Charcoal cookers still get the job of grilling, smoking, or barbecuing food done. But starting a charcoal pile has always been the slow and challenging bit for most outdoor lovers. However, with the Charcoal Chimney Starter, you can light a charcoal pile easily.

Searching through hundreds of products for the best starter can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Fortunately, we’ve taken it off your hands by putting together reviews of the top ones in the market.

In this article, you’ll also learn how to safely light, clean, maintain, and ultimately choose the best charcoal chimney starter for your needs.

Top 6 Chimney Starters Comparison
Weber 7429 Rapidfire Chimney Starter	Best Overall	Heavy-duty aluminum steel chimney Ergonomic handle with heat shield Holds 60 to 100 briquettes at once	View Latest Price
Weber 7447 Compact Rapidfire Chimney Starter	Best for Smaller Grills	Portable and compact design Thermoplastic handle with heat shield Well-vented design	View Latest Price
Oklahoma Joe’s Half-Time Charcoal Starter	Best for Innovative Handle Design	Massive chimney capacity for up to 100 briquettes Well-vented design and construction Cool-touch handle	View Latest Price
HOMENOTE Rapid Charcoal Chimney Starter	Best Value	Comes with BBQ mitts, an air blower, and lighter cubes Comfortable handle with heat shield Galvanized steel construction for durability	View Latest Price
Kingsford Quick Start Charcoal Chimney Starter	Best Budget	Large chamber capacity The relatively affordable price tag Compatible with lump charcoal	View Latest Price
Char-Griller Charcoal Grill Chimney Starter	Best for Safety Feature	Bottom release system for easy pouring out of coals ABS plastic handle for comfort Sturdy zinc-coated steel chimney	View Latest Price

How does a charcoal chimney starter work?

A charcoal chimney starter is a tool for heating coals and firing up your barbecue. It has a metal container and a bottom grate. While the metal cylinder is for holding coal, the grate is where a fire starts. Air flows from the bottom through the grate spaces and makes the flames rise. In turn, this causes your coals to burn.

Since the coals are tightly packed, and there’s oxygen, the flames rise quickly. That way, your coals can burn up to 500°F.

Why should you use a chimney starter?

➡ Eliminate the use of lighter fluid: For years, using lighter fluids has been a popular way to fire up charcoal grills. However, lighter fluids contain chemicals like benzene, hexamine, propane, naphtha, and lycopene. These chemicals are called hydrocarbons, and they can harm you even when you don’t ingest them. 

Inhaling lighter fluids for long can cause intoxication, like that of using drugs. In severe cases, the hydrocarbons in them can lead to a cardiac arrest.

When you use lighter fluids to fire up coals, your grilled food might have a weird taste and odor. If the liquid has several hydrocarbons, your meal could also smell like petrol.

➡ Safer: Charcoal chimney starters are safe since the coals are placed in a metal container until you’re ready to use them.

➡ Fast: At first, the process of lighting charcoal with a chimney starter might seem cumbersome. However, when you get the hang of it, you’ll be getting the job done in 15 to 25 minutes. This fast prep time is because the flame has easy access to oxygen and coal. Hence, you can prepare your meals in a shorter time.

➡ Even: A chimney charcoal starter heats all the coals in the cylinder at once. That way, the heat can be evenly distributed when cooking.

Features to look for when getting a charcoal chimney starter

1. Charcoal capacity:

If you don’t want to light your coals in batches, you should try to get a starter that holds enough coal for cooking. Of course, the capacity that’s right for you depends on your cooker’s size, the length of your cooking sessions, and whether you have a grill or smoker.

Also, the type of coal you use can affect the starter capacity you should be on the lookout for. For example, lump charcoals are bigger than charcoal briquettes. To light them efficiently, you’ll need a big chimney starter.

2. Proper ventilation:

Your charcoal pile needs oxygen to burn. And if they don’t get enough, starting your cooker can take forever. 

Check out chimney starters that have lots of vents or holes around the cylinder. They’ll save you from waiting for your cooker to fire up.

3. Handy handle:

You don’t want to burn yourself when lighting your cooker. But lifting a starter from its grate or cylinder isn’t an option. While you can use mitts, a good starter should have its handle far from the chimney. The handle should also shield your hands from the heat, and it should be non-flammable.

Keep away from chimney starters with wooden handles that are close to the chimney.

4. Safety features: 

Asides from the handle, you should check out starters with other safety features to avoid burning your hands. For example, there are quick release starters. When using one, your coals get released from the canister with a push of a button or trigger, instead of you pouring them out. 

Alternatively, some charcoal chimney starters have two handles instead of one.

5. Construction material:

Another thing to consider is the material of the canister, grate, and handle. If you want your starter to last for long and resist heat properly, you should consider units made from steel. 

It would help if you stayed away from painted units because they won’t hold up against the repeated heat that comes with using a chimney starter.

Detailed Review of 6 Best Charcoal Chimney Starters

Our team of researchers and cooking experts handpicked the following starters as the best in the market:

Recent customer reports:

Recent customers love the 7429 Rapidfire chimney starter. Many commented that it’s built tough and can take a lot of chimney starters at once. But more importantly, they like that it burns quickly (15 to 20 minutes on average).

