Brisket Cook Time Calculator
How long to smoke a brisket, and what time to start so it's ready to serve.
Updated · How we check our maths
- Estimated cook time
- 12 h 19 min – 15 h 24 min
- Start smoking by
- 01:06 (long-cook estimate + 1.5 h rest)
- Hours per pound
- 0.88–1.1
- Pull when probe-tender
- about 200–205°F internal
- Rest
- 1–2 hours (wrapped, in a cooler or low oven)
- Wrap when
- the bark is set and the stall hits, around 160–170°F
Quick answer
Plan on about 1 to 1¼ hours per pound at 250°F (1¼–1½ h at 225°F, ¾–1 h at 275°F), plus 1–2 hours to rest. A 14 lb packer brisket at 250°F usually takes 12–15 hours unwrapped, or a little less wrapped. It is done when it reaches about 200–205°F and a probe slides in with no resistance.
What the Brisket Cook Time Calculator does
Enter the brisket's weight, your smoker temperature and whether you will wrap it. The calculator estimates the cook time and, if you enter a serving time, the time to start — using the long end of the range plus rest time so dinner isn't late.
Brisket often stalls for hours around 150–170°F as moisture evaporates. Wrapping in butcher paper or foil pushes through the stall faster.
The formula
Cook time = weight × hours per pound (225°F: 1.25–1.5; 250°F: 1–1.25; 275°F: 0.75–1), × ~0.88 if wrapped.
Worked example
12 lb brisket at 225°F, unwrapped: 12 × 1.25–1.5 = 15–18 hours, plus 1–2 h rest.
How to use the Brisket Cook Time Calculator
- Weigh the brisket before trimming.
- Choose your smoker temperature and whether you'll wrap.
- Enter when you want to eat to get a start time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to smoke a 15 lb brisket?
About 15–19 hours at 250°F unwrapped, or 13–16 hours wrapped, plus resting.
What temperature is brisket done?
Usually 200–205°F, but tenderness matters more than the number.
Why does brisket stall?
Evaporation from the surface cools the meat. The stall can last hours; wrapping shortens it.
Results are estimates for planning and learning. Check important figures with a qualified professional. How we build and check our calculators.