Charcoal does not catch from a match on its own. It needs something underneath that burns long and steadily enough for the first coals to light, and then those coals light the rest. For years that something was lighter fluid. Today most grill cooks use a solid fire starter (a wax cube, a twist of wood wool, a stick of resin-rich pine) or an electric element that heats the coals directly.
This guide compares the charcoal fire starters worth buying, by what they are made of, how long they burn, whether they light when damp, and which grills they suit. It covers starters, not chimneys; for the chimney itself, see the guide linked below.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.
Quick verdict: which charcoal fire starter to buy
For most grills, the best charcoal fire starter is Weber Lighter Cubes: paraffin cubes that Weber says light quickly even when wet, and two of them under a chimney are Weber’s own method. If you want a starter that is mostly wood, choose Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares or Horeca Candles wood wool starters. If you would rather not buy starters at all, the Ivation 500W Electric Charcoal Starter plugs in and lights the coals with a heating element.
The rest of this page explains why, and which starter fits your grill.
Five charcoal fire starters side by side
Our five standout picks, one for each kind of grill cook, with the specifications each maker or listing states. All eight starters are reviewed in full below.
| Fire starter | Best for | Made of | Burn time | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Weber Lighter Cubes, 3 Boxes of 24Best overall
|
Chimneys and kettles, wet days | Paraffin wax | Not stated | View on Amazon |
| Frequent grillers, grill and fireplace | Wood chips, paper fiber, wax | Up to 10 min | View on Amazon | |
Lightning Nuggets Fire Starters, 100-CountLongest burn
|
Lump charcoal, big loads | Pine wood and paraffin | 15 min, guaranteed | View on Amazon |
Horeca Candles Wood Wool Fire Starters, 500-PackBest wood wool
|
Grills, pizza ovens, fire pits | Wood wool and paraffin | 8 to 10 min | View on Amazon |
Ivation 500W Electric Charcoal StarterBest electric
|
Backyard grills near an outlet | 500 W double-ring heating element | Reusable; no flame | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Materials, counts and burn times are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
How this guide differs from our chimney starter guide
Our guide to the best chimney starter compares the chimney, the metal cylinder that holds the charcoal while it lights. A chimney still needs something burning underneath, and that guide includes one companion starter, the Oklahoma Joe’s All-Natural Fire Starters. This page is about that second piece: it compares eight other starters, from paraffin cubes to wood wool and fatwood sticks, plus an electric starter that replaces both the starter and the match. None of them repeat the chimney guide’s picks.
If you light with a long lighter or a torch, our best grill lighter guide covers those.
Our picks for the best charcoal fire starter
Eight starters in four groups: paraffin cubes (Weber, Kamado Joe), wood-and-wax squares and nuggets (Rutland, Lightning Nuggets, Big Green Egg), wood wool (Horeca Candles), natural fatwood sticks (Pine Mountain) and one electric starter (Ivation).
1. Weber Lighter Cubes, 3 Boxes of 24 – Lights Fast, Even When Wet
Weber’s Lighter Cubes are the starter built to go with Weber’s own chimney and kettles. The listing says the cubes are made of paraffin wax and come 24 to a box; this listing is a three-box pack. They are designed to catch fire even when wet, and Weber’s product page says they light and ignite the rest of the charcoal in seconds in windy or wet conditions.
Weber’s method with its Rapidfire chimney is two cubes on the charcoal grate, with the filled chimney set on top. Without a chimney, you nestle the cubes into a pile of briquettes and light them. Weber describes the cubes as odorless and says they leave no chemical aftertaste, only charcoal flavor; that is the maker’s claim, and it is the main reason cooks switch from fluid.
The listing says the product is ANSI certified and CSA listed. Weber does not state a burn time or the size of each cube. The listing title on Amazon is abbreviated (“GRILL FIRE STRTR 24PK”), but the brand is Weber and the part number is 7417, which matches Weber’s Lighter Cubes.
Why we like it
- Designed to light even when wet
- Two cubes per chimney, by Weber’s own method
- Odorless, according to Weber
- Three boxes of 24 in one pack
Key specifications
| Model | 7417 |
|---|---|
| Type | Wax cube |
| Made of | Paraffin wax |
| Count | 3 boxes of 24 |
| Burn time | Not stated |
| Lights when wet | Yes (Weber) |
| Use per fire | 2 cubes under a chimney (Weber) |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone with a chimney or kettle who wants a predictable start every time, including on damp Houston evenings, from a brand that designs its starters around its own grills.
