How to Light Charcoal: 5 Methods Compared

Why Your Lighting Method Matters

Flavour. Chemical starters (lighter fluid, petroleum-based products) leave residue that taints your food. Clean-burning methods protect the natural charcoal flavour.

Safety. Lighter fluid flare-ups send people to emergency rooms every year. Safer methods eliminate this risk entirely.

Cost over time. Cheap methods that waste charcoal or require constant replenishment cost more long-term than investing in quality tools upfront.

The right lighting method gets you cooking faster, gives you better temperature control, and keeps your food tasting like food instead of chemicals.

Method 1: Pyralit Ignition Unit (Our Top Pick)

The Pyralit Ignition Unit is an engineered chimney starter that lights charcoal faster and more efficiently than traditional designs. Instead of relying on basic convection, Pyralit uses optimized airflow channels that maximize oxygen circulation. The result is lit charcoal in about 10 minutes instead of 20.

How It Works

The Pyralit system has two parts: the Ignition Unit (a specially designed chimney) and organic firestarter cubes.

Pros

Cons

Best For

10 minutes from lighting firestarters to ready-to-cook charcoal.

Cost

Pyralit Ignition Unit: One-time purchase (available at our shop)
Pyralit organic firestarter cubes: Ongoing minimal cost per cook

Our Take

I switched to Pyralit and haven't looked back. The time savings alone justifies the cost. When I'm doing a quick weeknight cook on my Large, those extra 10 minutes matter. The engineered airflow isn't marketing talk. It genuinely lights charcoal faster and more evenly than any traditional chimney I've used.

The only downside is needing firestarters on hand, but I keep a box near the grill. At 1-2 cubes per cook, a box lasts months.

Method 2: Traditional Chimney Starter

The chimney starter has been the gold standard for charcoal lighting for decades. It's a simple metal cylinder with a grate inside that separates fuel (newspaper, firestarters) from charcoal. Light the fuel below, hot air rises through the charcoal, and convection does the work.

How It Works

Place 2 firestarter cubes in the bottom chamber of the chimney. Set the chimney on your grill's lower grate.

Fill the chimney with charcoal. A standard chimney holds about 2-2.5kg of lump charcoal

Light the firestarters through the holes at the bottom. Leave it sitting on the grate.

Wait 15-20 minutes. You'll know the charcoal is ready when flames are visible at the top and the top layer of charcoal has turned grey with ash.

Important: Don't wait for all the charcoal to ash over completely. If you do, the charcoal at the bottom will be spent. Pour when you see flames at the top and grey ash just starting on the upper pieces.

Wearing heat-resistant gloves, carefully pour the lit charcoal into your grill.

Pros

Proven reliability. This method has worked for millions of cooks over decades. It just works.

Inexpensive. Basic chimneys cost $20-40 and last for years.

No electricity needed. Works anywhere you have matches and fuel.

Simple to use. No technique required. Fill it, light it, wait, pour. Anyone can do this.

Holds a lot of charcoal. One chimney load is enough for most cooks.

Cons

Slower than Pyralit. Takes 15-20 minutes versus 10 minutes with engineered designs.
Light ash blows around. Ink residue is a concern for some people.

Less efficient airflow. Standard chimney designs don't optimize oxygen circulation like modern alternatives.

Can rust if left outside. Need to store properly or buy stainless steel versions.

Best For

• Budget-conscious grillers who want reliable performance
• People who already own a chimney and don't mind the extra time
• Anyone who wants a simple, no-fuss lighting method
• Grillers who cook in locations without electricity

Time to Lit Charcoal

15-20 minutes depending on charcoal type and weather conditions.

Cost

Chimney starter: $20-50 one-time purchase
Fuel: Newspaper (free) or firestarter cubes (minimal ongoing cost)

Our Take

I used traditional chimneys exclusively for years before trying Pyralit. They're reliable workhorses. If you already own one, keep using it. The extra 10 minutes isn't a dealbreaker for everyone.

