Lump charcoal gets the attention, but briquettes are what most backyards actually burn. They come in even shapes, so you can count them, and that makes the fire easier to repeat from one cook to the next. That’s a real advantage if you want the same heat every time you grill.
The difference between bags is mostly in what they’re made of and how they light. This guide covers briquettes only. For lump, see our lump charcoal guide, and for what to burn them in, start with our charcoal grill guide.
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Quick verdict: the best charcoal briquettes to buy
For most grills, the best charcoal briquettes are Kingsford Original: ready in about 15 minutes by the maker’s account, placed second among briquettes in Reviewed’s test, and easy to find again. If you want a short ingredient list, Jealous Devil Max XL names just quebracho and vegetable starch. For long cooks with wood flavor, try B&B Competition Oak and Hickory.
The rest of the list covers flavored bags, a natural-style option and a small bag for a portable grill.
Five briquettes side by side
Five of the eight, one for each kind of griller, with what the maker or listing states. All eight are reviewed below.
| Briquettes | Best for | Bag size | What’s in it | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes, 16 lbBest overall
|
Most grills | 16 lb | Charcoal, not itemized | View on Amazon |
Royal Oak Natural Organic Premium Briquettes, 15.4 lbBest Kingsford alternative
|
Trying a Kingsford rival | 15.4 lb | Not stated | View on Amazon |
B&B Competition Oak and Hickory Briquets, 17.6 lbBest for smoking
|
Long cooks with wood flavor | 17.6 lb, with starters | Oak and hickory | View on Amazon |
Jealous Devil Max XL Hardwood Pillow Briquets, 10 lbBest natural hardwood
|
High heat, short ingredient list | 10 lb | Quebracho, vegetable starch | View on Amazon |
| Quick hickory flavor | 2 bags, weight not stated | Hardwood, 10-15% hickory, starch | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Specifications are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best charcoal briquettes
Charcoal listings vary a lot in how much they tell you, and we note where one says little. Where a listing leaves a detail out, the specifications say so.
1. Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes, 16 lb – The Dependable Default
There’s a reason this is the bag most people picture. Kingsford says these light fast and are ready to cook in about 15 minutes, using shaped edges for easier ignition. It makes them in the USA from North American ingredients and says it uses wood left over from local mills.
Reviewed.com’s charcoal test, updated in 2024, put Kingsford Original second among the briquettes it tried for cook time, at about nine minutes for quarter-pound patties. That’s independent support, though the same test said it was “outclassed by the Weber Briquettes in terms of longevity and heat.” Weber’s briquettes weren’t a practical buy on Amazon US when we checked, so Kingsford leads here. Amazon was the seller at last check.
Why we like it
- Ready in about 15 minutes, per Kingsford
- Placed second among briquettes in Reviewed’s test
- Made in the USA
- Sold by Amazon at last check
Key specifications
| Model or part | Original, 16 lb |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 16 lb |
| Base | Charcoal from North American wood |
| Binder or extras | Not itemized on the listing |
| Lighting | About 15 minutes |
| Flavor | Wood smoke |
| Made in | USA |
Why we recommend it
This suits nearly any backyard griller on a kettle or barrel grill. It’s a known product you can find again and learn to work with.
Skip it if you want a short ingredient list. Kingsford’s listing says natural ingredients but doesn’t itemize them, and the hardwood-and-starch briquettes below are clearer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Independent test support
- Consistent shape for easy counting
- Easy to replace at any store
Cons
- Ingredients not itemized on the listing
- Outscored for heat by one rival in Reviewed’s test
2. Royal Oak Natural Organic Premium Briquettes, 15.4 lb – Ridged for Airflow
Royal Oak is the other big American charcoal name. This listing is short: a 15.4-pound bag, ready to cook in 15 minutes, with special ridges for better airflow. It describes them as natural and organic in the name, but gives no details about what that covers, so we won’t lean on the word.
