How to Light a Gas Grill With a Match (Safely) When the Igniter Quits

To light a gas grill with a match, open the lid, make sure every burner knob is off, then open the gas. Put a lit long match in a holder (or use a long lighter), slide it through the grates next to one burner, and turn that knob to high. If it does not light in five seconds, turn it off and wait five minutes before trying again.

It always happens at the worst time. The turkey is brined, your brother-in-law is already telling the story about the deer, and the grill igniter just clicks. Click. Click. Nothing. Good news: a dead igniter does not cancel dinner. Grill makers build in a backup, and it takes about two minutes once you know the steps.

How do you light a gas grill with a match, step by step?

You light it the same way every time: lid open, knobs off, gas on, flame in, one knob to high. These steps follow Weber's manual-lighting instructions and the AOG built-in owner's manual. Your own manual wins if it says something different, so check the lighting page or the label inside the cabinet door.

1. Open the lid all the way. Leave it open until the burner is lit.
2. Check every knob is OFF. Push and turn each one clockwise until it stops.
3. Turn on the gas. Open the propane tank valve slowly, or open the natural gas shutoff.
4. Strike the match and put it in the holder. A long fireplace match or a long butane lighter also works.
5. Slide the flame down through the grates so it sits right next to the first burner (usually the far left on Weber, or the burner by the lighting tube on built-ins).
6. Push in and turn that burner's knob to Start/High. You should see flame within a couple of seconds.
7. Light the rest from the lit burner by turning the next knob on, one at a time, left to right.
8. No flame in five seconds? Turn the knob off, pull the match out, and wait five minutes for the gas to clear. Then start over.

Kid tip: this is a great job for the grown-up and a great "stand on the patio line" moment for little ones. Give the kids a job, like counting to five out loud. They feel helpful, and you get a built-in timer. Everybody wins, except the igniter.

Why do you open the lid before you light a gas grill?

Because gas needs somewhere to go. With the lid closed, gas collects under the hood, and when it finally meets a flame it can light all at once and puff out toward your face. That is the classic eyebrow-loss story at holiday cookouts.

The National Fire Protection Association's grilling safety guidance tells people to always have the lid open when lighting a gas grill. Weber's instructions add a second rule worth repeating: do not lean over the grill while you light it. Stand to the side, arm out, face back.

Match, long lighter, or a fixed igniter: which is best?

A fixed igniter is best for everyday cooking. A long lighter or match holder is the right backup. Here is how the options compare:

Method	Good for	Watch out for
Built-in igniter	Every day, one-click starts	Dead battery, loose wire, greasy electrode
Long butane lighter	Backup lighting, windy evenings	Keep out of reach of kids
Long match in a wire holder	Backup when nothing else is handy	Wind blows it out; keep a box by the grill
Short match held by hand	Nothing	Puts your hand over the burner. Skip it.

What should you check before you light a gas grill with a match?

Check for gas smell, spiders and grease first. Thirty seconds of looking saves a bad afternoon.

• Smell gas with the knobs off? Stop. Close the tank, keep the lid open, and do not light anything. The CPSC recommends a soap-and-water leak check on hoses and connections; bubbles mean a leak.
• Grease tray full? Empty it. A match plus a grease puddle is how a turkey dinner turns into a fire department visit.
• Grill sat for months? Spiders love burner tubes. A blocked tube can push flame out the front of the grill under the knobs.
• Kids, pets and holiday guests stay three feet back while you light. Grandpa can supervise from a lawn chair.

What our techs see

On DFW service calls, most "broken" igniters are not broken. The usual culprit is a dead AA or AAA battery behind the igniter button, a wire knocked loose during cleaning, or an electrode tip caked in grease so the spark jumps to the wrong place. The other common one: homeowners who light with the lid closed because "that's how it holds heat." It is not worth it. Lid up, every time.

When does DIY stop here?

Match lighting gets dinner on the table. It does not fix the reason the grill would not light. Stop and call a pro if any of these are true:

• A burner will not light after two tries with the five-minute wait.
• Flames come out of the front, under the control panel, or around the knobs.
• Flames are tall, yellow and lazy instead of mostly blue.
• You smell gas with everything off, or soapy water bubbles at a fitting.
• The igniter clicks but the spark is weak even with a new battery.

For more on the clicking-but-nothing problem, see our guide to grill igniters that won't spark in DFW.

Get your grill holiday-ready in DFW

Want the grill to light with one click when the whole family is watching? Our BBQ grill cleaning and repair service starts from $239 for a deep clean and includes a look at your ignition, burners and gas connections. A clean grill heats evenly, sears like it did when it was new, and makes you look like the pro at the cookout. We serve all of Dallas-Fort Worth at (817) 791-4606, and Mobile, Baldwin County and Pensacola at (251) 272-1990. Every job carries our 1-year workmanship warranty.

Book your grill service online

Frequently asked questions about lighting a gas grill with a match

Is it safe to light a gas grill with a match?

Yes, if you do it the way grill makers describe. Open the lid, start with every knob off, use a long match in a holder or a long butane lighter, and light one burner at a time. If it does not catch in five seconds, turn it off and wait five minutes. 1st Choice Residential techs in DFW teach this on every grill service.

Why should the grill lid be open when I light it?

An open lid lets gas drift away instead of pooling under the hood. If gas collects in a closed grill and then meets a flame, it can flash back at you. NFPA, Weber and AOG all say to open the lid before lighting. It is the one step a DFW homeowner should never skip.

How long do I wait after a gas grill fails to light?

Wait five minutes with the burner knob turned off. That gives the unburned gas time to clear out of the firebox. Weber and AOG manuals both use the five-minute rule. Then try again. If a burner still will not light after two tries, call 1st Choice Residential at (817) 791-4606 in DFW.

Can I keep using a match instead of fixing my igniter?

You can, but it is a workaround, not a fix. Most dead igniters are a battery, a loose wire, or a dirty electrode, and many are cheap to repair. A 1st Choice Residential grill deep clean starts from $239 in DFW and includes checking the ignition so the holiday cook starts with one click.

Where is the match holder on my grill?

Many gas grills ship with a wire match holder. Look under the side table, near the grease tray, or in your manual parts list. On AOG grills it is attached to the drip tray. If yours is missing, a long butane lighter works. Never hold a short match by hand over the burner.

Written by the 1st Choice Residential team. Veteran-owned since 2009, NFI-certified techs, serving DFW and Mobile & Baldwin County.