Quick answer: To replace a Zippo flint, pull the insert out of the case and turn it over. Unscrew the flint spring screw with a coin or a small flathead screwdriver, holding it so the spring doesn’t fly off. Tap the insert on a hard surface to shake out the old flint stub, drop one new Zippo flint into the brass flint tube, then screw the spring back in as far as it will go. If the wheel feels stiff afterward, turn it backwards a few times. That’s Zippo’s own flint procedure.

It takes about two minutes, and it’s the most common repair a Zippo ever needs. Zippo says an average user needs a new flint every few weeks, so it’s worth learning once and doing it before the spark dies on you.

What You Need

• A new flint. Genuine Zippo flints come six to a dispenser and fit every Zippo windproof lighter, including Slim and Armor models. If the wick is also black and short, Zippo’s flint and wick pack covers both jobs.
• A coin or a small flathead screwdriver for the flint spring screw.
• An unfolded paper clip to clear flint grit out of the tube.
• A table or a tray. The spring is under tension, and over carpet a launched spring is gone for good.

You don’t need fuel to change a flint. If the lighter is freshly filled, wipe any fluid off the bottom of the insert first and keep your hands dry.

Signs Your Zippo Flint Is Worn Out

A flint is a small rod of ferrocerium. The knurled wheel shaves sparks off it every time you strike, so it gets shorter with every use. These are the usual signs it’s done:

• The wheel spins freely but throws no spark. Zippo lists this as the classic sign of a flint that needs replacing.
• Sparks are weak or few, and it takes several strikes to light.
• The wheel feels smooth and light instead of gritty under your thumb, because the spring has run out of flint to push up.
• You find only a sliver when you open the tube. A new flint is a few millimeters long; a spent one is a flat crumb.

If you get a good fat spark but no flame, the flint isn’t the problem. Check the fuel first, then the wick. Our Zippo refill guide covers both.

How to Replace a Zippo Flint, Step by Step

1. Make sure it’s out and cool. Close the lid and give it a minute if you’ve just used it.
2. Remove the insert. Hold the case in one hand, open the lid and pull the insert straight up and out.
3. Turn the insert over. On the bottom you’ll see the felt pad and, near one end, a brass screw with a slot in it. That’s the flint spring screw.
4. Unscrew the flint spring slowly. Turn it counterclockwise with a coin or a small screwdriver. Zippo warns that the spring is under tension, so keep a finger over it as the last thread lets go. The long spring comes out attached to the screw.
5. Remove the old flint. Turn the insert right side up and tap it gently on a hard surface. The leftover stub drops out of the tube. If grit or a broken piece stays stuck, push it out with the unfolded paper clip.
6. Drop in one new flint. It goes into the brass flint tube that the spring came out of. Don’t be fooled by the brass tip on the end of the spring: Zippo points out that it looks like a flint but isn’t one. Use one flint at a time, not two stacked.
7. Screw the spring back in, tight. Turn it clockwise. Zippo says to turn the screw as far as it will go. If it isn’t fully in, the lid won’t close, and a loose lid lets your fluid evaporate faster. Tight means seated, not forced. Brass threads strip if you lean on them.
8. Put the insert back and test it. Push it fully into the case, close and open the lid, and strike the wheel a few times. You should see a shower of sparks right away.

Tip: Zippo suggests keeping a spare flint under the felt pad. Lift a corner, tuck one flint in, press the pad back down. Next time the spark dies, the replacement is already in the lighter.

Testing the New Flint

Strike it the way you normally would, with a firm downward roll of the thumb. A brand-new flint sometimes needs three or four strikes to bed in against the wheel. After that you should get a strong spark every time.

If the wheel is hard to turn, the new flint is pressing too hard against it. Zippo’s fix is to turn the wheel backwards a few times. That usually frees it within a few turns. If it’s still stiff, check that only one flint is in the tube.

If you see sparks but no flame, refill the cotton or pull up and trim the wick. A new flint doesn’t fix an empty or charred wick.

How Often Should You Replace a Zippo Flint?

Zippo’s guidance is every few weeks for an average user. In practice it depends on how often you strike it:

• Daily use, several lights a day: every two to four weeks.
• A few times a week: every month or two.
• Occasional use: a flint can last many months. Fuel will run out long before the flint does, because Zippo fluid evaporates even when you don’t use the lighter.

