Brisket Cooking Time Calculator
Estimate smoking time for brisket.
~75 (smoker at 225°F)
Results update as you type.
How it works
Brisket is a large, tough cut that rewards low-and-slow cooking, and this calculator estimates how long it will take. You enter the brisket weight and the minutes per pound for your setup, and it returns the total cooking time in minutes and hours. Smoking brisket at 225°F is commonly figured at about 75 to 90 minutes per pound, so a 12-pound packer brisket can take 15 hours or more. However, brisket is notoriously unpredictable — it is done when it reaches the right internal temperature and probe-tender texture, not when the clock says so. The infamous stall, where evaporative cooling pauses the temperature rise for hours around 150 to 170°F, can extend cooking well beyond estimates, which is why many pitmasters wrap the brisket in foil or butcher paper (the Texas crutch) to push through it. Aim for an internal temperature around 200 to 205°F for tender, sliceable brisket, checking that a probe slides in with little resistance. Always start early and build in a buffer of an hour or two, then hold the finished brisket wrapped in a cooler until serving. This estimate helps you plan your cook and prep timeline. Enter the weight and minutes per pound to estimate the cooking time.
Cooking time = weight × minutes per pound
The estimated cook time equals the brisket weight times the minutes per pound for your cooker temperature. Low-and-slow smoking at 225°F is often figured around 75 to 90 minutes per pound, but brisket is done by internal temperature and tenderness, not the clock, so build in a time buffer.
Source:Barbecue guidelines
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter brisket weight.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust minutes per pound if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Total cooking time updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to smoke a brisket?
At 225°F, brisket is often figured at about 75 to 90 minutes per pound, so a 12-pound brisket can take 15 hours or more. This is only an estimate; brisket is done by internal temperature and tenderness, not the clock. Always start early and build in a buffer, since cook times vary widely.
What is the brisket stall?
The stall is when the brisket's internal temperature plateaus for hours, often around 150 to 170°F, as moisture evaporating from the surface cools the meat and offsets the heat going in. It can add hours to your cook. Wrapping the brisket in foil or butcher paper, the Texas crutch, helps push through the stall faster.
What internal temperature is brisket done?
Brisket becomes tender when its internal temperature reaches roughly 200 to 205°F, high enough to break down the tough collagen and connective tissue into gelatin. Just as important is the feel: a probe should slide into the thickest part with little resistance, like into soft butter. Use both temperature and probe-tenderness to judge doneness.
Should I wrap my brisket?
Wrapping in foil or butcher paper partway through, once the bark has set and the stall hits, speeds cooking by trapping moisture and preventing evaporative cooling. Foil pushes through the stall fastest but softens the bark, while butcher paper is a middle ground that keeps more bark. Some cooks skip wrapping for maximum bark, accepting a longer cook.
Why start cooking brisket early?
Because brisket cook times are unpredictable due to the stall and variations in the meat, cooker, and weather, it is wise to start hours before you need it and build in a buffer. A finished brisket holds well wrapped in a cooler for one to several hours, so it is far better to finish early and rest it than to keep guests waiting.