Best Charcoal Chimney Starters – Review and Guide

Your luck finally favored you with a modern charcoal grill. Then it’s your time to scoop some kitchen accessories to begin your grilling bout. But the most challenging part is the act of putting your charcoal on fire.

The task calls for labor and time. The usual gas or fluid containing starter is a big fuss. You get annoyed with its smoke, stains, and clearly, it’s a food spoiler.

In that case, the best charcoal chimney starter comes in handy. A mess-free time-saver that preps your grills, adding savory with no smoke! It can ignite a heap of coals in a matter of no time.

Not all have access to a BBQ boutique. You’re sure to get overburdened with queries. So, how does the charcoal starter for the chimney work?

The mini tool is nothing but a cylinder shell with a pile of charcoals in its case. You’ll find holes all over its base that act as a means of airflow. Thus, help your coals light up.

Why prefer a chimney starter over a ton of igniters to burn charcoal? Well, it’s an issue aiming at the very right spot. Using charcoal chimney starter trims your fire time and pain. You get no soot to dirty your hands.

10 Best Charcoal Chimney Starters – Review and Guide 2021

Looking for the right charcoal starter for your chimney may seem easy. But amidst so many poorly constructed products, you may get duped. That’s why a furnished review set is here to hand you over the best.

Let’s cut to the chase with the top ten!

1. HOMENOTE Rapid Charcoal Chimney Starter Set Fireplace Accessories

Top Features

  • Material: Thick gauge galvanized steel
  • Burn life: 8-10 minutes
  • Plating: Zinc
  • Accessory: Heat-proof gloves, air blower
  • Lighter Cubes: 20x20x50 mm

A nifty tool with no mess is all you could picture as you move to the grilling realm. With a galvanized steel body, HOMENOTE adds an impressive coal chimney igniter. You’ll feel the propane taste in your meals no more.

The igniter has a zinc coating. Thus, its protective layer doesn’t allow it to turn rusty. You’ll find the wood handle large enough to avoid heat contact.

As a result, no excessive heating is ensured. It comes with a pair of gloves resistant to heat. Now, arises its heating ability.

To your blow, the tool is gifted with the power to light coals in 3 minutes. It allows an even fire to burn for 8-10 minutes. You can fan the flames with its blower to get more burn life.

Pros
  • Starts in 3 minutes.
  • Zinc plating prevents rust.
  • Shield stops heat transfer.
  • Sets light 3X faster.
  • Long wood handle controls the spilling of lit coal.
Cons
  • The blower may catch fire if not on guard.
  • Some find the aeration faulty.

The fire starter makes sure you get uniform light. As per your coal pile size, it can serve fast and safe ignition, asking no fluid.


2. BBQ Dragon Chimney of Insanity Charcoal Starter – The Fastest and Easiest Charcoal Chimney Starter for BBQ Grills

Top Features:

  • Material: Durable galvanized metal
  • Diameter: 6.75 inches
  • Handle Size: 7 inches
  • Lit Time: 3 minutes
  • Coal Capacity: 2-3 pounds

Are you tired of lighting the coal once and again? BBQ Dragon Chimney of Charcoal Igniter is there to bag your fortune.

It’s the fastest starter with an innovative design and durable steel body. As you bring the carbon and starter in contact, you need to wait for nearly 3 minutes. And there you’ve fire!

Galvanized metal inhibits rust. Inside the chimney, you’ll discover a metal tray. The task of this tray is to hold your coals. The easy to lift handle makes it a portable charcoal chimney starter.

Lifting the jar to adding coals sounds pretty risky. That’s why below the tray, you’ll come across a unique 90-degree opening in an elbow shape. As a result, your coal lit more with more air.

Pros
  • Lights up pretty quick.
  • 90° elbow to draw more air.
  • Metal tray to hold coal.
  • Easy to lift nylon handle.
  • Unique side hole for easy use.
Cons
  • Shaft bay catch flare if not cautious.
  • Some aren’t satisfied with the coal holding capacity.

It allows an odorless ignition with no smoke. The side hole gives you the scope to add fuel or a fan when needed.


3. REDCAMP Collapsible Charcoal Chimney Starter, BBQ Coal Fire Starter Chimney Compact for Grill Lawn and Patio

Top Features:

  • Coal Capacity: 5 pounds
  • Assembled Size: 14×8.4×10.6 in inches
  • Handle: ABS
  • Plates: Chrome plate
  • Weight: 4.8 pounds

Camping, gardening, or outdoor endeavors need a unique compact chimney burner. To minus your stress, REDCAMP comes with a professional BBQ coal fire starter.

If you lack time and hope your fast grilling dreams take form, its large bucket size can help. With a capacity to hold 5 pounds of charcoal, you can short your grill time.

Do you fear the chimney may get rusty soon? Well, its zinc plate gives rust no chance to touch and adds durability. Prepare to see fire on your grill coals in a snap.

When you’re about to store it, you can detach the handles and fold it. Thus, it saves room. The good news is on your way with a heat-proof ABS handle.

