How Long to Smoke a 6 lb Pork Butt
A 6 lb pork butt takes 6 h 35 m to 9 h 35 m at 250°F. Plan for 8 h 25 m; to serve at 6 pm, light the smoker by 7:00 am.
6 lb pork butt at 250°F
6 h 35 m – 9 h 35 m
plan for 8 h 25 m · rest 45+ min · 3.1–3.6 lb cooked
6 lb pork butt at every pit temperature
| Pit | Range | Plan | vs 250°F |
|---|---|---|---|
| 225°F | 9 h – 12 h | 10 h 50 m | 2 h 25 m slower |
| 250°F | 6 h 35 m – 9 h 35 m | 8 h 25 m | — |
| 275°F | 6 h – 9 h | 7 h 50 m | 0 h 35 m faster |
| 300°F | 3 h 35 m – 6 h | 5 h 05 m | 3 h 20 m faster |
Timeline to serve at 6 pm
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Light the smoker | 7:00 am |
| Meat on (after about 45 min of preheat) | about 45 min later |
| Stall near 160°F: wrap if you want to speed up | about halfway through |
| Pull at about 203°F, probe-tender | about 1 h 45 m before serving (rest plus a 1-hour buffer) |
| Rest, wrapped, in a dry cooler | 45–120 min, up to 4 h above 140°F |
| Serve | 6:00 pm |
Charcoal: about 18 lb for the cook. Feeds: about 9–11 people at 5 oz cooked each.
Nearby weights
| Weight | Range at 250°F | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 8 lb | 8 h 50 m – 12 h 50 m | 11 h 10 m |
6 h 35 m – 9 h 35 m
Plan for 8 h 25 m at 250°F · 6 lb pork butt (shoulder)
| Light the cooker | 11 h before serving |
| Stall | starts near 160°F |
| Pull at | about 203°F and probe-tender |
| Rest | 45–120 min |
| Cooked meat you get | 3.1 – 3.6 lb |
How we calculate
- Time range = weight × hours per pound from the sources below (ribs, chicken, tri-tip and belly are timed per piece).
- The plan sits 60% of the way from the short end to the long end. Finishing early is easy to fix with a longer rest; finishing late is not.
- Several pieces: time follows the biggest one, plus 10% when the smoker holds 3 or more.
- Wrapping: where a source gives wrapped times we use them; otherwise we take about 10% off for butcher paper and 20% for foil (our estimate).
- Light the smoker at: plan + rest + a 1-hour buffer + 45 minutes to light and settle it. Cooked yield is from the USDA Food Buying Guide.
- Spare ribs: our source gives one 5–6 hour estimate for pork ribs; we use it at both 225 and 250°F.
Sources disagree by an hour or more on big cuts; that spread is why we show a range. Always finish by internal temperature. Data as of Oct 2026. Full list of sources: How we calculate.
Related
FAQ
How long to smoke a 6 lb pork butt?
A 6 lb pork butt takes 6 h 35 m to 9 h 35 m at 250°F. Plan for 8 h 25 m; to serve at 6 pm, light the smoker by 7:00 am.
How long to smoke a 6 lb pork butt at 225?
9 h to 12 h, plan for 10 h 50 m.
How long to smoke a 6 lb pork butt at 275?
6 h to 9 h, plan for 7 h 50 m.
How many people does a 6 lb pork butt feed?
About 9–11 people at 5 oz of cooked meat each; it yields 3.1–3.6 lb.