Traeger Tailgater 20 vs recteq X-Fire Pro 825: two wood pellet grills, side by side
Both of these are wood pellet grills: a hopper feeds hardwood pellets into a fire pot, a fan drives the burn, and a controller holds a set temperature. The recteq X-Fire Pro 825 opens a flame broiler for direct searing. The Traeger Tailgater 20 stays on indirect pellet heat. Hopper gap: recteq X-Fire Pro 825 holds 20 lb of pellets, Traeger Tailgater 20 holds 8 lb. The numbers below passed our verification pass. Anything we have not confirmed stays a dash.
Verdict from the verified data
On verified paper the Traeger Tailgater 20 is the one we would take from this pair. Cooking area per dollar: Traeger Tailgater 20 at $1.67/sq in vs recteq X-Fire Pro 825 at $1.87/sq in. recteq X-Fire Pro 825 is the one that actually sears over open flame, which is the whole point of a pellet grill vs a dedicated smoker for a lot of weeknight cooks.
How do the Traeger Tailgater 20 and recteq X-Fire Pro 825 pellet grills compare on paper?
| Traeger Tailgater 20 | recteq X-Fire Pro 825 | |
|---|---|---|
| Verified price | $500 | $1550 |
| Total cooking area | 300 sq in | 830 sq in |
| Price per sq in | $1.67 | $1.87 |
| Hopper capacity | 8 lb | 20 lb |
| Max temperature | 450°F | 1250°F |
| WiFi control | No | Yes |
| Direct-flame searing | No | Yes |
| Portable | Yes | No |
| Warranty | n/a | n/a |
| Our weighted score | not yet scored | not yet scored |
| Site rank | unranked | unranked |
Highlighted cells mark the better verified number. Rank on this site is the tested editorial pick; the score is the weighted measure (how we test). Traeger Tailgater 20: 300 sq in of cooking area, a 8 lb pellet hopper, a 450°F ceiling, indirect pellet heat only, no WiFi, a portable chassis. recteq X-Fire Pro 825: 830 sq in of cooking area, a 20 lb pellet hopper, a 1250°F ceiling, direct-flame searing, WiFi control.
What do owners actually complain about?
Traeger Tailgater 20
No recurring owner complaints have cleared our verification bar yet.
recteq X-Fire Pro 825
No recurring owner complaints have cleared our verification bar yet.
Complaint patterns come from verified owner reports gathered during our research passes, kept on file.
Common questions about this pellet-grill matchup
Are both of these wood pellet grills?
Yes. The Traeger Tailgater 20 and the recteq X-Fire Pro 825 both burn hardwood pellets. Neither is a gas grill, a charcoal kettle, or a stick-burner. If you came here from a brand-vs-brand page, this is the model-level version of that fight.
Which is bigger, the Traeger Tailgater 20 or the recteq X-Fire Pro 825?
The recteq X-Fire Pro 825 has the larger verified cooking area at 830 sq in, against 300 sq in. Whether that matters depends on how many racks of ribs you run at once.
Which costs less?
At verified regular prices the Traeger Tailgater 20 is the cheaper grill at $500, versus $1550. Sale prices move; the check-price buttons always show today's number.
Which hopper lasts longer on an overnight cook?
The recteq X-Fire Pro 825 holds 20 lb against 8 lb. That is the one less likely to need a 2 a.m. refill on a brisket.
Which one should I buy?
From this pair, the Traeger Tailgater 20. That is our call on ranking, score, and cooking area per dollar, not a promise that it is the right grill for every patio. If you want the site's overall winner instead, that is still the Weber Searwood XL.