Charcoal & Pellet Burn-Time Estimator
Estimate how long your fuel will last — or how much to load for a target cook — for lump charcoal, briquettes, or hardwood pellets.
Estimate
These are planning figures — actual burn depends on airflow, weather, and how often you open the lid. The Minion method (a few lit coals over a bed of unlit) stretches a charcoal load across a long, steady cook.
How the estimate works
Each fuel has a typical burn rate in pounds per hour at a 225°F reference. The tool scales that rate with your chamber temperature — a hotter pit consumes fuel proportionally faster — then either divides your fuel load by the rate to estimate run time, or multiplies the rate by your target hours to estimate how much to load, adding a reserve so you don’t run dry.
For charcoal, it also gives a rough briquette count. Real-world burn depends heavily on airflow, wind, and lid discipline, so treat every figure as a planning starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will a load of charcoal last?
It depends mostly on how hot you run and how much airflow the fire gets. This tool estimates burn rate in pounds per hour from a 225°F baseline and scales it with your chamber temperature, then divides your fuel load by that rate. A low-and-slow charcoal cook sips fuel; the same load at grilling heat disappears far faster.
How much fuel do I need for a long smoke?
Switch the tool to 'how much fuel I need', enter your target hours, and it estimates the load plus a reserve buffer (20% by default) so you're not caught short mid-cook. Running out and having to relight is one of the most common ways a long cook goes sideways, so err on the generous side.
What is the Minion method?
It's a way to stretch a charcoal load across a long, steady cook: you fill the basket with unlit charcoal and pour a small amount of lit coals on top. The fire spreads slowly through the bed rather than all at once, holding a low temperature for hours with minimal fuss — ideal for overnight briskets and pork butts.
Do pellets burn faster than charcoal?
Pellet grills feed pellets continuously to hold a set temperature, and consumption climbs with heat — roughly a pound an hour at low smoke, more at high temperatures. Because pellets are both fuel and smoke source, keep the hopper topped up on long cooks and watch for it running low.
Planning estimates only. Actual fuel use varies with weather, airflow, smoker design, and how often you open the lid — always keep a reserve on hand for a long cook.