Pros
  • Galvanized sheet prevents rusting.
  • Large size allows fast grilling.
  • Easy to assemble.
  • Heat-proof detachable handle.
  • Suitable to fold and carry.
Cons
  • May burn your hands if touched before it cools down.
  • Sharp edges may add risk to use when not careful.

Its assembly asks for no bulky device. You are free to travel with it for its easy to fold trait. A mini yet mighty backyard grill charcoal chimney starter!


4. Weber 7447 Compact Rapidfire Chimney Starter

Top Features:

  • Material: Steel
  • Lit Time: 15 minutes
  • Diameter: 5.8 inches
  • Design: Compact
  • Handle: Heat-resistant

If you’re making a start from scratch, Weber 7447 can make it to your new list of kitchen appliances. Light in weight but gives you no chance to whine about burning ability.

Your gates to luck get open as you notice its aluminum steel body. Affordable plus durable, a great combo. Its heavy-duty body with a dimension of 8×5.8×10.4 inches allows no rust to catch.

Are you worried about safety? It offers that too. The entire chimney has a shield to protect it from heat. Hence allows no heat transfer. You’ll see the handles get cool in no time.

On Weber lit cubes or crumbles paper, place the piles of coal to light. In a matter of 15 minutes, you find blazing coals. It fits on Smokey Joe or Jumbo Joe coal grills!

Pros
  • Light in weight.
  • Heat shield for safety.
  • Provides a quick way to burn charcoals.
  • Handles don’t get hot.
  • Heavy-duty construction.
Cons
  • Some find the small size an issue.
  • Not ideal for long and large grilling bouts.

When you’re thinking about having a campfire, tailgating, or making smaller grills, you would prefer a compact chimney lighter. That’s why the small and light material adds the portability feature.


5. Weber 7429 Rapidfire Chimney Starter, Silver

Top Features:

  • Diameter: 7.5 inches
  • Grate: Cone-shaped
  • Burn life: 20-25 minutes
  • Material: Aluminized steel
  • Handle design: Two-way

Weber 7429 Rapidfire has earned a brand name in the field of Grill with an excellent chimney starter. It’s the right pick for you when looking for a big chimney to hold up to 100 charcoal briquettes.

Lighting coals call for more oxygen. That means it needs more air to flow. And you’re sure to startle with its fine holes all over the body. As a result, it offers more ventilation.

The fastest yet most painless way to lit charcoal is all a BBQ pro can fancy. To realize such dreams, you’ll find it ignite fast and keep lighting for 20-25 minutes.

A unique feature that draws the line between Weber and others is its handle. It comes with two handles. Thus, you get complete control as you pour the ignited controls.

Pros
  • Fine holes to allow airflow for long burning.
  • The easiest and fastest method for lighting.
  • Brings out even lighting.
  • Two handles add control while pouring lit coals.
  • Large shield to save from high heat.
Cons
  • A bit of chemical exposure is seen.
  • It may get super-hot at times.

Its cone gratings make it easy to use. Your hands stay safe from heat because of its extra shield against extreme heat.


6. Kingsford Quick Start Charcoal Chimney Starter (BBP0466)

Top Features:

  • Material: Zinc Steel
  • Power Source: Wood Pellet
  • Base: Vented
  • Capacity: Large
  • Construction: Heavy-duty

Don’t want to end up with black and dirty hands while adding fuel to your old igniter? Kingsford is here to offer you the quick barbecue charcoal chimney starter.

Its entire chimney comes with a zinc steel body—no doubt on durability for its heavy-duty construction. Thus, your tool stays free of rust.

Now comes a safety issue. Well, to blow your troubles, it adds a protective layer to save from excessive heating. The handle is cool to touch with a heat-shield.

Whether you’re up to a small or large grilling, it suits both. You’ll see its coal holding capacity is enormous with a fast start too. A plus point is its ventilated body and base for more roaring flames.

Pros
  • Lights up quickly and evenly.
  • Zinc body to resist rust.
  • Built with a heat shield.
  • A stay-cool handle.
  • Large capacity for big grill sessions.
Cons
  • Some whine about loose fitted screws to hold the tray.
  • You may view some parts melting if not guarded.

It asks for zero use of extra tools to construct. You get it assembled to work on a clinch. Thus it stays ready all the while for the next BBQ.


7. Charcoal Chimney Starter BBQ Grill Lighter and Barbecue Fire Starter

Top Features:

  • Material: Galvanized steel
  • Lit Time: 10-15 minutes
  • Vents: On the side body
  • Diameter: 6.7 inches
  • Handle distance: 6.5 inches

Who likes the food taste getting ruined for fluid drips? That’s why the best charcoal chimney starter surprises you with a safe, cheap, and efficient way to keep your food and ecology safe.

How to light charcoal with chimney starter? Well, it offers two ways to light up charcoal in 15 minutes. You can pour charcoal on the top and allow it to light. Other clean way is to use light cubes.

You get an even fire roaring all the while. How? Well, you’ll notice many large holes in each side of the canister.

