
- About three hours of smoke, per the listing
- Names pellet grills, gas grills and gas smokers
- Stainless steel
- Sold by Amazon
Key specifications
| Model | 40974 |
|---|---|
| Shape | Not stated |
| Length | 9 in |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Stated smoke time | About 3 hours |
| Weight | Not stated |
| Grills named | Pellet, gas, gas smokers |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want a sensible single tube for most cooks. It suits owners of any pellet grill, not just Pit Boss, and it lasts about as long as most people need a strong smoke on a typical cook.
Skip it if you plan long cold smokes of cheese or salt. A longer tube, or two, burns longer without a refill.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stated smoke time
- Useful length
- Hot and cold smoking
- Pellet grill maker
Cons
- Shape not stated
- Three hours limits long cooks
- Warranty not stated
2. A-MAZE-N Stainless Steel Tube Smoker – The Name Pellet Cooks Mention
A-MAZE-N is the name that keeps coming up when pellet-grill owners talk about tubes. On the AmazingRibs Pitmaster Club forum, owners describe using one on older Traegers and other pellet cookers to boost smoke. The company is a specialist, and other retailers carry its 6- and 12-inch sizes.
This listing gives it as 8.25 inches long and half a pound, in stainless steel, and says it can take wood pellets or chips. That is a little unusual, since most tubes are meant for pellets alone. Elsewhere, a 6-inch A-MAZE-N is listed at up to about 2 hours on about 6 ounces of pellets, which gives a sense of what to expect at this length.
The doubts are about this particular offer. It is sold by a third party, Hearthshire, rather than by A-MAZE-N, and the 8.25-inch length doesn’t match the sizes we saw from other retailers. It may be measuring the box. Check what you receive, and return it if it isn’t what you ordered.
Why we like it
- Specialist maker widely mentioned by owners
- Stainless steel
- Takes pellets or chips, per the listing
- About half a pound
- Suits hot or cold smoking
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Shape | Not stated |
| Length | 8.25 in (listing) |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Stated smoke time | “For hours”; no figure |
| Weight | 0.5 lb |
| Grills named | Any smoker grill or gas grill |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want the brand that pellet-grill owners actually talk about, and you are comfortable checking a third-party offer when it arrives.
Skip it if you want a stated smoke time or a seller who is also the maker. This listing gives neither.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Well-known among pellet cooks
- Pellets or chips
- Compact
- Hot and cold smoking
Cons
- Third-party seller
- Length needs checking
- No stated smoke time
3. recteq 6-inch Smoke Tube – Short Cooks, Sold by the Maker
recteq is a pellet-grill maker, and this tube is sold directly by the company, which removes one doubt the third-party offers leave open. It is a 6-inch stainless tube at 0.31 pounds, and the listing suggests pairing it with recteq’s own wood pellets, though any hardwood pellet that fits will burn.
Six inches suits a short cook: fish tacos, chicken thighs or a pan of chiles that won’t be on the grill long enough to pick up much smoke on their own. Pellet grills often make their lightest smoke at higher temperatures, according to the owners on the AmazingRibs forum, and those are just the temperatures you use for these fast cooks.
It doesn’t state a smoke time, and the listing is plain. As a guide, other 6-inch tubes on this page and in the listings we read claim about 2 to 2.5 hours. There is one typo in the listing that calls it a 6-foot tube; it isn’t one.
Why we like it
- Sold directly by recteq, a pellet grill maker
- Light at 0.31 pounds
- Stainless steel
- Small enough for a crowded grate
- Easy to clean
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Shape | Not stated |
| Length | 6 in |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Stated smoke time | Not stated |
| Weight | 0.31 lb |
| Grills named | Pairs with recteq pellets |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it for fast cooks and small grills, or as a second tube next to a longer one. The maker selling it directly also gives you someone to contact if it arrives damaged.
Skip it if your usual cook runs several hours. Refilling a hot tube mid-cook is awkward, and a longer one is easier.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sold by the maker
- Good for short cooks
- Light and small
- Stainless
Cons
- No smoke time stated
- Too short for long cooks
- Plain listing
4. Kingsford 8-inch Hexagon Pellet Smoker Tube – Flat Sides That Stay Put
A round tube can roll, and on the AmazingRibs forum owners call that out directly. A hexagon solves it, and Kingsford’s 8-inch stainless tube is built that way, with flat sides the listing says keep it from rolling across the grate while the pellets burn.
It weighs 0.28 pounds, measures about 2 by 2 by 8 inches, and goes on the grate or against the inner wall of the grill. The listing names gas, charcoal and pellet grills, and says no extra tools are required, though you will still need a way to light it. A small torch makes this easier.
Hearthshire sells this one too, and the listing doesn’t give a smoke time. It only says enough for a smoking session. Going by other tubes this size, plan on something like two or three hours, and watch your first cook to see what yours actually does.
