How to Set Up a Hookah (& Smoke One)

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Read this easy guide to learn how to quickly set up a hookah

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: January 30, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Pipe Setup
|
• How to Smoke It
|
• Cleaning
|
• Troubleshooting
|
• Video
|
• Tips
|
• Things You'll Need

|Show more |Show less

Hookahs, or water pipes, are traditional Middle Eastern smoking devices that have become popular across the globe. Taking a casual drag of hookah is one thing, but what if you want to set up your own hookah? If you're lost and looking for a little bit of help, you've come to the right place. Read on for a step-by-step guide on setting up and smoking your own hookah.

How to Set Up a Hookah: Step-by-Step

1. Clean the hookah and 1-1.5 in (2.5-3.81 cm) of cold water into the vase.
2. Insert the shaft into the base.
3. Connect the hoses and check the airflow.
4. Light the coals and put the metal tray on top of the shaft.
5. Stir the shisha, break it up, and loosely pack it into the bowl with space for foil.
6. Cover the bowl with heavy-duty foil and poke 12-15 holes into it.
7. Put the bowl on top of the shaft, put the coals on top of the bowl, and inhale.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Setting Up the Pipe

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1. 
   1
   Pour cold water into the vase. This is the large glass container at the base of the hookah. Fill it enough to cover 1-1.5 in. (2.5-3.81 cm) of the metal stem. Leave space for air to dilute the smoke and make it easy to draw on the hose. If you have a mini hookah, you may only be able to cover ½ inch (1.25cm) of the stem to leave room for air and avoid soaking the hoses.

   • The stem is the metal tip at the bottom of the central hookah shaft. Put the shaft on top of the vase to see how far down the stem goes.
   • Add ice to cool the temperature of the smoke, if you’d like. If you do, you may need to pour out some of the water to adjust it to the correct level.
2. 
   2
   Insert the hookah shaft into the glass base. Lower the shaft into the base so the stem enters the water. There should be a silicone or rubber piece that fits around the top of the base to make it airtight. If the fit isn't airtight, the smoke will be thin and difficult to pull.

   • If the rubber piece won't fit, wet it with a little water or a drop of dish soap.
3. 
   3
   Connect the hoses. The hoses slot into holes on the side of the shaft. Just like the base, these holes should be airtight fits. Some hookahs seal the hole if there is no hose attached. On other models, you'll need to attach all the hoses even if you're smoking alone.

   • Double check your water levels before connecting. If the water levels are too near your hose connections, the water could ruin your hoses.
4. 
   4
   Check the air flow. Place your hand on top of the hookah stem to block air from entering the hookah. Try to inhale through a hose. If you get any air, one of the connections is not airtight. Check them all for tight fits and rubber or silicone seals.

   • If you're missing a seal, grab hookah grommets as a replacement. Tightly wrapped athletic tape can also make a temporary, mostly airtight seal.
5. 
   5
   Position the metal tray on top of the hookah shaft. This tray catches hot embers and excess tobacco if and when they fall, so it’s essential that you attach it to avoid starting a fire or damaging your belongings.
6. 
   6
   Clean the hookah if it’s your first time using it (or it’s dirty). Wash the hookah with water and a soft brush before using it for the first time, and whenever it gets dirty. Disconnect all parts and wash every one except the hoses; assume these are not water-safe unless labeled otherwise. Wipe it dry with a towel and leave it to air dry before you continue.

   • Cleaning after every session is ideal. If you can’t clean after every session, clean whenever you see residue on the vase, or when the smoke doesn't taste right.
   • A long, thin brush helps you reach inside long parts. You might find good brushes at stores that sell hookahs.

Section 2 of 4:

Smoking the Hookah

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1. 
   1
   Stir the shisha. Shisha is tobacco packed in liquids that add flavor and thick smoke. These liquids tend to settle to the bottom, so give it a quick stir to spread them around.

   • For your first time smoking a hookah, consider using tobacco-free hookah molasses to practice the setup. Tobacco can be very harsh if you make a mistake.
   • Shisha comes in many different flavors, which significantly change the experience. Sample several to see what you like as a novice hookah smoker.
2. 
   2
   Break up the shisha and place it in the bowl. After breaking the shisha up and packing the bowl, press down lightly to make a flat layer without compacting the tobacco. It should stay fairly loose so air can easily flow through it. Fill the bowl nearly to the top, but leave at least 2mm (3/32 inches) of space above the tobacco so it doesn't burn.
3. 
   3
   Cover with heavy-duty foil and poke several holes through it. Lay a piece of heavy-duty foil over the bowl, stretching it taut. Crimp it around the edges to secure. Then, using a toothpick or paper clip, poke about 12–15 holes through the foil surface. Test air flow by drawing on the hose as you do this. If you have trouble pulling air, add more holes.

