Bone-In Ham Cook Time 225 / 250 / 275°F

Honest time ranges for planning the day — then a thermometer, not the clock, decides when it's done. Pull window: 135–140°F.

Hours by weight and pit temp

Weight225°F250°F275°F
Per pound 0.25–0.33 hr/lb0.2–0.25 hr/lb0.15–0.2 hr/lb
7 lb 1¾–2¼ hr1½–1¾ hr1–1½ hr
8 lb 2–2¾ hr1½–2 hr1¼–1½ hr
9 lb 2¼–3 hr1¾–2¼ hr1¼–1¾ hr
10 lb 2½–3¼ hr2–2½ hr1½–2 hr
⏱️ Worked example: to serve at 6:00 pm, a 9-lb bone-in half ham at 250°F (1¾–2¼ hr) plus rest and a cushion means meat on around 2:55 pm, smoker lit ~40 minutes earlier. The cook time planner runs this for your own serve time.

Doneness: 135–140°F

Probe near, not touching, the bone. This "double smoke" is about warming and glazing, not rendering.

🌡️ Food safety: A fully cooked ham only needs reheating to 140°F (165°F if the label says "cook before eating" — rare, but check).

Wrapping

Run it unwrapped for smoke and color, then glaze in the final 30–45 minutes — sugar glazes burn if they go on early.

Rest & hold

Rest at least 15–20 minutes. Hams are forgiving holders — tent with foil and it stays carving-warm for an hour. For food safety, hold hot meat above 140°F — a wrapped rest in a dry cooler does exactly that.

How much to buy

Quantities are the other half of the plan: portions, yield, and a group-size chart live on how much bone-in ham per person.

Frequently asked questions

How long does bone-in ham take to smoke at 225°F?

Plan 0.25–0.33 hours per pound at 225°F — a typical 9-lb bone-in half ham runs 2¼–3 hr. That's a planning range, not a promise: shape, fat, and the stall all move the finish.

What temperature is bone-in ham done?

Probe near, not touching, the bone. This "double smoke" is about warming and glazing, not rendering. A fully cooked ham only needs reheating to 140°F (165°F if the label says "cook before eating" — rare, but check).

Should I wrap bone-in ham?

Run it unwrapped for smoke and color, then glaze in the final 30–45 minutes — sugar glazes burn if they go on early.

How long should bone-in ham rest?

At least 15–20 minutes. Hams are forgiving holders — tent with foil and it stays carving-warm for an hour.