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How Long to Smoke an 8 lb Pork Shoulder — Timing Guide

An 8-pound pork shoulder is the most popular size for backyard pulled pork — large enough to feed 15–20 people, small enough to fit on most kettle grills and smokers. At 225°F, plan 12–14 hours, making this an overnight cook or very early morning start for a lunch serve. At 250°F, it finishes in 10–12 hours. The calculator below gives you the exact start time based on your serve time.

An 8-pound pork shoulder is the sweet spot: yields 5 lbs of pulled pork (feeds 15-20), fits on a standard 22" kettle grill, and finishes in a manageable 12–14 hour window at 225°F.
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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 an 8 lb pork shoulder take to smoke at 225°F?
At 225°F, an 8-pound pork shoulder takes 12–14 hours. At 250°F, plan 10–12 hours. The stall (internal temp plateau around 150–170°F) can add 2–4 hours. Wrapping in butcher paper or foil at 160–165°F (Texas crutch) pushes through the stall faster without sacrificing bark quality.
Should I smoke an 8 lb pork shoulder overnight?
Yes — overnight is ideal for an 8-pound shoulder at 225°F. Start at 10–11 PM for a noon serve, or midnight for a 2–3 PM lunch. Use a reliable probe thermometer with a temperature alarm set to 203°F so you don't oversleep. After cooking, pork shoulder holds beautifully in a preheated cooler for 4+ hours.
How much pulled pork does an 8 lb pork shoulder make?
An 8-pound raw pork shoulder yields approximately 5 pounds of pulled pork after cooking (35–38% shrinkage). At 4 oz per sandwich, that's 20 sandwiches. At 5 oz for a main course, it feeds about 16 people. With multiple sides (coleslaw, potato salad, beans), 5 pounds of pulled pork comfortably serves 15–20 people.

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