Thus, it ensures airflow with heat prompts. Again, holes are also placed at the base. You’ll find a breakaway floor in the top chamber to allot hot embers.

Pros
  • A more efficient way to light up coal piles.
  • Generous ventilation.
  • Nylon handle with a shield.
  • Two ways to light up briquettes.
  • Large diameter holes to light up.
Cons
  • Not enough for large grills.
  • The breakaway floor may not give any utility to dump coals.

The starters never disappoint you with their lighting ability. It works with no worries, even in the rain.


8. GrillPro 39470 Chimney Charcoal Starter, Silver

Top Features:

  • Material: Steel
  • Weight: 1.73 pounds
  • Burn time: 10 minutes
  • Coal capacity: 2 pounds
  • Handle: Wooden

The one thing that compels you to part your way from the charcoal grilling is the fiddling with briquettes. Waiting makes it worse. To save your pain, GillPro Chimney Coal Igniter is out in the mart.

The stainless-steel chimney holds up to two pounds of coals at once. Plus, in 10 minutes, you find hot glazing fire all over your coal lumps. Speedy, right?

Best of all, your struggles with using fireplace pokers and adding lighter fluids have come to an end. You won’t even need to fan the flames to keep it lit.

Living in a windier area makes it difficult for you to grill at peace? For grill lovers like you, it’s the masterpiece that performs well, avoiding heavier wind too.

Pros
  • Ignites in 10 minutes.
  • Needs no starter fluid.
  • Holds many charcoal lumps at a time.
  • No assembly is needed.
  • Budget and eco-friendly.
Cons
  • Some suspect the handle quality to be a little cheap.
  • The base grate holes are a little larger.

Indeed, some are not satisfied with the air holes on its sides. But apart from the thin construction, you can’t overlook its excellent performance.


9. Outset Q110 Chimney Grill Starter

Top Features

  • Coal Capacity: 5 pounds
  • Material: Zinc
  • Color: Silver
  • Metal Plate: 3 inches from the base
  • Vents: ¾ inches

Let’s admit, for outdoor grill endeavors, chimney igniters work better than an electric charcoal starter. It is because it needs no wire fuss to manage.

Outset Q110 Chimney Grill Starter is a real deal for the purpose. All you need to pour is some charcoals. And a rapid ignition works as the icing on the cake.

You are safe from health-hazardous smoke and odor. With no lighting liquid, you get piping hot coals burning evenly for up to 20 minutes in a row.

The zinc-plated can is devoid of any peel-off paints. But it comes with ventilation holes at the top and bottom too in good shape. Thus, it ensures the availability of enough oxygen to keep the fire on for a while.

Pros
  • Starts fire right up.
  • Thin metal plates to hold coals.
  • Large capacity.
  • Air circulation holes.
  • Rust-free zinc coating.
Cons
  • Sharp edges may have cut risks.
  • May turn too hot and difficult to manage.

A space to hold an ample quantity of coals is what it offers. You’ll espy a well-built metal plate right at the bottom. It works as a tray to hold coals.


10. CampMaid Foldable Charcoal Chimney Starter

Top Features:

  • Design: Collapsible
  • Heat Capacity: 45 briquettes
  • Lit Time: 7-10 minutes
  • Material: Stainless-steel
  • Dimension: 9 x 5.5 x 2 inches (folded), 9 x 5.5 x 6 inches (open)

Are you fed up with the bulky charcoal chimney starter B&Q? Upgrade your kitchen with the CampMaid Foldable Coal Chimney Igniter.

Its innovative design made it an award-winning gear in the year 2007. What’s its specialty? It minimizes the weight issue every grill lover faces. You can light up heavy coals in a flash.

Now the magical part comes where you can fold it down and turn it into a one-piece. Press the button to detach the handle. You can stow it in a 12’ Dutch oven!

Were you wondering lightweight may not hold as many coals needed for a large BBQ bout? If so, you’re wrong at the point. The collapsible canister can heat 45 coal briquettes on a clinch.

Pros
  • Easy to store, saving space.
  • Protective layer for rust.
  • Push button to detach handles and fold.
  • Burns coal for 45 minutes in a row.
  • Suitable for holding up to 45 coal briquettes at a time.
Cons
  • The handle may wobble.
  • Overloading may break it down.

Why worry when you can light the fire on the charcoal with a light in weight chimney? It doesn’t ask for too much square space in your kitchen.

Wrap Up

Grilling over charcoals bring a unique smoky flavor with no possibility to replicate. But using electric starters for igniting coals are a bit risky as they tend to get hot over time.

On the other hand, gas or liquid alternatives are messy with eco-risks. Again, the hassles to set coals on fire turns off the mood of grill enthusiasts.

That’s why, in the state investing bucks on the best charcoal chimney starter sounds a worthy choice. It’ll minus your coal burning efforts but boosts performance.

So, to light coals, which chimney igniter did make its addition to your grill toolbox? Narrow down your pick-up considering safety, size, material, ventilation, heat time and longevity.