How Hot Is a Lighter Flame?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 11, 2020

The flame of a lighter contains butane fuel, which burns at 3,578 degrees Fahrenheit in ideal conditions. Lighters can also use naphtha as fuel, which burns at 2,012 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flameless lighters consist of an electric heating element that is sealed. These lighters are used in areas where an open flame lighter could ignite nearby volatile substances. They are not as hot as open flame models.

Most lighters light when an electric arc is created, typically by a spark from a flint being struck. The spark lights the fumes of the butane or naptha, and air holes in the lighter allow oxygen in for the fire to light.