Lighting an open fire when camping or having an impromptu barbecue are fantastic fun, but getting them started and keeping them going can be hard work. One simple invention that will make this often frustrating task much easier is a pack of firelighters, which will add fuel and keep a flame going longer so your fire will take.
If you’re looking for something to make lighting your log burner, wood burning stove, fire pit or BBQ easy and stress-free, read on for our recommendations of the best firelighters to buy online from retailers such as Amazon. We've made sure to include the best prices as well as the best natural alternatives to traditional ones too. Let's get started!
There are many different brands of firelighter available to buy, but before we look at our recommendations, there are a few important considerations to take into account. It needn’t be a baptism of fire though, so make sure you take a look below first.
There are more and more natural alternatives becoming available to the traditional fuel ones, and each has their pros and cons, so here we will look in more detail at each of them.
The most widely available firelighters are the ones that are made of a solid hydrocarbon fuel, such as kerosene or paraffin. They are inexpensive to buy, and you can even pick them up from the supermarket when doing your weekly online shop.
The downside of this type of firelighter is that they aren’t environmentally friendly, as burning this type of hydrocarbon fuel produces larger amounts of carbon dioxide than their natural alternatives, which, in turn, contributes to global warming.
They are also strong smelling which may be an issue when barbecuing, as the odours can transfer to your food.
Natural firelighters are becoming more and more popular, and as a consequence are becoming more widely available. They can be made from a variety of natural fibres such as wood wool, wood shavings, natural waxes and other plant materials.
They are a really great alternative to their fuel counterparts, as they are non-toxic, odourless and often made with byproducts from other manufacturing processes. However, they aren’t quite as widely available and they are often the more expensive option, so it may be worth buying in bulk if you go for these.
Firelighters can come in packs of varying sizes and while buying a larger pack of one brand may seem like good sense, depending on the firelighter, this may end up being a false economy. This is because different brands need more lighters to get a fire to take than others.
If you pay close attention to the manufacturer’s information, then you will be able to gauge how many firelighters you will need to use each time you light your chosen fire type. By doing this, you will be making sure you are getting the best value out of your purchase.
You should bear in mind which type of fire you are most likely to be needing the firelighters for, as not all types can be used on any type of fire. Some varieties are only suitable to be used outdoors, whereas others are not safe to be used on barbecues or anywhere food is being cooked.
So that you’re not tripped up by this – especially if you've set off on a camping trip – you should make sure you’re not accidentally buying firelighters that aren’t suitable for the task at hand.
Firelighters are all designed to burn for a set amount of time before the other wood or paper fuels in your fire take and allow it to continue to burn. Longer flame times not only give you more chance of success without needing additional firelighters, but they also can be more helpful if your coal, charcoal or wood is slightly damp.
While this detail is often overlooked, it is worth paying attention to it as this will let you know how long you have to get the fire going before they burn out.
So now we’ve covered all the main considerations and we’re firing on all cylinders, it’s on to our top 10 recommendations. We’ve done all the hard work in choosing the best firelighters so you don’t have to!
Pack of 200
£7.99
Type | Natural |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 2 / 3 |
Suitable For | Barbecues, fireplaces, open fires |
Flame Time | 6 - 20 minutes |
Pack of 24
£4.99
Type | Solid fuel |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 1 / 2 |
Suitable For | Open fires, stoves, wood burners, campfires |
Flame Time | - |
Pack of 14
£2.30
Type | Solid fuel |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 3 / 4 |
Suitable For | Wood burners, barbecues, open fires |
Flame Time | - |
Pack of 40
£5.99
Type | Solid fuel |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 1 / 2 |
Suitable For | Barbecues, open fires |
Flame Time | 18 minutes |
Pack of 96
£7.49
Type | Natural |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 2 / 3 |
Suitable For | Wood burners, fire pits, pizza ovens, barbecues |
Flame Time | 8 - 10 minutes |
Pack of 240
£12.83
Type | Solid fuel |
---|---|
Suitable For | Open fires, wood burners, barbecues |
Number Required per Use | 3 / 4 |
Flame Time | - |
Pack of 48
£3.69
Type | Natural |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 2 |
Suitable For | Barbecues, fire pits |
Flame Time | 10 minutes |
Pack of 288
£10.45
Type | Solid fuel |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 2 / 3 |
Suitable For | Open fires |
Flame Time | - |
Pack of 50
£8.99
Type | Natural |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 1 |
Suitable For | All fires and charcoal barbeques |
Flame Time | 5 - 10 minutes |
Pack of 200
£17.86
Type | Natural |
---|---|
No. Required Per Use | 1 |
Suitable For | Wood burners, fireplaces, barbeques, camping fires |
Flame Time | 10 minutes |
Image | 1 ![]() Log Barn | 2 ![]() Flamers | 3 ![]() Bryant & May | 4 ![]() Weber | 5 ![]() Tiger Tim | 6 ![]() Woodabrix | 7 ![]() Zip | 8 ![]() Quickfire | 9 ![]() FIREGLOW | 10 ![]() FIRE UP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Natural Eco Wood Firelighters | Natural Firelighters | Long Burning Firelighters | Lighter Cubes | Sachet Firelighters | Natural Wood Eco Firelighters | High Performance Energy Firelighters | Firelighters | Superior Performance Fireglow Firelighters | Natural Sustainable Firelighters |
Features | FSC-Certified Wood Make These the Better Choice for the Environment | Economical and Use No Chemicals to Get Your Fire Going | An Impressive High Fuel Content and Very Adaptable | Get Your Fire Lit Even in Wet and Windy Conditions | Clean, Easy to Use, and Won’t Leave You With Smelly Hands | Totally Odour Free With a Longer Burn Time Than Most | Longer and Hotter Burning for Improved Performance | Reliable, Quick, and Easy to Use Every Time | Use the Highest Grade Kerosene for Less Smoke | Sustainably Sourced Materials and Good Value for Money |
Price | £17.86 | £8.99 | £10.45 | £3.69 | £12.83 | £7.49 | £5.99 | £2.30 | £4.99 | £7.99 |
Type | Natural | Natural | Solid fuel | Natural | Solid fuel | Natural | Solid fuel | Solid fuel | Solid fuel | Natural |
No. Required Per Use | 1 | 1 | 2 / 3 | 2 | Open fires, wood burners, barbecues | 2 / 3 | 1 / 2 | 3 / 4 | 1 / 2 | 2 / 3 |
Suitable For | Wood burners, fireplaces, barbeques, camping fires | All fires and charcoal barbeques | Open fires | Barbecues, fire pits | 3 / 4 | Wood burners, fire pits, pizza ovens, barbecues | Barbecues, open fires | Wood burners, barbecues, open fires | Open fires, stoves, wood burners, campfires | Barbecues, fireplaces, open fires |
Flame Time | 10 minutes | 5 - 10 minutes | - | 10 minutes | - | 8 - 10 minutes | 18 minutes | - | - | 6 - 20 minutes |
Link |
Author: Catherine Torrance
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications