The smell of smoldering oak on a crisp morning is enough to make any backyard cook feel like a professional pitmaster. Lately, my driveway has looked more like a showroom for heavy-duty steel as I’ve been putting the Pit Boss 440 (Mahogany Series) and the Pit Boss 700FB2 through their paces.
If you’ve spent any time looking at Pit Boss, you know their mantra: Bigger, Hotter, Heavier. Both of these machines live up to that reputation, but they cater to very different types of weekend warriors. One is a stylish, mahogany-finished unit designed for the family of four that values space-efficiency and aesthetics. The other is a matte-black beast that seems hungry for a full-sized brisket and a neighborhood’s worth of burgers. After burning through a few 20-pound bags of pellets and testing everything from low-and-slow pulled pork to high-heat flame searing, I’ve found that the “best” grill depends entirely on how much real estate you need—and how much you value those little “creature comforts.”
The Key Difference: Capacity, Control, and the “Finish”
The primary difference between the Pit Boss 440 and the Pit Boss 700FB is the total cooking volume and controller precision. The Pit Boss 700FB2 offers a massive 747 square inches of cooking space and a 21-pound hopper, making it ideal for large gatherings and long, unattended smokes. It also features a modernized digital board with 5-degree increment settings.
In contrast, the Pit Boss 440 offers a more compact 465 square inches of space and a smaller footprint, but adds premium design touches like a side shelf, a stainless steel bottle opener, and a mahogany powder-coat finish that is absent on the more utilitarian FB (Flat Black) series.
Comparison Table: Pit Boss 440 vs. 700FB2 Pellet Grill
| Feature | Pit Boss 440 (Mahogany) | Pit Boss 700FB2 |
| Total Cooking Area | 465 sq. in. | 747 sq. in. |
| Hopper Capacity | Approx. 5-10 lbs | 21 lbs |
| Temp Increments | Standard Digital Dial | Fine-Tune 5°F Increments |
| Flame Broiler | Slide-Plate Lever | Slide-Plate Lever |
| Max Sear Temp | 1,000°F (Direct Flame) | 1,000°F (Direct Flame) |
| Design Style | Mahogany Finish / Side Shelf | Matte Black / Utilitarian |
| Weight | Approx. 90 lbs | 119.05 lbs |
| Meat Probes | Standard Display | 2 Ports (1 Probe Included) |
| Extra Features | Bottle Opener / Tool Hooks | Large Capacity / 2-Tier Racks |
| View Current Price On Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Detailed Comparative Review: My Life in the Smoke
I treated these two grills like a high-stakes competition. For a month, I cooked identical meals on both to see where the steel meets the road.
Design: Mahogany Charm vs. The Matte Black Titan
When I unboxed the Pit Boss 440, I was genuinely surprised by how “handsome” it is. The Mahogany Series finish isn’t just a marketing gimmick; it’s a rich, dark color that looks great next to outdoor furniture. The inclusion of a side shelf and an integrated bottle opener makes it feel like a complete cooking station. It’s smaller, sure, but it feels “premium.”
Moving to the 700FB2, the vibe changes completely. This is a “no-nonsense” machine. It’s heavy, it’s matte black, and it’s significantly wider. It doesn’t have the side shelf (which I missed immediately), but it makes up for it with sheer stability. At nearly 120 pounds, this thing isn’t going anywhere. The solid bottom shelf on both is great for storing bags of pellets, but the 700FB2 just feels like it was built to survive a decade of heavy use.
Ease of Use: Small Scale vs. Precision Control
The Pit Boss 440 uses a standard dial-in digital board. It’s incredibly easy to use—just turn the knob and walk away. However, it lacks the fine-tuned precision of its bigger brother.
The 700FB2 features the upgraded digital board with 5-degree increment settings. When I was smoking a delicate salmon, being able to set it exactly at 225°F and watch it stay there was a major win. Plus, the 700FB2 has two meat probe ports. I was able to monitor two different thicknesses of meat without lifting the lid. The 21-pound hopper on the 780 also meant I could go to bed during an overnight brisket smoke without worrying about the grill running dry—a luxury the 440’s smaller hopper simply can’t offer.
Functions: The Magic of the Flame Broiler
Both grills feature the Flame Broiler Lever, which is the “killer app” of Pit Boss. By sliding a lever, you open up the heat shield and allow direct access to the 1,000°F flame below.