A good habit is to check the flint every time you refill. When you have the insert out anyway, it takes ten seconds to unscrew the spring and look. If what’s left is shorter than the width of the screw head, replace it now.

Genuine Zippo Flints vs Generic Flints

Generic lighter flints are often the same diameter and will physically fit. They also tend to be cheaper per flint. The trouble is hardness. Zippo says the softer material used in some non-Zippo flints can clog the striking wheel, which makes the lighter hard to light. A clogged wheel looks exactly like a dead flint, so you end up replacing a good flint for nothing.

Genuine flints come six per dispenser, and Zippo’s flint and wick pack bundles three flint dispensers with three wicks. That’s 18 flints, or roughly a year of daily use. Given how small the difference is, we’d stick with genuine.

Note that this guide is for the classic fluid insert. Zippo’s butane torch inserts light with an ignition wire, not a flint and wheel, so there’s no flint to change. Our butane vs lighter fluid insert guide explains the difference.

Troubleshooting the Flint Wheel and Spring

Most “my new flint doesn’t work” problems are one of the following.

Zippo’s not-lighting checklist gives the same order: check the fuel, free a stuck wheel, replace the flint, then look at the wick. It also suggests using an opened paper clip in the flint tube to loosen stuck particles.

Can you replace the flint wheel itself? Not at home, realistically. The wheel is riveted to the chimney of the insert, and a wheel that’s worn smooth or wobbles on its rivet is a mechanical fault. That’s exactly what Zippo’s lifetime warranty, “It works or we fix it free”, is for. The same goes for a stripped flint screw or a broken flint spring. Our Zippo repair guide explains how the free repair works and what Zippo won’t cover, such as worn finishes.

Replacing the Flint and Wick Together

If your lighter needs several strikes to catch even with a good spark, the wick is probably charred too. Doing both jobs at once saves taking the insert apart twice. Change the flint first, since it’s the quicker job. Then pull the wick up with tweezers and trim the black tip level with the chimney. Zippo says to replace the wick after two or three trims. Replacing a wick means taking out the felt pad and cotton, which also means removing the flint screw, so check the flint didn’t fall out before you put the pad back.

Our refill guide has the full wick steps. Then refuel and test.

FAQ

How do you replace the flint in a Zippo lighter? Pull the insert out of the case, unscrew the flint spring on the bottom with a coin, tap out the old flint, drop in one new flint and screw the spring back in as far as it will go. If the wheel is stiff, turn it backwards a few times.

How often should you replace a Zippo flint? Zippo says every few weeks for an average user. Daily users usually need one every two to four weeks, and occasional users can go many months.

How do I know my Zippo flint needs replacing? The wheel spins freely with little or no spark, or it takes several strikes to light. When you open the tube, a spent flint is a thin sliver.

Which way do you unscrew a Zippo flint screw? Counterclockwise, like a normal screw. Tighten it clockwise until it stops. Hold your finger over it as it comes out, because the spring is under tension.

Can you use any flint in a Zippo? Generic flints often fit, but Zippo warns that the softer material in some non-Zippo flints can clog the wheel. Genuine Zippo flints fit every Zippo windproof lighter.

Why won’t my Zippo spark with a new flint? Usually flint dust is packed into the wheel, the spring isn’t fully screwed in, or two flints are jammed in the tube. Clean the wheel, check for a single flint and tighten the spring.

Why is my Zippo wheel hard to turn after changing the flint? The new flint is full length and presses hard on the wheel. Turn the wheel backwards a few times and it will loosen up.

Can you replace a Zippo flint wheel? Not as a home repair. The wheel is riveted to the insert. A worn or loose wheel is covered by Zippo’s lifetime guarantee, so send the lighter in.

What if I lose the Zippo flint spring? The spring is part of the insert, so send the lighter to Zippo under the lifetime guarantee, or fit a complete replacement insert. Work over a table next time; it’s easy to lose.

Where can I keep a spare Zippo flint? Under the felt pad on the bottom of the insert. Zippo suggests it so you always have one with you.

Does a Zippo butane insert use a flint? No. Zippo’s butane torch inserts use an ignition wire, so there’s no flint to replace.

Looking for a lighter that will need flints for decades? See our Zippo gift guide and the best-selling Zippos on Amazon.