The best charcoal chimney starters help you light grilling charcoal quickly and efficiently. Here are our top picks for beginners and grill masters.
For at-home barbecuers, it’s hard to beat the flavor you get from one of the best charcoal grills. Natural smokiness infuses grilled dishes, and the high heat of lit charcoal gives your food an even sear. While other picks from our best grills guide take the guesswork out of the lighting process, starting a charcoal grill requires some know-how.
Many charcoal grill users invest in one of the best charcoal chimney starters, a small piece of equipment that allows them to quickly and evenly light their grill. The Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter is our top pick because it was the experts’ favorite and is easy to use. Our budget pick, the Kingsford Charcoal Chimney Starter, costs about half as much and has a more heatproof handle but doesn’t hold as much charcoal as the Weber Rapidfire.
We’ve rounded up the best charcoal chimney starters on the market with the help of barbecue experts like Jess Pryles, an Austin-based barbecue pro and the author of « Hardcore Carnivore, » and Rodney Scott, chef and owner of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, with locations throughout the South. For the full list of who we consulted, see our experts section below.Our picks for the best charcoal chimney starters
Best overall: Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter – See at Amazon
Best budget: Kingsford Charcoal Chimney Starter – See at Amazon
Best portable: Royal Gourmet Charcoal Chimney Fire Starter and Camping Grill – See at Amazon
Best oversized: Outdoor Gourmet XL Charcoal Chimney Starter – See at Academy SportsBest overall
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Durable construction
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Design allows charcoal to burn faster
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Two handles for accurate pouring
con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Too hot to handle with bare hands
Specifics
Material:Aluminized steel
Dimensions:7.5-inch diameter by 13-inch height
Weight:3.5 pounds
When we asked our BBQ specialists to recommend their top choice for chimney starters, the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter easily surpassed any other in their estimation. « They let more air in, so the charcoal burns faster, and they are heavy-duty, so the home griller won’t have to replace it very often, » says Evan Carter. The Weber Rapidfire is well-known for its durability; Carter says that the Weber Rapidfires used at Lady Jaye lasted 10 months with heavy, everyday use.
Rodney Scott explained that the Weber Rapidfire also includes useful safety features: « I like the Weber Rapidfire because it has two handles for extra grip, which makes sure that the pour is more accurate. It also has [quality] protection on the handle, which provides an extra shield to keep the heat off your hand. »
The chimney’s design involves a conical bottom grate with enough vents to speed up the charcoal lighting process. These features, combined with the Weber Rapidfire Chimney’s price, make it the superior charcoal chimney starter choice for both quality and value. (Don’t forget to get the best charcoal for grilling.)Best budget
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Rust-resistant
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Charcoal lights quickly
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Stay-cool handle
con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. May not have enough capacity for larger grills
Specifics
Material:Zinc steel
Dimensions:6.8-inch diameter by 11.3-inch height
Weight:2 pounds
Bargain hunters needing a reliable, well-reviewed charcoal chimney starter will find much to love about the Kingsford Heavy Duty Charcoal Chimney Starter.
