Smoke & Slow

Masterbuilt ThermoTemp XL 40 Review

Every other propane smoker gives you a knob that controls the flame. This one gives you a knob that asks for a temperature. That single difference is the whole product - and the reason it costs what two cheaper gas cabinets cost.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

Buy the ThermoTemp XL if you want gas convenience without learning to run a burner by hand, and you are cooking for more than four people. Masterbuilt publishes 960 square inches across four racks and a dial that sets a target temperature rather than a flame level — nothing else in our propane roundup does that. Skip it if your budget is the deciding factor, because the cheaper gas cabinets cook the same food once you have learned the knob, and skip it entirely if you have an outdoor outlet: an electric cabinet does this job for less.

The honest framing for this smoker is that you are paying for one feature. A propane smoker is a gas burner under a steel box, and on almost every model the dial sets how much gas burns — which means the temperature inside drifts with the weather, the fullness of the tank and how often you open the door. Masterbuilt’s ThermoTemp dial is set in degrees instead, and the cabinet is meant to hold the number you chose. If that sounds like what an electric smokerdoes, it is — the difference is that this one does not need an outlet.

Every figure below is published either on the Amazon listing we link or on Masterbuilt’s own page for model MB20051316, read on the date in the sources. There is more that Masterbuilt does not publish about this cooker than about anything else we have reviewed, and the sections below say so plainly rather than filling the gaps.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which smoker we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, beginner-friendliness and value. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t cooked on every one of these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Masterbuilt 40-inch ThermoTemp Propane Vertical Smoker (MB20051316)

Masterbuilt 40-inch ThermoTemp Propane Vertical Smoker (MB20051316)

The one propane smoker that claims to remove the last hard part. Masterbuilt's ThermoTemp dial is a target temperature rather than a burner setting — you pick a number and the smoker is meant to hold it, which is what an electric cabinet does and what every other gas smoker here leaves to you. That plus 960 square inches makes it the propane pick for a nervous first-timer cooking for a crowd. Masterbuilt publishes no mechanism, tolerance or accuracy figure for the thermostat, so treat it as a convenience feature rather than a measured one.

The cooker reviewed here
$362.99 · View on Amazon

$399.999% off

Price as of November 2, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Masterbuilt MPS 230S 30-inch Propane Smoker (MB20051311)

Masterbuilt MPS 230S 30-inch Propane Smoker (MB20051311)

The propane smoker to start on. You get most of an electric smoker's simplicity — turn a dial, walk away — with none of the extension-cord problem, which is why it is the standard pick for anyone smoking away from an outlet. The heat is stronger than an electric's, so chicken skin comes out better, and the trade is that you watch a tank instead of a plug.

The cheaper Masterbuilt, without the thermostat
$249.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of November 2, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Pit Boss 3-Series Propane Gas Vertical Smoker (PBV30GS / 11094)

Pit Boss 3-Series Propane Gas Vertical Smoker (PBV30GS / 11094)

The most cooking space per dollar of any gas cabinet we would put in front of a beginner: 983 square inches across four porcelain-coated racks, which the listing reckons at up to five whole briskets, for less than either Masterbuilt here. What you give up is the thermostat — this is an analog knob and an external dial, so you learn to run the burner by hand. The one feature that genuinely helps while you are learning is the exterior chip tray, which lets you feed wood without opening the door and dumping your heat.

More rack space, manual control
$279.99 · View on Amazon

$299.997% off

Price as of November 2, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1The cooker reviewed here

Masterbuilt 40-inch ThermoTemp Propane Vertical Smoker (MB20051316)

The one propane smoker that claims to remove the last hard part. Masterbuilt's ThermoTemp dial is a target temperature rather than a burner setting — you pick a number and the smoker is meant to hold it, which is what an electric cabinet does and what every other gas smoker here leaves to you. That plus 960 square inches makes it the propane pick for a nervous first-timer cooking for a crowd. Masterbuilt publishes no mechanism, tolerance or accuracy figure for the thermostat, so treat it as a convenience feature rather than a measured one.

