We've been selling fireworks since 1999 and the number one question we get — especially from first-time buyers — is "what's the difference between all of these?"
Fair question. Walk into a fireworks shop (or scroll through a website) and you'll see hundreds of products with names like "Armageddon", "Dragon's Breath", and "War Path". They all look exciting on the box, but understanding the type of firework inside tells you far more about what you're actually getting than the name ever will.
This is the guide we wish every customer read before their first order. No jargon, no fluff — just a straightforward explanation of every type of firework you can buy in the UK, what they do, and when to use them.
For 5th November in particular, Galactic's bonfire night fireworks guide applies these categories to the products we'd recommend on the night.
UK Firework Categories: F1, F2, F3 and F4
Before we get into types, you need to understand categories. Every firework sold in the UK is classified under one of four categories based on how powerful it is and how far back you need to stand.
| Category | Who Can Buy | Safety Distance | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Anyone 16+ | 1 metre | Indoor fireworks, small sparklers, novelty items |
| F2 | Anyone 18+ | 8 metres | Garden fireworks — most consumer fireworks fall here |
| F3 | Anyone 18+ | 25 metres | Display fireworks — bigger, louder, need more space |
| F4 | Professionals only | Varies | Professional display fireworks — not available to the public |
The vast majority of what you'll buy for a garden or garden display is F2. If you've got a bigger space (think a field, a farm, or a large car park) then F3 fireworks are where the serious kit lives. You can read more about this in our guide to 1.3G vs 1.4G fireworks.
Cakes & Barrages
Cakes are the backbone of any firework display. If you only buy one type of firework, make it a cake.
A firework cake (sometimes called a barrage) is a box containing multiple tubes fused together internally. You light one fuse and it fires a pre-determined sequence of effects, colours, and breaks into the air — without you touching it again. A small cake might fire 16 shots over 30 seconds. A big one could fire 200+ shots over two minutes.
Why they're popular: Light it and walk away. No messing about, no relighting, no standing next to a firework wondering if it's gone out. The fuse works its way through the cake and fires every shot in order. Some cakes build in intensity — starting gentle and finishing with rapid-fire volleys. Others mix effects: brocades, peonies, willows, crackles, and colour changes all in one box.
The trade term "cake" comes from the shape — they look a bit like a squat, square cake. "Barrage" just describes the rapid-fire style. Same thing, different label.
Best for: Every display. Seriously. Whether you're doing Bonfire Night in the garden or a full-scale wedding finale, cakes are the foundation. We stock over 200 of them — browse cakes & barrages here.
Rockets
Everyone knows what a rocket is. Stick in the ground, fuse at the bottom, whoooosh — up it goes and bursts at the top. Rockets are the most iconic firework type and still the one most people think of first.
A single rocket gives you one big burst in the sky. That's its job. The advantage over cakes is height — rockets go higher than cake shots, so you get that dramatic, sky-filling moment. These days rockets usually come in packs that you fire together for a volley of bursts, rather than single tubes one at a time.
A word of honesty: It's not the category that makes the difference with rockets — it's the classification. 1.4G rockets tend to be weak and underwhelming. If your budget only stretches to 1.4G rockets, you might get more bang for your money with a good cake. Our cheap fireworks collection has dozens of cakes at 50%+ off RRP. But 1.3G rockets? Those are the real deal — proper height, proper burst, proper "ooh" from the crowd. The difference is night and day.
Best for: Grand finales, dramatic single moments, and displays where you want maximum height. See our rocket range.
Roman Candles
A roman candle fires a series of stars or comets upward, one at a time. They fire slower and more deliberately than cakes — one shot every few seconds — which makes them great for adding rhythm to a display. Modern roman candles often come as batteries — multiple tubes bundled or fused together — so you get a spread of effects rather than just a single tube.
Modern roman candle batteries are serious fireworks in their own right — at a similar price point to a cake, you get a completely different style of effect. Plant several in a row and light them in sequence for a ripple effect that no cake can replicate. They add a different dimension to a display and hold their own alongside anything else you're firing.
Best for: Adding a different dimension to any display. Modern batteries hold their own alongside cakes and rockets — don't overlook them. Browse roman candles.
