This question is due to the confusion around the description of some pellet BBQs. This is the simplest way to think about it.

Horizontal pellet BBQs have the ability to grill and smoke foods. Whereas vertical pellet BBQs are purely smokers, they have no ability to grill foods.

Now, not all pellet grills are equal, and some models have much higher temperature settings than others. At one end you have pellet grills with a maximum temperature setting of 450 degrees, whereas some pellet grills have a maximum temperature setting up to 700 degrees.

Some pellet grills also offer direct-flame access for higher temperatures at the center of their grate (650 degrees plus).

With our database, you can see and compare the maximum temperature setting of every pellet grill on the market today, and you can also filter the results to those with direct-flame access and those without.