Skip it if you want a starter that is mostly wood. These are paraffin, and Weber does not state a burn time.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lights in wet or windy weather
- Clear method from the maker
- Pre-cut cubes, no mess
Cons
- Burn time not stated
- Paraffin rather than wood
- Abbreviated listing title
2. Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares, 144-Count – A Season’s Supply in One Box
Rutland has made fireplace and stove products in Vermont since 1883, according to the listing, and its Safe Lite squares are the starter many hardware stores stock by the fireplace tools. Rutland’s sell sheet describes them as compressed recycled wood chips and paper fiber held together with paraffin wax. The box holds 144 squares, weighs 4.6 pounds and, the listing says, is made in the USA.
The listing says each square burns for 10 minutes, and Rutland’s technical sheet gives 8 to 10 minutes. That is long enough to get the bottom layer of a chimney going, and Rutland’s sell sheet says the squares light even when wet. The listing names lump charcoal, wood pellets, firewood and sticks among the fuels they work with, and describes them for chimney starters as well as fireplaces and wood stoves.
The value is in the count. At one or two squares per fire, a box covers a lot of grilling, and the same box lights the fire pit in winter. The listing gives a 12-month warranty.
Why we like it
- 144 squares per box
- Burns up to 10 minutes per square
- Mostly recycled wood and paper fiber, per Rutland
- Made in the USA
Key specifications
| Model | 50B |
|---|---|
| Type | Wood-and-wax square |
| Made of | Recycled wood chips, paper fiber, paraffin wax (Rutland) |
| Count | 144; 4.6 lb box |
| Burn time | Up to 10 min (8 to 10 min, Rutland data sheet) |
| Lights when wet | Yes (Rutland) |
| Use per fire | Not stated for charcoal |
| Made in | USA |
Why we recommend it
Buy it if you grill most weekends or also light a fire pit or fireplace, and want one box of starters that lasts.
Skip it if you grill a few times a year. A smaller box will not sit in the garage for seasons.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Large count
- Steady burn of up to 10 minutes
- Works for grill and fireplace
Cons
- Big box to store
- Squares must be broken apart
3. Lightning Nuggets Fire Starters, 100-Count – Fifteen Minutes Per Nugget
Lump charcoal comes in big, irregular pieces that can take longer to catch than briquettes. Lightning Nuggets are the long-burning option here: the listing says each nugget is guaranteed to burn for 15 minutes, and that only one is needed, without newspaper, kindling or fluid.
The maker describes the nuggets as pine wood bound with fully refined, food-grade paraffin wax, and the listing calls the product a food-grade firestarter. A Lowe’s listing says they have been made in the USA since 1978, and the Amazon listing gives the release date for this box as 1978. The listing names barbecues and pizza ovens among the uses, along with wood stoves, fire pits, chimineas and campfires.
This box holds 100 nuggets, and the warranty is a satisfaction guarantee. The listing does not say whether the nuggets light when wet. With 15 minutes of flame from one nugget, they make sense for a full chimney of lump charcoal, a large grill or a cold, damp evening.
Why we like it
- 15-minute burn, guaranteed by the maker
- One nugget per fire, per the listing
- Pine wood and food-grade paraffin
- Made in the USA
Key specifications
| Model | N100SEB |
|---|---|
| Type | Wood-and-wax nugget |
| Made of | Pine wood, food-grade paraffin wax (maker) |
| Count | 100 |
| Burn time | 15 min, guaranteed |
| Lights when wet | Not stated |
| Use per fire | 1 (listing) |
| Made in | USA (Lowe’s listing) |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you cook on lump charcoal or a large grill and want the longest, steadiest flame under the coals.
Skip it if you only need a quick start for a small grill. Fifteen minutes is more flame than a half-full chimney of briquettes needs.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Longest stated burn here
- One per fire
- Long-established US maker
Cons
- Wet-weather performance not stated
- More flame than small fires need
4. Horeca Candles Wood Wool Fire Starters, 500-Pack – Tumbleweeds of Waxed Wood
Wood wool starters look like small nests of shaved wood. Each one is a loose twist of fine wood strands dipped in wax, so it catches easily from a match and the open shape lets air reach the flame. Horeca Candles, a candle maker, makes these from what the listing calls certified wood wool and odorless paraffin wax.
