A chimney starter, also called a charcoal chimney, is a device that is used to ignite either lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes. It is usually a steel cylinder about 8" (20 cm) in diameter and about 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) tall. Chimney starters have a plate (or grate) with several holes that is placed horizontally inside the cylinder about 3" (8 cm) from the bottom. The chimney has large holes around its circumference below the grate. This allows air to flow up underneath the charcoal, which rests atop the grate. Chimneys also have handles that are usually insulated. The chimney starter works by placing newspaper underneath the grate and igniting it. This fire rises through the grate and ignites the charcoal. It is commonly used where charcoal lighter fluid, a toxic petroleum derivative, is inappropriate or banned. It is also used when extra charcoals are required while the grill is being used, such as when slowly cooking something for a few hours. A type of chimney starter's basic device, named Automatic Dump Type Charcoal Lighter, was invented in the 1960s by Hugh King, Lavaughn Johnson, and Garner Byars of Corinth, Mississippi and marketed under the "Auto Fire" label.

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