The 8 Best Lump Charcoals of 2023

Best Overall

Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

4.8

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One of the top-selling points for this charcoal is the re-designed bag that protects the charcoal better in shipping, so there are larger pieces and less dust and residue. It’s a small thing, but it makes a difference when the fire hits the coal.

The coal itself is made from South American hardwood that users say is similar to oak but lacking the unpleasant bitterness that sometimes creeps in. With a smooth and mild flavor, you don't have to worry about the coal overpowering your food, even with long, slow cooking. The wood is purposely selected for coal making and is hand-cut and hand-fired in brick kilns built on-site for that purpose. The largest and most intact lumps are sold to ensure a consistent product in each bag.

This wood also sparks less than some other types, so it's a bit safer and less dramatic to light and use.

Price at time of publish: $48

Wood Type: South American hardwood | Sizes Available: 8 pounds, 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 35 pounds

Best Budget

Royal Oak All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

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Royal Oak Hardwood Lump Charcoal is affordable and is great for new users who are just getting used to the fuel, and it’s also popular with experienced grillers who like the smoky flavor. The charcoal is made from American oak and hickory hardwood.

It offers more smoke than other brands, can be easier to light, and burns slightly faster. Some users have found that the quality can be inconsistent with bits of rock or metal appearing in the bottom of the bag, although many other users have had no issues at all.

Price at time of publish: $22

Wood Type: American oak and hickory hardwood | Sizes Available: 15.4 pounds

Best Mid-Sized Chunks

The Good Charcoal Company Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal

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The Good Charcoal Company is a new player in the charcoal market, so you may need to look a little harder to find its products, but we were able to sample the product and it definitely earns a spot on this list. The charcoal is made from sustainably harvested acacia wood, and the company claims to sell the first FSC-approved charcoal in the United States.

When it comes to using the charcoal, the bags that were tested had charcoal that was reasonably uniform in size, and mostly mid-sized—so, no large branch-like pieces. There were also smaller chunks, but that’s to be expected as bags jostle around in shipping and pieces break off. The mid-sized pieces lit easily and burned cleanly, providing a nice hot burn and consistent heat—which makes sense since it’s all the same wood type. The smaller pieces were handy for starting fires or for adding just a little more wood.

Price at time of publish: $20 (for 15.4-pound bag)

Wood Type: Acacia hardwood | Sizes Available: 8 and 15.4 pounds

Best Value

Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

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While not the least expensive lump charcoal you can buy, this is highly rated by users. Buying multiple bags at a time often reduces the price-per-item significantly, so it’s a great value for those who will be barbecuing a lot of chicken legs during grilling season. It has consistently been voted the best by websites and chefs, and it’s often used by competitive barbecue teams.

This charcoal is made from hardwoods harvested in Missouri and includes oak and hickory as the majority of the product, along with some maple, cherry, and pecan wood. This boasts a rich aroma from woods that offer a desirable flavor in the smoke, adding a pleasant taste to the food. The wood is not purposely cut for charcoal. Instead, it is leftover wood that was cut for other uses, so it’s better for the environment as well as for your grill.

Price at time of publish: $125

Wood Type: Oak, hickory, maple, and pecan | Sizes Available: 20 pounds

Best for Beginners

Cowboy All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

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Made from a mix of hardwoods, including oak, hickory, and mesquite, this is a great charcoal for folks who are just starting to dabble with lump charcoal and for all those times when premium charcoal isn’t needed. While it’s not the least expensive lump charcoal you’ll find, the price is reasonable for everyday grilling, whether it’s burgers, ribs, or a roast.

This charcoal burns hot and fast when needed for excellent searing and has the longevity required for low and slow cooking. It imparts a smoky flavor to food without any off-notes for the perfect grilling experience every time. This is made from all-natural wood that has been charred and comes in a 20-pound bag, so there’s plenty for family grilling and parties.

Many customers are happy with the quality of the charcoal and that it burns very hot, but some say they found a lot of small-sized bits in the bag that either burn too quickly or fall through the grate.

Price at time of publish: $48

Wood Type: Oak, hickory, and mesquite | Sizes Available: 20 pounds

Best for Big Green Egg

Harder Charcoal 100 Percent Natural XL Restaurant Style Barbecue Grilling Lump Charcoal

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Harder Lump Charcoal is made from a South American Quebracho wood nicknamed “axe-breaker.” Wood for this charcoal is harvested without cutting down any living trees, making it very eco-friendly. It works well for any charcoal grill, but specifically for kamado-style grills, like the Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, and others, that retain heat for long, low-and-slow cooking as well as high-heat applications.

This charcoal produces minimal sparking for safer lighting and grilling and minimal smoke while imparting just the right flavor. It is sold as a 33-pound bag, so you’ll have plenty for grilling, family dinners, and parties. Users complimented it for its responsiveness to airflow changes for heat control and the long-lasting fire for slow cooking.

Price at time of publish: $48

Wood Type: South American Quebracho wood | Sizes Available: 33 pounds

Best Multi-Sized Chunks

Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal

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Made from Guayacan, Guayaibi, Mistal, and White Quebracho hardwoods ("axe-breakers") from Argentina, this wood is roasted in outdoor ovens to create the lump charcoal. The result is clean-burning wood with flavorful smoke.

Packed in a box rather than a bag to protect the charcoal during shipping, according to users, this includes pieces in various sizes, with large, medium, and small pieces filling the box. While some users prefer to use all large pieces for long cooking sessions, the smaller pieces light faster and are great for quick-cooking foods like steaks and burgers since there’s no need to extinguish large pieces to save them for later cooking.

Price at time of publish: $31

Wood Type: Guayacan, Guayaibi, Mistal, and White Quebracho | Sizes Available: 30 pounds