Want to get some charcoal started fast but don’t own a charcoal chimney?

No worries!

We’ve got 3 Great Options for making your own DIY Charcoal Chimney Starter. Get your charcoal started fast and easy using one of these creative homemade methods!

Lighting a charcoal chimney starter — A typical charcoal chimney starter.

What is a Charcoal Chimney?

Charcoal chimneys are an easy way to get a big batch of charcoal fully lit in a relatively short period of time.

Whether you are firing up the charcoal grill, smoker, or outdoor cooking pit, you need a chimney to get your charcoal going fast.

Heat and flames travel upwards, so by stacking your unlit charcoal in a vertical container you take full advantage of how the fire naturally wants to travel and light the coals.

A charcoal chimney generally has a grated bottom to hold the coals while still allowing maximum airflow. Holes are placed along the sides to get plenty of air moving throughout the chimney as well.

How to Use a Standard Charcoal Chimney

So how does a charcoal chimney work?

Most people light a crumpled newspaper (soak it in vegetable oil so the pieces don’t fly away as they burn) underneath a chimney full of coals to get the fire started.

Here’s an even better option: I like to use firestarter cubes made specifically for lighting charcoal chimneys. They are convenient, easy to light, and you don’t have to worry about flaming pieces of newspaper flying everywhere!

Fire Starter Squares 50pc – Natural Wood and Wax fire Starter – BBQ and Grill Charcoal Starters Burns 10-12 min

Fire starter cubes are perfect choice for charcoal grill / wood stove / fire pit.
Fire starters pack has 50 small fire lighters. Lump charcoal starter cubes will help you to start a fire quickly.
Bbq grill starter made from 100% natural wood and wax - 100% natural fire starters.

Available on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Once you have a fire going under the coals, all you have to do is sit back and wait for the flames to work their way up the chimney and get all the coals lit. Usually this takes about 20-30 minutes.

Benefits of Using a Charcoal Chimney Starter vs. Other Methods

Electric Charcoal Starters

Electric Charcoal starters work by positioning them right up against the coals and then letting them get REALLY hot.

The problem with most electric charcoal starters is the limited surface area of charcoal they can come into contact with.

Char-Broil Electric Charcoal Starter

Generates 550 watts at 120 volts for lighting briquette piles
No matches or fluid needed
Get hot coals in minutes
No lighter fluid taste
Measures 17.5 L x 4.5 w x

Available on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

You then have to wait for those coals to get hot enough to light other coals around them, usually in a horizontal fashion, which is not ideal for heat transfer.

Charcoal Lighter Fluid

Ahhh lighter fluid. Who among us doesn’t have fond memories of their mom or dad dousing a big pile of unlit charcoal with lighter fluid, then throwing a match and running for the hills?

fire department comes after you cook with charcoal — Just another Friday night BBQ at our house.

Unfortunately, the only thing that usually burns in that situation is, well…the lighter fluid.

And fast.

Too fast to get any significant heat transfer to the charcoals and get them fully lit before the fluid burns off.

How to Make your Own DIY Charcoal Chimney Starter

Ok, so I’ve sold you on WHY charcoal chimneys are such a great option.

But what if you want to get some charcoal lit this way but you don’t own a charcoal chimney?

I would suggest ordering one, as it is a relatively inexpensive investment to greatly improve your outdoor cooking.

Here are some of my favorite charcoal chimneys:

Chimney	Brand	Description	Prime	Buy
Top Top	Weber	Weber 7429 Rapidfire Chimney Starter, Silver	PrimeEligible	Buy on Amazon
Top	Kingsford	Kingsford Quick Start Charcoal Chimney Starter (BBP0466)	PrimeEligible	Buy on Amazon
Top	Lodge	Lodge Chimney Charcoal Starter, 12 inch	PrimeEligible	Buy on Amazon
Top	REDCAMP	REDCAMP Collapsible Charcoal Chimney Starter for Lawn and Patio,Silver	PrimeEligible	Buy on Amazon
Top	Oklahoma Joe's	Oklahoma Joe's 9848125R04 Half-Time Charcoal Starter XL, Brown/A	PrimeEligible	Buy on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

But if you really want to create your own DIY charcoal chimney, here are some easy options for how to make one at home:

Coffee Can Charcoal Chimney

Take a large empty coffee can and poke some holes in the bottom using a can opener. While you’re at it, poke some holes in the sides as well to allow for maximum airflow.

You want a lot of holes to allow for airflow WITHOUT allowing any hot charcoal to fall through, so don’t make the holes too big.

