I Burned Through 78 Pounds of Charcoal to Find the Four Best Chimney Starters

When I owned restaurants, I had an enormous smoker in the back of one that ran almost daily. There was always mullet (the fish—it's a Florida thing), bacon, pastrami, ham, or the occasional whole pig that needed several hours of bathing in smoke. I often used charcoal as my starter, which provided a good base heat before adding oak logs. And, like many people, I used a chimney starter to get those coals hot.

Charcoal chimney starters are super easy to use: fill them, light 'em, walk away for about 25 minutes and you've got coals ready to go. I’ve used several brands of chimneys over the years but never did anything resembling a side-by-side comparison. But, recently, the opportunity arose to do just that. I collected nine of the top-selling charcoal chimneys of varying capacities and designs and put them through several rounds of tests with lump and briquette charcoal. The smoke of 78 pounds of charcoal cleared, and here’s what I found.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Charcoal Chimney Starter

Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter

$28 $26 at Amazon $40 at Walmart $26 at Target

It was a close battle between the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter and the Outset model below. While the Outset has more versatility (it’s also a grill) and just barely edged out the Weber in the speed tests, the Weber Rapidfire’s handle stayed cooler; although it did take some heat, it wasn’t so hot that I couldn’t lift it bare-handed. The Weber chimney was also slightly easier to use since it didn’t require unfolding or assembly.

Another Great Charcoal Chimney Starter

Outset Collapsible Camping Grill and Chimney Starter

$42 $28 at Amazon $33 at Walmart $32 at Wayfair

This “camping grill” from Outset is an amazingly efficient charcoal chimney in its own right. It’s capacious and has large lighting holes that allow easy access with a stick lighter or match. It’s constructed to promote airflow, and I was able to quickly light briquettes and lump charcoal with little mucking about. It requires about 30 seconds of assembly, which consists of unfolding it and popping two grates inside.

The Best Charcoal Chimney Starter for Lump Charcoal

Char-Griller Charcoal Grill Chimney Starter

$36 at Amazon $20 at Walmart View on Chargriller.com

The Char-Griller chimney is another high-capacity starter with a release latch on the handle that allows you to dump the charcoal out of the bottom rather than turning the chimney over to pour it. It’s easy to fill and light, and it performed well with lump charcoal (and briquettes, too).

The Best Small-Capacity Charcoal Chimney Starter

Lodge Chimney Charcoal Starter

$31 $25 at Amazon $33 at Walmart View on Lodgecastiron.com

This chimney from Lodge is smaller than the other winners, but it still holds 3.5 quarts of charcoal briquettes, which is plenty to get started cooking on an average-sized grill. It has easy-access lighting holes, a handle that stayed relatively cool to the touch, and the hopper was easy to fill and dump when the coals were ready.

The Tests

• Capacity Test: Almost every chimney manufacturer in our tests listed its chimney’s capacity in different ways. Some were by weight, some by volume, and others just leaned into vagueness with “substantial” as an amount. How does one reconcile and quantify these descriptors? I loaded each chimney with briquettes, counting as I went to arrive at a standard unit of capacity measurement. 
• Six-Quart Charcoal Test (Larger Chimneys): The next test determined how quickly a large-capacity chimney would light a full load of charcoal briquettes. I filled each large-capacity chimney with two sheets of crumpled newspaper and six quarts of briquettes, an amount that would cover a single layer across most charcoal grills. Then, I placed them on top of a Weber kettle grill and lit the paper with a stick lighter. I started a stopwatch and recorded the time expired between the paper fully igniting and the top coals catching and ashing over. Then, I lifted the chimney, noting how hot the handle got in the lighting process, and deposited the coals into the grill.  
• Three-Quart Charcoal Test: Just because you have a high-capacity chimney doesn’t mean you always want a full load of charcoal. Your grill may be smaller, or you might only be quickly searing a couple of pieces of meat. As I noted, not every chimney held six quarts, either. To see how well high-capacity chimneys performed with a smaller load and to test the lower-capacity models, I tested them by using three quarts of briquettes. Again, I timed how long each model took, from lighting to the top briquettes ashing over, how cool or hot the handle was, and how easy it was to deposit the charcoal into the grill.
• Lump Charcoal Test: Since lump and charcoal briquettes are significantly different (briquettes are essentially compressed charcoal powder while lump is whole wood), for our final test, I loaded each chimney with three quarts of lump hardwood charcoal, timed how long they took to reach full ignition, and noted how easily I could deposit the coals into the grill. 

What We Learned

Most Charcoal Chimneys Were Very Easy to Use

Chimneys consist of two parts: the upper section (let’s call it the hopper), which holds your charcoal on a conical spring-like piece of metal. The bottom part is hollow, with air holes around the base, and it holds your paper or lighter blocks. After loading the hopper with charcoal, place some paper in the bottom section and light the paper on fire. The flames from the paper burn upwards towards the charcoal, which then, in turn, catches fire and burns its way to the top layer of coals. 

One important thing to realize is the stated lighting time is usually listed in vague terms like “In as little as 10 minutes!” You will probably never replicate the conditions that led to that claim, so be prepared to wait longer to grill. Here are my timed results from the three-quart charcoal test to give you a more accurate picture:

Capacity Varied Widely

Charcoal chimney starter manufacturers list their models’ capacities in ways that suit them. That capacity could be weight, volume, or a vague descriptor like “large” or “substantial.” Their true capacity came to light when I filled each chimney with briquettes. There was a certain level of standardization when I did this, and I found numbers often repeating. The table below shows the brands and results of the capacity test.

A larger-capacity charcoal chimney is the most versatile, even if you're only grilling a small amount of food. That said, if storage space is limited (or you only grill once in a blue moon), the 3.5 quart Lodge proved its mettle in my tests.

Airflow Was Everything

Convection is the key to chimney starter success. After you've lit newspaper or starter blocks, air enters the bottom and flows upwards, heating the charcoal until the top coals are ashy. Without adequate airflow, there’s no convection and, consequently, poor ignition. Models with too little airflow, such as the BBQ Dragon Chimney of Insanity, performed poorly and required relighting to get the charcoal burning. Too much airflow can also be detrimental, as I tested on breezy days and found the paper will burn faster than the charcoal can catch. Even if your chimney has the best convection design, you can stymie it by packing too much (or too tightly packed) paper in the bottom. 

Handles Were Cooler Than Expected

It’s been a few years since I’ve used a charcoal chimney regularly, so during my testing I was impressed by the advances in handle design. In the past, it was just a given that you’d protect your hand with a kitchen towel or grill glove. Models from Char-Griller, Lodge, and Weber had the best designs, utilizing heat shields to deflect heat and keeping the handles cool enough to pick the chimney up with bare hands.

Not All Chimneys Are Good for Both Types of Charcoal

Since lump charcoal and briquettes are fundamentally different animals, you should expect different lighting results. Some chimneys, like the Kingsford Heavy Duty Deluxe, shone brightly during our briquette testing, only to fizzle when faced with lump charcoal. Models from Beau Jardin, Weber, and Char-Griller put up the best showing across the two types, while the Outset and Lodge models took better to briquettes. Sadly, I couldn’t find a clear rhyme or reason as to why certain chimneys did better or worse with different charcoal types. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Charcoal Chimney Starter

I will scream this from the mountain tops: airflow is everything. The best charcoal chimneys have good convection: air goes into the bottom, gets heated and drawn up through the chimney (which gets the coals burning), and exits at the top. Good chimneys also have a heat shield to protect the handle, allowing you to lift and dump the coals into the grill. Finally, it should be easy to light with holes on the side to make it easy (though holes on the bottom work in a pinch). After that, the capacity depends on your needs, based on your grill size and preferences. If you primarily use lump charcoal, consider our top performers in that area, like the Char-Griller or Weber Rapidfire.

Our Favorite Charcoal Chimney Starters

The Best Charcoal Chimney Starter

Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter

$28 $26 at Amazon $40 at Walmart $26 at Target

What we liked: The Weber Rapidfire is an extremely easy-to-use chimney with a large hopper, ample room for paper or lighter cubes, and a handle that stays cool. None of the chimneys I tested lived up to their advertised lighting time, so I’m not out of line in saying that the startup time of just under 30 minutes for a six-quart load of briquettes was a solid performance. The Weber also had one of the best convection designs, making it one of the fastest to light, too. It’s also quite affordable. 

