The most common reason people ask this question is the same: you want to smoke, there is no electric coil burner available, and you need to know what your options actually are. The answer depends almost entirely on which type of coal you have. The two situations are so different that they are worth treating separately.
Lighting Quick-Light Coals with a Lighter
Quick-light coals contain a chemical accelerant (usually potassium nitrate) specifically so that they ignite with a standard lighter. Hold the lighter flame to the edge of the coal for a few seconds, the accelerant catches, and the coal self-combusts across its surface from there. The whole process takes 30–60 seconds. Any standard lighter works — Bic, Clipper, a basic gas lighter.
The trade-off with quick-light coals is the taste: the chemical accelerant off-gasses during the first 5–10 minutes of burning, adding a distinctly metallic flavour to your session. Letting the coal fully ash over before putting it on the bowl minimises this, but does not eliminate it entirely. For regular sessions, natural coconut coals are the better choice — but when you have no burner, quick-lights and a lighter are the fastest solution available.
Lighting Natural Coconut Coals with a Standard Lighter
This works, but it is slow and requires more effort than most people expect. Natural coconut coals do not contain any accelerant — they are compressed coconut shell, and they need sustained heat to reach the temperature where they will hold a burn on their own.
With a standard lighter, the process looks like this:
- Hold the flame directly to one face of the coal for 30–60 seconds until that face begins to glow orange at the centre.
- Rotate the coal and apply the lighter to the adjacent face. Repeat for all four faces of a cube coal.
- Continue rotating and applying heat until you see a glowing orange core visible through grey ash on every face. This typically takes 10–15 minutes per coal with a standard lighter.
- The coal is ready only when there are no black spots remaining on any face. Partially lit coconut coals produce carbon monoxide and a harsh, unpleasant taste.
The problem with a standard lighter for this process is that the flame is not hot enough to heat the coal efficiently, and the lighter overheats before the coal is fully lit. You will likely need to let the lighter cool down halfway through the process. It is doable, but it is the least efficient approach available.
Lighting Natural Coconut Coals with a Butane Torch Lighter
A butane torch lighter — the kind used for crème brûlée or cigars — is a significantly better tool for lighting coconut coals without a burner. The concentrated, higher-temperature flame heats the coal surface much faster than a standard lighter, reducing the time per coal to 4–7 minutes rather than 10–15. It is still not as efficient as an electric coil burner, but it is a realistic option for outdoor sessions, travel, or emergencies.
Hold the torch flame directly on each face of the coal for 45–90 seconds until it visibly glows, then rotate and repeat. The torch can sustain its flame long enough to light 2–3 coals in a single session without needing to refill. A decent butane torch costs £10–£20 and is worth owning if you regularly smoke outdoors.
Other Alternatives When You Have No Burner
- Gas hob (stove): If you are at home, a gas hob on maximum heat is the best burner-free option. Place coals directly on the flame, flip after 4–5 minutes, and remove when fully ashed. Takes 8–10 minutes total.
- Camping stove or portable gas burner: Works identically to a gas hob. The right tool for outdoor sessions where you have the option to bring one.
- BBQ charcoal lighter: A chimney starter or similar BBQ coal lighter generates more than enough heat to light hookah coals effectively. Works well for large-group outdoor sessions where you need several coals at once.
- Electric hob: Electric rings work but more slowly than gas — the uneven heat distribution means you need to move the coal more frequently. Takes around 12–15 minutes but gets there.
Why a Coil Burner Is Worth the Investment
A dedicated electric hookah coal burner costs £15–£25 for a quality single-coil model and solves this problem permanently. Coals are fully lit in 8–10 minutes with no attention required — you put them on, set a timer, and come back. The coil generates consistent high heat across the coal surface in a way that no lighter or hob alternative fully replicates.
If you smoke natural coals more than once a week, a coil burner pays for itself in session quality and saved frustration within a month. For a guide covering the full coal lighting process and what to look for in a burner, see our guide to lighting coals without a burner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a lighter to light coconut hookah coals?
Yes, but expect 10–15 minutes per coal with a standard lighter. A butane torch lighter reduces this to 4–7 minutes. Neither replaces an electric coil burner for regular use, but both work in a pinch.
How long does it take to light hookah coals with a lighter?
Quick-light coals: 30–60 seconds. Natural coconut coals with a standard lighter: 10–15 minutes per coal. Natural coconut coals with a butane torch: 4–7 minutes per coal.
Is it safe to light hookah coals with a lighter?
Yes — the process is the same as lighting any coal or charcoal. The main practical risk with a standard lighter is burning your fingers as the lighter overheats during the extended lighting process. Hold the coal with tongs rather than your fingers, and give the lighter a 30-second rest if it becomes too hot to hold comfortably.
Why do my coals taste bad when I light them with a lighter?
If you are using quick-light coals, the chemical accelerant is the source of the taste — it is present regardless of how you light them. If you are using natural coconut coals, the taste indicates they were not fully lit before going on the bowl. Black spots on any face of the coal mean it is not ready. Wait until every face is fully covered in grey ash with an orange glow visible before moving the coal to the hookah. See our charcoal guide for more on the differences between coal types.
What is the best way to light hookah coals without electricity?
In order of effectiveness: gas hob > butane torch lighter > camping stove > standard lighter. For outdoor sessions where none of these are available, quick-light coals and a standard lighter are the fallback that always works.
