An American Story

The history of grilling at Kingsford is a classic American story. It all started in 1919 when Edward G. Kingsford helped Henry Ford procure a stretch of timberland to supply wood for his auto plants.

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Kingsford® Preserve the Pit

Kingsford remains committed to celebrating Black barbecue culture by launching the second year of Preserve the Pit and doubling the investment in aspiring barbecue professionals.

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American Pride

An American-made company founded over 100 years ago, Kingsford has a lot to be proud of. Our employees have been continuing the family tradition in backyards across the nation.

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Kingsford®

Match Light® Charcoal

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  • No lighter fluid needed
  • Ready to cook on in 10 minutes

Kingsford® Match Light® Charcoal lights every time—guaranteed.* Because the briquets are infused with just the right amount of lighter fluid, they light instantly*, and stay lit with no lighter fluid needed. They light with just a match and are ready to cook on in 10 minutes — making them perfect for tailgates and other on-the-go events. And our Match Light® Charcoal is made with North American wood and the same quality ingredients as Kingsford® Original to deliver an authentic wood-fired BBQ flavor — instantly. Available in a variety of sizes, from 4-lb. to 2x16-lb. bags.

For best results, always close the bag tightly after use. Kingsford® Match Light® Charcoal should last 1–2 years in unopened bags stored in a cool, dry place. For best lighting results, partially used bags should be rolled tightly down to the level of the briquets in the bag and securely closed. Additionally, storing open or unopened bags in a cool, dry place will help maintain performance.

* When used as directed
The Kingsford Difference

Match Light

Grilling just got easier with Kingsford® Match Light® charcoal! Made for BBQ fans who want to grill anytime, anywhere, it ignites instantly* and heats flawlessly, so you can spend less time prepping and more time doing your thing. No lighter fluid needed — just pure grilling goodness that’s ready whenever you are. 

Want to see Match Light in action? Watch our video.

* When used as directed.

Pairs well with this recipe

Grilled Ribeye

Grilling thick cut ribeye steaks to perfection is simple, fast and fit for every occasion.

Get the Recipe
Learn

HOW TO ARRANGE CHARCOAL BEFORE GRILLING

Discover the best ways to grill and smoke using Kingsford® Charcoal Briquets. We’ll show you how much charcoal you should be using to achieve the right grilling temperature, and techniques to use for different types of food. It’s easy — just follow along.

Learn How
Reviews
4.1
1432 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Quick and Convenient Grilling with Kingsford Matchlight Charcoal The Kingsford Matchlight Charcoal offers a quick and easy grilling solution, making it perfect for backyard BBQs and impromptu cookouts. The instant-light feature eliminates the need for lighter fluid, which I found to be a big plus—it saves time and makes the process a lot cleaner. After lighting, the charcoal heats up rapidly, reaching grilling temperatures in about 10-15 minutes. It gives off a good, consistent heat that’s ideal for everything from burgers to veggies. While it burns well, one thing I noticed was that the charcoal burns a bit faster than some other brands, which may mean adding more throughout a longer cook. However, for most typical grilling sessions, this won’t be an issue. The flavor it imparts is slightly smokier than regular Kingsford charcoal, enhancing the taste of your food. If you’re after convenience
Date published: 2024-11-11
Rated 2 out of 5 by from Nope I have purchased this three different times and all three times it did not work as advertised..! It never starts with just a match, and you need just as much lighter fluid as you do with every other charcoal
Date published: 2024-10-04
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Fast starting Kingsford brand has been around for a very long time. The charcoal I has less scent strength and has fast lighting speed. Less ash residue and the flavor intensity is great char flavor. Very fast lighting no lighter fluid to start the coals.
Date published: 2024-08-29
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Lightning Speed Great Taste Lightning Speed To Get Started Faster Great Flavor Intensity And Smoke production Super Fast Burn Time The Food Is Excellent Every Time And Good Ash Residue
Date published: 2024-08-23
Rated 2 out of 5 by from Easy to light but no life span They were easy to light which was good but they burn out to quickly. And when you light them you can smell the gas off them for awhile. I had to wait for the smell to burn away.
Date published: 2024-08-16
Rated 4 out of 5 by from useful and scent strength Kingsford Match Light is a great option for those who prioritize convenience and speed when it comes to grilling. It’s particularly useful for casual grillers or for situations where time is of the essence. However, serious grillers who are concerned about flavor and environmental impact might prefer to use traditional charcoal and a chimney starter instead.
Date published: 2024-08-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great product Easy to use This works wonderfully. It is so easy to light with just a match. All of the bricks light for great heat distribution. Packaging is very sturdy and heavy. It intensifies the flavor of the food. And very low ash residue. We love this product when we grill.
Date published: 2024-08-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by from So easy to light You cannot beat kingsford match light. I have tried generic store brand and it just doesn’t work. The ease of lighting this is this unmatched and so easy.
Date published: 2024-08-09
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Best charcoal for your summer BBQ! Kingsford Match Light Charcoal is the best! No more having to buy charcoal lighter. And the flavor of your grilled meat is much more intense. This lights right away and your fire is ready to grill on in no time. You also get a more evenly distributed heat because each briquette is coated. You won’t regret buying this!
Date published: 2024-08-07
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Smoke One of my favorite charcoal brands to use! Light quickly without any lighter fluid. Distributes heat evenly and quickly. It’s packaged in a bag that can burn with it!
Date published: 2024-07-24
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Toxic briquettes Bought a new bag because I did not want to be short for a birthday barbeque. These briquettes are toxic, smell horrible and a pain to light. Once they do light the toxic smoke off of them is horrible
Date published: 2024-07-07
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Zero results 15 long mayched - two bags - zero results - need to buy lighter fluid - big scam
Date published: 2024-06-29
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Consistent and Convenient for those people who love that good BBQ taste!! This is my go to charcoal when I want to grill out at the house, camping, local lake, or even tailgating! It’s fast, easy to use, and burns down to a cooking temp and consistently stays that temp long enough to cook on for hours.. I prefer a charcoal grill over gas any-day due to the flavor it puts into the meat. & Match light has never gave me an issue trying to get burning like some regular charcoal that requires charcoal fluid to get burning.. I think it also burns cleaner and leaves less of a clean of mess of ashes. I have noticed tho that the price has increased significantly but I suppose that’s understandable considering the rise of price of everything.
Date published: 2024-06-27
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Easy to light Kingsford match light is the easiest lighting charcoal. I have tried. It is my go to charcoal for when we use our Weber grill it quickly, the charcoal is ready in 10 minutes and my best reason for liking his charcoal is it does not leave a funny taste on my food. You do not need much charcoal to grill a couple of burgers and hotdogs or a steak, so the bag glass for a few uses.
Date published: 2024-06-23
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great I use this brand all summer long when I grill out. It's fast and easy to light. It's safe to use to grill your steak and hamburgers and hotdogs with.
Date published: 2024-06-17
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Light your fire with Kingsford® products.

Explore our full range of charcoal, pellets and flavor boosters to take your grilling to the next level.