How much charcoal do you need?

A rule of thumb is about 50 g of charcoal per 100 cm² of grill surface at medium heat. Longer grilling and high heat require more. The calculator accounts for all the factors.

Which is better: lump charcoal or briquettes?

Lump charcoal lights faster and gives high heat — good for steaks. Briquettes burn more evenly and longer — better for slow grilling. A briquette weighs about 25 g each.

How long does charcoal burn?

Lump charcoal gives a good grilling heat for about 1–1.5 hours, briquettes up to 2–3 hours. For long grilling sessions it is worth adding charcoal along the way.

How do I light charcoal without lighter fluid?

Use a chimney starter: fill it with charcoal, put a firelighter underneath and let it burn for 15–20 min until the coals glow. This is the fastest and cleanest method.

Charcoal Calculator — How Much for Grilling

Calculate how much charcoal or briquettes you need for grilling by size and time. Free charcoal calculator.

Grillin pinta-ala: 1,800 cm²

Grillauksen kesto: 1.50 h

Lämpö: Keskilämpö

1,080 g

Grillihiiltä tarvitaan

Hiiltä (kg)	1.1 kg
Brikettejä (n. 25 g/kpl)	43 kpl
Sytytysaika	20 min

ℹ️ Tarvittava hiilimäärä riippuu grillin koosta, kestosta ja halutusta lämmöstä. Pihveille tarvitaan kuumempi (enemmän hiiltä) kuin kasviksille. Sytytä hiilet 20–30 min ennen grillausta.

This charcoal calculator tells you how much charcoal or how many briquettes you need based on the size of your grill and how long you plan to cook. That way you avoid running out of fuel in the middle of the best part of the cook.

How the calculator works and what it’s for▾

What the amount depends on

The amount of charcoal you need depends on the grill's surface area, the cooking time and the heat level you want. The bigger and hotter the cook, the more charcoal it takes.

Plan for more charcoal when grilling steaks than vegetables, because meat needs higher heat to get a good sear.

What you enter and what you get

Enter the grill's surface area in square centimetres, the cooking time in hours and the heat level you want. The calculator turns these into a concrete amount.

The result shows the charcoal needed in kilograms, the equivalent number of briquettes (about 25 g each) and an estimate of the lighting time.

Lighting and timing

Light the charcoal about 20 to 30 minutes before cooking so it can glow evenly and develop a coat of grey ash. Only then is the heat steady and ready for cooking.

Starting too early lets smoke taint the food, while starting too late just delays your meal.

Tips

Keep a little extra charcoal on hand for long cooks, since fuel burns down over time. Setting up two heat zones — a hot side and a cooler side — gives you flexibility for different foods.

🔄 Reviewed June 2026