   • If you only have standard duty foil, use two layers.
   • You can use a charcoal screen or hookah screen for this instead, but most users prefer the foil.
   • Some people like to poke all the way through the shisha to provide channels for heat and air.
4. 
   4
   Put the bowl on top of the hookah shaft and light 2-3 coals. The bowl should fit securely into another rubber piece, for an airtight fit. There are two types of coals used for starting a hookah: quick light coals and natural coals. People prefer using natural coals since the hits are smoother, but you can use whichever you’ve got on hand. Follow these instructions depending on which one you have:

   • Quick light coals: Hold with tongs over a nonflammable area. Light with a lighter or match until it stops smoking, then wait 10–30 seconds until covered in light gray ash and glowing orange.
     • These are convenient, but give a worse, shorter smoke. Some people even get headaches from smoking them.
   • Natural coals: Heat directly in a stove flame or on an electric burner, but never where ash could fall into the gas line or on a glass stove. The coal is ready once glowing orange, usually after 8–12 minutes.
5. 
   5
   Transfer the coals to the foil. Place the coals evenly around the edge of the foil or slightly hanging over the edge. A common mistake among first-time hookah users is to pile the coals in the center, which can easily char the shisha and create harsh, short-lived smoke.

   • Many smokers prefer to let the shisha warm up for 3–5 minutes before they start smoking. This lets you smoke with gentle breaths, enhancing the flavor.
6. 
   6
   Inhale once the bowl warms up. Inhale through one of the hoses. Your breath will pull air past the coals and cause them to heat up. If you pull too hard, the air will get hot enough to char the shisha, and you'll cough on a lungful of bad-tasting smoke, so be careful. Pull with short, normal breaths.

   • Smoke at a slow, relaxed rate, pausing to give the shisha time to cool down.
   • If no smoke appears in the vase, inhale in a series of short, sharp puffs to light the tobacco.

Section 3 of 4:

Cleaning The Hookah

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1. 
   Clean the hookah with water and a brush. Wash the hookah with water and a soft brush before using it for the first time, and whenever it gets dirty. Disconnect all parts and wash every one except the hoses; assume these are not water-safe unless labeled otherwise. Wipe it dry with a towel and leave it to air dry before you continue.

   • Cleaning after every session is ideal. If you can’t clean after every session, clean whenever you see residue on the vase, or when the smoke doesn't taste right.
   • A long, thin brush helps you reach inside long parts. You might find good brushes at stores that sell hookahs.
   • If you plan to clean it right after using it, make sure the hookah’s cooled down before you start cleaning.
   • Regular cleaning helps avoid ghost flavors, which are flavors that remain from previous sessions.

Section 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Your Hookah

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1. 1
   Weak Smoke If the smoke is weak, your water level may be low. Check to make sure the glass base of the hookah has 1-1.5 in (2.5-3.81 cm) of water in it. If the water levels are fine and you’re still getting weak smoke, check your coal placement and air flow. If the coals are too far, the shisha may not be getting heated. If the air flow is off, the smoke won’t light as well.

   • To fix the coal problem, move the coals closer together if they aren’t already. If they are, give them an extra 5-10 minutes to heat.
   • To fix the airflow problem, check the hose and grommets for leaks and reseal them, if necessary.
2. 2
   Short Smokes If the shisha only rolls for a second before going out, it may be overpacked. Use a toothpick or another small, sharp object to get into the bowl and loosen the shisha so there’s enough air for it to catch fire. If you’re still dealing with short sessions, rotate your coals to make sure the shisha’s catching a flame.

   • According to cannabis research scientist and educator Riley Kirk, PhD, overpacking tends to block airflow, making it nearly impossible.
3. 3
   Harsh Taste If the shisha tastes harsh once you start toking, it may be because you’re using too much heat. Make sure the coals aren’t packed too close together, or else the heat may be burning through the shisha and making the taste (and smoke) harsher.
4. 4
   Air Leaks If the air is leaking, that means something isn’t sealed. Check the hose and grommets for leaks, and if you spot any, adjust the seals so they’re air tight or replace the grommets (whichever is the cause for the leak).

   • If you don’t have anything on hand to tighten the seal, use a small sheet of paper, a towel, or electrical tape for a temporary seal.

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Things You'll Need

• Coals
• Shisha
• Bowl grommet
• Hose grommet
• Aluminum foil or hookah screen
• Cold water
• Ice (optional)

Tips

• While packing tobacco into the bowl, make a funnel the width of a pencil at the center of tobacco to help the airflow going.
  Thanks

  Helpful 14 Not Helpful 9
• There are other, more traditional forms of hookah tobacco besides shisha. These dry leaves are typically harsh, with no added flavors. To smoke them, place the coal directly on the leaves, without using foil.
  Thanks

  Helpful 11 Not Helpful 10
• Hot coal can be dangerous, so make sure it is handled with steady hands.
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  Helpful 47 Not Helpful 28

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