What’s good

  • The dial sets a target temperature, not a burner level — the only gas smoker here that does
  • Maker publishes 960 sq in across four racks — holiday-dinner capacity
  • Maker states a fully insulated body and a lockable door latch, which help in cold and wind

Trade-offs

  • The most expensive propane smoker we would put in front of a beginner
  • Tall and heavy; it wants a permanent spot
  • Analog dial, so no app or probe alarms
  • No built-in thermometer in the maker's feature list at all — budget for a leave-in probe
  • Maker publishes a 375°F ceiling but no minimum, no BTU rating and no weight
Fuel typePropane (wood chips for smoke)
Cooking area960 sq in
Temperature rangeUp to 375°F (maker, no minimum published)
Ease for beginnersEasiest

Specs read from the product listing, on August 18, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#2The cheaper Masterbuilt, without the thermostat

Masterbuilt MPS 230S 30-inch Propane Smoker (MB20051311)

The propane smoker to start on. You get most of an electric smoker's simplicity — turn a dial, walk away — with none of the extension-cord problem, which is why it is the standard pick for anyone smoking away from an outlet. The heat is stronger than an electric's, so chicken skin comes out better, and the trade is that you watch a tank instead of a plug.

What’s good

  • No outdoor outlet needed — runs off a standard propane tank
  • Dial-and-walk-away control, close to electric-smoker easy
  • Second door reaches the chips and water bowl without opening the food chamber
  • Masterbuilt publishes 730 sq in over four racks — more than its own 30-inch electric

Trade-offs

  • No thermostat — the dial sets the burner, not a target temperature
  • Neither Masterbuilt nor the listing publishes a temperature range
  • You have to keep an eye on how much gas is left mid-cook
  • Wind affects a gas burner more than an electric element
  • 1 year warranty, against 2 from Pit Boss and 5 on our kamado pick
Fuel typePropane (wood chips for smoke)
Cooking area730 sq in
Temperature rangeNot published
Ease for beginnersEasy

Specs read from the product listing, on September 26, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#3More rack space, manual control

Pit Boss 3-Series Propane Gas Vertical Smoker (PBV30GS / 11094)

The most cooking space per dollar of any gas cabinet we would put in front of a beginner: 983 square inches across four porcelain-coated racks, which the listing reckons at up to five whole briskets, for less than either Masterbuilt here. What you give up is the thermostat — this is an analog knob and an external dial, so you learn to run the burner by hand. The one feature that genuinely helps while you are learning is the exterior chip tray, which lets you feed wood without opening the door and dumping your heat.

What’s good

  • 983 sq in over four adjustable porcelain-coated racks — the listing says up to five briskets
  • Exterior wood chip tray reloads smoke without opening the cabinet door
  • Published 100–300°F range, removable grease cup, rear wheels and a 2-year warranty

Trade-offs

  • Analog knob only — no thermostat, no probe alarms, no app
  • No viewing window, so checking the food means opening the door
  • The listing's own description and bullets disagree on the burner rating
  • At 57 lb and 40 inches tall it is a cabinet you site once, not carry
Fuel typePropane (wood chips for smoke)
Cooking area983 sq in
Temperature range100–300°F
Ease for beginnersEasy

Specs read from the product listing, on September 25, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

What Masterbuilt publishes

SpecPublished figurePublished where
Cooking space960 sq in over four chrome-coated racksBoth the maker and the retail listing
Temperature dialSet “up to 375°F” — no minimum statedMasterbuilt’s feature list
Built-in thermometerNot listed anywhereNeither the feature list nor the spec table mentions a gauge
Capacity claim16 chickens, 6 turkeys, 8 pork butts or 8 racks of ribsMasterbuilt’s product page
Body“Fully insulated” with a lockable door latch and a viewing windowMaker — no material or thickness is stated
Smoke and moistureLidded woodchip tray, removable water bowl, adjustable air damperMaker — neither capacity is published
Gas hardwarePush-button ignition, Type 1 regulator with fuel gauge, tank retention bracketMaker
Assembled size28.7" W x 53" H x 22.8" LMaker’s spec table
BTU ratingNot publishedNeither source states one
WeightNot publishedMasterbuilt does not state it
Warranty1 year — and it excludes rustMasterbuilt’s warranty page — see below

The thermostat: what is actually claimed

This is the reason to buy the cooker, so it deserves precision. Masterbuilt calls the feature ThermoTemp and describes it in exactly one sentence: with ThermoTemp technology, “ensure your smoking temperature is maintained evenly throughout your cook”. The feature list adds that there is an “adjustable temperature dial to set your desired smoking temperature up to 375°F”.

