The best cut of pork for pulled pork is the pork shoulder , especially the top part called the Boston butt (pork butt) , because it has the right mix of fat, collagen, and meat to turn tender and juicy when cooked low and slow.

Quick Scoop

  • #1 pick: Boston butt / pork butt (top of the shoulder).
  • Also great: Picnic shoulder / picnic roast (lower shoulder) if you can’t find butt or want more “hammy” flavor.
  • Whole shoulder: Butt + picnic together, amazing flavor but big and takes longer to cook.
  • Cuts to avoid: Pork loin and other very lean cuts – they dry out and don’t shred well.

Best Cut: Boston Butt (Pork Butt)

This is the classic competition and backyard choice for pulled pork.

  • Comes from the upper part of the shoulder and has great marbling and connective tissue for that “fall-apart” texture.
  • The fat slowly renders and keeps the meat moist during long cooks, giving rich pork flavor.
  • Works perfectly for smoking, roasting, or slow-cooking until it shreds easily with forks.

Think of Boston butt as the “easy mode” cut for pulled pork: forgiving, flavorful, and hard to mess up if you cook it low and slow.

Other Shoulder Cuts (And What To Skip)

Good alternatives

  • Picnic shoulder / picnic roast
    • From the lower part of the shoulder, usually sold bone‑in.
* A bit leaner and slightly less rich than butt but still shreds very well and makes great pulled pork.
  • Whole pork shoulder
    • Includes both butt and picnic, often 12–16 lb.
* Fantastic flavor and moisture, but you need time, fuel, and space to cook it properly.

Cuts to avoid for pulled pork

  • Pork loin / tenderloin
    • Too lean; tends to turn dry and chalky before it ever gets tender enough to pull.
  • Very lean roasts (e.g., some leg/ham cuts)
    • Better for slicing or roasting, not for shredding low and slow.

Simple Rule of Thumb

If you’re standing at the meat counter wondering what cut of pork for pulled pork to grab:

  1. Look for labels like “pork butt,” “Boston butt,” or “pork shoulder butt roast.”
  1. If that’s not available, choose “picnic shoulder” or “picnic roast.”
  1. Avoid anything labeled loin or tenderloin for pulled pork.

Mini SEO Bits

  • Focus phrase: what cut of pork for pulled pork – answer: Boston butt / pork shoulder.
  • Meta-style summary:
    • The best cut of pork for pulled pork is Boston butt (pork shoulder), thanks to its ideal fat and collagen content that turns meltingly tender with low-and-slow cooking.

TL;DR: Grab a Boston butt (pork butt) first; if not available, a picnic shoulder or whole shoulder will still give you excellent pulled pork, while lean cuts like loin are poor choices.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.