What we didn’t like: It didn’t fare as well when lighting lump charcoal. After about 10 minutes, when the first batch of paper burned out, I had to add more and relight it. After that, things moved along rapidly. The bottom holes that facilitate convection were just shy of the size of my stick lighter, which forced me to light it from the bottom. If the holes were just a wee bit larger, the chimney would be significantly easier to light.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 5 pounds
• Tested capacity: 100 briquettes
• Dimensions: 12 x 7.5 inches
• Materials: Aluminized steel, thermoplastic
• Handle dimensions: 5.75 x 1.25 inches

Another Great Charcoal Chimney Starter

Outset Collapsible Camping Grill and Chimney Starter

$42 $28 at Amazon $33 at Walmart $32 at Wayfair

What we liked: This chimney's large capacity and easy lighting made it a strong contender for top model. Large bottom holes—more than adequate to insert a lighter—provided excellent airflow and easy lighting. Again, none of the chimneys lived up to their advertised lighting times, but the Outset was our fastest briquette-lighting model, taking 26 minutes to light six quarts and 20 minutes for three. 

What we didn’t like: The Outset was one of the few that didn’t require relighting during the lump charcoal test, but it had one of the longest lighting times at about 36 minutes. After the second (three-quart) test I noticed some of the interior finish flaking, and the handle got uncomfortably warm.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 7 pounds
• Tested capacity: 100 briquettes
• Dimensions: 10.75 x 8.5 inches
• Materials: Zinc, chrome, Nylon
• Handle dimensions: 5 x 1

The Best Charcoal Chimney Starter for Lump Charcoal

Char-Griller Charcoal Grill Chimney Starter

$36 at Amazon $20 at Walmart View on Chargriller.com

What we liked: The Char-Griller’s large capacity and easy lighting were definite pluses. It was one of the fastest to light, no matter the volume or charcoal type. It was also one of two chimneys I didn’t have to relight during the lump charcoal test, and it had the charcoal ready to go in about 23 minutes. The dispensing feature, which consists of a handle-release latch that releases a “trap door” at the hopper’s bottom, was a nice addition; it allowed me to hold the whole thing over the grill, squeeze the release lever, and the charcoal fell out the bottom. It was also easy to load, and the handle stayed cool while the charcoal burned.

What we didn’t like: I’m not anyone’s idea of a small person, and I had some difficulty holding the chimney with a full six-quart load and squeezing the release lever with one hand. The handle stayed cool during the lighting process, so that wasn’t an issue—it was just an unwieldy combination of holding the chimney upright while squeezing. It was a much easier task with the three-quart load, but still clumsy. A personal annoyance: one briquette stuck in the trap door arrangement that dumps the charcoal, and life got a little hairy when I shook it loose, and the briquette headed straight for my bare foot. Like the Weber, the bottom holes are too small for a lighter, so you have to light the chimney from the underside.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 4 pounds
• Tested capacity: 90 briquettes
• Dimensions: 10.75 x 8.75 inches
• Materials: Zinc-coated galvanized steel, Nylon
• Handle dimensions: 5 x 1 inches

The Best Small-Capacity Charcoal Chimney Starter

Lodge Chimney Charcoal Starter

$31 $25 at Amazon $33 at Walmart View on Lodgecastiron.com

What we liked: Let’s be clear about the small-capacity designation—the Lodge chimney still held 3.5 quarts or 60 briquettes. That’s not an insignificant amount to get grilling on. Plus, it had three quarts of charcoal briquettes ready in 22 minutes. The bottom design, which featured oval-shaped slots, was excellent for airflow and lighting. Those slots provided plenty of room to insert a stick lighter, making it easy to ensure the paper was burning fully at the start of the test. The handle stayed cool thanks to a heat shield between it and the hopper.

What we didn’t like: Although lump charcoal only took 30 minutes to light, I had to restart the test after it didn’t ignite the first time. A wider hopper would add a little more capacity without negatively affecting the airflow.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: “Substantial”
• Tested capacity: 60 briquettes
• Dimensions: 12 x 6.25 inches
• Materials: Galvanized steel, wood
• Handle dimensions: 7 x 1 inches

The Competition

Also Recommended

• Kingsford Heavy Duty Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter: This chimney had okay results during the briquette testing, which took a little over 30 minutes to complete. Fifty-six minutes into the lump testing, I had already restarted the test three times and called it a day. It’s got large holes for lighting and is very easy to use, but reserve it for briquettes only.
• Weber Rapidfire Compact Chimney Starter Charcoal Grill: This compact version of Weber’s Rapidfire chimney works fairly well. It has a capacity of about two quarts, which is great for smaller or portable grills, but it takes more time to ignite coals than its larger sibling.

