Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker, MB20072918 Review (2026)

Who this smoker fits

This is a large-capacity vertical electric smoker built for cooks who regularly smoke for bigger groups or want to batch cook multiple large cuts in one session. According to Masterbuilt's own specifications, the unit offers 970 square inches of cooking space across four chrome-coated racks, with stated capacity for up to 16 chickens, 4 turkeys, 8 pork butts, or 8 racks of ribs depending on how the racks are loaded. That capacity fits someone hosting a big cookout, smoking for a holiday, or running a small side business out of a backyard. It is a poor fit for an apartment balcony or a cook who only smokes a rack of ribs occasionally, since the unit measures over 41 inches tall and takes considerably more space than a compact smoker would.

Controls, temperature range and design

The smoker runs on electricity with a digital control panel for setting both temperature and cook time, which Masterbuilt states covers a range of 100 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit, suited to low-and-slow barbecue rather than high-heat grilling. A patented side wood chip loader lets a cook add chips for smoke flavor without opening the main door and losing heat, which helps hold a steady internal temperature over long cooks. The body is fully insulated, and a viewing window lets you check progress visually without opening the door either. A removable water bowl adds moisture during the cook, and a removable rear grease tray plus an adjustable air damper for smoke control round out the feature set, all standard for this style of electric cabinet smoker.

Living with a large electric smoker

Day to day, the digital controls are straightforward: set a temperature and, in many cases, a timer, and the smoker holds that setting without the fuel management charcoal or wood smokers require. The side wood chip loader means chips can be topped up during a long cook without significant heat loss, though on an all-day smoke the tray will still need refilling more than once. The smoker includes a lockable door latch and rear-mounted handle and wheels for repositioning, useful given the unit's overall size and weight. Cleanup benefits from the removable grease tray and water bowl, both designed to be pulled and emptied rather than scraped clean in place. The unit carries a 1 year manufacturer warranty according to Masterbuilt.

Trade-offs and how it compares

The clearest gap is connectivity: this model has no listed Bluetooth or WiFi, so monitoring the cook means walking out to read the digital panel rather than checking a phone app from inside. Against rivals in the electric smoker guide, the Masterbuilt 30-inch versions offer a similar feature set in a more compact footprint for cooks who do not need the full 970 square inches. The Bradley Smoker 6-Rack alternative uses a different smoke generation system built around wood bisquettes rather than a chip loader, which some cooks prefer for consistent smoke output over many hours. For buyers who specifically want app-based remote monitoring, a WiFi-enabled model elsewhere in this category would be a better match than this unit.

Bottom line

This smoker earns our score of 8.2/10 as a large, straightforward electric option for cooks who need serious capacity and simple digital controls without a steep learning curve. The 970 square inch cooking area and four chrome racks handle multiple big cuts at once, and features like the side wood chip loader and removable water bowl and grease tray make it practical to run and clean. Buyers who want remote app monitoring or a smaller footprint should look elsewhere in the lineup, including Masterbuilt's own 30-inch models. For anyone smoking in volume regularly and comfortable checking the unit in person, this is a capable, well-specified electric smoker.

Frequently asked questions