Traeger just had its biggest lineup overhaul in years, and the reviews you’ll find from 2023 are now half wrong. The Pro 575 and Ironwood 885 are gone; in their place is the Woodridge series, a redesigned Ironwood, and a flagship Timberline — and, crucially, a new 10-year warranty across the core lineup. We ranked every current Traeger worth buying in 2026 on temperature control, build, cook area per dollar and real street price, so you can skip the outdated model numbers and buy the right one.
Quick Answer
The Traeger Woodridge Pro ($1,149) is the best Traeger for most people in 2026 — 970 sq in of cook space, Super Smoke Mode, WiFIRE app control, a hopper pellet sensor and a 10-year warranty, per Traeger. Spending less, the base Woodridge ($899) keeps WiFIRE and the 10-year warranty on 860 sq in. Going big, the Ironwood XL stacks 924 sq in for $2,199, and the Timberline XL ($3,999) is the most advanced pellet grill Traeger builds. On a budget or on the move, the portable Tailgater 20 ($499.99) delivers real Traeger smoke in 300 sq in. Note the naming change: Traeger retired the Pro 575 and Ironwood 885 numbers — the Woodridge is the new entry point.
Best Traeger grills at a glance
| Model | Best for | Cook area | WiFIRE | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodridge Pro | Best overall | 970 sq in | Yes | 10 yr | $1,149 |
| Woodridge | Best value | 860 sq in | Yes | 10 yr | $899 |
| Tailgater 20 | Best portable | 300 sq in | No | Portable series | $499.99 |
| Ironwood | Best step-up build | 616 sq in | Yes | 10 yr | $1,999 |
| Ironwood XL | Best large capacity | 924 sq in | Yes | 10 yr | $2,199 |
| Timberline XL | Best flagship | 1,320 sq in | Yes | 10 yr | $3,999 |
1. Traeger Woodridge Pro — Best Overall
Traeger Woodridge Pro
- 970 sq in across two racks (585 main + 385 secondary) — enough for a packer brisket plus sides.
- Super Smoke Mode lays on noticeably thicker smoke below 225°F, addressing pellet grilling's biggest knock.
- WiFIRE app control, a hopper pellet-level sensor and the EZ-Clean grease-and-ash keg, per Traeger.
- 10-year limited warranty — one of the longest in the category and triple the old Pro line's coverage.
Feeding a crowd this weekend? Get the brisket, ribs and rub delivered with Amazon Fresh so your only trip is out to the backyard. The Woodridge Pro is the Traeger to buy if you’re buying just one. At $1,149 it’s the cheapest Traeger that includes everything most people actually want — Super Smoke, WiFIRE, the pellet sensor, a side shelf and locking casters — without the $850 jump to an Ironwood. Smoked BBQ Source called it the sweet-spot model of the new lineup, and the 10-year warranty makes it a safer long-term buy than anything Traeger sold two years ago. It’s our default recommendation and the Traeger benchmark in our best pellet grill guide.
2. Traeger Woodridge — Best Value
Traeger Woodridge
- 860 sq in on two racks and a 24 lb hopper — a genuine full-size grill at the entry price.
- Keeps WiFIRE app control and the full 10-year warranty; drops Super Smoke and the pellet sensor.
- Engadget called it "a big upgrade for the entry-level pellet grill" over the Pro 575 it replaces.
- $899 — the modern replacement for the old Traeger Pro 575, with far more space and tech.
If the Pro’s $250 premium doesn’t fit, the base Woodridge is the value pick and still a serious grill. You lose Super Smoke Mode, the hopper sensor and the side shelves, but you keep the two things that matter most: WiFIRE app control and Traeger’s 10-year warranty. At 860 sq in it’s larger than the old Pro 780 for the price of the old Pro 575 — the clearest “more grill for your money” story in Traeger’s 2026 range. Pair it with the right fuel from our best wood pellets for smoking guide and it’ll out-smoke grills that cost more.
3. Traeger Tailgater 20 — Best Portable
Traeger Tailgater 20
- 300 sq in of cook space — enough for three racks of ribs, per Traeger, in a grill you can lift into a trunk.
- Foldable scissor legs and 6-in-1 versatility: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and BBQ.
- Digital Arc controller with a meat probe — set-and-forget smoke away from a power-hungry rig.
- $499.99 for genuine Traeger pellet flavor on the road, at tailgates and on tight balconies.
The Tailgater is the only portable in Traeger’s current lineup, and it’s the pick if you want the brand’s smoke where a full cart won’t go. It’s dated next to the newest controllers and doesn’t get WiFIRE, but the folding legs and ~62 lb weight make it truly transportable, and 300 sq in is more than most portables offer. If you’re cross-shopping travel grills against the Traeger Ranger and rival brands, see our dedicated best portable pellet grill roundup.
4. Traeger Ironwood — Best Step-Up Build
Traeger Ironwood
- 616 sq in with a heavier, better-sealed build than the Woodridge for more consistent low-and-slow.
- Downdraft exhaust and a double-sidewall design push convection and smoke around the food more evenly.