Not Recommended

• BBQ Dragon Chimney of Insanity Charcoal Starter: A name like Chimney of Insanity sets expectations for impressive results, for better or worse. Sadly, as a standalone chimney, this model was exceptionally mediocre. I had to restart it with fresh paper during the three-quart and lump charcoal tests since there was precious little airflow; this is partially because most of the space is dominated by an air shaft intended for use with the optional BBQ Dragon. It eventually lit the briquettes, taking about 20 minutes to do so. As an experiment, after the chimney had timed out of consideration for the lump charcoal test, I decided to emulate the BBQ Dragon. This optional fan fits into the Chimney of Insanity’s air shaft. I inserted a leaf blower into the shaft (this is why women live longer than men), the chimney burst into flames, and the lump charcoal was ready a short time later. This chimney might deliver on its name with the BBQ Dragon (or a good leaf blower), but not on its own.
• Beau Jardin Charcoal Chimney Starter: The Beau Jardin is a good charcoal chimney. It did well in the three-quart and lump tests, lighting the lump charcoal in about 15 minutes. However, I had to restart the test after the paper burned out without igniting any charcoal. It performed well, but it didn’t draw any response from me other than, “It’s okay.” Full disclosure: I’ve used this chimney in the past, and it didn’t have great longevity, as it fell apart after about a month of semi-daily use.
• Konexcel Heavy Duty Charcoal Chimney Starter: When I said “airflow is everything,” I meant it. The Konexcel has very little; without that crucial convection starting, a chimney won’t light efficiently. I had to restart this chimney during every test and abandoned the lump test after the third try. After the three-quart test, the handle became “bouncy,” for lack of a better word. The handle didn't wiggle like the rivets were loose; it just got oddly flexible, which gave me low expectations for the chimney’s longevity.
  

FAQs

Do you need to clean a charcoal chimney?

A charcoal chimney needs about as much care and attention as a hearty houseplant, which is to say, the bare minimum. You don’t need to scrub, rinse, or otherwise wash your chimney, but you do need to dump any residual ash and keep it out of the elements when not in use.

What’s the best charcoal to use? 

“The best” depends on your preference for lump or briquette charcoal. I’m firmly in the lump camp because when I grill, it’s usually a slow cooking technique, and lump charcoal adds more flavor and burns longer than briquettes. However, you might find briquettes easier for quickly grilling some burgers or hot dogs.

Are charcoal chimneys worth it?

This answer depends on how you feel about lighter fluid. I can’t bring myself to pour toxic chemicals on the charcoal I’ll soon burn to cook my food over. That leaves me with two other realistic choices, and the chimney is the more sustainable option. We’ll discuss the other in a moment.

What can I use if I don’t have a charcoal chimney? 

There’s always lighter fluid, although I advise against it. You can buy lighter blocks or cubes (like these, from Weber or Kingsford) made of compressed wood or cardboard, often coated in paraffin, and place them in the grill around your piled-up charcoal to start it. There’s also the option of building a small kindling fire and adding your charcoal after it’s burning.

How long do you leave charcoal in a chimney? 

Time is a horrible unit of measure in cooking. There are simply too many variables to say X will always cook for Y time. That said, you’ll leave your charcoal in the chimney until the top layer is glowing and ashy. Per my tests, that can take between 15 and 30 minutes.

What is the science behind a charcoal chimney? 

Chimneys work via convection. When you light a fire in the chimney’s bottom, you create a draft of heat rising. The holes in the bottom allow airflow, heated by the burning paper (or lighter block.) The heated air rises, spreading the fire upwards until the top coals ignite and you have ready-to-use charcoal.

Why We’re the Experts 

• Greg Baker is a former James Beard nominated chef from Tampa Bay, Florida.
• He’s written about sous vide machines, vacuum sealers, and pizza gear for Serious Eats. 
• For this review, Greg burned through 78 pounds of charcoal to find the best charcoal chimney starters. He evaluated them based on how easy they were to set up and use, and how quickly and efficiently they heated briquette and lump charcoal. 
• He may have gotten a little enthusiastic and used a leaf blower to instigate one of the poor performers to light—sadly, it was still a loser.