When Is Hookah Coal Ready? Here's How to Tell!

Last updated on 05/08/2025 | Reading time approx. 01:27min

Article Summary:

Hookah charcoal should be fully ignited before being placed on the hookah.
Properly lit charcoal is completely gray or glowing – no black spots should remain.
Partially lit charcoal still has black areas and releases more harmful substances.
For even ignition: turn the charcoal after 5 minutes and heat for another 3–5 minutes.
An electric charcoal burner (1000W) takes about 8–10 minutes to light natural charcoal.
An aluminum foil funnel can speed up ignition by 2–3 minutes but poses risks to the burner.
Always use tongs to turn the charcoal – safety first!

When Is the Charcoal Ready for the Hookah?

It's important to only use hookah coal when it's fully ready. The reason is that coal releases higher levels of harmful substances during the lighting process. But when is hookah coal fully lit? We'll show you how to tell.

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Signs That Your Hookah Coal Is Ready

The hookah coal should be evenly lit on all sides before placing it on your hookah. This is the case when the coal is no longer black. The coal cubes should look like in the following image:

This is how the coal should look when ready

And it should definitely not look like in the following image - if you use hookah coal like this, the harmful substance exposure for your body is significantly higher! This is because the coal releases many more pollutants into the environment while lighting.

This is how the coal looks when not ready yet

How Do I Ensure All Sides Glow Evenly?

If you're using an electric coal lighter or gas coal lighter for your hookah coal, the coal should look like this after about 5 minutes:

This is how the coal looks when halfway done

When it looks like this, simply flip the coal with coal tongs and wait another 3-5 minutes. The hookah coal should then look like in our image of ready-to-use coal. Now you can enjoy your hookah in peace.

How Long Does Hookah Coal Take to Be Ready?

With classic hookah coal cubes and a 1000W electric coal lighter, it typically takes 8-10 minutes for your hookah coal to be ready. If you want to speed up the process slightly, you can build an aluminum foil funnel around the hookah coal. This traps the heat and makes it 2-3 minutes faster.

Aluminum foil funnel on a coal lighter

Note: Using such an aluminum foil funnel can damage the lighter over time, as the trapped heat can harm the electronics and heating coil of the lighter!

FAQ: When Is Hookah Coal Ready?

How do I know when hookah coal is ready?

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The hookah coal is ready when it is fully glowing or covered in a layer of gray ash with no black spots remaining. It should be evenly lit on all sides.

What happens if I use partially lit hookah coal?

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Using partially lit coal increases the release of harmful substances and leads to an unpleasant taste. Wait until the coal is fully ignited before using it.

How long does it take for hookah coal to be ready?

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With a 1000W electric coal burner, it usually takes about 8–10 minutes. Flip the coal after 5 minutes to ensure even ignition.

Can I speed up the coal lighting process?

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Yes, placing an aluminum foil funnel around the coal can reduce ignition time by 2–3 minutes. However, this can damage your coal burner over time.

What tools should I use to handle hot hookah coal?

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Always use proper coal tongs to flip or move the hot coals safely. Never touch coal with your hands.