Reviewed tested a different Royal Oak line, the Classic briquets. It reported about 11 minutes for burgers, “slightly below average” for the group, and more trouble lighting them. That doesn’t tell you how this bag behaves, but it’s worth keeping in mind. PlumberStock was the seller at last check, so check the listing before buying.
Why we like it
- Ready in 15 minutes, per the listing
- Ridged shape for airflow
- Sold in a 15.4-pound bag
Key specifications
| Model or part | 192-294-021 |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 15.4 lb |
| Base | Not stated |
| Binder or extras | Not stated |
| Lighting | About 15 minutes |
| Flavor | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a griller who wants a big name other than Kingsford and is willing to try a bag to compare.
Skip it if you want proof of what “natural organic” means. The listing doesn’t explain it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Known brand
- Easy to compare with Kingsford
- Good bag size
Cons
- Thin listing
- Third-party seller at last check
3. B&B Competition Oak and Hickory Briquets, 17.6 lb – Oak and Hickory in the Blend
B&B’s Competition briquets combine oak and hickory for wood flavor, says the listing, and they’re dense for steady heat and a long burn. That makes them a natural choice for low-and-slow cooks in a kettle, barrel or offset, as well as for everyday grilling.
This listing is a bundle: one 17.6-pound bag with an 18-count box of Duraflame firestart cubes and 50 long matches. It’s a handy starter kit if you need them, and extra if you don’t. TNGstore, a reseller, was the seller at last check. B&B’s lump is on our pizza oven charcoal page, which is a different product.
Why we like it
- Oak and hickory wood flavor
- Large 17.6-pound bag
- Includes fire starter cubes and matches
- Named for grills, smokers and pits
Key specifications
| Model or part | Competition bundle |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 17.6 lb |
| Base | Oak and hickory |
| Binder or extras | Bundle adds starter cubes, matches |
| Lighting | With cubes or a chimney |
| Flavor | Oak and hickory |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Pick this for ribs and long cooks where wood flavor from the fuel itself is a plus.
Skip it if you want to buy only charcoal. The extras add to the bundle, and a chimney starter makes cubes less important.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wood-flavored blend
- Everything to get lit
- Good for long cooks
Cons
- Reseller bundle
- Binder not stated
4. Jealous Devil Max XL Hardwood Pillow Briquets, 10 lb – Oversized, With a Short Ingredient List
Jealous Devil is clear about what’s in the bag: pure quebracho hardwood with a pinch of vegetable starch as the binder. These pillow briquets are about twice the size of typical ones, it says, for a long, hot burn. It also says they contain no borax or nitrates, make very little ash, and don’t spark or pop.
Those are the maker’s statements, and Reviewed’s strong result for Jealous Devil was for its lump rather than these briquets. The 10-pound box is resealable, which helps keep it dry, but it’s small for a large cooker, and large briquets are harder to arrange for a low fire. Hearthshire was the seller at last check.
Why we like it
- Stated ingredients: quebracho and vegetable starch
- Twice typical size, per the maker
- No borax or nitrates, per the maker
- Resealable box
Key specifications
| Model or part | Max XL |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 10 lb |
| Base | Quebracho hardwood |
| Binder or extras | Vegetable starch |
| Lighting | Not stated |
| Flavor | Natural, no added flavor |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a griller who cares about ingredients and wants high heat for searing.
Skip it if you run a small grill or want fine control over a low fire. Big briquets are harder to fit and to count.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clearest ingredient statement here
- High heat, per the maker
- Resealable packaging
Cons
- Small box for the size of the briquets
- Third-party seller at last check
5. Cowboy Hickory Hardwood Briquets, 2-Pack with Fire Starters – Real Hickory Mixed In
Cowboy gives more detail than most about its blend: 80 to 85 percent hardwood charcoal and sawdust, 10 to 15 percent real hickory wood, and 5 to 7 percent natural vegetable starch binder, with no chemicals or mineral fillers. The hickory runs through the briquet instead of being on the surface. It’s sold as a 2-pack with 18 woven wood fire starters.