Why we like it
- Hexagon shape resists rolling
- Names gas, charcoal and pellet grills
- 8-inch length
- Stainless steel
- Well-known charcoal brand
Key specifications
| Model | BB16532 |
|---|---|
| Shape | Hexagon |
| Length | 8 in |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Stated smoke time | “A smoking session”; no figure |
| Weight | 0.28 lb |
| Grills named | Gas, charcoal, pellet |
| Warranty | Contact via package |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if your grate has wide bars or you have had trouble with a tube shifting, and you want a brand you recognize. It is a good everyday size for pork, chicken and vegetables.
Skip it if you want to know exactly how long it will run. The listing doesn’t say, and you’ll be finding out for yourself.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Won’t roll on the grate
- Light and simple
- Useful length
- Known brand
Cons
- No smoke time stated
- Third-party seller
- Vague warranty line
5. Broil King Pellet Smoker Tube – A Long Tube You Can Lift
Broil King is a grill maker, and this tube is its answer. The listing gives dimensions of 12.20 by 2.50 by 1.20 inches, so it is long and fairly flat, and the package weighs 0.96 pounds. Stainless steel throughout, it is built to sit on the grate.
One detail is genuinely useful: it works with Broil King’s grid lifter, so you can pull it off the hot grate without fishing for it with tongs. Forum owners warn that the metal gets very hot, so a way to handle it safely matters.
A caution on fit. Broil King’s features talk about gas grills, sitting on its Flav-R-Wave or directly on the grids. The title calls it a pellet smoker tube and a pellet grilling accessory, and a tube on a grate behaves the same in any grill, but it isn’t written for pellet grills first. We include it for its length and its maker, and you should know that going in.
Why we like it
- About 12 inches long, per the listing
- Compatible with Broil King’s grid lifter
- Stainless steel
- Sits directly on grids
- Sold by Amazon
Key specifications
| Model | 60181 |
|---|---|
| Shape | Not stated; low profile |
| Length | About 12.2 in |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Stated smoke time | Not stated |
| Weight | 0.96 lb |
| Grills named | Gas grills named in features |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you own both a gas and a pellet grill and want one long tube for both, or you already own Broil King tools.
Skip it if you want a tube written specifically for pellet grills, with a stated smoke time. The maker’s copy is about gas grills first.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Long burn length
- Lifts off with a grid lifter
- Solid maker
- Sold by Amazon
Cons
- Features focus on gas grills
- No stated smoke time
- Long for a small grate
6. LIZZQ 12-inch Pellet Smoker Tube, Set of 2 – Two Long Hexagons at Once
The single LIZZQ tube appears in our smoker box guide for gas grills. We are using the two-pack here for a clear reason: on a long pellet cook, a second tube lets you stagger the start, lighting the next one as the first burns down, so you keep the smoke going through the long middle of a pork shoulder.
Each tube is 12 inches long in 304 stainless steel, hexagonal, and rated for up to five hours of smoke, according to the maker. The listing suggests cherry, hickory, mesquite, apple and pecan pellets, and names both hot and cold smoking. It also includes a free ebook of recipes.
LIZZQ is one of two Amazon-first brands here, sold directly by the brand, with a 90-day warranty. The word “billowing” in the title is marketing: you want thin, steady smoke rather than a white cloud, so don’t judge a tube by how much it pours out. Five hours is a maker’s figure, and the pellets, wind and airflow will all change it.
Why we like it
- Two tubes for staggered or parallel burns
- Up to five hours each, per the maker
- Hexagon shape to resist rolling
- 304 stainless steel
- Hot or cold smoking
Key specifications
| Model | AMNTS12x2 |
|---|---|
| Shape | Hexagon |
| Length | 12 in (two tubes) |
| Material | 304 stainless steel |
| Stated smoke time | Up to 5 hours each |
| Weight | Not stated |
| Grills named | Any grill or smoker |
| Warranty | 90 days |
Why we recommend it
Choose it for barbacoa-style beef or pork shoulder, or for cold smoking cheese and salt, when you want many hours of smoke. Two tubes also give you a spare if one won’t stay lit.
Skip it if you only cook short meals. One short tube is less trouble and fits a small grate better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Longest stated burn here
- Two tubes in the box
- Won’t roll
- Sold by the brand
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- Short 90-day warranty
- Takes up grate space
7. LFSEMINI 6- and 12-inch Pellet Smoker Tube Set – Two Sizes, a Brush and Hooks
If you are not sure how much smoke you want, a set with two lengths is a cheap way to find out. LFSEMINI packs a 6-inch and a 12-inch hexagonal tube in 304 stainless steel, along with a cleaning brush and two S-hooks. The maker’s stated smoke times are 2.5 and 5 hours.
The instructions are the most useful thing in the listing: fill with pellets, light the open end with a propane torch, let it burn for about 5 to 10 minutes, put out the flame, and set the tube on the grill. The brush is a small but real benefit, since ash builds up inside a tube and has to come out.
