What Do You Need for a Hookah? The Ultimate Checklist!
Updated July 31, 2026 6 Min 
- All the must-have products you really need to smoke hookah
- Additional accessory recommendations that make your everyday hookah routine easier
- Practical tips for choosing a bowl, charcoal, HMD and more
- Recommendations for useful accessories such as a bowl packing mat, charcoal tongs or drying mat
- Helpful advice on what to look out for when buying your equipment, such as checking what's included
- Answers to frequently asked questions in our extensive hookah FAQ
Do you want to buy your first hookah, but you're not sure which accessories you need in addition to the hookah itself? No problem: We've created a checklist featuring all the hookah accessories you absolutely need. As a bonus, we've also put together a second list of cool hookah accessories that aren't essential but can make your everyday hookah routine considerably easier!
Choosing the right accessories often depends on the color of your hookah. Are you looking for hookahs in a particular colorway? We have dedicated shop pages for them.
Must-Have Hookah Accessories
First, we'd like to introduce you to the products you absolutely need to smoke a hookah.
Note: Before ordering all these items with your chosen hookah, check what's included with the hookah, as some of these products may already be supplied!
What Do You Need for a Hookah?
Without these hookah accessories, setting up and smoking your hookah will be difficult or even impossible. Make sure you have all these products so you can enjoy your hookah.
Nice to Have: Cool Hookah Accessories to Make Your Hookah Routine Easier
In addition to the must-haves, there are accessories that aren't essential but are still nice to have. You can find our list of cool hookah accessories below:
- Coaster for your glass base
- Bowl Packing Mat
- Drying Mat
- Personal Hygiene Mouthpiece
- Caesar Glass Base
- Charcoal Basket
- Bowl Packing Tools
- Wind Cover / Charcoal Safety Screen
Hookah Accessories in Detail
Charcoal Burner
Without a hookah charcoal burner, you won't be able to light your charcoal properly. While some kitchen stoves can technically be used, the risk of damaging the stove is not exactly small. It's better to invest around 20 euros in a charcoal burner than to pay for a new kitchen stove. And in the worst-case scenario, you might also get into trouble with your mother if you try using the stove.
Hookah Charcoal
Nothing works without charcoal, whether in life or when smoking a hookah! That means you need natural charcoal for your hookah. You can find it in our Hookah Charcoal category. If you want to save money on charcoal, we recommend a 20 kg hookah charcoal pack. Compared to individual 1 kg packs, you can save a considerable amount of money.
Charcoal Tongs
We recommend using hookah charcoal tongs to move the glowing charcoal from the burner to the bowl. If you've lost or forgotten your tongs, you can improvise with alternatives such as two forks or makeshift tongs made from aluminum foil, but these options don't work particularly well. Only proper charcoal tongs provide a secure grip on the charcoal. There are many different versions available, which you can explore in our Hookah Charcoal Tongs category.
Hookah Bowl
Don't worry about losing your head, unless it's a bowl you can smoke! Joking aside, a hookah bowl is another must-have for smoking your hookah. There are many different versions to choose from. They differ in design, including shape and color, as well as in the tobacco depot. This is the part of the bowl that holds the tobacco. You can find all our hookah bowls here.
Smokebox / HMD
The smokebox, also known as a Heat Management Device (HMD), is the component that holds the charcoal. The smokebox is placed on top of the hookah bowl so that the tobacco is heated and smoke is produced.
Tip: We recommend the ONMO HMD. In our opinion, it is the number one choice in terms of both price and smoking performance!
Alternative: You can replace all the products listed up to this point with an XKAH Pro or an XKAH Lite. The XKAH is an electric device that replaces charcoal, the charcoal burner, bowl and HMD while also eliminating the harmful substances produced by charcoal. If you've never heard of the XKAH before, you should definitely take a look at our XKAH Guide.
Mouthpiece
If you don't want to place your mouth directly on the silicone hose when smoking your hookah, you'll need a mouthpiece. And believe us, sucking directly on the silicone hose isn't particularly pleasant. Any hookah smoker who regularly takes their hookah with them can confirm this after forgetting their hookah mouthpiece at least once. We offer a variety of hookah mouthpieces made from materials such as stainless steel or carbon fiber.
Hose
The hookah hose connects the hose port on your hookah to the mouthpiece. These hoses are generally made from silicone.
Hookah Tobacco
You need hookah tobacco to produce smoke in your hookah. There's simply no way around it! That's why we stock the best hookah tobacco brands in our shop. As a beginner, the wide selection may initially seem overwhelming. However, every tobacco product description includes information about its flavor. You'll also find details about the type of base tobacco used, which is usually either Burley or Virginia tobacco. Virginia is milder and considerably more suitable for beginners because it contains less nicotine. In our article Best Hookah Tobacco, we've published a list of the most popular hookah tobacco flavors.
Answer three questions to find the hookah tobacco that suits you best.
