Recteq’s entry-level grill has had three different names and now comes in three different sizes — Deck Boss 590, 800, and 900 — and the pricing between them doesn’t always track the size difference the way you’d expect. Here’s what the Deck Boss 590 actually is, and why it’s worth checking the 800 and 900 before you buy it.
Quick Answer
The Recteq Deck Boss 590 (formerly sold as the RT-590) is Recteq’s smallest current pellet grill: 592 sq in of cook space, a 30 lb hopper, a 180-700°F PID-controlled range, and Recteq’s 6-year warranty on materials and workmanship, for roughly $899.99-$999 depending on retailer. It’s genuinely well-built — the same stainless steel and controller as Recteq’s larger grills — but it’s no longer the obvious entry point into the lineup: Recteq now also sells the Deck Boss 800 (810 sq in, same 30 lb hopper) at around $899.99, often the same price as the 590 or less. If you’re choosing between them on price alone, the 800 is usually the better buy.
Deck Boss lineup at a glance
| Spec | Deck Boss 590 | Deck Boss 800 | Deck Boss 900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook space | 592 sq in | 810 sq in | ~900 sq in |
| Hopper capacity | 30 lb | 30 lb | ~18 lb |
| Temperature range | 180-700°F | 180-700°F | 180-700°F |
| Warranty | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Street price (varies by retailer) | ~$899.99-$999 | ~$899.99-$949 | ~$999.99 |
What the Deck Boss 590 gets right
Recteq Deck Boss 590
- Same stainless-steel build and PID controller as Recteq's larger RT-700 "Bull" — you're not getting a cheaper build quality for a smaller price, just a smaller cook chamber.
- 30 lb hopper rated for roughly 30 hours of runtime, per Recteq — enough for an overnight cook plus the next day's breakfast without a refill.
- 6-year warranty on materials and workmanship with freight-prepaid parts, per Recteq's published warranty terms — matching the coverage on every other current Deck Boss size.
- 592 sq in is genuinely enough for most 2-4 person households: a full brisket plus a couple of side dishes at once.
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Reviewers who’ve put real cooks through the Deck Boss 590 consistently note it doesn’t feel like a budget grill once it’s lit — the stainless build and PID accuracy are the same story as Recteq’s pricier models, just in a smaller footprint. If your backyard cookouts rarely feed more than 4-6 people, there’s a real case that this is all the grill you need, and the money saved versus the RT-700 goes toward pellets and a good cover instead.
Where the naming gets confusing — and costs you money
This is the part most reviews skip. The Deck Boss 590 started life as the RT-590, and some retailers and forum threads still mix the two names up. Recteq then added two larger models above it — the Deck Boss 800 (810 sq in) and the Deck Boss 900 (roughly 900 sq in, though even detailed brand comparisons disagree on the exact number, with one listing 955 sq in in its own FAQ versus 900 sq in in its spec table). None of this would matter if price tracked size cleanly, but it doesn’t: during this review, Ace Hardware listed the Deck Boss 800 at $899.99 — the same price point major retailers list for the smaller 590. When that gap shows up, the 800 wins on cook space for no extra cost.
The 900 is the one genuine trade-off in the lineup, not just a bigger 590 or 800: one detailed brand comparison lists its hopper at roughly 18 lb, about 40% smaller than the 30 lb hopper on both the 590 and 800. More cook space, but a shorter unattended runtime — worth knowing if you regularly run long overnight smokes and don’t want a 2 a.m. refill.
Deck Boss 590 vs. the alternatives
| Grill | Cook space | Hopper | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Boss 590 | 592 sq in | 30 lb | ~$899.99-$999 | Smallest footprint |
| Deck Boss 800 | 810 sq in | 30 lb | ~$899.99-$949 | Best value if priced close to the 590 |
| Deck Boss 900 | ~900 sq in | ~18 lb | ~$999.99 | Most cook space, shorter runtime |
| Recteq RT-700 "Bull" | 702 sq in | 40 lb | ~$1,199 | Longest runtime, heaviest steel |
For the full case on Recteq’s flagship mid-size grill, see our Recteq RT-700 review. And if you’re still deciding between brands entirely, our best Recteq pellet grill roundup ranks the whole current lineup side by side.
Who should buy the Deck Boss 590
- Buy it if: you cook for 2-4 people regularly, want Recteq’s build quality and 6-year warranty, and the 590 is priced meaningfully below the 800 when you check.
- Step up to the Deck Boss 800 instead if: it’s listed at the same price or cheaper than the 590 — which happened at Ace Hardware during this review. Same hopper, same warranty, 218 more sq in for free.
- Consider the Deck Boss 900 instead if: maximum cook space matters more than hopper runtime, and you’re comfortable topping off pellets more often on long smokes.
- Consider the RT-700 instead if: you cook multiple times a week and want the longer 40 lb hopper runtime — see our full RT-700 review.
The verdict
The Deck Boss 590 is a genuinely solid small pellet grill — Recteq doesn’t cut corners on steel or the PID controller just because it’s the entry size. But it’s no longer automatically the entry-level pick in its own lineup. Before you buy, check current pricing on the Deck Boss 800 specifically; if the gap between the 590 and 800 is small or nonexistent, as it was at Ace Hardware during this review, the 800 gets you meaningfully more grill for the same money.