Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker, MB20071117 Review (2026)

Who this smoker suits

The MB20071117 is built for people who want the low and slow results of smoking without babysitting a fire all day. Digital controls let you dial in a temperature up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and a cook time, then walk away while the smoker holds steady heat on its own. That makes it a strong fit for first time smokers, or anyone who has been intimidated by managing charcoal or wood temperatures by feel. The 710 square inch cooking area across four chrome coated racks is enough for a batch of ribs, a couple of pork butts, or several chickens at once, which covers most family gatherings. Pitmasters chasing a heavy, wood fired smoke ring and bark on competition style brisket will likely find the milder result from electric heat less satisfying than a stick burner or a charcoal kamado.

Cabinet design and key features

At roughly 33 inches tall, 21 inches wide and 20 inches deep, the smoker has a compact vertical footprint that does not demand much patio space. The standout feature is the side wood chip loader, a small door on the outside of the cabinet that lets you add chips for more smoke flavor without opening the main door and losing the heat and moisture built up inside. A removable water bowl adds humidity to keep meat from drying out during long cooks, and a rear grease tray collects drippings for easier cleanup afterward. An adjustable air damper on top gives some manual control over how much smoke circulates through the cabinet, letting you push flavor stronger or lighter depending on preference.

Running it day to day

Setup is straightforward, plug it in, fill the water bowl, load wood chips through the side loader, and set your temperature and timer on the digital panel. Because the unit holds temperature electronically rather than through vent adjustments, it is far more forgiving than fire based smokers for long overnight cooks or an afternoon away from the yard. Refilling chips through the side loader every 30 to 45 minutes keeps smoke flavor going without a heat spike from opening the main door repeatedly. After cooking, the removable water bowl and rear grease tray make cleanup simpler than scraping ash out of a charcoal firebox, though the interior still benefits from a wipe down once cooled to prevent grease buildup over repeated uses.

How it compares with other electric smokers

Within Masterbuilt's own lineup, this 30 inch model sits below the 40 inch version, which offers roughly 970 square inches and fits far more food for large gatherings, so anyone regularly cooking for a crowd should size up. Compared with the Bradley Smoker 6-Rack, which uses proprietary wood bisquettes fed automatically, this Masterbuilt relies on manual wood chip loading through its side door, giving more control over chip type and amount but requiring more hands on attention over a long cook. Against a Pit Boss digital vertical smoker, the feature set is broadly similar, and the choice often comes down to brand preference and rack configuration rather than a clear capability gap.

Verdict and who should look elsewhere

For a first electric smoker or a reliable backup to a charcoal setup, the MB20071117 delivers genuinely simple operation, steady digital heat, and a side loader that keeps smoke going without constant door opening. It is well suited to weekend cooks of ribs, chicken, or a single pork butt for a family sized group. Buyers who need to feed a large crowd regularly should step up to the 40 inch Masterbuilt for more rack space, and anyone chasing the deep bark and smoke ring of a wood fired or charcoal cooker should look at a kamado or offset smoker instead, since electric heat simply produces a gentler result.

Frequently asked questions