Coaster for Your Glass Base
To protect both your hookah glass base and your table from scratches, we recommend using a coaster for your glass base. The versions from our own Moze brand are made from a PVC-silicone blend and feature attractive designs. The glass base coasters are also available in the same colors as our hookahs, allowing you to create a perfectly coordinated overall look. In addition to our PVC-silicone coasters, we also offer Moze wooden coasters featuring an integrated LED in the center. The light can be adjusted to different colors using a remote control. Especially in a dark room, illuminating the glass base from below creates an impressive effect.
Bowl Packing Mat
Many hookah smokers find packing a bowl to be an annoying task, mainly because it often creates a mess. A hookah bowl packing mat helps prevent this. Any tobacco that falls beside the bowl while you're packing it lands on the mat and can be poured back into the packaging. Afterwards, simply rinse the mat under water to remove any molasses stains. In our opinion, a bowl packing mat makes everyday hookah preparation considerably easier.
Drying Mat
Just like our glass base coasters and bowl packing mats, Moze drying mats are made from a PVC-silicone blend. However, the drying mats are considerably larger and thicker. You can place the mat directly next to your sink and lay the individual hookah components on it after cleaning so they can dry. The water collects in the deep grooves of the hookah drying mat and can be poured away once the components are dry and the hookah has been reassembled.
Personal Hygiene Mouthpiece
Many people feel uncomfortable sharing a hookah mouthpiece. It's also unhygienic and may cause illnesses to spread between friends. That's exactly why the Moze Tip exists. It's a personal hookah hygiene mouthpiece that can easily be placed over the end of a regular mouthpiece, ensuring you always have your own mouthpiece.
If you frequently have friends over, you can also take a look at disposable hookah hygiene mouthpieces. These are available in affordable packs of 100. However, reusable personal hygiene mouthpieces are the more sustainable option because they produce significantly less plastic waste.
Caesar Glass Base
If you appreciate exclusive products, you should definitely take a look at Caesar glass bases. These handcrafted hookah glass bases are made from lead crystal. Although the price is high, you'll understand the price tag as soon as you've held one in your hands. The combinations you can create with your hookah and these glass bases are incredibly diverse and beautiful.
Charcoal Basket
To reduce the risk of glowing charcoal falling onto the floor while you carry it from the burner to your hookah, you can use a charcoal basket. You'll find various designs and further information in our Hookah Charcoal Basket category.
Bowl Packing Tools
Hookah bowl packing tools can make preparing your bowl considerably easier. These are special hookah forks and pokers designed to distribute hookah tobacco perfectly inside the bowl. This helps you prepare the perfect hookah with maximum flavor. In our article How to Pack a Hookah Bowl, we've created a guide showing you how to prepare a bowl like a true professional.
Wind Cover / Charcoal Safety Screen
The wind cover or charcoal safety screen is placed on the charcoal tray to protect against charcoal falling out of the HMD or chimney attachment. If you have any further questions about which products you still need for a complete setup, you can contact our customer support team at any time by email or WhatsApp!
Category and Product Recommendations for You
Here are a few recommendations to browse based on your search for accessories:
FAQ: What Do You Need for a Hookah?
Do I Really Need Every Accessory on the Must-Have List?
Yes, you need the must-have products to smoke your hookah. However, some accessories may already be included with your hookah, so it's worth checking what's included before placing your order.
What's the Difference Between Must-Have and Nice-to-Have Accessories?
Must-haves are accessories you absolutely need to smoke a hookah. Nice-to-have products make using your hookah more convenient, comfortable or stylish, but they aren't essential.
Can I Light Charcoal on the Stove?
It is technically possible, but it isn't recommended. Many stovetops can be damaged in the process. An electric charcoal burner is considerably safer and more convenient.
Which Tobacco Is Suitable for Beginners?
Virginia tobacco is particularly suitable for beginners. It is generally milder, contains less nicotine and is easier to smoke than many Dark Blend tobaccos.
What Is an HMD or Smokebox?
A smokebox, also known as an HMD or Heat Management Device, is placed on top of the hookah bowl and holds the glowing charcoal. This distributes heat more evenly across the tobacco while eliminating the need to handle aluminum foil or chimney attachments.
Combinations of hookah bowls and smokeboxes are particularly popular. Many beginners use phunnel bowls with an HMD because they're easier to pack and often work especially well with Virginia tobacco. Experienced smokers, on the other hand, frequently choose traditional bowls with a smokebox to smoke Dark Blend tobacco in the classic Russian style.
A good bowl and a high-quality HMD have an enormous influence on flavor and smoke production. Beginners often spend a lot of money on the hookah itself and then save on the bowl or smokebox. However, the combination of bowl and HMD is often considerably more important for an enjoyable smoking experience than the hookah itself. It can therefore make more sense to spend slightly less on the hookah and invest in a high-quality bowl and effective heat management instead.
Do I Need to Buy Everything at Once?
You should have the most important accessories from the beginning. Additional accessories can always be added later depending on which functions or designs are important to you.
Which Accessory Is the Most Sustainable?
Reusable hygiene mouthpieces such as Moze Tips are considered a particularly sustainable solution because they can be used repeatedly and produce significantly less waste than traditional disposable mouthpieces.
What Are the Benefits of a Coaster or Drying Mat?
Coasters and drying mats protect surfaces from water stains, scratches and dirt. They also help keep your hookah area tidy and clean.
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