Traeger Flatrock vs LoCo
The two griddles here that actually tried to solve temperature control — and solved completely different halves of it.
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Quick picks
Ranked on published specifications using our scoring rubric. Tap a row for the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traeger Flatrock 3-Zone GriddleSearing and zone discipline | Searing and zone discipline | 8.8 | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 |  LoCo 36" SmartTemp 3-Burner GriddleAnyone who wants a real thermostat | Anyone who wants a real thermostat | 8.0 | Check price on Amazon |
#ad We publish no prices: there is no verified price feed on this site, so the retailer’s page is the only price. How this is funded
Side by side
Same fields on both sides. Heat density is computed from the published BTU and cooking area, not quoted from a manufacturer.
| Specification | Traeger Flatrock 3-Zone Griddle | LoCo 36" SmartTemp 3-Burner Griddle |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 594 sq in | 738 sq in |
| Burners | 3 | 3 |
| Total output | 47,000 BTU | 46,500 BTU |
| Heat density | 79.1 BTU / sq in | 63 BTU / sq in |
| Cooktop | Carbon steel | Oil-treated steel |
| Best for | Searing and zone discipline | Anyone who wants a real thermostat |
| Our score | 8.8 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
Two halves of the same problem
Griddle temperature control fails in two distinct ways, and these two griddles each fixed one of them.
The zones blur. Heat conducts sideways through a continuous steel plate, so your cool zone drifts hotter as the cook goes on. Traeger fixed this with insulation between zones.
The knob is not a temperature. “Medium” is a valve position that produces different results with wind, ambient temperature and tank level. LoCo fixed this with a digital thermostat in 25-degree increments.
Neither fixed both. Which half matters more to you is the comparison.
Heat: Traeger, by 26%
79.1 against 63.0 BTU per square inch. The Traeger recovers substantially faster when a load of cold food lands, which means it sears better and handles waves better.
The LoCo is not under-powered in absolute terms — 46,500 BTU is plenty of gas — it is spread across 738 square inches, which is 144 more than the Traeger.
Zone size matters here
Traeger: three zones over 594 square inches, so about 198 each. LoCo: three zones over 738, so about 246 each.
The LoCo’s zones are roughly 24% larger and therefore coarser. Combined with its lower heat density, that makes its precise thermostatic control slightly paradoxical — exact numbers across broad, less responsive areas.
Where LoCo is uniquely strong
Repeatability. If you make the same thing often and want it the same every time, a thermostat beats a knob, decisively. For breakfast cooking in particular, that is a real quality-of-life difference.
Leveling. The cooktop leveling system addresses grease drainage, the most common practical complaint in the category. Traeger does not.
Surface. 738 against 594 square inches is a meaningful 24% more food.
Where Traeger is uniquely strong
Zone integrity. A holding zone that genuinely holds, for the whole cook. LoCo’s thermostat controls what the burner does; it cannot stop heat conducting sideways through the plate.
Searing. 26% more heat per square inch.
Simplicity. No outdoor electronics to fail.
Which to buy
Traeger Flatrock 3-Zone if you sear, cook composed meals in stages, and want zones that stay where you put them. It tops our overall ranking.
LoCo 36 if you cook temperature-sensitive food repeatedly, want more surface, or have a patio that is not level.
Both are more thoughtful than most of this category, which mostly competes on burner count and square inches.
The picks in detail
Specifications are linked to their source on every card. Scores are ours, derived from those specifications.
#1 · Searing and zone discipline
Traeger Flatrock 3-Zone Griddle
594 square inches with three insulated zones and 79.1 BTU per square inch — the highest usable heat density of any mid-size griddle here.
#ad We publish no prices: there is no verified price feed on this site, so the retailer’s page is the only price. How this is funded
Key specifications
- Cooking area
- 594 sq in
- Burners
- 3 (TruZone, insulated)
- Total output
- 47,000 BTU
- Cooktop
- Carbon steel
- Stated range
- 350–600 °F
- Dimensions
- 74 W × 42 H × 27 D in
Specifications from Abt spec sheet.
Scores
- Cooking area8.0
- Heat output9.5
- Zone control9.5
- Surface care6.5
- Portability3.5
What works
- Insulated zones are the real feature — heat does not bleed sideways, so a 'warm' zone stays warm
- 79.1 BTU per sq in is the best heat density in its size class, which is what you feel when six patties hit the plate
- Three genuinely independent zones in a body smaller than a 36
What to know
- Carbon steel, so you are back to seasoning and covering it
- The stated 350–600 °F range is narrower at the bottom than rivals — gentle holding is less controllable
- Smallest accessory ecosystem of the four major brands
#2 · Anyone who wants a real thermostat
LoCo 36" SmartTemp 3-Burner Griddle
The only griddle here with digital thermostat control in 25-degree increments — it holds a set temperature instead of a knob position.
#ad We publish no prices: there is no verified price feed on this site, so the retailer’s page is the only price. How this is funded
Key specifications
- Cooking area
- 738 sq in (36 W × 20.5 D in)
- Burners
- 3 SmartTemp
- Total output
- up to 46,500 BTU
- Cooktop
- Oil-treated steel
- Control
- Digital displays + thermostat, 25° increments
- Other
- Cooktop leveling and locking systems
Specifications from Bass Pro listing.
Scores
- Cooking area9.0
- Heat output7.0
- Zone control8.5
- Surface care7.5
- Portability3.0
What works
- Thermostatic control is a genuine category difference — every other griddle here asks you to learn where 'medium' is
- The cooktop leveling system is the fix for the most common real-world griddle complaint: grease that will not drain
- 738 sq in puts it in 36-inch territory with only three burners to manage
What to know
- 63.0 BTU per square inch is on the low side for this surface area
- Digital control means electronics outdoors — one more thing that can fail
- Three zones over 738 sq in means each zone is large and less precise than four over 769
Common questions
Traeger Flatrock or LoCo SmartTemp?
Can't a thermostat solve the zone-bleed problem?
Which has larger cooking zones?
Sources
Every specification on this page came from one of these. If you find one of them has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Read next
Traeger Flatrock 3-Zone
594 square inches, three insulated zones, 79.1 BTU per square inch. The best heat-and-control combination in the guide.
LoCo 36" SmartTemp 3-Burner
738 square inches, three SmartTemp burners, digital thermostat in 25° increments, cooktop leveling. Genuine problem-solving.
Blackstone vs LoCo
Blackstone's heat and ecosystem against LoCo's thermostatic control and cooktop leveling — two different ideas of control.
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