Masterbuilt 40 Inch Electric Smoker Buyer's Guide

Getting a 40-inch electric smoker right the first time saves you from returning a unit that looked fine on a spec sheet but failed in the backyard. The Masterbuilt 40-inch lineup is the category benchmark , widely available, well-documented, and genuinely capable , but there are real differences between models, and the accessories you pair with your smoker matter more than most buyers expect. This guide covers both the hardware and the protection gear, because a smoker left uncovered through an Ohio winter is a smoker you’ll be replacing sooner than you planned.

The buying decision here splits into two parts: which smoker model fits your setup, and which cover keeps it alive between cooks.

What to Look For in a 40-Inch Electric Smoker

Cooking Capacity and Rack Configuration

970 square inches of cooking space sounds like an abstraction until you’re trying to fit three racks of ribs and a brisket flat for a Saturday cook. The 40-inch vertical format stacks that capacity efficiently , you get meaningful square footage without the footprint of a cabinet-style or offset unit. What matters most is how the racks are arranged and whether they slide out independently, because the practical usability of a smoker comes down to access, not raw numbers.

Chrome racks hold up better than painted steel over time. They’re easier to clean, they don’t degrade with the heat cycling that comes from regular use, and they don’t impart off-flavors after the coating starts flaking. If you’re comparing two units with similar specs, rack material is a meaningful tiebreaker.

Vertical smokers do have one real limitation: the lower racks run hotter and drier than the upper ones, especially if your heating element is floor-mounted. Rotating meat between racks midway through a long cook is standard practice, not an edge case.

Digital Controls and Temperature Accuracy

The whole value proposition of an electric smoker is set-it-and-forget-it reliability. If the digital controller can’t hold temperature within a reasonable window, you’ve lost the one advantage the format has over charcoal or pellet setups. A well-calibrated digital unit should hold within 10, 15 degrees of your target without constant intervention.

Look for a controller that reads in single-degree increments rather than five- or ten-degree steps. Coarser controls make it harder to dial in low-and-slow targets like 225°F for brisket or 180°F for fish. A built-in meat probe that reads internal temperature at the controller is worth having , it saves you from opening the door and losing heat every time you want a doneness check.

Wood Chip Loading System

Side-loading wood chip systems are one of those features that seem minor until you’ve burned your hand reaching into a live smoker to reload chips. The ability to add fuel without breaking the chamber seal keeps your cooking temperature stable and eliminates the heat spike that comes from opening the main door.

How long a chip load burns varies by wood type and smoke density , thinner chips and fruitwoods go faster than chunks or heavier hardwoods. A larger chip tray means fewer reloads during a long brisket cook. This matters most for cooks over four hours; for shorter sessions, the difference is negligible. Before settling on a smoker, it’s worth reading through the full electric smokers category to understand how chip-loading designs compare across brands and price tiers.

Weather Protection and Cover Fit

A cover is not optional equipment , it’s maintenance. Moisture intrusion into the electronics, the wood chip loader, and the door seals degrades performance faster than cooking frequency does. The 40-inch vertical form factor creates a specific geometry that generic covers fit poorly, which is why model-matched covers exist.

A good cover needs to be genuinely waterproof, not just water-resistant. Look for sealed seams and UV-stable material if the smoker lives outside year-round. Fit matters: a loose cover traps condensation underneath it, which is worse than no cover in some conditions.

Top Picks

Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker (MB20072918)

The Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker MB20072918 is the right starting point for most buyers looking at this category. It delivers 970 square inches across four chrome racks, digital temperature control, and a side wood chip loader , the complete package without having to source accessories separately.

What earns it the top spot is the combination of the side loader and the digital controller working together. You can hold 225°F for an eight-hour brisket cook and reload chips without touching the door. That stability is the whole reason to choose electric over charcoal for longer sessions, and this unit delivers it consistently.

The one honest constraint is the power cord situation. You’ll need your outlet within reach or a heavy-gauge extension cord , undersized cords cause voltage drop that affects heating element performance. Plan your placement before the smoker arrives.

Check current price on Amazon.

Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker (MB20070122)

The Masterbuilt MB20070122 is a close relative of the MB20072918, sharing the same 970-square-inch capacity, digital controls, and side chip loader. The distinguishing feature is the included leg kit, which raises the unit slightly off the ground , useful on uneven surfaces and for keeping the bottom of the smoker away from wet ground during outdoor cooks.

For buyers who plan to use their smoker on a patio, deck, or gravel surface, the additional height clearance is a practical convenience rather than a luxury. The digital controller on this model reads cleanly and holds temperature with the consistency you’d expect from a current-generation Masterbuilt unit.

The footprint is meaningful. The vertical design keeps the width manageable, but at 40 inches tall with the leg kit added, you’re committing real vertical space. Measure your storage situation , a covered porch or garage bay , before ordering.

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Masterbuilt 40-Inch Electric Smoker Cover

If you’re buying a Masterbuilt 40-inch smoker, the Masterbuilt 40-Inch Electric Smoker Cover is the natural pairing. First-party covers exist for a reason: Masterbuilt designed this cover to match the exact dimensions and contours of their 40-inch units, which matters more than it sounds.

A cover that’s spec’d by the manufacturer doesn’t leave gaps at the handles, loader port, or door edges. Those gaps are where moisture gets in, and moisture in the electronics is how you end up with a dead controller two seasons into owning a smoker. Buying the OEM cover at the same time as the smoker is the lower-friction choice , no sizing second-guessing required.

The limitation is straightforward: this covers one size of one brand. If you ever change smokers, the cover doesn’t transfer.

Check current price on Amazon.

esinkin 40-Inch Waterproof Electric Smoker Cover

The esinkin 40-Inch Waterproof Electric Smoker Cover is the most established third-party option for Masterbuilt 40-inch protection. It’s been in the market long enough to have a real review record, which is the most useful thing you can say about a cover , it’s hard to evaluate waterproofing without knowing how it holds up through multiple seasons.

Waterproof construction and a fit sized specifically for Masterbuilt 40-inch geometry makes this a functional alternative if the OEM cover is unavailable or backordered. The material holds up reasonably well in direct sun exposure, which matters if the smoker lives outdoors without shade cover.

The brand recognition gap relative to Masterbuilt’s own cover is real but not disqualifying. At this price tier, the cover does what a cover needs to do.

Check current price on Amazon.

40-Inch Electric Smoker Cover for Masterbuilt

The 40-Inch Electric Smoker Cover for Masterbuilt is a newer entry in the third-party cover segment , the ASIN reflects a more recent product introduction than the esinkin or OEM options. Newer listings can mean updated materials and construction, or they can mean less field-testing data. The trade-off is real.

The cover is waterproof, sized for 40-inch Masterbuilt vertical smokers, and purpose-designed rather than a modified generic cover. Those are the right boxes to check. For buyers who are comparison shopping covers rather than defaulting to the OEM option, this is a reasonable consideration alongside the esinkin.

The thinner review history is the honest caveat here. It’s not a reason to avoid it, but it’s a reason to check current ratings before buying.

Check current price on Amazon.

Buying Guide

Choosing Between the Two Masterbuilt 40-Inch Smoker Models

The MB20072918 and MB20070122 share the same core spec sheet , same capacity, same digital controller, same side-loading chip system. The practical difference is the leg kit included with the MB20070122. If you’re placing your smoker on a flat, level surface with good drainage , a concrete patio, a deck with proper runoff , the height difference is minor. If you’re working with gravel, grass, or any surface where moisture pools, the extra clearance from the leg kit is worth having.

Both models require the same access to a power outlet within a reasonable run. Neither is meaningfully harder to season or break in. Choose based on your surface and storage conditions, not marketing language.

OEM vs. Third-Party Cover

The Masterbuilt first-party cover is the default recommendation for a reason: it’s designed to the same tolerances as the smoker it protects. The fit at the door, the loader port, and the handle cutouts is tighter than most third-party options achieve. For buyers who plan to leave their smoker outside through multiple seasons, the OEM cover reduces the variables that cause moisture damage.

Third-party covers , the esinkin and the generic 40-inch option , are reasonable when the OEM is unavailable or when you’ve had a cover fail and want to compare alternatives. The esinkin has the longer market history of the two. Both are purpose-sized for Masterbuilt 40-inch units rather than adapted from generic templates, which is the minimum standard worth meeting.

