Pit Boss 500 FB2

Pit Boss 500 FB2

By Pit Boss · Pellet Grills · Kitchen & Cooking

  • 500 in the model name (size figure)
  • New FB2-series listing

Lowest price seen
$399.99
from $399.99 at Pit Boss (manufacturer DTC) · Checked Oct 5, 2026

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

A compact pellet grill with 518 sq in of two-tier cooking space, a 5 lb hopper and a Flame Broiler slide plate for real direct-flame searing. The build, direct flame and five-year warranty are the reasons to buy; the tiny hopper and the absence of app control are the tradeoffs to accept.

Strengths

  • The Flame Broiler exposes food to actual flame, not just a higher chamber temperature.
  • The 518 sq in two-tier area is useful for couples and small families.
  • Heavy construction and simple dial operation win consistent owner praise.
  • The controller’s 5°F set-point steps and P-setting are finer than most budget pellet grills.
  • A five-year warranty is long for this class and matches the larger 700FB2.
  • It burns standard hardwood pellets, so fuel is widely available and cheap.

Weaknesses

  • The 5 lb hopper is the main limitation and makes long unattended cooks a refill job.
  • There is no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so no phone monitoring and no upgrade path on this controller.
  • Ash cleanup is internal: you remove cooking components rather than opening an ash drawer.
  • Only one meat probe is included despite two probe ports.
  • Owner reports include a fan failure on a second use and an auger replacement on a new unit.
  • A cover and a side prep shelf are extra-cost accessories, not included.

Verified specifications

ModelPit Boss 500FB2 / PB500FB2, SKU 11086, UPC 684678110867.
Cooking area518 sq in total across two tiers — 373 sq in primary plus 145 sq in secondary — with porcelain-coated steel grates.
Fuelhardwood pellets.
Hopper5 lb.
Controllerdial-in digital LCD, 180-500°F in 5°F increments with a P-setting.
Direct heata Flame Broiler lever and slide plate, rated up to 1,000°F.
Probestwo meat-probe ports with one probe included.
Connectivityno Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or remote monitoring on the exact-model specification.
Storage and mobilitya solid lower shelf and two inline wheels.
Greasea removable steel bucket; disposable foil liners are not included.
Dimensionsassembled about 39.3 L x 23.6 W x 45.3 H in; packaged 33.5 x 22 x 20.5 in.
Weightabout 90.4-90.5 lb assembled; 101.4 lb packaged.
Clearancethe manual requires at least 36 in from combustible construction while operating.
Warrantyfive-year limited.
In the boxgrill, two-tier grates, one meat probe, bottom shelf, grease bucket and assembly materials.
Not includedpellets, foil bucket liners and a cover, which is sold separately.
Full research notes and sources

The 5 lb hopper tradeoff

The hopper holds only 5 lb of pellets, less than half the 13.5 lb hopper on the newer Pit Boss Carbon Series 500 and far below the 21 lb hopper on the 700FB2. It is fine for burgers, chicken and shorter cooks, but it removes the fill-it-and-forget-it advantage on brisket-length sessions, so plan on checking and refilling. Owners repeatedly call the hopper small, and one August 2026 owner said they wished they had noticed the size before buying. This is a design compromise rather than a fault.

Direct flame and cooking

The Flame Broiler lever opens a slide plate so food can sit over the fire, and Pit Boss rates the mode up to 1,000°F while the chamber controller runs 180-500°F. That is the reason to choose this grill over a basic indirect-only budget smoker: it can smoke low and slow, then finish over real flame without a separate grill. Pit Boss verifies 518 square inches across two tiers, so the “500” in the name is not the measured cooking area.

Controls and upkeep

The dial-in digital LCD holds 180-500°F in 5°F steps and includes a P-setting, with two probe ports and one probe supplied. Routine care means vacuuming ash from the burn pot and firebox, cleaning the grease path and bucket, keeping the grates and Flame Broiler mechanism clean, and keeping pellets dry. The grill uses discrete controller, fan, auger, igniter and probe parts, so it is more repairable than a sealed appliance, though exact replacement-part prices for this model were not verified. A compatible fixed side shelf and a cover are sold separately.

Is it worth it?

Buy it near the lower end of its street range, where the build, direct flame and five-year warranty make the compact size easy to accept. McCoy’s listed the exact 11086 at $329.99 and Lowe’s at $339.00 (September 2026), while Pit Boss, AJ Madison and BBQGuys listed $399.99; BigEasyMart showed $310.61 but with uncertain availability. At $300 or less it is an excellent deal, $301-$340 is very good, and above $400 the 700FB2 at $549.99 buys more grate area and a 21 lb hopper. If you need long unattended cooks, spend the money on a bigger hopper instead.

Which model this is

This page covers the Pit Boss 500FB2 / PB500FB2, SKU 11086, UPC 684678110867. The Amazon listing is ASIN B0D7D9PJZ7. Do not merge evidence from the 440, 700FB2, 850FB2, Carbon Series 500, Lexington or Onyx models into this page; they share architecture and features but are not this grill. A retailer reproducing catalog metadata lists different dimensions and weight, so trust the assembled figure repeated by specialty retailers.

Sources

Manufacturer and specifications:

Retailer owner reviews:

Parts and stores:

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