This is our second Amazon-first brand, sold by the brand itself. The listing states no weight or warranty, and this pick rests on the listing’s details and on the plain design of the product.
Why we like it
- Two lengths in one set
- Brush and two S-hooks included
- Hexagon shape
- 304 stainless steel
- Clear lighting instructions in the listing
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Shape | Hexagon |
| Length | 6 in and 12 in |
| Material | 304 stainless steel |
| Stated smoke time | 2.5 and 5 hours |
| Weight | Not stated |
| Grills named | Gas, charcoal, electric, smokers |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it as a first tube if you are curious about both short and long burns, or to keep a short one for chicken and a long one for pork. The included brush makes it easier to keep them clean.
Skip it if you would rather buy from an established grill brand or want a warranty stated in writing. It has neither.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two sizes to try
- Cleaning brush included
- Won’t roll
- Stated smoke times
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- Warranty not stated
- Rests on the listing alone
- Pellet grills not named in the listing
How to choose and use a pellet smoke tube
1. Length is burn time
Makers’ figures run about 2 to 2.5 hours for 6 inches, about 3 hours for 9 inches and up to 5 for 12 inches. Choose by the part of the cook when you want smoke. Most cooks want it early, so a 3-hour tube covers a lot, and two tubes can run one after the other on a long shoulder.
2. Hexagon or round
A hexagon stays where you put it. Owners note that a round tube can roll unless it is set parallel to the grate bars. Where a listing doesn’t give the shape, set it with the bars until you know.
3. Placement and airflow
This is what makes a tube work or not. A tube needs air to keep smoldering, and pellet grills move air in their own pattern. One owner on the forum found that on his grill a tube would either go into full flame or go out, depending on where it sat. Start along the side of the grate, away from the hottest zone over the firepot, and move it if it flares or dies. Keep it clear of the meat, because you do not want it dripping fat onto a hot tube.
4. Lighting it so it stays lit
Fill the tube, stand it upright or tilt it open end up, and light the pellets with a small torch. Let them burn for several minutes, and blow out the flame so that a glowing bed remains; LFSEMINI’s listing says 5 to 10 minutes, and forum owners say at least 10. If it goes out, your pellets may be damp, or there may not be enough air where it sits. A chimney starter isn’t needed here, but a torch is worth having.
5. Pellets and safety
Use food-grade pellets meant for smoking, and match the wood to the meat. Our guide to smoker pellets covers the choices, and mesquite is a strong partner for beef. The tube gets very hot and stays hot; one forum owner mentions burning himself on one. Handle it with heat-proof gloves or tongs, let it cool completely before you empty it, and keep lit pellets away from your grill’s hopper. Dump the ash somewhere it can’t start a fire, and follow your grill maker’s manual if it limits what you can put inside.
How we picked these seven smoke tubes
We looked for smoke tubes sold on Amazon in the United States, in stock when we checked, from identifiable makers, with at most two Amazon-first brands. Specifications come from each maker’s Amazon listing, and we tell you where the listing is thin. We searched for independent reviews and found forum reports and retailer pages, not a real comparison. Camp Chef’s stainless tube was unavailable, and a Pit Boss expandable tube was low on stock, so neither made the list. We left out many tubes from sellers with no information behind the brand. We have not used these tubes ourselves.
Smoke tube questions, answered
Does a smoke tube work in a pellet grill?
Many owners say yes, especially at higher temperatures, where the grill itself makes less visible smoke. Others find it hard to keep lit, or feel it adds little. Expect to spend a cook or two finding the right spot on your grate.
How long does a smoke tube last on one fill?
By makers’ figures, about 2 hours for 6 inches and up to 5 for 12 inches. Those are claims, not measurements of your grill, and heat and airflow can make a tube burn faster at pellet-grill temperatures.
Can I use it for cold smoking?
Yes, most of these listings name it. Run the tube in a grill that is off, with the lid mostly closed and enough air to keep it lit. Cold smoking raw meat is another matter and needs curing knowledge beyond this page, so stick to cheese, salt or nuts unless you know the process.
What pellets should I use?
Any food-grade smoking pellets that are dry. Listings suggest cherry, hickory, mesquite, apple, pecan and oak. Use what you enjoy, and see our wood chips guide if you are thinking about chips, which only the A-MAZE-N listing here names.
How do you clean a smoke tube?
Let it cool fully, empty the ash, and brush out the holes. The LFSEMINI set includes a brush. Otherwise, a bottle brush reserved for the grill will do.
Our final pick for more smoke
Buy the Pit Boss 9-inch tube if you want one tube for most cooks, the LIZZQ set for long cooks and cold smoking, or the recteq 6-inch if you want to buy from the maker directly for a short cook. Try a cook without one first. If you are still choosing your grill, see our guide to the best pellet grill, and for what else helps, see our pellet grill accessories guide.
And if you would rather let someone else watch the smoke tonight, see the menu or call to order.