The listing gives a burn time of 8 to 10 minutes per piece and says one or two pieces are enough: place them between the charcoal or wood and light them. It names pizza ovens and grills among the uses, and describes the starters as odorless and tasteless, which matters when food will cook over the fire.
The pack holds 500 pieces, the largest count on this list. The listing does not say whether they light when wet, where they are made or what the warranty is. Store them in a closed container away from the grill.
Why we like it
- Wood wool catches easily from a match
- Burns 8 to 10 minutes, per the listing
- One or two pieces per fire
- 500 pieces per pack
Key specifications
| Model | 3830999205202 (listing) |
|---|---|
| Type | Wood wool twist |
| Made of | Wood wool, paraffin wax |
| Count | 500 |
| Burn time | 8 to 10 min |
| Lights when wet | Not stated |
| Use per fire | 1 to 2 |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you like a starter that is mostly wood and lights from a single match, and you also light a pizza oven or fire pit.
Skip it if you want a maker with published specifications beyond the listing. The details here come only from Horeca Candles’ Amazon listing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy to light
- Largest count here
- Works for grill, oven and fire pit
Cons
- Wet-weather use not stated
- Specifications from the listing only
5. Kamado Joe Pure Paraffin Fire Starters, 24-Count – Made for Ceramic Grills
Ceramic kamado owners tend to avoid lighter fluid; Big Green Egg’s listing, for one, says never to use it in its cookers. Kamado Joe’s own starters are pure paraffin wax cubes, 24 to a pack, which the listing calls a safe replacement for lighter fluid and describes as odorless and smokeless.
The listing says the cubes burn at up to 1,300°F and light even when wet. They are made for every Kamado Joe grill, and the listing says they work with any charcoal grill and with fireplaces.
Kamado Joe does not state a burn time or the size of each cube. If you cook on a kamado, our guide to the best kamado grill covers the grills themselves.
Why we like it
- Pure paraffin, made for kamados
- Lights even when wet, per the listing
- Odorless and smokeless, according to Kamado Joe
Key specifications
| Model | KJ-FS |
|---|---|
| Type | Wax cube |
| Made of | Paraffin wax |
| Count | 24 |
| Burn time | Not stated; burns up to 1,300°F |
| Lights when wet | Yes (listing) |
| Use per fire | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Buy it if you own a Kamado Joe or another ceramic grill and want the maker’s own starter.
Skip it if you cook on a kettle and want a bigger box. A 24-count pack runs out quickly, and Weber’s or Rutland’s starters do the same job on a kettle.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Made for ceramic grills
- Lights when wet
- Works on any charcoal grill
Cons
- Small count
- Burn time not stated
6. Big Green Egg All Natural Charcoal Starters, 24 Cubes – Compressed Wood, No Additives
Big Green Egg’s starters take the other approach to the same problem. The company’s European site describes them as compressed wood fibres with no lighter fluid or chemical additives, and the Amazon listing describes them as odorless and tasteless. A box holds 24 cubes.
Big Green Egg’s UK site gives the method: light the corner of one starter and place it in the center of the charcoal. The listing repeats the maker’s rule for its ceramic cookers, never to use lighter fluid or briquettes in a Big Green Egg, which is why the company sells its own starters.
They work in any charcoal grill. Big Green Egg does not state a burn time, and the listing does not say whether the cubes light when wet, so keep the box dry.
Why we like it
- Compressed wood fibre, no chemical additives, per Big Green Egg
- One starter per fire, by the maker’s method
- Odorless and tasteless, according to the listing
Key specifications
| Model | AC903 |
|---|---|
| Type | Wood cube |
| Made of | Compressed wood fibres (Big Green Egg) |
| Count | 24 |
| Burn time | Not stated |
| Lights when wet | Not stated |
| Use per fire | 1, in the center of the charcoal |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you own a Big Green Egg, or want a starter made of wood rather than wax for any grill.
Skip it if you grill often and want value. Twenty-four cubes do not go far, and the wet-weather performance is not stated.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wood fibre, no additives
- One per fire
- Made for ceramic cookers
Cons
- Small box
- Burn time and wet use not stated
7. Pine Mountain StarterStikk Fatwood, 5 Pounds – Nothing but Resin-Rich Pine
Fatwood is pine heartwood that is naturally full of resin, which is why it catches from a match and burns hot. Pine Mountain’s StarterStikk sticks are, according to the listing, all natural and additive-free, and the maker says they start wood and charcoal fires without kindling, newspaper, accelerants, gels or fluids.
