Every fire needs fuel and that’s where tinder, kindling and firewood come into play.
So what “fuel” can you use to start a campfire? Check out this list of traditional and off-the-wall ideas that will get your campfire ignited with the help of a match, lighter or friction. Scroll on to add your own ideas to this list.
Note: Don’t experiment with fire starters.
Fire Starters
- Twigs
- Cotton balls
- Chips
- Rope
- A dry, fallen tree branch
- Newspaper
- Cotton squares
- Twine
- Cardboard – Martin from San Diego, California
- Dry leaves – Tyler from Arlington, Virginia
- Magnesium shavings – Alexis from Royal Oak, Michigan
- Pencil shavings – Harrison from Rancho Santa Margarita, California
- Dryer lint – Mark, Ryan and Andy
- Wax-covered egg cartons – Phillip from Oak Lawn, Illinois
- SOL Phoenix Firestarter – John from Brooks, Georgia
- Dry grass – Jacob from San Antonio, Texas
- Crayon – Josh from Toledo, Ohio
- Corn chips – Jeff from Joliet, Illinois
- Grapevine – Gene from Johnston, Ohio
- Birch bark (dry) – Christopher, Rob and William
- Cotton ball with vaseline – Ethan and Mitch
- Cattail plant – Wyatt, David and Jason
- Char cloth – Monica from Fayetteville, New Carolina
- Crystalized spruce sap – Monica from Fayetteville, New Carolina
- White Castle boxes – Kevin from St. Louis, Missouri
- Wax paper – Paul from Overland Park, Kansas
- Pine needles in wax paper – Michelle from New Jersey
- Doritos – Levi from Dubuque, Iowa
- Jute twine (pulled apart) – Carroll from Naperville, Illinois
- Wood shavings – Ron from Willow Springs, Illinois
- Fire piston – Barry from Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Dead pine needles – Zayden from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Pine cones – John from Saginaw, Michigan
- Milkweed fluff – Liam from Kearney, Nebraska
- “Sapwood” (pinetree core) – Ethan from Brownstown, Pennsylvania
- Petroleum jelly – Adin from Brownstown, Pennsylvania
- Steel wool and 9-volt battery – Aidan from Beloit, Wisconsin
- Punk wood – Brenden from Aiken, South Carolina
- Chapstick – Elaine from Brown Mills, New Jersey
- Flint and steel – Ryan from Downingtown, Pennsylvania
- Pine bedding (for small animals) – Shelby from North Carolina
- Wax – Arnav from Atlanta, Georgia
- Dried corn cobs – Amy from Cobleskill, New York
- Paper plates – Aiden from Murray, Kentucky
- Paper – Lucas from Sherwood, Oregon
- Olive oil – Liam from Naperville, Illinois
- Q-tips – Liam from Naperville, Illinois
- Aluminum – Manil from Bethesda, Maryland
- Wood flakes – Alexander from Elgin, Texas
- Cheetos – Will from Martinez, Georgia
- LEGO instructions – Bryan from Durham, North Carolina
- Spare clothes – Nylian from Wilsonville, Oregon
- Notebook paper – Benjamin from Sugarland, Texas
- Fritos – Abe from Overland Park, Kansas
- Dried banana peels – Colin from Cohasset, Massachusetts
- Orange peels – Isabella from Chantilly, Virginia
- Shredded paper –Tristan from Mililani, Hawaii
- Wallet – Bradley from Fauquier, Virginia
- Homework (make sure it’s graded first!) – Ethan from Franklin, Tennessee
- Comics – Henry from Richmond, Virginia
- Battery and gum wrapper – Andrew from Purvis, Mississippi
- Condy’s crystals and sugar – Don
- Duct tape – Joe from Narvon, Pennsylvania
- Char cloth nugget – Dennis from St. Charles, Illinois
- Toilet paper tubes – Zachary from Oak Lawn, Illinois
- Acorns – Jimmy
- Wood logs – Jack
- Bacon fat on string – Vincent from Tooele, Utah
- Tissue – Josiah from Roseburg, Oregon
- Bark – Matt from Manassas, Virginia
- Lip balm – Michael from Evanston, Virginia
This list needs your ideas to become the longest fire-starter idea list ever! Use the form below to send us your fire-starting tips:
Bookmark this page in case you’re ever in a pinch and need to get inventive to start a safe campfire.
Be Careful With Fire and Fire Starters
Fire can be dangerous. It requires care and respect. Don’t try to start a fire with a substance that could unleash toxic chemicals, and never burn something that contains paint.
For more info on how to start a fire safely, check out our post on how to build a campfire.