Published 30 July 2026 · Last updated 16 October 2026 · By Ben Austen · Affiliate disclosure
I used a chimney starter for more than fifteen years, on my parents’ kettle first and then on my own, and the one I bought myself was almost certainly a Weber Rapidfire. A BBQ chimney starter lights your charcoal without lighter fluid, and at around £24 I’d just buy the Weber. I don’t use one now, because I cook on a Big Green Egg and a kamado lights differently. The other four here I haven’t used, so what I say about them comes from their listings, and I checked every price on Amazon UK in October 2026. Amazon prices move, so check before you buy.
Tick Compare on any two or more to see them side by side.
Best overall Tested
Weber Rapidfire
The chimney starter I used for years on my kettle.
- Holds about 2.5kg, says Weber
- Flip-up second handle for pouring
- Aluminised steel
Best for less Researched
BLOSTM Extra Large
A bit bigger than the Weber, for less.
- Holds 2.8kg
- Two heat-insulated handles
- Galvanised steel
Smaller barbecue Researched
Weber Rapidfire Compact
The small Rapidfire, for a smaller barbecue.
- 20.5 × 14.5 × 26.5cm
- Aluminised steel
- Weber says it’s for shorter cooks
Researched
LIVIVO Deluxe
Galvanised, with a guard over the handle.
- 10 to 20 minutes, says LIVIVO
- Cone-shaped grate
- 30 × 28 × 17cm
Cheapest Researched
Woodside
The cheapest here.
- About 20 minutes, says Woodside
- 17cm across, 27.5cm tall
- You’ll still want gloves
Key takeaways
- The Weber Rapidfire is the chimney starter I’d buy. It’s £23.99 on Amazon UK, holds about 2.5kg of charcoal, and has a second handle that flips up so you can pour with two hands.
- If you’d rather spend less, the BLOSTM Extra Large is £17.49 and holds 2.8kg.
- The Weber Rapidfire Compact is £19.99 and is the smaller one, for a smaller barbecue.
- The cheapest here is the Woodside, at £9.99.
- Skip the Weber Rapidfire Set. The chimney in it is the same Rapidfire, and the rest is a bag of briquettes, which I wouldn’t cook on.
- You don’t need a chimney starter for a kamado.
At a glance: the five picks
| Price | Made of | Holds | I’ve used it | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Rapidfire | £23.99 | Aluminised steel | About 2.5kg, says Weber | Yes, for years |
| BLOSTM Extra Large | £17.49 | Galvanised steel | 2.8kg | No |
| Weber Rapidfire Compact | £19.99 | Aluminised steel | Not stated | No |
| LIVIVO Deluxe | £16.99 | Galvanised steel | Not stated | No |
| Woodside | £9.99 | Not stated | Not stated | No |
Best chimney starter overall: the Weber chimney starter (Rapidfire), £23.99
The Weber Rapidfire is the chimney starter I used on my own kettle. It’s £23.99 on Amazon UK. Weber says it holds about 2.5kg of charcoal, and it’s made of aluminised steel.
What I like about it is how it’s put together. The grate at the bottom is cone-shaped, the main handle has a heat shield, and a second handle flips up, so you’ve got both hands on it when you pour. In my experience the chimney itself doesn’t fail. At this price I’d just buy the branded one.
Best for less: BLOSTM Extra Large, £17.49
The BLOSTM is £17.49 on Amazon UK and holds 2.8kg, a bit more than the Rapidfire. It’s galvanised steel, with two heat-insulated handles and a cone-shaped holder. BLOSTM says it gets your charcoal going in as little as 20 minutes.
I haven’t used it, but it’s a fair cheaper alternative to the Weber. In my experience galvanised chimneys last as well as aluminised ones.
Best for a smaller barbecue: Weber Rapidfire Compact, £19.99
The Compact is the small Rapidfire, £19.99 on Amazon UK. It’s 20.5cm by 14.5cm by 26.5cm, made of the same aluminised steel, and Weber sells it for smaller barbecues or shorter cooks. The listing doesn’t say how much it holds.
I haven’t used it.
LIVIVO Deluxe, £16.99
The LIVIVO is £16.99 on Amazon UK. It’s galvanised, with a heat-resistant handle, a metal grip and a guard to keep your hand off the heat, and a cone-shaped grate. LIVIVO says it gets the charcoal going in 10 to 20 minutes, and it measures 30cm by 28cm by 17cm. The listing doesn’t say how much it holds.
I haven’t used it.
Cheapest: Woodside, £9.99
The Woodside is £9.99 on Amazon UK, the cheapest here. It’s 17cm across and 27.5cm tall, and Woodside says the coals take about 20 minutes. It has a protective handle, and the listing says you still need gloves. It doesn’t say what it’s made of or how much it holds.
I haven’t used it.
How to use a chimney starter
Fill it with lump charcoal. Put a couple of sheets of scrunched-up newspaper underneath, or a natural firelighter cube, and light it. Newspaper’s what I’ve always used, because my parents always had papers around. Natural cubes are fine too. I’d stay away from the old white paraffin firelighters, because you can taste the paraffin in the food.
Wait about 15 minutes, then pour the coals into your barbecue. When a kettle cook goes wrong, it’s almost never the chimney. It’s usually rubbish charcoal, or the chimney’s been lifted too early, or lit too late.
Skip the Weber Rapidfire Set
Weber sells the Rapidfire in a set with briquettes. The chimney in it is the same Rapidfire, and I don’t cook on briquettes or recommend them on a kettle. Buy the chimney on its own and a bag of lump.
Do you need a chimney starter for a kamado?
No. You don’t use a chimney starter on a kamado. On my Big Green Egg I tuck one firelighter cube into a fistful of lump, close the dome, and that’s it.
Common questions
What is the best alternative to a chimney starter?
On a kettle, just use natural firelighters. Keep it simple.
What is the best charcoal starter?
For a kettle, the Weber Rapidfire. It’s the one I used, and at around £24 I’d just buy it.
How do you use a chimney starter?
Fill it with lump, light newspaper or a natural firelighter underneath, wait about 15 minutes, then pour the coals into your barbecue.
Can I use a chimney starter on a kamado?
You don’t need to. A firelighter cube in a fistful of lump does it.
Sources and how I checked
- My own years with a chimney starter on my parents’ kettle and on mine, almost certainly a Weber Rapidfire.
- Amazon UK listings for all five, prices and specs, October 2026.
How I got this, and what I’ve spent
I bought my own chimney starter. Nobody sent me any of these, and nobody at Weber, BLOSTM, LIVIVO or Woodside has seen this before you have. None of the links here are affiliate links, so nothing here earns a commission.
Final verdict
Buy the Weber Rapidfire. It’s the one I used for years, it’s about £24, and the second handle makes pouring easy. If you want to spend less, the BLOSTM Extra Large is the cheaper one I’d look at.