Electric vs Butane Fireplace Lighter: Which One Should You Buy?

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The quick answer: electric vs butane fireplace lighter

Choose an electric arc lighter for daily fireplace, candle and grill lighting: it recharges over USB, works in wind, and needs no butane. Keep a butane lighter as the backup for when the battery runs out or you need an open flame. The four lighters below are all electric, so the gear section compares electric against electric on the details that matter: safety lock, auto shut-off, battery display and neck length.

How an electric arc lighter works

Instead of a flame, these lighters make a small plasma arc between two contacts at the tip of a long neck. The RONXS listing states its auto shut-off chip stops the arc after 7 seconds, and the SUPRUS listing states the same 7 second cutoff with a safety lock switch that must be pushed before the ignition switch works. The RONXS listing describes a wind and splash proof arc and the VEHHE a wind-resistant arc, both of which keep working where an ordinary flame lighter can blow out, and the RONXS listing states plainly that it works without the need for flame or butane. Charging is over USB: the RONXS includes a Type-C cable, the VEHHE a USB-C port, and the MEIRUBY and SUPRUS a USB cable. The RONXS, VEHHE and SUPRUS listings all state an LED battery display, so the charge level is visible before you reach for it.

Where butane still wins

A butane lighter makes a real flame, which lights tinder and kindling the way fire has always been lit. It works with no charging and no battery to age, and it keeps working as long as there is fuel in it. The trade is refills and wind: an ordinary flame can blow out where the arc lighters in these listings keep going. None of the four listings here is a butane lighter, so treat this section as the honest counterweight: electric for the daily job, butane as the backup that never needs a cable.

What to look for in an electric lighter

Start with the safety features, because an arc is still hot. The RONXS and SUPRUS listings state an auto shut-off chip that stops the arc after 7 seconds, and three of the four listings state a safety lock switch against accidental ignition. Next, check the battery story: the MEIRUBY listing states 600 uses on a single charge, and the RONXS, VEHHE and SUPRUS listings state an LED battery display. Then the neck: the RONXS lists a 10cm/4-inch flexible neck that rotates 360 degrees, the MEIRUBY a 360-degree rotatable neck, and the VEHHE a flexible neck for reaching into fireplaces and deep jars. The VEHHE listing adds one caution: keep the charging head around 20W to guard against overcharging, and keep it fully charged in long-term storage with the safety lock engaged.

Four electric lighters, compared

RONXS Electric Candle Lighter

The RONXS is the fullest listing of the four. It states a flameless plasma arc, a safety lock switch, an auto shut-off chip that stops after 7 seconds, an LED battery display and a Type-C charging cable in the box. The neck is 10cm/4-inch, flexible and rotating 360 degrees, and the body is aluminum at 10.04 in long. The listing states a wind and splash proof design and a manufacturer warranty description that reads as a caution to use with care to prevent fires, not a warranty term.

SUPRUS Electric Lighter

The SUPRUS states the same 7 second auto shut-off per ignition with a safety lock switch, plus a 4-LED battery display on the barrel that shows full charge when all four lights are on. It lists a wind and splash proof flameless arc, a metal body at 6 in long, and a USB charging cable and user manual in the box. At 6 in it is the smallest of the four by length, which suits a drawer or a jacket pocket better than a deep fireplace.

VEHHE USB-C Arc Electric Lighter

The VEHHE states a wind-resistant plasma arc, a safety lock with automatic power-off, an LED battery display and a USB-C charging port with cable included. The neck is flexible for reaching fireplaces and deep candle jars, and a built-in hanging hook handles storage. The body is zinc at 10.39 in long and 42 g. Its listing adds the 20W charging caution and the advice to store it fully charged with the safety lock engaged.

MEIRUBY Electric Lighter

The MEIRUBY states 600 uses on a single charge with a real-time battery display, a windproof and splashproof arc, and a flexible 360-degree rotatable neck. The body is aluminum at 11 in long, the longest of the four, and the box includes the lighter, a USB charging cable and a manual. It states no safety lock and no auto shut-off time; only the RONXS and SUPRUS list the 7 second cutoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are electric arc lighters safe?

The listings build in two protections: a safety lock switch against accidental ignition, stated by three of the four, and an auto shut-off chip that stops the arc after 7 seconds, stated by the RONXS and SUPRUS. Engage the safety lock when the lighter is not in use.

How long does a charge last?

The MEIRUBY listing states 600 uses on a single charge. The RONXS, VEHHE and SUPRUS listings state an LED battery display instead of a use count, so you can see the remaining charge before lighting.

Do electric lighters work in the wind?

Yes, that is their party trick. The RONXS, VEHHE and SUPRUS listings all state a wind-resistant or windproof arc, and the RONXS, MEIRUBY and SUPRUS add splash proofing. An ordinary flame lighter can blow out where these keep going.

Do electric lighters need butane?

No. All four are rechargeable over USB and the RONXS listing states it works without the need for flame or butane. You trade fuel canisters for a charging cable.

How do I charge an electric lighter?

Over USB with the included cable; the RONXS includes a Type-C cable and the VEHHE a USB-C port. The VEHHE listing cautions to keep the charging head around 20W to guard against overcharging.

Related guides

Also see our best fireplace lighter and best fireplace lighter under 20 roundups, and the stove accessories hub for the rest of the hearth gear.