That is the whole published claim. Masterbuilt does not say how the valve works, does not publish a tolerance, does not publish an accuracy figure, and does not publish a minimum temperature the dial can be set to. We are not going to invent any of those. What we can tell you is what the claim means in kind rather than degree: on the MPS 230S, the cheaper Masterbuilt gas cabinet, the dial sets the burner and the temperature is your problem. Here the dial sets the target and the temperature is the cooker’s problem. For a first-timer that is a genuinely different experience, and it is the single biggest reason people fail on a gas smoker and give up.

One consequence worth planning for: the dial on a thermostatic cooker is a request, not a reading. USDA’s smoking guidance puts the chamber between 225°F and 300°F, and you cannot confirm you are in that band on this smoker, because Masterbuilt lists no thermometer on it at all. Which brings us to the thing you must buy with it.

The purchase this cooker forces: a leave-in thermometer

Look through Masterbuilt’s feature list and specification table for this model and there is no temperature gauge in either. There is a dial you set and a window you look through. That means out of the box you have no way of knowing what the chamber is doing, let alone what the meat is doing — and on a cooker whose entire selling point is temperature control, that is a strange thing to leave out.

Treat a dual-probe leave-in thermometer as part of the price. One probe clipped at grate level tells you whether the ThermoTemp dial and reality agree; the other goes in the meat, which is the only number that decides when food is done. Our meat thermometer roundup covers the options and our budget picks start at less than a bag of good charcoal. If you are deciding between types, our instant-read vs leave-in explainer is the short version: on this smoker you want the leave-in.

The warranty sentence to read before you buy

Masterbuilt warrants the cooker for one year from retail purchase against defects in material and workmanship, under proper assembly, normal use and recommended care, with proof of purchase required. Two published exclusions matter more on an outdoor gas cabinet than anything else in the document: the warranty “does not cover paint finish as it may burn off during normal use”, and — in the maker’s own words — the warranty “does not cover rust”.

Read that the way we read the same sentence on the Royal Gourmet CC1830S: the maker is telling you the truth about lifespan. A steel cabinet that gets rained on and then gets hot will rust, and Masterbuilt is saying up front that this counts as wear rather than a defect. The practical response is a cover and a dry spot between cooks, not annoyance. One more published term is worth knowing: Masterbuilt states that buying through an unauthorized dealer voids the warranty, so the saving on a grey-market listing is not a saving.

For context, one year is the short end of this category. Pit Boss publishes two years on the gas cabinet below, and the Weber bowl in our charcoal roundup carries ten years against rust-through. You are buying the thermostat, not the warranty.

Who it beats, and who beats it

Against the MPS 230S, the cheaper Masterbuilt: you get 960 square inches instead of the 730 Masterbuilt publishes for that model, the insulated body, and the thermostat. You pay meaningfully more. If you are cooking for two and willing to learn a knob, the 230S is the better buy and we say so on its own review.

Against the Pit Boss 3-Series: Pit Boss publishes 983 square inches and a 100–300°F range for less money, plus an exterior chip tray that reloads smoke without opening the door. What it has is an analog knob on the burner, exactly like the 230S. More space and a published range, or a target dial — that is the trade, and it is a real one.

Against an electric cabinet: if you have a weatherproof outdoor outlet, an electric smoker does set-and-forget for less money and with a digital readout. Gas earns its place when there is no outlet, or when you want the extra heat a burner gives you for poultry skin. Our propane vs electric page is the full version of that decision, and propane vs charcoal covers the flavor question people ask next.

