Buying guide for Which weed torch is best?
From melting snowed-in driveways to fixing cracked asphalt to burning away stubborn overgrowth, a weed torch can help take care of a variety of laborious jobs around the yard. Once you have a weed torch in your arsenal, you may wonder how you managed to go so long without one.
The right weed torch can save your back from strain, cut down on time spent working outdoors and give you an environmentally safe alternative to herbicides and plant killers.
Our top pick is the Flame King Heavy-Duty Propane Weed Torch. Whether you’re a professional in need of a torch for roofing jobs or a homeowner looking for an escape from winter shoveling, this tool has the power and usability to make your life easier.
Our top picks
Product Specifications: Weight: 4.8 lb | Heat Output: 500,000 Btu | Ignition Type: Flint striker | Hose Length: 10’
With a heat output of 500,000 British thermal units (Btus), this torch is powerful enough to make short work of pesky weeds, clear snow and ice off of frozen sidewalks, ignite bonfires and light up your next flame pit for cookout season. Its large nozzle lets you launch a wide flame at your target while you manage its size and intensity with a handy control knob just behind its thick, padded grip.
The 10-foot hose gives you plenty of freedom to move the torch comfortably, and a flint striker is included. Owners have said this torch can get heavy after long use but attribute the weight to its high-quality build and brass hardware.
Best bang for the buck
Product Specifications: Weight: 1 lb | Heat Output: 20,000 Btu | Ignition Type: Push-button | Hose Length: 35” handle
For frying small patches of weeds and defrosting small items or areas, this lightweight torch gets the job done. It attaches to a small propane tank, and its 35-inch handle lets you reach into log piles for campfire ignition or down to the ground for spot-treating the sidewalk or de-icing the front steps.
The push-button igniter makes starting a breeze, and the gas-release knob lets you control the output of the flame to your liking. A padded grip keeps your hand from touching any hot materials, and a 20,000-Btu output gives you the heat you need to work efficiently.
Most comfortable
Product Specifications: Weight: 4.7 lb | Heat Output: 500,000 Btu | Ignition Type: Flint striker | Hose Length: 10’
This premium propane torch has a textured handle that lets you maintain a firm grip on the tool. Its 500,000-Btu output is adjustable using the knob behind the handle, and its boost trigger lets you intensify the flame to vaporize ice, burn thick brush and quickly complete roofing and asphalt repairs.
A 10-foot hose helps minimize how often you have to move your propane tank, saving you from unnecessary back strain. From the top of your roof to the outskirts of your hedgerow, this torch delivers power where you need it. A flint striker is included.
Simple yet solid
Product Specifications: Weight: 1.25 lb | Heat Output: 50,000 Btu | Ignition Type: Push-button | Hose Length: 32” handle
Just over a pound in weight, this torch is great if a full-size burner is too big for the work you need to do. A 32-inch handle makes it easy to reach weeds on your pavement or into a campfire or cooking pit. The narrow torch head is helpful when doing detail work.
Made of durable stainless steel, its burner head and handle are built to stand up to camping trips, winter defrosts and cabin fireplace ignitions. Its ergonomic handle makes holding it easy, even if you’re wearing gloves. Simply turn the knob to start the flow of propane, use the push-button starter to get a flame going and adjust the knob to make the flame bigger or smaller.
Best for small yards
Product Specifications: Weight: 1 lb | Heat Output: 24,000 Btu | Ignition Type: Push-button | Hose Length: 33” handle
With an integrated ignition button and an ergonomic rubber handle, this torch is comfortable to hold and easy to use. Its flame-control valve can be adjusted as needed.
The 24,000-Btu heat output is suitable for de-icing small areas, defrosting locks, lighting bonfires and burning weeds from between sidewalk cracks or other landscaping and stonework features. Users say they’re able to achieve around 90 minutes of burn-time from a 1-pound propane tank, making this torch as efficient as it is easy to use.
Best for big jobs
Product Specifications: Weight: 1 lb | Heat Output: 340,000 Btu | Ignition Type: Push-button | Hose Length: 6’
This torch combines the convenience of smaller options with the power of a heavy-duty tool thanks to its push-button ignition and 340,000-Btu heat output. Its flame-control knob and boost-control lever are conveniently located on an oversized grip handle, putting all of its controls within easy reach.
The large nozzle creates a wide flame suitable for burning patches of weeds and immediately starting large bonfires. While its 6-foot hose is shorter than most torches offering this much power, easy controls and ergonomics are worth the compromise for many.
Types of weed torches
First introduced in the 1940s, weed torches (or weed burners) have changed little in the years since. All of them, whether light or heavy, use propane gas for fuel to kill weeds.
Lightweight weed torches have a small gas canister attached, usually 14 or 16 ounces, though it's possible to adapt some models for larger tanks if necessary. These are best for spot-weeding along drives and paths and between rows of vegetables. Some have flame-control knobs so you can adjust the output to suit your needs.
Entry-level weed torches are lightweight and simple. You screw on a gas canister, open an on/off valve and light the torch with a spark igniter. The flame intensity is constant. Notably, lightweight weed torches can get just as hot as heavy-duty ones.
Heavy-duty weed torches attach via a hose to a propane tank that weighs up to 20 pounds and sometimes more. These torches vary in size, from those intended for a homeowner with a large yard to commercial models used by farmers, landscapers and municipal cleaning crews.
Basic heavy-duty weed torches are similar in operation to lightweight models. Some have flow valves or regulators to keep the gas pressure constant.
