Roast size for your guests, smoking time for your doneness, and a reverse-sear timeline that works back from when you sit down to eat.
Plan your prime rib
Smoked prime rib time per pound
Estimated smoke time to a medium-rare pull temperature of 125F, with the roast going onto a smoker already at temperature. Thickness matters more than weight, so start checking early and finish by thermometer.
Bone-in roast
225F
250F
275F
4 lb (2 ribs)
2h 08m
1h 44m
1h 20m
6 lb (3 ribs)
3h 12m
2h 36m
2h 00m
8 lb (4 ribs)
4h 16m
3h 28m
2h 40m
10 lb (5 ribs)
5h 20m
4h 20m
3h 20m
12 lb (5 ribs)
6h 24m
5h 12m
4h 00m
16 lb (7 ribs)
8h 32m
6h 56m
5h 20m
Rates used: about 32 min/lb at 225F, 26 at 250F and 20 at 275F for a bone-in roast. Boneless roasts run roughly 10 percent faster.
Pull temperatures and the reverse sear
Pull the roast from the smoker about 10F below your final target: 115F for rare, 125F for medium-rare, 135F for medium. Rest it for 20 to 30 minutes, then sear it hard for a few minutes a side in a 500F oven, on a hot grill or in cast iron. Because the smoker cooked it gently, the sear adds crust without a grey band under the surface.
Food-safety guidance for beef roasts is 145F with a 3-minute rest. Rare and medium-rare are a personal choice many cooks make for whole-muscle beef.
How much prime rib per person?
For a bone-in roast, plan about 1 lb per person, or one rib bone for every two guests. For boneless, 0.5 to 0.75 lb per person is enough. Leave the weight field empty and the calculator sizes the roast from your guest count.
How long does it take to smoke a prime rib per pound?
About 26 minutes per pound at 250F, 32 minutes at 225F and 20 minutes at 275F for a bone-in roast pulled at 125F for medium-rare. Add 20 to 30 minutes of rest and about 10 minutes for the reverse sear.
How long to smoke a 10 lb prime rib?
Around 4 hours 20 minutes at 250F to reach 125F, then 20 to 30 minutes of rest and a short sear. Start checking the temperature after about 3 hours.
What temperature should I pull a prime rib?
Pull at 115F for rare, 125F for medium-rare and 135F for medium. The temperature rises a few degrees while resting and searing.
How much prime rib per person?
About 1 lb of bone-in roast per person, or one rib for every two guests. For boneless, 0.5 to 0.75 lb per person.
What wood is best for smoking prime rib?
Oak is the classic choice because it adds smoke without overpowering the beef. Hickory works in small amounts; cherry adds color.