In their 1964 monograph on North American "Suillus" species, Alexander H. Smith and Harry Delbert Thiers classified "S. luteus" in the series "Suilli" of the section "Suillus" in genus "Suillus". This group is characterized by the presence of either a ring on the stipe, a partial veil adhering to the cap margin, or a "false veil" not attached to the stipe but initially covering the tube cavity. Species closely related to "Suillus luteus" include "S. pseudobrevipes" (a sister species), "S. brevipes" and "S. weaverae" (formerly "Fuscoboletinus weaverae"). A genetic study of nucleotide DNA reinforced the species' monophyly and low genetic divergence, with material of "S. luteus" from the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany and North America forming a clade, in contrast with some other species, such as "S. granulatus", which were shown to be polyphyletic.