How To Light A Charcoal & Gas Grill

Having a barbecue is always a great way of bringing family and friends together, but lighting your barbecue the wrong way can turn a good evening into a bad one.

Each type of barbecue has it’s own method of lighting it. In this guide we will show you how to light a grill properly including propane & natural gas and charcoal .



Warning: Barbecuing and grilling can be extremely dangerous. Fire and heat can be lethal so be sure to adhere to proper operation of your grill and barbecue. Also check out our BBQ safety tips for ideas of how to keep kids and pets safe.

Consider using heat-resistant gloves , have a fire extinguisher nearby, and definitely respect your local fire laws and pay particular attention to dry season warnings.

Contents show
How To Light A Charcoal Grill
Best Way To Light Charcoal
How To Use A Charcoal Chimney Starter
When Is Charcoal Ready To Cook On?
How To Make Charcoal Grill Hotter?
How Long Does Charcoal Last?
How To Keep Charcoal Lit?
How Much Charcoal Do I Need?
How To Start A Gas Grill
Gas Grill Safety
Starting A Gas Grill

How To Light A Charcoal Grill

Safety concerns: Avoid adding lighter fluid to burning wood or charcoal as it could cause a serious flare up.

Best Way To Light Charcoal

SEE ALSO: Best Charcoal Grills

Some types of charcoal is easily lit by a match and newspaper, whereas certain charcoal briquettes require you to follow the instructions.

Lighter fluid may also help kick start your efforts, do not use gasoline or other fuels that are unsafe for cooking.

Classic Barbecue Lighting Method

  1. If you are using a portable BBQ, place the barbecue on flat surface. If your standard grill is not level, make it level and secure.
  2. Put pieces of charcoal in the bottom of the barbecue bowl. Ensure that they are evenly spread to allow for even cooking. The exception to this is if you want to have an area to keep some things warm while you cook others.
  3. Scrunch up newspaper and place it just under the top layer of charcoal to prevent it from blowing away.
  4. Pour some lighter fluid on the charcoal. How much? It’s best to follow the directions on the bottle, but it typically doesn’t take much. Ensure that there is no lid covering the top of the grill. Take a few steps away from the grill. Use a long handled barbecue lighter to light the newspaper from a distance. You could also drop a lit match, but it increases the danger of a spontaneous flare up causing injury.
  5. Once the charcoal has caught fire, use a pair of grilling gloves to safely place the lid on the grill and wait for it to be ready before using it to cook with.

How To Use A Charcoal Chimney Starter

Using a charcoal chimney starter is one of the best ways to start your coals. The process involves giving your charcoal all the oxygen it needs to catch fire and burn hot. Here are basic steps to use a charcoal chimney starter:

  1. Put cumpled newspaper underneath in the bottom of the chimney starter​. Don’t overfill it.
  2. Fill the top portion of the start with your charcoal.
  3. From the bottom, light the newspaper on fire.
  4. Wait for the coals to become smoky white.
  5. Now you’re ready to use your charcoal on your barbecue.

When Is Charcoal Ready To Cook On?

how to know when charcoal is ready

Charcoal takes approximately 20-30 minutes for it to be ready. The charcoal should turn a smoky white color. with hints of glowing red embers.

How To Make Charcoal Grill Hotter?

Giving your charcoal fire enough oxygen will make it hotter. By placing a lid on your grill, you are reducing the amount of oxygen that it can get. Therefore you might consider leaving the lid off or cracking it open to allow air to get in.

It should be noted that if you have a deep bed of hot coals, the lower layers will have more difficulty getting oxygen unless you have vents that can be opened underneath or on the sides of your grill.​

SEE ALSO: Grilling In The Rain​

How Long Does Charcoal Last?

This is a tricky question because there are 2 main factors to consider:



  • How fast are you burning the charcoal?
  • How much charcoal are you using?

Some grills and smokers can last hours (2 – 5 hours), while a simple barbecue bowl with no lid might last an hour at best.

How To Keep Charcoal Lit?

​Problem keeping your charcoal lit? It could be the following:

  • Lack of oxygen
  • Wind
  • Poor quality charcoal

The solution is to buy a quality bag of charcoal, give it oxygen, and protect it from the wind.

How Much Charcoal Do I Need?

It’s going to depend on what you’re cooking and how much you plan on cooking.

If you have a lot of food to cook for a barbecue, you may need to take a break by adding fresh coals to the hot ones and allow them to become ready before resuming your cooking.

For back yard BBQ of burgers and steaks, you should have a solid layer of charcoal covering half of your grill bowl. This will allow for direct and indirect heating options.



How To Start A Gas Grill

Gas Grill Safety

Before starting you should familiarize yourself with the manufacturers’ safety instructions and then:

  • Check the set up to make sure all connections are correct.
  • Locate the gas grill igniter button. Confirm that the heat deflector is placed well to allow easy access to light the grill.
  • Open the lid and keep it open during this entire process to prevent an explosion.

SEE ALSO: Gas VS Electric Oven

Starting A Gas Grill

Now you should ready to start your gas grill:

  1. Use the knob to start 1 burner. Set the temperature appropriately depending on your cooking needs.
  2. Press the ignition button until a flame starts. You may need to use a manual lighter to light the grill burner if your grill model doesn’t contain one or if it doesn’t work.
  3. Once burner one is lit, If needed, turn on the second burner. It should catch enough fire from the first one.
  4. Close the lid and preheat to your desired temperature before you start cooking.