They come loose in a 5-pound box. For a charcoal grill, set two or three sticks in a small teepee on the charcoal grate or under a chimney, light them, and build the charcoal around or above them. Farm and Fleet’s listing suggests two to three sticks for an ordinary wood fire. Pine Mountain does not state a burn time, and the listing does not give a stick count.
The appeal is simplicity: there is no wax, just wood. As with any starter, let the sticks burn down and the charcoal ash over before the food goes on. The listing says Pine Mountain’s products are American made.
Why we like it
- All natural, additive-free fatwood, per the listing
- No wax or fluid
- Works for charcoal and wood fires
Key specifications
| Model | 531-160-812 (5 lb) |
|---|---|
| Type | Fatwood stick |
| Made of | Fatwood (resin-rich pine) |
| Count | 5-lb box; stick count not stated |
| Burn time | Not stated |
| Lights when wet | Not stated |
| Use per fire | 2 to 3 sticks (Farm and Fleet, for wood fires) |
| Made in | American made (listing) |
Why we recommend it
Buy it if you want a starter that is just wood, for the grill and the fire pit, and do not need every fire to start exactly the same way.
Skip it if you want a measured, pre-cut starter. Sticks vary in size, and the maker gives no burn time.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Single natural ingredient
- Lights from a match
- Doubles as fire pit kindling
Cons
- Sticks vary in size
- Burn time and stick count not stated
8. Ivation 500W Electric Charcoal Starter – No Flame, No Starters to Buy
An electric starter replaces the match and the fire starter with a heating element. You bury the loop in the charcoal, plug it in, and the element heats the coals it touches until they catch; then you unplug it and lift it out. Ivation’s is a 500-watt model with a double-ring element, which the listing says puts it in direct contact with more coals, and the coil is 6.25 inches wide.
The handle is longer and angled, according to the listing, to fit any grill depth and keep your hand away from the heat, and a metal plate grips the side of the grill so you can leave it in place without holding it. Ivation describes it as a way to light charcoal or briquettes in grills and outdoor fire pits without lighter fluid or matches.
The NFPA notes that electric charcoal starters do not use fire, and says to use an extension cord rated for outdoor use. The element stays very hot after you unplug it, so set it on a heat-safe surface away from people and pets while it cools. The listing does not state the cord length, weight or warranty, and Ivation does not give a time to light.
Why we like it
- Reusable: nothing to buy each time
- Double-ring, 6.25-inch element
- Angled handle and grill-edge plate for hands-free use
- No flame or fluid, as the NFPA notes for electric starters
Key specifications
| Model | IVAECLSM |
|---|---|
| Type | Electric element starter |
| Made of | 500 W double-ring heating element; 11.5-in handle (listing) |
| Count | 1 (reusable) |
| Burn time | Not applicable; time to light not stated |
| Lights when wet | Not stated |
| Use per fire | Plug in, bury in the charcoal |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if your grill sits near an outdoor outlet and you would rather never buy starters again.
Skip it if you grill at the park or campsite. It needs a power outlet, and the hot element needs a safe place to cool.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No ongoing cost
- No flame or fluid
- Hands-free once in place
Cons
- Needs an outdoor outlet
- Hot element must cool safely
- Cord length and warranty not stated
How to choose a charcoal fire starter
A kitchen judges a fire starter the way it judges any tool used every service: does it work the same way every time, and does it leave anything in the food? Five points decide which starter suits you.
1. What it is made of
Paraffin cubes (Weber, Kamado Joe) are compact and shrug off damp. Wood-and-wax squares and nuggets (Rutland, Lightning Nuggets) and wood wool (Horeca Candles) are mostly wood held together or coated with wax. Big Green Egg’s cubes are compressed wood fibre, and fatwood (Pine Mountain) is just resinous pine. All of them are used in place of lighter fluid; choose by how much wax you are comfortable with and how easily each lights for you.
2. Burn time
The starter has to burn long enough for the bottom coals to catch. Rutland gives up to 10 minutes, Horeca Candles 8 to 10, and Lightning Nuggets 15. Longer helps with lump charcoal and big loads; for a small grill, a shorter burn is enough.