The biggest improvement I made was switching from newspaper to firestarter cubes. Newspaper works but creates ash mess and doesn't burn as consistently. Two firestarter cubes light faster, burn cleaner, and cost pennies per cook.

If you're buying your first chimney, consider spending a bit more for Pyralit's engineered design. But if budget is tight, a traditional chimney from Weber or any reputable brand will serve you well for years.

Method 3: Firestarter Cubes and Squares

Firestarter cubes aren't a standalone lighting method for most grills, but they're essential fuel for chimneys and direct lighting in kamados. Think of them as the ignition source rather than the complete system.

We stock two types: Big Green Egg SpeediLight natural firestarters and Pyralit organic firestarter cubes. Both work excellently, with slight differences.

Big Green Egg SpeediLight Natural Firestarters

Made from compressed wood fibres and vegetable oil. They're designed specifically for ceramic kamado grills but work in any charcoal setup.

How to use in a kamado: Place 1-2 SpeediLight squares directly in your charcoal bed. Nestle them among the lump pieces. Light the squares with a long match or lighter. Close the lid, open vents fully, and let the fire spread naturally through the charcoal.

How to use with a chimney: Place 2 SpeediLight squares on your grill grate. Set the filled chimney on top. Light the squares through the chimney's bottom holes. The squares burn long enough to ignite the charcoal above.

Burn time: Each SpeediLight square burns for about 8-10 minutes. Long enough to establish a solid fire.

Pros:

• 100% natural ingredients (no petroleum, no chemicals)
• Perfect for lighting charcoal directly in kamado grills
• Consistent burn time and temperature
• No chemical smell or taste transfer to food
• Easy to break into smaller pieces if needed

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than generic firestarters
• Can be hard to light in windy conditions (true for all firestarters)

Pyralit Organic Firestarter Cubes

Made from organic wood wool and vegetable wax. These are the firestarters designed to work with the Pyralit Ignition Unit, but they work in any chimney or direct-lighting situation.

How to use in a kamado: Same as SpeediLight. Place 1-2 cubes in the charcoal bed, light, close lid, open vents.

How to use with a chimney: Place 1-2 cubes at the base of the chimney, light, let them ignite the charcoal above.

Burn time: 8-12 minutes per cube. Slightly longer than SpeediLight in most conditions.

Pros:

• Organic ingredients, completely natural
• Lights easily even in damp conditions
• Minimal smoke during burn
• Works with any lighting setup
• Individually wrapped for freshness

Cons:

• Requires proper storage to keep dry
• More expensive than newspaper (but much better performance)

Which Should You Choose?

Both work brilliantly. I keep both on hand and grab whichever is closer.

Choose Big Green Egg SpeediLight if:

• You own a Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe
• You want firestarters specifically designed for kamados
• You prefer squares over cubes (easier to break in half)

Choose Pyralit organic firestarters if:

• You're using the Pyralit Ignition Unit (optimized pairing)
• You want individually wrapped cubes (better for damp storage)
• You prefer the organic certification

Honestly, the difference in performance is minimal. Both light charcoal reliably and cleanly.

Time to Lit Charcoal

Depends on method:

• In a kamado (direct lighting): 15-20 minutes to cooking temp
• In a chimney: 15-20 minutes (same as chimney timing)
• In Pyralit Ignition Unit: 10 minutes

Cost

Big Green Egg SpeediLight: $10 per box (24 squares) - 41c Per Square
Pyralit organic firestarter cubes: $19.50 per box (48 cubes) - 40c Per Cube

At 1-2 per cook, either box lasts months for most people.

Our Take

I use SpeediLight when lighting charcoal directly in my BGE for low and slow cooks. I use Pyralit cubes with the Pyralit Ignition Unit for quick hot cooks.

Both are worth keeping stocked. At roughly 40/41 cents per cook, they're an easy upgrade.

