Kitchen

Grilling And Smoking

How Much Charcoal Do You Really Need For Your BBQ? By Nick Rivera Aug. 18, 2025 2:39 pm EST

Taras Grebinets/Getty Images

With summer in full swing, it's the perfect season to be outside grilling. Whether you're making steaks, burgers, hot dogs, chicken, or vegetables, the amount of charcoal you use can make or break your barbecue session. While it may seem like you should just fill the grill with as much charcoal as it takes to stay hot, there is a right amount of charcoal to use, depending on what you're cooking.

Different methods for grilling yield varying results depending on what's being cooked. For example, if you're filling the grill, you'll only need to use around 100 briquets of charcoal, which is about four pounds. This amount should be

See Full Page