Power and Placement Considerations

Electric smokers require a 110V outlet with enough amperage to run the heating element without tripping a breaker. Most 40-inch Masterbuilt units draw 800 watts or more at full output. On a shared circuit with other outdoor appliances , a refrigerator, a patio lighting circuit , that draw can cause nuisance trips during preheat.

If you’re running an extension cord, use 12-gauge or heavier wire rated for outdoor use. Undersized cords reduce voltage at the element, which shows up as slow preheating and temperature instability. A smoker that can’t hold 225°F isn’t doing its job. Before your first cook, check the electric smokers category documentation for guidance on electrical requirements across different unit sizes , it’s a common source of early setup frustration that’s easy to avoid.

Seasoning and Break-In

A new electric smoker needs a seasoning run before food goes in. Run the unit empty at 275°F for two to three hours with a partial chip load. This burns off manufacturing residue from the interior coating, the racks, and the chip tray, and it gives you a chance to verify that your temperature controller is reading accurately before you put an eight-pound brisket on the line.

First-time smoker owners often skip this step. The result is food that picks up off-flavors from factory coatings , a problem that’s entirely avoidable. The break-in also lets you observe how your specific unit behaves: where it runs hot, how long chips last in your chip tray, and how quickly it recovers temperature after a door opening.

Long-Term Maintenance

The longevity of a 40-inch electric smoker is mostly a function of how well you protect it between cooks. The heating element, the controller, and the door seal are the components most vulnerable to moisture and grease accumulation. A properly fitted cover extends the service life of all three.

Clean the chip tray and water pan after every cook , grease fires in the chip tray are the most common cause of unplanned downtime in electric smokers, and they’re preventable. The interior walls develop a patina over time that’s normal and desirable; scrubbing them bare after each use removes the seasoning you’ve built up and makes temperature instability more likely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Masterbuilt MB20072918 and MB20070122?

Both models share the same 970-square-inch cooking capacity, digital temperature controls, and side wood chip loader. The MB20070122 includes a leg kit that raises the unit off the ground, which is useful for uneven outdoor surfaces or when grounding moisture is a concern. If you’re placing your smoker on a flat, dry patio, the functional difference is minimal , the MB20072918 is the more widely available of the two.

Do I need a cover for my Masterbuilt 40-inch electric smoker?

A cover is necessary if the smoker lives outdoors between cooks. Moisture intrusion into the digital controller, the wood chip loader port, and the door seal shortens the lifespan of those components significantly. The Masterbuilt 40-Inch Electric Smoker Cover is the OEM option and fits the geometry of the 40-inch units without modification. If the smoker is stored indoors after every use, a cover is less critical but still worth having.

Can I use a third-party cover instead of the Masterbuilt OEM cover?

Yes, and two purpose-fit options exist for the 40-inch Masterbuilt: the esinkin 40-Inch Waterproof Electric Smoker Cover and the 40-Inch Electric Smoker Cover for Masterbuilt. Both are sized specifically for Masterbuilt 40-inch vertical smokers rather than adapted from generic dimensions. The esinkin has a longer track record in the market; the generic option is newer and carries less review history.

How often do I need to add wood chips during a long smoke?

Chip burn rate depends on wood type, smoke density, and the specific chip tray size in your unit. Dense hardwoods like hickory and oak burn slower than fruitwoods like cherry or apple. During a six-to-eight-hour brisket cook, plan on reloading every forty-five minutes to an hour and a half. The side wood chip loader on both Masterbuilt 40-inch models lets you reload without opening the main chamber door, which keeps your cooking temperature stable through the entire session.

Is a 40-inch electric smoker large enough for a full brisket?

970 square inches across four racks is sufficient for a whole packer brisket, which typically runs twelve to sixteen pounds before trimming. The flat and point will fit on a single rack if the brisket is positioned diagonally, or you can separate flat and point onto two racks if you prefer. The vertical orientation means a brisket isn’t sitting in a single long horizontal chamber the way it would in an offset, but the capacity is there for most family-scale cooks.