The listing doesn’t give the bag weight, so check the current page. Reviewed found Cowboy’s lump inconsistent, with uncharred wood in the bags, but that’s a different product from these briquets. TNGstore, a reseller, was the seller at last check.
Why we like it
- Stated blend percentages
- Real hickory mixed through
- Vegetable starch binder
- Includes 18 fire starters
Key specifications
| Model or part | 2-pack bundle |
|---|---|
| Bag size | Not stated |
| Base | Hardwood charcoal and sawdust |
| Binder or extras | 10-15% hickory, 5-7% vegetable starch |
| Lighting | Woven wood starters included |
| Flavor | Hickory |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose this if you want a hint of smoke with no separate wood, for a quick weeknight grill.
Skip it if you’d rather control your smoke with real wood chips. Flavored charcoal can’t be dialed back.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unusually open about the blend
- Starters included
- No separate wood needed
Cons
- Bag weight not stated
- Reseller bundle
6. Bayou Classic 500-416 Natural Charcoal Briquets, 16 lb – All-Natural in a Regular Bag
Bayou Classic, better known for outdoor cookers and cast iron, sells a 16-pound bag of natural briquets. The listing says it’s high-density hardwood, the same as the brand’s lump charcoal, with faster lighting and a consistent, long burn. It also says they produce less ash because there are no chemical additives or fillers.
Those are all maker’s claims, and no binder is named. Sixteen pounds is a useful size for regular cooking. PlumberStock was the seller at last check.
Why we like it
- Listed as 100 percent natural hardwood
- 16-pound bag
- Less ash claimed, no additives or fillers
Key specifications
| Model or part | 500-416 |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 16 lb |
| Base | High-density hardwood |
| Binder or extras | No additives or fillers stated; binder not named |
| Lighting | Faster lighting, per the listing |
| Flavor | Natural |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a griller who wants a natural-style briquette in a normal-sized bag.
Skip it if you want a binder named. Jealous Devil and Cowboy give more detail.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good size for regular use
- Lower ash, per the maker
- Established outdoor cooking brand
Cons
- Claims not independently checked
- Third-party seller at last check
7. Kingsford Original Briquettes with Mesquite, 16 lb – A Touch of Mesquite
Mesquite is a natural match for steak and fajitas, and this is the familiar Kingsford bag with mesquite added. The listing itself says very little, only a 16-pound size and made in the United States, so assume it lights and burns broadly like Original rather than expecting precise figures.
If you want strong mesquite flavor, a few real wood chunks will give you more control. The convenience here is that the flavor comes with the fuel. MID ATLANTIC MERCHANTS was the seller at last check, not Amazon.
Why we like it
- Mesquite flavor in the bag
- Same brand as our top pick
- Made in the United States
Key specifications
| Model or part | Original with Mesquite |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 16 lb |
| Base | Charcoal, mesquite added |
| Binder or extras | Not itemized |
| Lighting | Not stated on this listing |
| Flavor | Mesquite |
| Made in | USA |
Why we recommend it
This is a simple way to add mesquite to weeknight fajita steak without handling separate wood.
Skip it if you want to read the details first. This listing has almost none, and the plain Original tells you more.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy flavor for steak and fajitas
- Known brand
- Familiar handling
Cons
- Very thin listing
- Third-party seller at last check
8. Billy Buckskin Oak and Applewood Charcoal Briquettes, 6.5 lb – A Small Bag of Oak and Apple
This Amazon-first brand sells a small 6.5-pound bag that blends oak and applewood, and it says the charcoal comes from retired fruit orchards with no chemical fillers. A small bag makes sense for a portable grill or a single cook, and for trying a fruitwood blend without much commitment.
The listing’s performance claims, including steady heat for hours, are the brand’s own and we can’t check them. The seller at last check was The Billy Buckskin Co itself. Because the bag is small, expect to use most of it in a couple of cooks on a full-sized kettle.