Be EXTRA cautious when transferring the hot coffee can, using only very long tongs as well very well insulated grilling gloves like these ones I prefer:

SUMPRO Hot BBQ Gloves Heat Resistant Kitchen Oven Mitts Professional Long Heat Resistant Cooking Gloves

Check Price on Amazon

For a list of our favorite insulated BBQ grilling gloves, check out our complete list here.

Even the best insulated BBQ gloves in the world cannot stand up to a stray lit charcoal briquet for very long if at all. So always use long handled tongs to move hot items. These accessories work great for managing things around your firepit as well.

BBQ Tongs – Long Heavy Duty Grilling Tongs – Stainless Steel Barbecue Grill Tong w Black PVC Handle

Check Price on Amazon

The benefit of an actual charcoal chimney starter is the extended handle positioned away from the hot coals.

Aluminum Foil Charcoal Chimney Starter

you can make a foil pouch into a DIY charcoal chimney starter — What can’t you do with foil?

Another interesting idea is to create a large foil “bag” full of charcoal and shape it as vertically as you can, much like a cylindrical charcoal chimney.

To start, layer (2) 3’ sheets of aluminum foil on top of each other in one direction, then 2 more sheets on top of those but perpendicular in a “t” or cross like fashion. Then shape all 4 ends of the foil up into a bag-like shape.

You can wrap rubber bands or tie twine around it to help it hold its cylindrical shape. Slowly add the charcoal as you shape it up and add more rubber bands or twine.

Poke holes throughout the bottom and sides and leave the top open to air.

Place the foil bag right in your grill and light a fire underneath it.

The nice thing about the foil is as the charcoal burns, you can use tongs to tip the bag over or open it up, and then leave the foil RIGHT in your grill!

No need to mess with transferring a hot chimney or coffee can.

Orange Juice or Milk Carton Charcoal Chimney Starter

Finally, another disposable option is the empty orange juice or milk carton.

Open up the top of the carton so that it is now a rectangular container with an open top. Poke your holes in the bottom and sides to allow for airflow and fill with your unlit charcoal.

Light it up underneath with newspaper or a firestarter cube, and let the carton work like a disposable chimney!

While this is another disposable solution, there is a downside.

The problem with this method is that your paper carton may not last as long as needed to get all the charcoal lit before it goes up in flames itself.

Make sure to check what the carton is really made out of as well. Avoid cartons that are heavily made of plastic.

Of the three methods, I prefer the first two, but if you’re really “squeezed”, use the OJ carton. 😉

Next Steps: Our Favorite Recipes

Smoked Pork, Turkey, and Chicken

Smoked Seafood

Smoked Beef

Smoked Prime Rib on a Pellet Grill
Smoked Ribeye Roast
Hot and Fast Smoked Beef Brisket
Smoked Corned Beef
Smoked and Reverse Seared Ribeye Steaks
Pellet Grilled Steak
Perfect Grilled Hamburgers

Smoked Lamb

Other Odds and Ends

Trash Can Turkey – OK, technically not made on a pellet grill or smoker but one of the most fun ways there is to cook a Turkey…at over 700 degrees in only 2 hours!

You’ve got to check it out!

Looking for Grills, Smokers, and Accessories to Add to your Collection?

Check out some of our favorite brands and styles of grills, smokers, and cooking accessories to add to your list!

Smokers

Grills

Accessories

an orange juice carton charcoal chimney igniting

How to Make a DIY Charcoal Chimney Starter

Learn how to make an inexpensive and disposable DIY charcoal chimney starter using only an orange juice or milk carton.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Australian, barbecue, BBQ, Smoked

Servings 1 DIY Charcoal Chimney

Equipment

Can Opener or Scissors
Utility Knife or Scissors
Lighter
BBQ Tongs

Ingredients

1 Empty Orange Juice or Milk Carton cleaned out
Crumpled Newspaper
Charcoal

Instructions

Cut the top off your OJ or Milk carton
Clean and wipe out the inside with a paper towel
Punch or cut small holes around the perimeter of the base of the carton, about 3-4 on each side.
Place some crumpled newspaper at the bottom of the carton
Fill on top of the newspaper with dry, fresh charcoal
Place the filled carton on your grill and light the newspaper through one of the holes with the lighter.
Let the entire carton and newspaper burn away as the chimney lights, about 15 minutes.
Spread the lit charcoal around using BBQ tongs.

Video

Notes

Video courtesy of Buzzfeed Nifty

Keyword cardboard, Charcoal Chimney, charcoal chimney starter, Charcoal Starter, Cheap, Disposable, DIY, DIY smoker, homemade smoker, Inexpensive, milk carton, orange juice carton