Weed torch features to consider
Power
With these devices, power is measured in British thermal units (Btu). Small models start at around 25,000 Btu, and 100,000 Btu is common for larger models. The most powerful weed torches we looked at reached 500,000 Btu.
More powerful torches allow you to generate a larger, hotter flame. If you intend to use your torch to burn through large areas of weeds or melt snow and ice from your sidewalk, invest in one that puts out between 100,000 and 500,000 Btu. A torch with less power than that would cause you to spend more time on the job.
That said, small torches are ideal for starting small fireplace fires as well as grills. They’re also the best choice if you are only looking to rid yourself of the occasional weed or dandelion poking up between your stonework. A torch that puts out 25,000 to 50,000 Btu is hot enough to get minor jobs done swiftly.
Hose length
If your tank is large, you want a good hose length so you do not constantly have to lift and move it. Good ones are 10 feet long, though we’ve seen hoses as short as 5 feet long. It’s possible to buy and fit a longer hose, but the drop in pressure might mean your weed torch doesn't work properly. Backpacks are available that support a 10-pound propane tank, giving you unrestricted mobility.
Other worthwhile features
Variable flame control
The ability to control the intensity and size of a torch’s flame gives you the flexibility to adjust it for different tasks. This prevents you from wasting too much propane on a job that doesn’t require a lot of heat and lets you work safely by keeping the flame from becoming unmanageable. Torch flames are adjusted using a knob, usually located at the back of the handle or where the torch connects to the propane tank.
Built-in ignition
Using the same technology as a gas grill, a built-in ignition lets you start your torch with a button. This feature is mostly found on smaller torches, although the Flame King Propane Torch Weed Burner includes one.
Built-in ignitions keep you from having to light your torch with a flint striker, cutting down on the number of small items you must keep track of and preventing accidental burns.
Squeeze trigger
Some weed torches have a trigger you can depress for an extra burst of power. This is an easy way to increase the temperature of your flame as needed without having to move your hand to adjust the flow knob.
Weed torch prices
Weed torches vary in price depending on quality, features and heat output.
Inexpensive: Small weed torches can be found for around $25. These are ideal for camping, light jobs around the yard and cookouts.
Mid-range: High-quality weed torches cost $40 to $70. Torches in this price range offer professional power and dependability yet are still highly affordable.
Expensive: Commercial weed torches include accessories like backpacks and carts for moving around propane tanks. These types of torches cost $200 to $400.
Tips
- The flame from a weed torch can be almost invisible, particularly in bright sunlight. It's good practice to keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water handy in case you accidentally set light to decking or fencing. Never use a weed torch near tinder-dry plant matter, hay or straw.
- Do not use matches to light your weed torch. Doing so puts your hands too close to the flame.
- Protect your plants during burning with a garden spade. When you have weeds you want to burn that are near plants you want to protect, a garden spade makes a useful shield.
- Never use a weed torch on poisonous plants. Doing so can release the toxins into the air, so you risk getting them on your skin or breathing them in.
- Store your weed torch safely. The handle should stay cool, eliminating the need to wear gloves. However, the burning tip gets very hot, so be careful where you put it when you've just finished working.
FAQ
Q. How do you start a weed burner?
A. If your torch has a built-in ignition, starting it is as easy as slightly opening its adjustable valve knob to start the flow of gas and clicking a button.
Many large torches, however, require you to use a flint striker. Slowly open the valve to allow a small amount of gas to flow, and then squeeze the striker at the torch’s nozzle, taking care to keep your hand safely to the side. Squeezing the striker generates a spark that ignites the flame. You can then adjust the valve to allow for more gas to flow as needed.
To stop your weed burner, simply close the valve until gas flow ceases. When the gas supply is terminated, the flame will be extinguished immediately.
Q. How long do I need to keep the flame on the weeds?
A. People who are new to weed torches sometimes think you need to scorch the plant to a crispy stump. You don't. What the flame actually does is boil the water in the plant's cells. The cells collapse, and the weed dies.
With torch temperatures of a couple thousand degrees, the job is usually done in less than a second. Moving the flame fairly rapidly over your weeds is not only effective but also much safer than trying to turn them into a pile of ash.
Q. I've heard that weed torches won't work on perennial weeds. Is that true?
A. Weed torches only kill the part of the plant above ground, so perennial weeds can come back. The solution is to hit them as soon as they reappear. You'll need to do it several times, but with no leaves for photosynthesis, the roots will eventually die. It does require patience, but many people think that's preferable to pouring herbicides into the soil, particularly around vegetables.
Q. Can I use a weed torch to kill weeds in my lawn?
A. You can, as long as the grass is lush and green. Healthy grass has an outer layer that protects it, so it's surprisingly resistant to burning. Don't hold the flame over the weed for too long, though, because your grass will scorch eventually. Treat the weeds quickly, and check back after a few days to see if you need to treat them again.
Our expertise
Using a combination of in-house testing, trusted consumer feedback and a shared thrill of seeking out the absolute best products, devices and tools, BestReviews is your number-one resource when it comes to reviews you can count on.
Our staff provides real advice from people who share your passions and seek to make every day a little easier, a little better and a lot more fun.
Derek Walborn is one of BestReviews’ trusted lawn, garden and DIY experts. Providing insight since 2021, Derek has written extensively on topics that range from home security systems and propane grills to the latest power tools and home-improvement gadgets.