Method 4: Electric Starters (Looftlighter Style)

Electric charcoal starters use superheated air (up to 760°C) to ignite charcoal in seconds. The most well-known is the Looftlighter, though several brands make similar products. These are high-tech solutions for people who value speed and convenience above all else.

How They Work

Pros

Cons

Best For

Time to Lit Charcoal

5-10 minutes from start to ready-to-cook charcoal, depending on amount needed.

Cost

Electric starters: $80-150 for corded models, $120-200 for cordless
Ongoing costs: Electricity (negligible) or battery replacements (cordless)

Our Take

I've tested a Looftlighter extensively. It's genuinely impressive technology. Watching charcoal ignite from superheated air feels almost magical the first few times.

The speed is real. I can have my Large ready to cook in under 10 minutes from cold start. That matches or beats the Pyralit Ignition Unit on small charcoal loads.

But I still reach for Pyralit more often. Here's why: the electric starter requires positioning and attention for those first few minutes. With Pyralit, I light the firestarters, walk away, and come back 10 minutes later to ready charcoal. Set it and forget it.

Electric starters shine in specific situations. Lighting charcoal directly in a kamado for low and slow smoking? Perfect. You're building a small fire that spreads gradually. Starting a fireplace while you're already inside? Great. Quick touch-ups to boost a dying fire? Excellent.

For general charcoal grilling, I find chimneys (especially Pyralit) more practical. You're spending $80-150 to save maybe 2-5 minutes compared to Pyralit, and you're adding complexity (cords, batteries, positioning technique) that chimneys don't have.

If you're a gadget person who cooks on kamados frequently, an electric starter makes sense. For most people, it's an expensive solution to a problem that simpler methods solve just fine.

Method 5: What NOT to Use - Lighter Fluid

Let's address the method most beginners gravitate toward and why you should avoid it entirely.

Lighter fluid (petroleum-based charcoal starter) seems convenient. Squirt it on charcoal, light a match, instant fire. But the downsides far outweigh any perceived convenience.

Why Lighter Fluid Is a Bad Idea

Chemical taste contamination. Petroleum products don't fully burn off. Residue remains on your charcoal and transfers to your food. That chemical aftertaste you notice on gas station burgers? Often lighter fluid.

Dangerous flare-ups. Lighter fluid vapours ignite explosively. Adding more fluid to struggling fires causes dramatic flare-ups that send people to emergency rooms every year. Burns from lighter fluid accidents are serious and completely avoidable.

Uneven lighting. Fluid pools in some areas and misses others. You end up with hot spots and cold spots that make temperature control difficult.

Environmental concerns. Petroleum-based starters release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air pollution and affect respiratory health.

Waste of money. You're paying for a consumable product every single cook when one-time investments (chimneys, Pyralit) work better.

Smells terrible. The chemical smell permeates your outdoor space and lingers on your hands and clothes.

The "Match Light" Charcoal Problem

Pre-soaked briquettes (also called "match light" or "instant light") are charcoal pieces pre-treated with lighter fluid. They have the same problems as liquid lighter fluid, but you can't control the amount. You're stuck with whatever chemical load the manufacturer applied.

Even worse, these briquettes often don't light evenly despite the pre-soaking. You still end up with hot spots and cold spots.

What People Usually Mean

When people say "I need lighter fluid to get my charcoal going," what they usually mean is "I don't have a better method." And that's fair. If you don't know about chimneys, Pyralit, or firestarters, lighter fluid seems like the only option.

But now you know better options exist. Safer, faster, cleaner, and more effective options.

The Only Exception

There is no exception. Even in emergency situations (camping without proper tools, forgot your chimney), you're better off using newspaper and patience than lighter fluid.

Our Take

I haven't touched lighter fluid in over a decade. Not once have I missed it.

When I started grilling, I used it because I didn't know alternatives existed. The first time I used a chimney starter, I immediately understood why serious grillers avoid fluid. The charcoal lit more evenly, the food tasted cleaner, and I didn't smell like a petrol station afterward.

