Pitmaster’s Pick

Which fuel is right for your BBQ? Hot and fast steaks, a spit roast or an all-day low & slow - tell us what you’re cooking and we’ll point you to the right Heat Beads® fuel for Real BBQ, Real Taste.

What are you looking for in your BBQ fuel?

Choose the style of BBQ you're planning.

Quick grillSteaks, snags, burgers – hot & fastRoast (kettle)Kettle roast, 1–3 hours, lid onSpit roastLamb, pork or chicken on the spitLow & slowBrisket, ribs, pulled porkSnake methodA steady fuse of fuel for 6–10+ hour cooksCamp ovenDutch oven cooking with coals on the lid and underneath

For a kettle roast, we recommend:

Best pick

Classic BBQ Briquettes

Red bagSteady heat and a 5+ hour burn – ideal for kettle roasts.View productAlso great

Wood Charcoal BBQ Briquettes

Green bagHigh heat and a long 5+ hour burn, so your roast cooks evenly from start to finish.View productAlso great

Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Grey bagHot and clean with authentic charcoal flavour.View productCan work

Easy-Lite® BBQ Briquettes

Yellow bagFine for a shorter kettle roast – use the full bag in a kettle-sized BBQ.View product

Compare our fuels

Classic BBQ BriquettesRed bagHardwood Lump CharcoalGrey bagEasy-Lite® BBQ BriquettesYellow bagWood Charcoal BBQ BriquettesGreen bag
Best forGrilling, roasting and low & slowHot & fast grilling, spit and kettle roastsQuick, fuss-free barbecues and campingKettle roasts, low & slow and the snake method
Made fromCarbonised coconut shell – 100% charcoal, no uncarbonised fillersPremium Vitex hardwoodHeat Beads® briquettes (hardwood charcoal & mineral carbon) with a lighting agent added100% wood charcoal
HeatHighExtra highHighHigh
Burn time*5+ hours4+ hours5+ hours5+ hours
Reusable?Unburnt fuel can be snuffed out and relit next cookYesNoYesYes
Time to ash over*Approx. 25–30 minsApprox. 15–20 mins – the quickestApprox. 30 minsApprox. 30–40 mins
Firelighters requiredYesYesNo – just light with a matchYes
Sustainable?Yes – sustainably sourced coconut shellYes – sustainably sourced, SVLK-certified Vitex hardwoodMade in Australia with a combination of mineral + wood carbonYes – sustainable and renewable wood charcoal
100% naturalYesYesNoThe lighting agent burns off while the briquettes ash over, so it's gone before you start cooking.Yes
Cooking methodsDirect, indirect, low 'n' slow, spitDirect, indirect, spitDirect, indirect – not for low & slow or snakeDirect, indirect, low 'n' slow, spit
Bag sizes4kg, 7.5kg, 10kg3kg3kg
Made inIndonesiaIndonesiaAustraliaAustralia
Where to buyAll major retailersAmazon, Bunnings, Coles, Home Hardware, Mitre 10Coles bags have smaller pieces.Woolworths, IGA, Mitre 10Woolworths

Quick answers

The best Heat Beads® fuel for each style of cook.

What’s the best fuel for a pellet grill?

Pellet grills and smokers are designed to burn BBQ pellets, so none of these fuels are suitable. Check out the Heat Beads® BBQ pellet range instead.

Our fuels in detail

Classic BBQ Briquettes

Red bag

100% natural · High heat · Long burn

Made from carbonised coconut shell, these briquettes are sustainably sourced and 100% natural, but not at the cost of performance. The dense coconut shell gives steady heat and a long burn – and unlike many charcoal briquettes, they're 100% charcoal with no uncarbonised fillers.

Made from
Carbonised coconut shell – 100% charcoal, no uncarbonised fillers
Sustainable
Yes – sustainably sourced coconut shell
100% natural
Yes
Firelighters required
Yes
Ash over
Approx. 25–30 mins
Burn time
5+ hours
Reusable
Yes
Heat
High
Bag sizes
4kg, 7.5kg, 10kg
Made in
Indonesia
Where to buy
All major retailers

Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Grey bag

100% natural · High heat · Low ash

Premium hardwood lump charcoal that burns the hottest of any Heat Beads® fuel and gives your food that authentic charcoal flavour. Large, consistently sized pieces (5–10cm) with no waste fines in the bag. Free from chemicals and fillers – ideal for home and commercial cooking.

Made from
Premium Vitex hardwood
Sustainable
Yes – sustainably sourced, SVLK-certified Vitex hardwood
100% natural
Yes
Firelighters required
Yes
Ash over
Approx. 15–20 mins – the quickest
Burn time
4+ hours
Reusable
No
Heat
Extra high
Bag sizes
Made in
Indonesia
Where to buy
Amazon, Bunnings, Coles, Home Hardware, Mitre 10Coles bags have smaller pieces.

Easy-Lite® BBQ Briquettes

Yellow bag

No firelighters · Light with a match · Great for camping

Safe and fuss-free, Easy-Lite® briquettes get a glowing barbecue ready in no time – no firelighters, just light with a match. They light by passing heat between briquettes, so use the full bag in a kettle-sized BBQ and use it as soon as the bag is opened. Not suited to camp ovens, low & slow or the snake method.

Made from
Heat Beads® briquettes (hardwood charcoal & mineral carbon) with a lighting agent added
Sustainable
Made in Australia with a combination of mineral + wood carbon
100% natural
NoThe lighting agent burns off while the briquettes ash over, so it's gone before you start cooking.
Firelighters required
No – just light with a match
Ash over
Approx. 30 mins
Burn time
5+ hours
Reusable
Yes
Heat
High
Bag sizes
3kg
Made in
Australia
Where to buy
Woolworths, IGA, Mitre 10

Wood Charcoal BBQ Briquettes

Green bag

Australian made · Long burning · Sustainable & renewable

An Australian-made charcoal briquette, made in Victoria from 100% wood charcoal. It gives you lump-charcoal flavour with the consistency and convenience of a briquette – perfect for long cooks.

Made from
100% wood charcoal
Sustainable
Yes – sustainable and renewable wood charcoal
100% natural
Yes
Firelighters required
Yes
Ash over
Approx. 30–40 mins
Burn time
5+ hours
Reusable
Yes
Heat
High
Bag sizes
3kg
Made in
Australia
Where to buy
Woolworths

*Based on our internal testing. Burn times vary with fuel, BBQ and weather.. Ash-over and burn times vary with the amount of fuel, your BBQ, airflow and the weather. Always follow the instructions on the bag. Stockists and bag sizes may vary by store – check with your local retailer.