I used this to sear steaks after a slow smoke. On the 440, the searing area is a bit smaller, but it heats up remarkably fast because the barrel is more compact. On the 700FB2, I had enough room to sear four ribeyes at the exact same time without them crowding over the flame port. Both offer the 8-in-1 versatility, and I found that both baked a surprisingly good tray of biscuits with that subtle wood-fired hint. The convection airflow in the 700FB2 felt a bit more “powerful,” likely due to the larger barrel volume allowing for more air movement.
Maintenance: Cleaning the Beasts
Cleaning a pellet grill is a labor of love, but the 440 is definitely the easier of the two. With less surface area and porcelain-coated grates that fit easily into a standard kitchen sink, I was able to deep-clean it in about 15 minutes.
The 700FB2 is a bigger project. The two tiers of racks mean more scrubbing, and the larger barrel catches more ash. However, both use a similar system for the firepot—you’ll still need to use a shop vac to suck out the ash every few cooks to keep the igniter working perfectly. The matte black finish on the 700FB2 is great at hiding smoke stains, while the Mahogany 440 needs a regular wipe-down to keep that “showroom” shine.
Pit Boss 440 (Mahogany Series) Wood Pellet Grill
Pros:
- Aesthetics: The mahogany finish and stainless accents look fantastic.
- Convenience: The side shelf and bottle opener are high-value additions.
- Compact Footprint: Perfect for smaller patios or townhouse balconies.
- Efficient: Heats up quickly and uses fewer pellets for short cooks.
Cons:
- Small Hopper: Not ideal for long, 12-hour overnight smokes without a refill.
- Limited Space: You’ll struggle to fit a full-sized brisket and multiple sides.
- Basic Controller: Lacks the 5-degree precision of newer models.
Pit Boss 700FB2 Wood Pellet Grill
Pros:
- Massive Capacity: 747 sq. in. allows you to feed a literal crowd.
- 21-lb Hopper: Truly a “set it and forget it” machine for overnight cooks.
- Precise Control: 5-degree increments give you much more authority over the temperature.
- Warranty: Backed by a best-in-class 5-year warranty.
Cons:
- No Side Shelf: You’ll need a table nearby to hold your trays and tools.
- Heavy: At 119 lbs, it’s a bit of a beast to move around.
- Utilitarian Look: It’s built for function over fashion.
The Final Recommendation: Which Boss Wins?
After a month of back-to-back testing, I’ve realized that while both carry the Pit Boss name, they serve two different types of pitmasters.
I recommend the Pit Boss 440 if you are primarily cooking for a family of 2 to 4 people and you value a grill that looks as good as it cooks. If you have limited patio space and you want the “all-in-one” convenience of a side shelf and tool hooks, the 440 is a “restaurant-quality” machine in a compact package.
- Pit Boss Mahogany Series 440 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
- 518 square inches of cooking surface
I recommend the Pit Boss 700FB2 if you are serious about the “Low and Slow” lifestyle. If you want to smoke 6 racks of ribs at once, or if you want to put a brisket on at midnight and sleep soundly knowing the 21-pound hopper has you covered, the 700FB2 is the superior choice. The 5-degree precision and the extra cooking racks make it a much more versatile tool for the serious hobbyist.
- 747 square inches of cooking space
- Reach temperatures from 180° to 500° with the digital control board with 5°F increment...
Personally, I would choose the Pit Boss 700FB2. In my house, we always end up with extra guests, and you can never have too much grate space. Plus, that 5-year warranty gives me total peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I use any brand of pellets in these grills?
A: Yes, you can, but Pit Boss recommends their own 100% all-natural hardwood pellets. I’ve used several brands, and as long as they are high-quality (no glues or fillers), both grills handle them well.
Q: Do I need to buy meat probes separately?
A: For the 700FB2, one probe is included, and it has ports for two. For the 440, it depends on the specific bundle, but usually, you’ll want to pick up a dedicated meat probe to take full advantage of the digital display.
Q: How does the Flame Broiler work?
A: It’s a simple sliding plate. When closed, it provides indirect heat for smoking and baking. When you slide it open with the lever, it exposes the meat to the open fire for high-heat searing.
Q: Is the 440 hard to move?
A: Not at all. It has two large metal wheels and a side handle. Because it’s under 100 lbs, it’s much easier to maneuver than the 700FB2.
Q: Can I sear a steak on the 700FB2?
A: Yes! With the Flame Broiler open, you can reach temperatures up to 1,000°F at the grate level, which gives you those professional-looking sear marks.
