5 Best Fire Extinguishers

When selecting the best fire extinguishers, our Lab experts and engineers zeroed in on products that passed industry tests, such as rigorous safety tests set by UL Solutions. We consulted Blake Shugarman, a principal engineer at UL Solutions, who oversees the company’s quality control and certification requirements for fire extinguishers.

Shugarman provided insight into industry standards and what consumers should look for when purchasing a fire extinguisher. UL Solutions and its employees did not contribute to the selection of these Good Housekeeping-recommended devices. (Fire extinguishers that have UL Certification can be found via the UL Solutions ProductIQ database.

We also considered each fire extinguisher’s ABC rating:

• Class A fire extinguishers are able to tackle cloth, wood and paper fires.
• Class B are for gas, oil and grease fires.
• Class C are for electrical fires.

Three out of the five fire extinguishers we chose are rated for all three classes. The other two serve specific purposes: one is uniquely designed for kitchen fires, and the other is a small aerosol spray that’s easy to toss in a travel bag or a glove compartment, making it a great portable option.

There are several key product features to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a fire extinguisher.

✔️ Fire type: Check the extinguisher’s fire ratings before purchasing to ensure it meets your needs. Class A fire extinguishers are designed to handle cloth, wood, and paper fires; Class B are for gas, oil, and grease fires; and Class C are for electrical fires. Some fire extinguishers are labeled Class ABC, which can safely put out all three types of fires.

There are also Class D fire extinguishers, designed to put out fires in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium and potassium, and Class K fire extinguishers for fires fueled by combustible cooking liquids, such vegetable oil or animal-based oil.

✔️ UL rating: Fire extinguishers certified by the UL Solutions meet the highest standards for fire safety and performance.

✔️ Ease of use: Putting out a fire requires fast action, which is why you want a fire extinguisher that’s light enough for the adults in your household to lift and operate. Look for one that has clear operation instructions and familiarize yourself with how to use that specific fire extinguisher so that you’re prepared for a fire emergency.

✔️ Capacity: The size of a fire extinguisher — typically measured in pounds — indicates the amount of extinguishing agent it holds. Fire extinguisher capacity can vary widely, ranging anywhere from 1.25 pounds to as large as 350 pounds for a commercial-grade model. Larger extinguishers are capable of putting out bigger fires, but they can be difficult for some people to carry. Keep in mind that the capacity does not take into account the additional weight of the canister, so the total weight will be a few extra pounds.

✔️ Disposable versus rechargeable: Disposable fire extinguishers are intended for one-time use. Rechargeable fire extinguishers should be refilled by a certified fire equipment dealer after they’re used or after they lose pressure over time, usually after about 5 years. Refilling a rechargeable fire extinguishers costs around $20 to $50, depending on the size, make and model of the extinguisher.

✔️ Cost: Most home fire extinguishers cost between $20 and $100, depending on the size, brand and features. Smaller models typically cost less than larger ones.

Disposable fire extinguishers should be replaced 12 years from the date of manufacture, Shugarman says. If you have a rechargeable model, make sure it’s refilled as needed by a certified fire technician — typically every five years. Remember to inspect fire extinguishers monthly, making sure they're accessible and checking the pressure gauge.

Each level of a home should have a minimum of one extinguisher rated 2-A:10-B:C, or higher as recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency’s NFPA 10, the Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. “Other areas that may warrant additional extinguishers include kitchens, outdoor cooking equipment and fireplaces,” says Shugarman. Garages — both attached and detached — should have a fire extinguisher, too. It’s also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in your laundry room or area, since dryers can cause electrical fires.

As for where to put them, an accessible spot near a door or other exit is ideal, so you can get to the extinguisher quickly and make a fast escape as needed (for these reasons, under the kitchen sink is not recommended). It's also important to keep extinguishers away from heat sources, like an oven or fireplace.

Most consumers need only 5- or 10-pound fire extinguishers in their home. Larger models are intended to fight bigger fires, such as blazes at commercial buildings.

Fire safety experts at NFPA recommend the four-step PASS method:

1. Pull the pin.
2. Aim low, pointing the nozzle at the base of the fire.
3. Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
4. Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Shugarman also suggests reviewing your product’s owner manual for instructions about installation, operation, inspection, maintenance and disposal or recharging of the fire extinguisher.

Daniel Bortz is a freelance writer who has written about home improvement and home safety for more than a decade, including testing-based product reviews across every major category, from power tools to smart home technology. His work has been published by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Newsweek, Money magazine and other outlets.

For this article, Daniel interviewed Blake Shugarman, a principal engineer in the Built Environment group at UL Solutions, where he oversees the company’s quality control and certification requirements for fire extinguishers. He is also the organization's technical expert for special hazard fire suppression products, such as fire extinguishing systems, fire-fighting foam and equipment.

This article was reviewed by Dan DiClerico, the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Dan brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role, in which he oversees product testing of home improvement tools and outdoor equipment. Prior to writing about home improvement, Dan worked on various roofing and remodeling crews.