Cooking · low & slow

Brisket smoking time calculator

Plan a brisket smoke by weight — with the target internal temp, smoker temp, and an honest warning about the stall.

In short

A 14 lb brisket at 225°F runs roughly 17–21 hours, but expect a stall around 150–170°F that can add hours. Pull it at 200–205°F when it probes tender — not at any particular time.

Smoking plan

Estimate
Pull at internal200–205°F
Smoker temp225–250°F
Plan for (time)

About this estimate

Smoking is the method where the clock lies most: weather, smoker swings, and the stall all move the finish line. The time above is for planning your day — cook to the target internal temperature with a probe thermometer, and pull when it's probe-tender.

Smoking a different cut? Use the full smoking time calculator.

How long to smoke a brisket?
Roughly 1.5 hours per pound at 225°F, so a 14 lb brisket is about 17–21 hours. The stall can add several more — always plan a buffer and cook to temperature.
What is the brisket stall?
Around 150–170°F the internal temperature plateaus for hours as surface moisture evaporates and cools the meat. Wait it out, or wrap in butcher paper or foil.
What temperature is brisket done?
200–205°F, when it probes tender. That's well past any safety minimum — it's about collagen breaking down into gelatin for tenderness.

Related tools

Smoking time calculatorAny cut Pork shoulderPreset RibsPreset Smoked whole chicken timePreset