Masterbuilt 40-inch ThermoTemp Propane Gas Vertical BBQ Smoker, MB20051316 Review (2026)

Who this smoker fits

This 40 inch Masterbuilt smoker is built for anyone smoking in bulk, whether that means holiday turkeys, a big batch of ribs for a party or weekly meal prep for a large family. With 960 square inches of cooking space across four chrome coated racks, it holds significantly more food than compact vertical smokers, and Masterbuilt lists capacity for up to 16 chickens, 6 turkeys, 8 racks of ribs or 8 pork butts in a single load. Propane fuel and an ignition button make it a better match for cooks who want a faster, more consistent startup than charcoal requires, without the fully hands off automation of a pellet smoker. It suits someone with steady yard or patio space for a tall, 53 inch high unit more than an apartment balcony or a tight patio.

Cabinet size and ThermoTemp control explained

The cabinet measures about 28 7/8 inches wide, 53 inches high and 22 7/8 inches deep, and houses four chrome coated smoking racks across 960 square inches of total cooking space. A push button ignition lights the burner, which draws from a propane tank connected through a Type 1 regulator with a built in fuel level gauge and hose, so checking remaining propane does not require detaching the tank. The ThermoTemp system pairs an adjustable temperature dial, which can be set up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, with a mechanism designed to keep the smoking chamber holding steady near that target rather than swinging up and down the way a basic valve controlled burner can. A safety shut off feature is built into the gas system as an added layer of protection during use.

Living with a large propane smoker

Because the ThermoTemp system automates temperature holding, day to day operation is closer to setting a target and checking on food than constantly adjusting a valve by hand, which matters most on long cooks like a whole turkey or a stack of pork butts. The four adjustable racks give some flexibility for arranging different cuts of meat at once, useful when smoking a mixed load for a party. As with any propane appliance, the tank needs to be monitored and swapped when it runs low, and the built in fuel gauge on the regulator hose is meant to make that check simpler than guessing by weight. At 53 inches tall and built around a full propane tank, storage over the off season takes meaningfully more space than a small tabletop or charcoal smoker would need.

How it ranks against other propane smokers

This model currently ranks first among propane smokers in its guide, ahead of options like the Pit Boss 3-Series Gas Vertical Smoker and the smaller Masterbuilt 20051311 GS30D 2-Door Propane Smoker. Against the Pit Boss, the ThermoTemp automation is the main advantage, since it is designed to hold temperature with less manual adjustment than a standard gas valve. Compared with cheaper generic vertical propane smokers on the market, Masterbuilt's longer track record and wider parts and accessory support are the main draw, even though this unit costs more up front than the most basic vertical smokers. The trade off Masterbuilt owners commonly weigh is that the ThermoTemp system adds moving parts to the gas path, more there to eventually fail than a simple manual valve, even as it makes day to day temperature control easier.

Verdict and who should look elsewhere

This smoker is a strong pick for anyone who regularly cooks for a crowd and wants a large capacity propane smoker that manages its own temperature rather than requiring constant valve adjustments. It fits cooks with the yard space to keep a 53 inch tall unit and the propane setup that goes with it. Shoppers who smoke smaller batches or have limited storage space may be better served by the compact Masterbuilt GS30D 2-Door model instead. Anyone who wants the lowest possible price and does not mind manual temperature control could also consider a simpler valve based vertical smoker, accepting more hands on adjustment in exchange for fewer parts that can eventually wear out.

Frequently asked questions