On the flip side, some customers reported that the thermoplastic handle on this unit gets hot (and sometimes melt) when the chimney approaches high temperatures. So, they advise you use it just as Weber recommends and not grill or smoke in it.

In a nutshell, they are convinced the 7429 Rapidfire is simple to use and an effective tool for starting coals.

Recent customer reports:

Customers say they like the unit for its cool features. They’ve reported that their coals come out glowing and ready to use after only five to ten minutes. Plus, most customers are impressed with its quality.

Although customers say they use heat-resistant mitts, there was hardly any report of the handles heating up.

Recent customer reports:

Customers think this unit is well-designed with a top-notch handle. They say the stainless steel body makes cleaning and maintaining the unit a breeze. Plus, they like how fast it burns coal evenly.

However, some customers weren’t pleased with the aluminum rivets that hold the grid and handles or the plastic on the handle. They say they aren’t best for extreme temperatures. So, you should stick to how Oklahoma Joe’s tells you to use the starter and not over-burn coal in it.

But overall, customers report that this starter is effective and gets charcoal going in only a few minutes.

Recent customer reports:

Recent customers say that the deal that Homenote offers with this chimney starter package was difficult to refuse. They were also happy that the unit came with accessories to cushion the effect of its shortcomings. For example, there are few vents in this one. Fortunately, there’s a battery-powered air blower in the box. Also, the wooden handle tends to get hot. Again, there’re mitts in the package.

The unit’s tall shape and how quickly it heats coal was undoubtedly their best things about this charcoal starter.

Recent customer reports:

Many customers say this unit is the best chimney starter they’ve found, which is pretty accurate. The body can get really hot. So, many were happy the handle is far from the starter’s container.

A few customers reported that their handles melted. However, several customers reported that this would only happen when you put it on a grill instead of using it to start their coals. 

Generally, customers say that this unit makes starting their charcoal cooker safer for only a few bucks.

Recent customer reports:

Recent customers think this Char-Griller tool is a fantastic unit to have for only a few bucks. As you would expect, the trigger release fascinated several people. And many say the model is large enough to fit up to 100 briquettes.

Since its body is zinc-plated, some customers complained that it got discolored after a while. Others say as long as you clean and maintain it, you should have no worries.

Overall, there were more positive than negative comments from recent users, many of which think this model is the best for safety feature.

How to light a chimney starter

Lighting charcoal and Starting a charcoal grill using a chimney starter is simple. Just follow the steps:

Handle your chimney charcoal starter with care!

Whether you’re starting a new pile or adding coal midway, you should be careful when using a charcoal chimney starter; else, they’ll burn you or cause an unwanted fire.

First, don’t light a charcoal starter around children. And if there’re adults there, ensure you let them know you want to use one.

Although the handles of the best chimney starters have heat shields, you should also use mitts when holding them, just to be sure.

Next, find a safe way to light a fire before you put it on your coals. While burning newspapers can get your coals going, your safest bet is to use one or two lighter cubes. They work in the rain.

When you’re done lighting your coal pile, you should also pour them out safely in your cooker. Watch out for your feet while you’re at it.

Finally, find a right spot to drop your chimney starter when you’ve emptied the coals in it.

Cleaning and maintenance tips of chimney starters

If you want your chimney starter to last long, you should find ways to maintain and clean it regularly. Here’re the steps to take:

1. Remove ashes: Ashes help to build a fire. However, too much of it isn’t right for burning. Periodically, use a cleaning tool to scoop it out. The same applies to unburned coal in the chimney.

2. Ensure the vents and underside are unclogged: If you notice it takes a bit longer to burn your coal, the vents may be blocked. Hence, before you use a charcoal starter, poke the chimney’s vents.

3. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions: Every manufacturer will have steps for you to follow. For example, you have nothing to worry about when water touches Oklahoma Joe’s chimney starter since it’s plastic. 

Final words

Cooking is easier when you have the right equipment, tools, and accessories. For outdoor lovers who love their charcoal units, chimney starters have now become a must-have.

So, go through our reviews of the best chimney starters in the market and our buying guide. Our experts are confident you’ll find a chimney starter that’s right for your needs.

Relevant FAQs of Charcoal Chimney Starters

What’s the best chimney starter recommended by you?

In our opinion, the Weber 7429 Rapidfire Chimney starter is the best chimney starter available. It’s massive and made from quality steel. But the best part is that it helps to get your charcoal started quickly and comes with safety features (heat shield and secondary handle).

What’s the exact difference between Weber 7416 vs. Weber 7429?

According to Weber, the 7416 and 7429 Weber Rapidfire starters are identical. They only have different packaging.

How long do I let the charcoal burn in a chimney?

Generally, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to get the charcoal lit. However, the size of your starter’s air vents and your weather condition can affect how long they take to burn.

You’ll know it’s time to pour out the coals when the top ones are covered with grey-white ash.

Johnny TriggView all Posts

He’s the founder of BBQchickenUSA.com and also the owner of two barbecue restaurants. He’s passionate about reviewing, providing useful tips about BBQ Smokers, and known as BBQ Pitmaster.