Best BBQ fuel to use: Guide for hybrid, electric, gas and charcoal barbecues

The Coleman Value C500 Gas Cartridge, Six Pack, provides a steady consistent burn across a wide range of temperatures at lower altitudes, making them ideal for more general use on a small BBQ. The fuel type consists of a 440g of butane/propane gas blend. You get six C500 gas cartridges.

Customer review: "Gas for BBQ. Much more reasonably priced than Weber's own and works the same. Well packaged in the six pack. Great service from Argos, delivered to my Sainsburys local."

Ideal for patio heaters and large BBQs with four burners or more. The Flogas Butane Gas Cylinder, 13kg, has an average of 43 hours of heating with one burner and 32 hours of cooking with two burners.

Customer review: "This was quite simply the best gas I had ever bought. I connected it to my BBQ and it cooked my meat. Happy Days."

This Calor Gas Butane 7kg Gas Bottle is compatible with many different outdoor appliances and can use either a low-pressure or high-pressure butane regulator. This is available to buy in-store only, but there's a handy guide on the Calor website to identify which gas bottle best suits your needs. Also, stockists are listed on the Calor website.

Customer review: "Smooth ordering process, communication was second to none and when I contacted the gas supplier directly I got an update and reassurance straightaway."

Use a Weber 17670 Lighter Cube with charcoal barbecues and smokers. They're a non-toxic and odourless alternative to igniting charcoal. Convenient to use, these lighter cubes ignite easily, even when wet. Food will have an authentic charcoal flavour and no chemical aftertaste. A quality product from Weber that's environmentally friendly and safe. Check out our review of the Weber Genesis EPX 335 Smart BBQ.

Customer review: "They're individually packaged in combustible wrapping they're easy to handle and they catch very easily. I also like the resealable bag which keeps them neat and tidy."

FIRE UP Natural Sustainable Firelighters are made from sustainably sourced (FSC Certified) compressed wood and vegetable oils. They are 100 per cent natural and Co2 neutral, non-pollutive, odourless, non-toxic and can be stored indefinitely. You can use them with BBQs, fireplaces and open fires. They do not contain any palm oils or fossil fuels. Their burn time is between 6-8 minutes, which is ample time for a fire to catch the light.

Customer review: "Great value and eco firelighters, instead of smelling of petrochemicals these almost smell of dark chocolate. A little trickier to light but still very easy. I use two to start woodburner, BBQ or pizza oven (as unlike many you can use for lighting these too)."

Eco-friendly odourless firelighters made from wood, wool and wax. Say goodbye to chemical-laden, smelly fire starters and switch to a quality and sustainable solution. These firelighters are made from untreated Beech wood coated in natural wax. Use with wood burners, fireplaces, BBQs or camping fires. These Natural Eco Wood Firelighters are easy to light and burn for 10 minutes, which is enough to establish a fire.

Customer review: "So nice to use something so effective that doesn’t smell and leave your fingers stinky like other firefighters. Would thoroughly recommend it, will buy it again. Every time used, the fire lights up straight away. Use three or four depending on how impatient I am! But could probably use less."

If you want consistent results, briquettes are hard to beat. They light evenly and burn at the same temperature, so there's less chance of developing a hot spot, and these Weber 1759180 Briquettes, 8kg, are made from waste wood and promise a three-hour burn. Briquettes burn for longer than lump wood, so it's the ideal fuel for slow cooking on a BBQ. Use with charcoal BBQs for an easy and quick fuel that burns for a long time and is ready to use in just 20 minutes.

Customer review: "These are the best briquettes I have ever used. They last so much longer than all the others I've tried. If they weren't so expensive these would be the only ones I'd use."

These Outback Hybrid Coconut Briquettes are for use with all Outback® Hybrid gas BBQs. Simply add briquettes into the charcoal basket, ignite using gas on medium heat for 15 mins, and turn off the gas when the briquettes start to turn grey. You can use these briquettes with gas and charcoal BBQs, with instant ignition and they last for four hours.

Made from real trees, the Kamado Joe XL Natural Reusable Lump Charcoal for BBQ burns clean and gives you a robust wood-fired flavour. Unlike briquettes which contain chemicals and fillers, natural charcoal allows the true flavour of the food to emerge. Use Kamado Joe lump charcoal with charcoal barbecues and smokers. It's reusable up to three times and lasts more than 18 hours.

Customer review: "The best charcoal I have found. Good size pieces, not too many bits. Burns for a long time and usually plenty left in the basket for the next cook. Good value compared to other brands. I use it on a kamado oven."

This Weber 1782580 Lumpwood Charcoal, 5kg, is made from beech, hornbeam, birch, and oak woods, Weber Lumpwood lights fast, burns hot and imparts a distinct, delicious flavour. It's compatible with any charcoal grill and chimney firestarter.

Customer review: "Some of the reviews were bad but I think it depends on the batch. I received a decent bag and I had really big pieces. Yes, there are a few crushed ones but you will get them due to transportation etc. It does the job well and is very fast to set up. It took me 10 mins to set up BBQ with a chimney starter."

Another popular charcoal with Amazon shoppers, this Marienburg Organic Restaurant Grade Lumpwood BBQ Charcoal is smokeless and odourless restaurant grade. Made out of sustainable alder trees, this fuel can be used with charcoal BBQs and pizza ovens.

Customer review: "So buying good quality charcoal is important and this product is good. They light well (using a chimney) burn evenly and last long enough for a family meal. They top up and burn well if an extended grill is required. I like the fact that they all turn to ashes so can be left to cool and put on the compost heap. So price-wise, they are more expensive than service station coals but are so much better quality and can be used straight away."

A best-seller on Amazon, this four-pack of instant light lump wood charcoal bags has been rated highly for how easy and convenient they are to use. There’s no need to worry about using a firelighter or lighting gel, as the charcoal has already been impregnated with lighting fluid and ignites instantly. It comes in 1kg bags, perfect for small home charcoal BBQs. The Big K Instant Light Lumpwood Charcoal means you're ready to cook within 20 minutes.

Customer review: "On the warmth part, since this lights so easily, it is lower quality stuff. Smaller, thinner bricks. That are ok for sausages and a small piece of meat. But don't expect to grill 2 T-bones with that, it won't do."

Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic, quickly and easily, with hundreds of simple ideas, designer tricks, affordable products and expert advice with a Modern Gardens Membership. Find out more about the benefits of being a Member now.