Abstract: The charcoal starter provides a housing with an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The housing is constructed from a combustible material that is sufficiently rigid to enable the housing to store and support an amount of charcoal within the upper chamber. A divider separates the upper chamber from the lower chamber. The divider supports the charcoal above the lower chamber. The lower chamber provides space for placement of paper or other combustible material, such as a combustible solid, within the lower chamber. A user lights the combustible material to start a fire and generate heat. The heat and fire from the lower chamber travels upward to the upper chamber to light the charcoal. The charcoal starter burns to ashes during use as the charcoal burns.