Lighting hookah charcoal outside: how to do it right!
Updated May 7, 2025 4 min 
- Smoking hookah outside requires alternative methods to light the charcoal without electricity.
- Tempting as it may seem: self-lighting charcoal is not a solution, it tastes disgusting.
- Recommended is a gas charcoal burner with a gas cartridge, simple, mobile and effective.
- Self-lighting charcoal can be used as an aid to light natural charcoal.
- Disposable grills or organic grill lighters also work, but require some preparation.
- A campfire with embers is very effective but requires caution and the right accessories (long tongs).
- All methods need patience and a safe environment to let the charcoal glow through completely.
How do I light charcoal outside?
Especially in summer, many hookah smokers feel the urge to enjoy the cool smoke of the water pipe outdoors too! But this is exactly where lighting the hookah charcoal is often a challenge. We show you how to light your hookah charcoal outside so you can enjoy your hookah on the go. Outside you basically have the following options to get your hookah charcoal glowing:
- Gas charcoal burner
- Lighting natural charcoal with self-lighting charcoal
- Disposable grills or organic grill lighters
- Campfire
Smoking hookah on the go: the easiest option, self-lighting charcoal
If you can make compromises on the taste of the hookah while out and about, you can also use self-lighting charcoal for smoking. It can easily be lit with a lighter, because it contains chemical additives that make the charcoal glow through on its own once one corner has been brought to a glow.
However, we advise against this option, because the hookah does not really taste good with this type of charcoal and you endanger your health even more than is already the case when smoking hookah anyway. This is due to the chemical additives contained in the charcoal.
Note: For exactly these reasons you will not find self-lighting charcoal in our shop, but you will find hookah natural charcoal in 1 kg, 4 kg and even 20 kg hookah charcoal. So it is best to read through the following solutions for how to light your natural charcoal on the go!
Ways to light hookah natural charcoal outside
As described at the beginning, you basically have three options to light the charcoal on the go. We assume that you have no electricity at the place you are visiting. If you do go somewhere with electricity, you have many more options to get the charcoal glowing.
The simplest solution: lighting the hookah charcoal with a gas charcoal burner
The easiest solution is probably to light the hookah charcoal with a gas charcoal burner. For this you only need the burner, a gas cartridge and matches or a lighter. Accessories like gas burners and cartridges are of course available in our shop.
If you already have these utensils, you can easily light the charcoal on the go:
- Place the gas cartridge in the designated holder of the burner and screw it shut.
- Light a match or lighter and turn the burner's control knob so that gas escapes. You should now hear a quiet hissing. With the flame of your match or lighter, ignite the burner's flame.
- Place the charcoal on the burner and turn it after about 5 minutes so all sides are heated evenly.
- After another 3 to 5 minutes the hookah charcoal glows evenly on all sides.
Lighting natural charcoal with self-lighting charcoal
Do you still have self-lighting charcoal from the old days at home? Then you can use it to light your hookah natural charcoal! Simply take 3 to 6 self-lighting coals and light them. When the self-lighting coals start to glow, place your charcoal cubes on top and the natural charcoal should slowly start to glow.
If you use 3 self-lighting coals to light 3 natural charcoal cubes, you have to turn them once they are halfway through. Alternatively, you can use 6 self-lighting coals and place them on the natural charcoal from above and below at the same time. That way it is a bit faster and you save yourself the turning.
Disposable grill or organic grill lighter
Another alternative that works similarly to self-lighting charcoal are organic grill lighters or a disposable grill. With the organic grill lighters you only need to find a way to place the charcoal properly on top. The easiest way is probably with a container such as a hookah charcoal basket. You put the lighters in it, light them and place the natural charcoal on top.
With the disposable grill, the barbecue charcoal serves as the lighter and you already have a tray it sits in. When the barbecue charcoal glows, simply put your hookah charcoal into the embers as well and within a few minutes it should have glowed through.
Campfire
If you are sitting around a cosy campfire with your friends in the evening anyway, you can also light the charcoal excellently in the embers of the fire. Simply put the natural charcoal cubes into the embers and wait until they glow completely.
With this method you should use the longest possible charcoal tongs, otherwise it is a bit difficult to place the charcoal in a good position in the embers without burning your fingers! Good tongs here would be, for example, the charcoal tweezers.
Do you know any other ways?
Feel free to let us know so we can share your idea with other hookah smokers too! Just send us an email to info@mozeshisha.de or a message on WhatsApp to +49 178 1883338!
FAQ: lighting hookah charcoal outside
How can I light hookah charcoal outside without electricity?
The easiest way is with a gas charcoal burner and a suitable gas cartridge. Alternatives are a disposable grill, organic grill lighters or the embers of a campfire. What matters most is patience, a safe environment and sufficient distance from flammable materials.
Is self-lighting charcoal a good solution for on the go?
We rather advise against it, as self-lighting charcoal contains chemical additives, can taste unpleasant and is more questionable for your health. If at all, you should use it at most to light natural charcoal.
How does a gas charcoal burner for hookah charcoal work?
Insert the gas cartridge, open the gas supply and carefully light the burner with a lighter. Then place the charcoal on the burner and turn it after about 5 minutes. After another 3 to 5 minutes it should have glowed through completely.
Can I light natural charcoal with self-lighting charcoal?
Yes, you can place natural charcoal on glowing self-lighting coals to light it. Several pieces are ideal so that even heat comes from above and below. In terms of taste and health, however, a gas charcoal burner is the better solution.
How do I light hookah charcoal in a disposable grill?
Wait until the barbecue charcoal glows properly, then place the natural charcoal directly into the embers. Within a few minutes it can glow through completely. It is best to use charcoal tongs or a charcoal basket for this.
Can I light hookah charcoal in a campfire?
Yes, you can place hookah charcoal directly into the hot embers of a campfire. Be sure to use long charcoal tongs and make sure the charcoal has glowed through completely before you put it on the bowl.
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