Against charcoal: a gas cabinet will not out-flavor a charcoal cooker, and we do not claim it does. Smoke here comes from a chip tray, not from a live fire, which is a smaller amount of smoke from a smaller amount of wood. If the flavor ceiling matters more to you than the convenience, read Weber Smokey Mountain vs Masterbuilt Gravity instead — that is the same convenience-versus-flavor argument fought on charcoal ground.

Running it well

Three things decide whether a tall gas cabinet behaves.

Expect the top rack to run hotter. Heat rises, and a 53-inch cabinet has a lot of room for it to rise through. Put the biggest cut low and the thing you want gently cooked high, and rotate racks on a long cook rather than assuming all four are the same oven.

Season it before the first cook. New steel and factory paint want a hot, oiled burn-in before food goes near them, and given what the warranty says about rust, keeping a film of oil on the inside is the cheapest life extension you can give it. Our guide to seasoning a new smoker walks through it.

Watch the tank, not just the dial. Masterbuilt includes a regulator with a fuel gauge, which is more than most gas smokers ship with, but a long cook on a half-empty tank is still the classic way to ruin a brisket. Our cost to run a smoker page has the fuel arithmetic, and how often to add wood chips covers the other thing a chip-tray smoker asks of you.

We have not cooked on this smoker, and nothing above is a durability test or a measured temperature swing. Here is exactly how we pick, including what we refuse to claim about a cooker we have not run.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Masterbuilt ThermoTemp XL worth it?

It is worth it if the thermostat is what you are buying. Masterbuilt's dial sets a target temperature rather than a burner level, and no other propane smoker in our roundup does that - which removes the one skill most beginners fail at on gas. If you would rather spend less and learn the knob, the cheaper Masterbuilt MPS 230S or the Pit Boss 3-Series cook the same food. And if you have an outdoor outlet, an electric cabinet does set-and-forget for less.

How does Masterbuilt ThermoTemp work?

Masterbuilt publishes almost nothing about the mechanism. Its product page says only that with ThermoTemp technology you 'ensure your smoking temperature is maintained evenly throughout your cook', and that there is an 'adjustable temperature dial to set your desired smoking temperature up to 375°F'. No tolerance, accuracy figure, minimum temperature or description of the valve is published anywhere on it, so we do not state one.

What temperature range does the ThermoTemp XL 40 have?

Masterbuilt publishes a dial that sets temperature 'up to 375°F' and publishes no minimum at all, which is why our card prints the ceiling and says the minimum is not published rather than inventing a band. A 375°F ceiling is above the 225-300°F USDA describes for smoking, so the useful range for barbecue sits well inside what the dial offers.

Does the Masterbuilt ThermoTemp have a thermometer?

Not in anything Masterbuilt publishes. Neither the feature list nor the specification table on the maker's page mentions a built-in temperature gauge - the only temperature feature is the dial you set. Budget for a dual-probe leave-in thermometer with the cooker: one probe at grate level to check what the chamber is really doing, one in the meat.

How much food fits in a 40-inch Masterbuilt smoker?

Masterbuilt publishes 960 square inches across four chrome-coated racks and claims capacity of 16 chickens, 6 turkeys, 8 pork butts or 8 racks of ribs. That is holiday-dinner capacity and more than almost anything else a beginner buys. Expect the top rack to run hotter than the bottom in a cabinet this tall, and rotate rather than assuming all four racks are identical.

ThermoTemp XL or the Masterbuilt MPS 230S?

The 230S if price is the deciding factor and you are cooking for a small household - Masterbuilt publishes 730 square inches for it and it is substantially cheaper, with the catch that its dial controls the burner and not a target temperature. The ThermoTemp XL if you want the cooker to hold the number for you, or you need the larger capacity. They are the same brand solving the same problem at two different levels of help.

What is the warranty on a Masterbuilt smoker?

One year from the date of original retail purchase against defects in material and workmanship, with proof of purchase required (two years for European residents; three on the Gravity Series XT). Masterbuilt publishes explicit exclusions: the warranty 'does not cover paint finish as it may burn off during normal use' and 'does not cover rust', along with normal wear, commercial use and labor. Buying through an unauthorized dealer voids it.

