Hexagonal vs Pillow BBQ Charcoal Briquettes

Shape is a variant of each grade, not a separate product: hexagonal and pillow briquettes are made from the same coconut-shell composition, so they share a grade’s specifications. What shape changes is grill fit and, crucially for a container buyer, how many tonnes load into a 20-foot box.

Shape Comparison

The container-load figures below are industry benchmarks (a 20ft container of coconut charcoal is weight-limited, not volume-limited); see packaging & container loading for the full loading detail.

Hexagonal vs pillow — fit and container load Industry benchmarks, independently sourced — not our measured values. Method / source: Loading figures are industry benchmarks for a weight-limited 20ft container; composition and grade specs are identical across shapes.

Attribute	Hexagonal	Pillow
Cross-section	Hexagonal, with a centre hole	Solid pillow / cushion (no hole)
Airflow & lighting	Centre hole aids airflow and lighting	Lights from the surface; very dense
Grill fit	Stacks in tidy rows; suits kamado / yakitori	Packs tight; strong bulk fill
Net load per 20ft container	15.5–16.5 t	18–19.5 t
Best for	Premium grilling and presentation	Maximising payload per container

Which Should You Order?

Because the grade specification is identical, the choice is operational:

• Optimising landed cost per tonne? Pillow’s higher payload (~18–19.5 t vs ~15.5–16.5 t per 20ft) spreads sea freight over more product.
• Selling on presentation or to a grill format that wants the centre hole? Hexagonal is the cleaner-stacking, easier-lighting shape.

Either shape is available on every grade — pick the grade first (quality and price), then the shape.

Questions

Do hexagonal and pillow briquettes have different specifications?

No — they share the same coconut-shell composition, so ash, fixed carbon, and calorific value are the same for a given grade. Shape mainly affects grill fit and how many tonnes load into a container.

Which shape fits more in a container?

Pillow. A 20ft container of coconut charcoal is weight-limited, and the denser pillow shape loads roughly 18–19.5 t versus about 15.5–16.5 t for hexagonal (industry benchmarks).

Why does hexagonal charcoal have a hole?

The centre hole improves airflow, so hexagonal briquettes light and reach cooking heat a little more easily and stack tidily — which is why they suit kamado and yakitori-style grilling.