If you currently use lighter fluid, I'm not judging. You probably just haven't tried better methods. Invest $30-40 in a basic chimney starter and a box of firestarters. Try it once. You'll never go back to fluid.

Quick Comparison: All Methods Side by Side

Tips for Lighting Charcoal Faster (Any Method)

Regardless of which method you choose, these techniques speed up the process:

Use Dry Charcoal

Moisture is the enemy of ignition. Store your charcoal in a dry location. If bags get wet, the charcoal takes significantly longer to light and may not burn properly at all.

I keep mine in sealed containers in the garage. Even in humid climates, this prevents moisture absorption.

Start with Smaller Pieces at the Bottom

Whether using a chimney or lighting directly in your grill, place smaller charcoal pieces at the bottom and larger pieces on top. Small pieces ignite faster and help light the larger pieces above them.

This is especially important with lump charcoal, which comes in very irregular sizes.

Don't Pack Charcoal Too Tightly

Charcoal needs airflow to light. If you pack pieces too tightly together, oxygen can't circulate. Leave air gaps between pieces.

This applies to chimneys, kamados, and any other setup. Loose stacking lights faster than tight packing.

Light in Multiple Spots

When lighting charcoal directly in a grill (not using a chimney), light in 2-3 spots rather than one central location. The fire spreads from multiple origins, cutting total lighting time.

For chimneys, this doesn't apply since you're lighting from below.

Protect from Wind

Wind can help or hurt. Gentle breeze increases airflow and speeds lighting. Strong wind blows heat away and can extinguish fires before they establish.

If it's very windy, position your grill or chimney to create a windbreak. The sheltered side of your house, behind a fence, or near a wall all work.

Use Quality Charcoal

Cheap charcoal is often dusty, inconsistent in size, or mixed with too much small debris. Quality lump charcoal (like the Big Green Egg Natural Lump and Argie Grillz we stock) lights faster and more reliably.

For more on charcoal quality, see our guide: Best Charcoal for Kamado Grills.

Don't Wait for Complete Ashing

This is a common mistake. People wait for all charcoal to turn grey with ash before pouring from chimneys. By then, the charcoal at the bottom is spent.

Pour when you see flames at the top and light grey ash just starting on the upper pieces. The charcoal will continue developing as it sits in your grill.

Final Thoughts

Lighting charcoal has come a long way from the lighter fluid days. Modern methods are faster, cleaner, safer, and more reliable.

For most people, the Pyralit Ignition Unit offers the best balance of speed, convenience, and cost. It lights charcoal in 10 minutes with minimal effort and no ongoing consumable costs beyond inexpensive firestarters.

If you're on a budget, a traditional chimney starter with quality firestarters works brilliantly. You'll wait an extra 5-10 minutes compared to Pyralit, but the method is rock solid and inexpensive.

Electric starters are impressive technology for specific use cases (kamados, fireplaces, speed enthusiasts), but they're expensive and add complexity most people don't need.
And lighter fluid? Leave it on the shelf. There's no good reason to use petroleum products when cleaner, better methods exist.

My setup: I keep a Pyralit Ignition Unit next to both my Large and XL Big Green Eggs, with a box of Pyralit organic firestarters and Big Green Egg SpeediLight squares nearby. For 99% of my cooks, I use Pyralit. It's fast, reliable, and requires zero thought. Light the firestarters, fill with charcoal, walk away, come back to lit coals. Simple.

The lighting method you choose sets the foundation for everything that follows. Get it right, and the rest of your cook goes smoothly. Get it wrong, and you're fighting problems from the start.

Choose a method that works for your situation, practice it a few times, and make it routine. Lighting charcoal should be the easiest part of grilling, not a frustration.

Related Articles:

• Best Charcoal for Kamado Grills: Big Green Egg & Kamado Joe Guide
  
• How to Control Temperature on a Charcoal Grill: Kamado Guide
  
• Lump Charcoal vs Briquettes: Which is Better for Your Grill?