Do propane smokers taste as good as charcoal?

No, and we would not claim otherwise. Smoke in a gas cabinet comes from wood chips smoldering on a tray above a burner, which is a smaller amount of smoke than a live charcoal-and-wood fire produces. What gas gives you instead is simplicity, no electrical outlet and enough heat for crisp poultry skin. If flavor ceiling is your priority, buy charcoal and accept the learning curve.

Sources

  • Masterbuilt — 40-inch ThermoTemp XL Propane Smoker (model MB20051316), maker's product page — Masterbuilt states 960 square inches (0.62 m²) of cooking space across four chrome-coated smoking racks, an "adjustable temperature dial to set your desired smoking temperature up to 375°F", push-button ignition, a removable water bowl, a woodchip tray, an adjustable air damper, a lockable door latch "to retain heat and smoke inside the fully insulated smoker body", a viewing window, a propane tank retention bracket, a Type 1 regulator with fuel gauge and hose, and a "1 year warranty". Assembled size is given as 28.7 in wide, 53 in high and 22.8 in long, and capacity as "16 chickens, 6 turkeys, 8 pork butts or 8 racks of ribs". The maker's own list price on the date read was $399.99. The page does NOT publish a BTU rating, a weight, a minimum temperature, or any built-in thermometer or temperature gauge in either the feature list or the specification table, and the only description of the thermostat is the sentence "With Masterbuilt's ThermoTemp technology, ensure your smoking temperature is maintained evenly throughout your cook" — no mechanism, tolerance or accuracy figure is published anywhere on it (accessed November 2, 2026)
  • Masterbuilt — Warranty terms — Masterbuilt warrants its products against defects in material and workmanship "under proper assembly, normal use, and recommended care" "for 1 year from the date of original retail purchase" (2 years for European residents; 3 years for the Gravity Series XT). Proof of purchase is required and Masterbuilt may repair or replace the defective component at its option, paying shipping on warranty parts. Published exclusions include: "The Masterbuilt warranty does not cover paint finish as it may burn off during normal use"; "The Masterbuilt warranty does not cover rust"; damage from normal wear and tear (scratches, dents, dings, chipping); changes in appearance that do not affect performance; damage from abuse or use other than as designed; lack of proper use, assembly, maintenance or installation; accidents and natural disasters; unauthorized attachments or modifications; transport damage; labor and any other cost associated with service, repair or operation; and commercial use (restaurants, caterers, butchers, rental companies, food trucks). The page also states that "purchasing any Masterbuilt product through an unauthorized dealer voids the warranty" (accessed November 2, 2026)
  • Masterbuilt — Two Door 30-inch Propane Smoker (model MB20051311), maker's product page — Maker states 730 sq in of cooking space (0.47 m²), four chrome-coated smoking racks, an ignition button, a temperature dial, a removable water bowl, a patented porcelain-coated flame disk bowl that lets the flame reach the wood chips while shielding the burner from grease, an adjustable air damper for smoke control, a lockable door latch to retain heat and smoke inside the 'fully insulated smoker body', cool touch wire handles, a 15,400 BTU stainless steel burner and a 1 year warranty. Published capacity claims: up to 8 chickens, 2 turkeys, 4 pork butts or 4 racks of ribs. Published size: 20.9 in wide, 43.5 in high, 20.5 in deep. NO temperature range is published. Model MB20051311 is the same model number the Amazon listing gives for the MPS 230S — Masterbuilt sells it under this retail name. Note for future runs: Masterbuilt's own store showed this smoker OUT OF STOCK at $249.99 on the date read, while the Amazon listing for the same model was In Stock at the same price (accessed September 26, 2026)
  • USDA FSIS — Smoking Meat and Poultry — USDA guidance to keep the smoker between 225°F and 300°F, use two thermometers (food + smoker), and refrigerate within 2 hours (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • USDA FSIS — Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart — USDA safe minimum internal temperatures: 145°F for beef/pork/lamb steaks, chops and roasts (with a 3-minute rest), 160°F for ground meats, 165°F for all poultry (accessed July 22, 2026)

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