Where I Tell Small Business Owners to Buy Their Extinguishers
At the end of the day, I’m more than happy to tell people where to buy fire extinguishers themselves and help them save money if that’s what they want.
Ordering online or picking them up at a home improvement store skips the markup a fire company adds. That costs us the equipment sale, and that’s fine. This post tells you exactly what to buy to save the most money on fire extinguishers.
Disclosure: some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Prices below were checked in October 2026. They move, so expect a few dollars either way.
Which Size Do You Need?
Size follows the hazard in the room, not the type of business you run.
- 5 lb ABC where the fuel is mostly paper, furniture, and light goods.
- 10 lb ABC where there’s more to burn, like pallets, lumber, or flammable liquids such as gas and solvents.
NFPA 10 sets 2-A as the minimum rating for light and ordinary hazard spaces, and 4-A for extra hazard. Both ABC picks below beat it.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
2-A is the bare minimum, but I don’t ever sell 2-A extinguishers, even in an office.
Why would you get a 2-A when you can get a 3-A for the same price?
How many you need depends on your layout. Our 75-foot rule guide covers placement and count, and our guide to extinguisher types covers which class fits which hazard.
The 5 lb ABC: Refurbished First, Then New
The cheapest way to buy is a refurbished set on eBay. The seller is pro_fire_and_safety, and shipping is free. The brand varies, but they’re refurbished units from the major extinguisher brands.
A set of three 5 lb units runs $99, or $33 each. The same seller sells singles for $44.99.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
Only buy refurbished if you’re okay that they don’t look brand new. They might have paint chips or look a little weathered.
They shouldn’t have heavy rust, because they still have to meet code. If you want them to look brand new, buy brand new.
The listings say the units were serviced this year. That leaves about six years before their next six-year maintenance, and they still need a tag every year like any other unit.
For new, buy the Buckeye 10914 on Amazon. It’s rated 3-A:40-B:C and runs $56.97 to $58.41 on Amazon, with a wall hook in the box.
The 10 lb ABC: Same Order, Plus a Same-Day Option
A set of four refurbished 10 lb units from the same seller runs $210, or $52.50 each.
A single refurbished 10 lb costs $70. At that price, buy a new one instead, because it costs about the same.
For new, buy the First Alert PRO10. It’s rated 4-A:60-B:C, which also covers extra hazard spaces. It runs $72.98 on Amazon with fast shipping and easy returns.
Need it today? Lowe’s sells the same PRO10 for $72.98.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
Lowe’s is sometimes out of stock. The app might say 8 are available, and you get there and there are 2 or none.
A store generally stocks 5 to 7, so if you need more than that, you might have to go to more than one Lowe’s.
Restaurants Need a Class K Extinguisher
A commercial kitchen needs a Class K unit within 30 feet of travel from the cooking equipment. An ABC doesn’t satisfy that requirement.
Buy the Amerex C262, a 2.5 gallon wet chemical unit. It runs $278 on Amazon, with a wall bracket in the box.
What Not to Buy
These are the purchases I see most often that don’t count in a business.
2.5 lb home extinguishers. No 2.5 lb unit is rated 2-A, and 2-A is the minimum. People buy these all the time, so start at 5 lb.
Aerosol cans and fire blankets. They’re fine to keep around. They don’t replace a portable extinguisher.
Unlisted extinguishers. NFPA 10 requires a listed extinguisher. Look for a UL or FM listing mark on the extinguisher itself. A listing that says “made with UL components” is not the same thing.
I see a lot of Ougist extinguishers. They’re fine for a house, but I couldn’t find one in UL’s listing directory, and NFPA 10 requires a listed extinguisher in a business. Their kitchen unit costs far less than the Buckeye, but it won’t pass in a restaurant.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
I won’t tag an Ougist, even if an inspector says it’s fine.
I’d tell the customer, “Sorry, you’re going to have to call someone else to tag it.” Then I’d walk away from the job.
What About Home Depot and Ace?
Home Depot and Lowe’s are your same-day options. Both sell extinguishers off the shelf.
I’d skip Ace Hardware. It sells First Alert’s home units rated 2-A, not the 3-A commercial ones, and nothing bigger than 5 lb.
Mount It Where People Will Grab It
Most problems I find start after the box arrives. These are the three I see most:
- It never gets mounted at all. It sits on the floor or a shelf.
- It gets mounted in the wrong spot. That means too high, inside a closet, or far from the path out of the building.
- The 75-foot rule gets read as spacing. Each unit covers 75 feet of travel in every direction, so two units can sit up to about 150 feet apart.
NFPA 10 allows the bottom of the unit at least 4 inches off the floor and the top no higher than 60 inches. I tell people to aim for hip level.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
The best spot is along the path out of the building or right next to an exit door.
An easy way to find it is to look for a fire alarm pull station. When you first walk in the door, the wall under the light switches can be a good place too.
Our post on common extinguisher mistakes covers the other defects I find.
Do You Need a Sign?
You need a sign only when the extinguisher isn’t easy to see. A properly mounted unit in a small business usually doesn’t need one.
A recessed cabinet should be labeled so people know an extinguisher is inside. Wall stickers come in a 3-pack and work for that.
A 3D arrow sign is for a unit hidden behind something. It reads from both directions.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
Think of a store with tall racks, like Home Depot. The racks on the outside wall are usually by the bathrooms, with an extinguisher on the wall past them.
You can’t see it until you walk right up on it. Put a 3D arrow sign on the end of the rack so people know it’s there.
If you’re ever in doubt, put up a sign.
Even a Brand New Extinguisher Needs a Tag
Any extinguisher in a business needs an inspection tag, even in a small storefront and even straight out of the box. The tag is good for one year.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
New units still need to be inspected and tagged, because people mount them wrong, put them in the wrong place, or buy the wrong type for the hazard they have.
Rules vary by state. In Tennessee, rule 0780-02-14-.11 requires a service tag from a registered firm whenever it installs, services, or inspects a unit.
The fire marshal is not the only reason to get it done.
Ironclad’s Field Experience
Most business insurance contracts have a line buried in the fine print. You agree to follow all applicable building and life safety codes.
If there’s a fire, the insurer can use that as a reason to deny the claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy fire extinguishers on Amazon for my business?
Yes. Buy a listed unit rated at least 2-A, such as a 5 lb or 10 lb ABC. Then have a registered firm tag it before the fire marshal accepts it.
Are refurbished extinguishers okay for a business?
Yes, as long as the unit is listed, serviced, and tagged. Refurbished units can look weathered, so buy new if appearance matters to you.
Is a 2.5 lb extinguisher enough for a small business?
No. No 2.5 lb unit is rated 2-A, which is the minimum. Start at 5 lb.
Does a restaurant need a special extinguisher?
Yes. The kitchen needs a Class K unit within 30 feet of travel from the cooking equipment. An ABC still covers the rest of the building.
The Bottom Line
Buy refurbished sets on eBay for the lowest price, or new units on Amazon if you want them to look new. Use Lowe’s when you need one today, and skip the 2.5 lb and unlisted units.
Then mount them where people will grab them, and get them tagged.
Need extinguishers tagged in Tennessee? Get an instant quote for fire extinguisher tagging in Middle Tennessee.