Fountains
Fountains (also called gerbs in the trade) are ground-level fireworks that spray a fan of sparks upward. No bangs, no aerial bursts — just a shower of colour rising from the ground. Some crackle, some change colour, some throw sparks two or three metres high.
They're the quietest type of firework, which makes them perfect if you're worried about pets or neighbours. A good fountain is genuinely mesmerising to watch — especially the ones that shift through colours over a couple of minutes. One thing to watch: don't hide fountains behind a wall or fence. The effect comes from the base upwards, so if you can't see the bottom, you're missing the main part of the display.
Best for: Low-noise displays, front-of-garden effects, and displays where young children are watching up close (though still keep the 8-metre F2 distance). See all fountains.
Mines
A mine erupts from a pot on the ground, throwing a barrage of shots, stars, and effects straight up simultaneously. The result is an instant wall of colour and noise that fills the sky in a split second. Modern mines are nothing like the single-shot items they used to be — they're genuinely one of the most dramatic firework types you can buy.
What makes mines special is the element of surprise. Many start as a gentle fountain, lulling everyone into a false sense of security — then BANG, the whole thing erupts and you're jumping out of your skin. That shock factor is what makes them so effective. Drop one at the start of a display and you've instantly got everyone's full attention.
Best for: Opening a display with a bang, surprise moments between cakes, and grabbing the crowd's attention. View mines.
Catherine Wheels
A catherine wheel is a firework fixed to a post or fence that spins, throwing sparks outward in a circle. They're named after St Catherine of Alexandria (cheerful story — don't look it up mid-display).
Decent catherine wheels spin fast and throw out coloured sparks, crackles, and sometimes small comets. Bad ones spin unevenly and fall off the nail. The trick is making sure it's fixed securely to a proper post — a wobbly fence panel won't do the job.
Best for: Visual variety in a display. Kids love them. They're one of the few firework types that give you a continuous, visible effect rather than brief aerial bursts. Browse catherine wheels.
Compound Fireworks
A compound firework is essentially several cakes fused together into one massive unit. Light one fuse and you get a full multi-act display from a single piece. These are the biggest single items you can buy — some run for three or four minutes and contain hundreds of shots.
If you want a serious display without the hassle of setting up and lighting lots of individual fireworks, a compound is the answer. The trade-off is price — they're the most expensive single items — but the convenience and spectacle are hard to beat.
Best for: People who want one firework that does everything, or a show-stopping centrepiece. See compound fireworks.
Selection Boxes
A selection box is exactly what it sounds like — a box containing a mix of different firework types. They're designed for smaller gardens and tend to be F2 category, so they're primarily colourful, low-noise, ground-level effects with a few roman candles thrown in for aerial shots and maybe a cake or two in the bigger boxes.
Selection boxes are a good starting point if you've never bought fireworks before and want a bit of everything without spending a fortune. They're not going to compete with a properly planned display, but for a casual garden night with the family, they do the job.
Best for: First-timers, small budgets, and family garden nights. Browse selection boxes.
Sparklers
The nation's favourite firework — and the one most people start with as children. A sparkler is a metal wire coated in a pyrotechnic compound that burns slowly from one end, throwing off bright sparks.
Standard sparklers burn for about a minute. We also stock giant sparklers (up to 18 inches) that burn longer and brighter — popular for weddings, birthdays, and New Year's Eve.
Important safety note: Sparklers burn at around 1,000°C — hotter than a blowtorch. Always hold them at arm's length, wear gloves, and drop spent sparklers into a bucket of water. Never give them to children under five. See our firework safety guide for more.
Best for: Weddings, parties, celebrations, and letting everyone join in. See our sparkler range.
Smoke Grenades
Smoke grenades (or smoke bombs) produce thick, coloured smoke without any bang or spark. They're not traditional fireworks in the strictest sense, but they're increasingly popular — especially for gender reveals, photography, paintball, and daytime events.
They come in a range of colours (blue and pink for gender reveals, obviously) and typically burn for 30-90 seconds. Some are wire-pull activated, others are fuse-lit.
Best for: Daytime events, photography, gender reveals, and adding atmosphere without noise. Browse smoke grenades.
Which Type of Firework Should You Buy?
Here's the honest answer based on what we see customers buy — and what they come back to buy again:
Small garden, first display: A selection box or two to three mid-range cakes, a pack of sparklers, and a fountain. Keep it simple, keep it safe.