3. Wet and windy weather
Weber, Kamado Joe and Rutland say their starters light even when wet. If you grill through humid summers or store the box in a damp garage, that is worth paying attention to. Keep any starter in a closed container either way.
4. Chimney or no chimney
Every starter here works under a chimney, and that is the most reliable way to use them: Weber’s method is two cubes under its Rapidfire. Without a chimney, nestle the starter into a mound of charcoal so the flame touches as many pieces as possible. The electric starter works without either.
5. How often you grill
A 24-count box (Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg) suits occasional grilling. If you cook every weekend, a 144-square box from Rutland, 500 wood wool pieces from Horeca Candles or a reusable electric starter costs less over a season.
Lighting charcoal safely, with or without fluid
Read your grill’s manual and the starter’s package first. These rules come from the National Fire Protection Association’s grilling safety tip sheet and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Use charcoal grills only outdoors, well away from the home, deck railings, eaves and overhanging branches (NFPA).
- Never burn charcoal inside homes, garages, vehicles or tents, because the carbon monoxide can kill (CPSC).
- A chimney starter lets you start charcoal using newspaper as the fuel (NFPA); a fire starter does the same job.
- If you use starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid, keep it out of reach of children and away from heat, and never add it or any other flammable liquid to a fire that is already lit (NFPA).
- Electric charcoal starters do not use fire; use an extension cord rated for outdoor use (NFPA).
- Keep children and pets at least three feet from the grill, never leave it unattended, and let the coals cool completely before you put them in a metal container (NFPA).
How we picked these fire starters
We started from what a kitchen wants from a fire starter: a reliable light, a steady flame long enough to catch the coals, and nothing in the food but charcoal smoke. We searched Amazon in the United States for fire starters from established makers, checked each one’s stock with Amazon’s product data, and read the maker’s own information where we could: Weber’s product page, Kamado Joe’s product page, Big Green Egg’s European and UK pages, Rutland’s sell sheet and data sheet, and retailer listings from Lowe’s and Farm and Fleet for Lightning Nuggets and Pine Mountain. Otherwise specifications come from the brand’s Amazon listing, and each review says when a detail is not stated.
We left out chimney starters, which have their own guide, the Oklahoma Joe’s starters already chosen there, unbranded starter packs and anything down to its last few units. We looked for a hot-air starter such as the Looftlighter but did not find one in stock from an established maker on Amazon US, so the electric pick is the Ivation element starter. We searched the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall notices for these brands and found no recall of these products. We have not used these starters for this guide.
Charcoal fire starter questions, answered
What is the best way to light charcoal without lighter fluid?
A chimney starter with one or two fire starters underneath, as Weber recommends with its cubes. The NFPA notes that a chimney lets you start charcoal with newspaper as the fuel; a fire starter burns longer and steadier than paper. An electric starter is the other option if your grill is near an outlet.
How many fire starters do I need for a chimney?
Weber’s method is two of its Lighter Cubes under a Rapidfire chimney. Lightning Nuggets says one nugget is enough, Horeca Candles says one or two pieces, and Big Green Egg says one starter in the center of the charcoal.
Do fire starters affect the taste of food?
Weber, Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg and Horeca Candles all describe their starters as odorless, and Weber says its cubes leave no chemical aftertaste. Whatever you use, let it burn out and wait until the coals are covered in gray ash before the food goes on.
Are electric charcoal starters safe?
The NFPA notes that electric starters do not use fire and says to use an extension cord rated for outdoor use. The element is very hot when you pull it out, so set it down on a heat-safe surface away from children and pets, and follow the maker’s instructions.
Can I use a fire starter in a kamado grill?
Yes. Kamado Joe and Big Green Egg both sell their own starters for ceramic grills, and Big Green Egg’s listing says never to use lighter fluid in its cookers.
Our final pick for lighting charcoal
Buy Weber Lighter Cubes if you want one dependable starter for a chimney or kettle, including on damp evenings. Choose Rutland’s 144-square box if you grill often, Lightning Nuggets for lump charcoal and long burns, Horeca Candles wood wool if you like a mostly-wood starter, and the Ivation electric starter if you would rather never buy starters again.
Pair your starter with a chimney from our guide to the best chimney starter, and if you are still choosing the grill, see the best charcoal grill. Our best charcoal grill accessories guide covers gloves, thermometers and the rest of the kit.
And if you would rather not light a fire tonight, see the menu or call to order.