Why we like it
- Small 6.5-pound bag
- Oak and applewood blend
- No chemical fillers, per the brand
Key specifications
| Model or part | 6.5 lb bag |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 6.5 lb |
| Base | Oak and applewood |
| Binder or extras | No chemical fillers stated; binder not named |
| Lighting | Quick light, per the brand |
| Flavor | Oak and apple |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a tabletop or portable grill, or anyone who cooks over charcoal only occasionally.
Skip it if you cook often on a big grill. It won’t go far.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Handy small size
- Mild fruitwood blend
- Sold by the brand
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- Performance claims unverified
How to choose briquettes for grilling
Think about the cook first, and then the bag.
Standard or natural
Standard briquettes such as Kingsford Original are built for easy lighting. Hardwood-and-starch briquettes make a point of a short ingredient list. Few bags list their full contents, so read the label rather than trusting a “natural” tag. Jealous Devil and Cowboy are the most open here.
Heat and burn time
Reviewed cooked burgers over each charcoal in a Weber kettle, and it found real differences between brands. Kingsford took about nine minutes and Royal Oak Classic about 11, for quarter-pound patties. Listings rarely give burn figures, so try a bag, count how many briquettes you use, and adjust from there.
Lighting
A chimney is the cleanest way to light any of these. Our chimney starter guide and fire starter guide cover the tools. We left out Kingsford Match Light on purpose: Reviewed ranked it last, reporting an “off-putting chemical smell” and a flame “almost 3 ft. tall” when lit in a chimney.
Flavored bags
Mesquite and hickory blends add some smoke without separate wood. They’re convenient but offer little control. For real flavor, plain briquettes plus a little real wood give you more say. Our wood chips guide covers that.
Storage and safety
Charcoal soaks up moisture and gets harder to light, so keep bags dry and off a damp floor, and close them after use. Burn it outdoors only. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission warns: “Never use charcoal to cook or provide heat inside enclosed areas,” and says people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning from burning charcoal in enclosed spaces. That applies to garages and tents too, and we would be careful with coals that still look dead, since they can stay hot for a long time.
How we picked these eight briquettes
We searched Amazon for charcoal briquettes sold new and in stock from identifiable makers, with one Amazon-first brand on this page. We removed lump, hookah coals and incense discs, and left out any bag sold only as a large case or showing low stock. Weber’s briquettes did well in Reviewed’s test, but the one Amazon listing we found was an 8-kilogram bag from an overseas Amazon seller, so we did not include it. We read Reviewed’s charcoal test and CPSC’s charcoal safety page, and we looked at what each listing says about ingredients.
We have not grilled with these bags, and we don’t claim to have. Reviewed’s tested results apply only to the bags named above; the other picks rest on maker and listing details. We also looked up each brand in the CPSC recall database and found no recall of any charcoal on this page.
Charcoal briquette questions, answered
What is the difference between briquettes and lump?
Lump is pieces of charred wood, so sizes vary and it can burn hotter and faster. Briquettes are charcoal pressed into even shapes with a binder, which makes them easier to count and control. Use whichever suits how you cook.
Are charcoal briquettes bad for food?
We can’t make health claims beyond what the makers state, and the makers here say only what’s in the bag. Let any briquette burn until it’s coated in gray ash before cooking over it, so the lighting smell has burned off.
How long do briquettes take to get ready?
Kingsford and Royal Oak both say about 15 minutes. Times change with weather and how you light them. Wait for a gray coating rather than watching the clock.
How many briquettes for grilling?
None of these listings give a count, so start with a full chimney for direct grilling and half a chimney for two-zone cooks, and adjust from there. Even shapes make that easy to repeat.
Can I reuse charcoal briquettes?
If you shut the vents on a kettle, partly burned briquettes will go out and you can relight them with fresh ones. They give less heat the second time. Shake off the ash first.
Our final pick for weeknight grilling
Buy a bag of Kingsford Original to learn your grill, then try Jealous Devil or B&B and see whether you notice the difference. A charcoal basket helps with two-zone fires, and our guide to how to eat fajitas is a good reason to light one.
Related guide: Lump charcoal vs briquettes.
And when you would rather leave the fire to someone else, see the menu at Julia’s or call to order.