Charcoal Calculator — How Much for Grilling

What the amount depends on

The amount of charcoal you need depends on the grill's surface area, the cooking time and the heat level you want. The bigger and hotter the cook, the more charcoal it takes.

Plan for more charcoal when grilling steaks than vegetables, because meat needs higher heat to get a good sear.

What you enter and what you get

Enter the grill's surface area in square centimetres, the cooking time in hours and the heat level you want. The calculator turns these into a concrete amount.

The result shows the charcoal needed in kilograms, the equivalent number of briquettes (about 25 g each) and an estimate of the lighting time.

Lighting and timing

Light the charcoal about 20 to 30 minutes before cooking so it can glow evenly and develop a coat of grey ash. Only then is the heat steady and ready for cooking.

Starting too early lets smoke taint the food, while starting too late just delays your meal.

Tips

Keep a little extra charcoal on hand for long cooks, since fuel burns down over time. Setting up two heat zones — a hot side and a cooler side — gives you flexibility for different foods.