- All-terrain wheels, Super Smoke Mode and WiFIRE, per Traeger — a real build upgrade, not just size.
- $1,999 — the entry to Traeger's premium tier for cooks who want durability over sheer capacity.
The Ironwood is where you pay for build rather than square inches — at 616 sq in it’s actually smaller than a Woodridge Pro, but the sealed body, downdraft exhaust and heavier construction hold temperature better in wind and cold. It’s the Traeger for someone who smokes year-round and wants the grill to last, and it’s a natural cross-shop against Recteq’s premium models — our Recteq vs Traeger breakdown runs that comparison in detail.
5. Traeger Ironwood XL — Best Large Capacity
Traeger Ironwood XL
- 924 sq in of cooking area, per Traeger's listing — competition-weekend capacity in a premium body.
- Same sealed, downdraft-exhaust build as the Ironwood, scaled up for big batches.
- Reaches up to 500°F with Super Smoke Mode and WiFIRE for a wide grill-to-smoke range.
- $2,199 — the large-format Traeger that replaced the old Ironwood 885 in the lineup.
If the Ironwood’s build appeals but 616 sq in won’t cut it, the Ironwood XL is the answer: 924 sq in in the same premium chassis. Taste of Home’s testers called it a serious machine for smoking enthusiasts who cook for a crowd. It’s the sweet spot for anyone who found the old Ironwood 885 too small but doesn’t need Timberline money — and the extra racks earn their keep the first time you smoke for a party.
6. Traeger Timberline XL — Best Flagship
Traeger Timberline XL
- 1,320 sq in plus a built-in induction side burner — an outdoor kitchen, not just a grill.
- Fully enclosed cabinet cart, premium controller and the most advanced WiFIRE hardware Traeger builds.
- The Timberline and Timberline XL are Traeger's most advanced pellet grills ever built, per its 2026 lineup.
- $3,999 — the no-compromise pick for serious pitmasters and built-in outdoor kitchens.
The Timberline XL is the top of the range and priced like it. For most backyard cooks it’s overkill — the Woodridge Pro does 90% of what it does for a third of the price — but if you’re building an outdoor kitchen or you cook competitively, the induction side burner, enclosed cabinet and flagship controls make it the most capable pellet grill Traeger sells. The standard Timberline ($3,499) offers the same platform in a smaller footprint.
What changed in Traeger’s 2026 lineup
If you’re comparing older reviews, here’s the map from the old model numbers to what’s on sale now:
- Pro 575 / Pro 780 → Woodridge & Woodridge Pro. The Woodridge series replaced the Pro and Silverton lines, adding WiFIRE across the board and jumping warranty from 3 to 10 years.
- Ironwood 650 / 885 → Ironwood & Ironwood XL. Same premium concept, redesigned body, and the numbers were dropped in favor of “XL” for the big one.
- Timberline 850 / 1300 → Timberline & Timberline XL. Now with induction side burners and enclosed cabinet carts.
- Ranger / Tailgater → Tailgater 20. The Tailgater remains Traeger’s portable, at 300 sq in.
The headline for buyers: the 10-year warranty on Woodridge, Ironwood and Timberline is new, and it materially changes the value math against Pit Boss (5 years) and Recteq (6 years).
Traeger by the numbers
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Woodridge Pro cook area | 970 sq in (585 + 385) | Traeger |
| Base Woodridge cook area / hopper | 860 sq in / 24 lb | Traeger, Engadget |
| Ironwood XL cook area | 924 sq in | Traeger listing |
| Tailgater 20 cook area / price | 300 sq in / $499.99 | Traeger |
| Core-lineup warranty | 10 years | Traeger |
| Woodridge Pro price | $1,149 | Traeger |
Two numbers explain the 2026 Traeger value story. First, the warranty: the Woodridge, Ironwood and Timberline all carry a 10-year limited warranty, per Traeger — up from 3 years on the old Pro line and longer than Pit Boss’s 5 or Recteq’s 6. Second, the space-per-dollar: the Woodridge Pro’s 970 sq in for $1,149, per Traeger, finally puts a full-featured Traeger within reach of the mid-market, where it competes directly with a Pit Boss Pro 850 or Z Grills 700D4E on capacity while beating both on warranty and app polish.
Which Traeger should you buy?
- Most people: Woodridge Pro — every meaningful feature, 970 sq in, 10-year warranty, $1,149.
- On a budget: Woodridge — keeps WiFIRE and the warranty at $899.
- On the move: Tailgater 20 — real Traeger smoke in a 300 sq in portable.
- Build over size: Ironwood — sealed, downdraft body for year-round smoking.
- Feeding crowds: Ironwood XL — 924 sq in in the premium chassis.
- No compromises: Timberline XL — induction side burner and outdoor-kitchen build.
Cross-shopping brands before you commit? Our best pellet grill guide ranks Traeger against Recteq, Pit Boss and Z Grills, the Traeger vs Pit Boss comparison settles the most-searched matchup, and if value is the priority, best pellet grill for the money runs the price-per-square-inch math across every brand.