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How Long to Smoke a 5 lb Pork Shoulder — Cook Time Calculator

A 5-pound pork shoulder (Boston butt) is ideal for a smaller gathering of 6–8 people — or a weeknight smoke where you want pulled pork for the week. At 225°F, plan on 7–10 hours — a same-day morning start for a dinner serve. At 250°F, the same shoulder finishes in 6–8 hours. After pulling, a 5-pound raw shoulder yields about 3 pounds of pulled pork. Use the calculator to build your exact timeline.

A 5-pound pork shoulder at 225°F can be started at 8–9 AM for a 6–7 PM dinner. No overnight cook required.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How long to smoke an 8 lb pork shoulder?
At 250°F, an 8-pound pork shoulder (butt) takes approximately 10–14 hours to reach 195–205°F internal temperature. Cook time varies significantly — always go by internal temperature, not time.
What internal temperature for pulled pork?
Pull pork shoulder at 195–205°F. At 195°F it's technically done and safe, but the collagen isn't fully broken down. At 200–205°F, the meat pulls apart effortlessly. Use the probe test — it should slide in with zero resistance.
Should I wrap pork shoulder when smoking?
Wrapping in butcher paper or foil at ~165°F helps push through the stall and preserves moisture. Butcher paper (the Aaron Franklin method) keeps more bark texture than foil.
Bone-in vs boneless pork shoulder for smoking?
Both work great. Bone-in shoulder (Boston butt) may cook slightly slower but many pitmasters prefer the flavor. Boneless is easier to inject and wrap. The bone provides a built-in doneness indicator — when it wiggles freely, the pork is done.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a 5 lb pork shoulder take to smoke?
At 225°F, a 5-pound pork shoulder takes 7–10 hours. At 250°F, plan 6–8 hours. These are estimates — always cook to internal temperature. Pull when the pork shoulder is probe-tender at 195–205°F (a thermometer probe slides in with no resistance, like warm butter).
How many people does a 5 lb pork shoulder feed?
A 5-pound raw pork shoulder yields about 3 pounds of pulled pork after cooking (35–40% shrinkage). At 4–5 oz per sandwich, that's 9–12 sandwiches — comfortably feeding 6–8 people with sides. For a hungry crowd without many sides, plan for 6 servings.
Can I smoke a 5 lb pork shoulder same day?
Yes — a 5-pound shoulder is the right size for a same-day smoke. Starting at 8 AM at 225°F gives you finished pork by 5–6 PM, with time to rest. Or start at 10 AM at 250°F for a 7–8 PM dinner. Smaller shoulders also have more surface area-to-volume ratio, which often makes them cook slightly faster.

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