Medium garden, want to impress: Four to six cakes of increasing size, a couple of roman candles either side, a mine for surprise, and a big rocket for the finale.
Large space, going all out: A mix of F2 and F3 cakes, 1.3G rockets for height, compounds for the main event, and roman candle fans for atmosphere. If you're spending over £1,000, drop us an email and we'll help you plan it.
Worried about noise: Stick to fountains, low-noise cakes, and sparklers. Avoid rockets and mines. Read our low noise fireworks guide for more detail.
Want maximum noise: Browse our loud fireworks collection for the biggest bangs, crackle effects and thunderous reports in the range.
Daytime event or gender reveal: Smoke grenades and daytime fireworks. Most fireworks are designed for the dark — smoke effects are the exception.
Quick Reference: Every Firework Type at a Glance
| Type | What It Does | Noise Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cakes & Barrages | Multiple aerial shots from one box | Medium–Loud | Every display |
| Rockets | Single high-altitude burst | Loud | Finales, drama |
| Roman Candles | Sequential single shots from a tube | Medium | Depth, atmosphere |
| Fountains | Ground-level spark shower | Quiet | Low-noise displays, close viewing |
| Mines | Simultaneous ground-erupting barrage | Loud | Surprise moments |
| Catherine Wheels | Spinning sparks on a post | Medium | Visual variety, kids love them |
| Sparklers | Handheld sparking wire | Silent | Weddings, parties, everyone joins in |
| Smoke Grenades | Thick coloured smoke | Silent | Gender reveals, photography, daytime |
| Compounds | Multiple cakes fused as one unit | Loud | Centrepiece, convenience |
| Selection Boxes | Mixed assortment | Varies | Beginners, small budgets |
Ready to Build Your Display?
Browse by type and find exactly what you need — or get in touch and we'll help you plan the perfect show.
Cakes & Barrages → Rockets → Roman Candles → Fountains → Sparklers → Compounds → Mines → Catherine Wheels → Smoke Grenades → Selection Boxes →Need help choosing? Call us on 01709 769184 or email help@galacticfireworks.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of fireworks?
Fireworks are categorised by power and effect: fountains (spray sparks from a stationary base), cakes (multiple effects in sequence), barrages (rapid-fire burst effects), roman candles (burst shells), and shells (aerial fireworks). Each type creates different visual effects and requires different handling.
What is a Category 2 and 3 firework?
Category 2 fireworks are for indoor and outdoor use with moderate noise and effect, suitable for home gardens and small displays. Category 3 fireworks are for outdoor use only with higher noise and visual impact, requiring more space and distance from properties and spectators.
Which fireworks are legal in the UK?
Category 1, 2, and 3 fireworks are legal for public purchase and use in the UK, provided they meet BS 7114 safety standards. Category 4 (professional-grade) fireworks are illegal without a pyrotechnic licence from your local authority.
What is the difference between a cake and a barrage?
A cake is a multi-shot firework that produces different effects in sequence over several seconds, often with colour changes and varying heights. A barrage produces rapid, continuous bursts of effects in quick succession, creating a more intense and faster-paced display.
Are fireworks bad for tinnitus?
Yes, fireworks can worsen tinnitus due to sudden loud noises that trigger or amplify the condition. If you have tinnitus, wearing ear protection (earplugs or earmuffs rated for 30dB noise reduction) during fireworks displays is essential.
What is the loudest type of firework?
Barrages and large shell fireworks are typically the loudest, often reaching 150-180 decibels depending on size and charge. Category 3 cakes and multi-shot fireworks can also be very loud, so always wear hearing protection when using or watching them. Browse our loud fireworks collection for the noisiest options.
What fireworks go the highest?
Large aerial shell fireworks and high-burst cakes typically reach heights of 80-300+ metres, depending on their size and charge. Smaller garden fireworks usually max out at 20-50 metres, so always check product specifications and set appropriate clearance zones.
What are the safest fireworks for gardens?
Fountains, small Roman candles, and low-break cakes are the safest for gardens as they have lower noise levels and predictable effects. Always choose Category 1 or 2 fireworks, follow distance guidelines, and never use anything that produces unexpected or unstable effects.
What is a compound firework?
A compound firework combines multiple effects or shell types in a single firework, such as a cake that launches both bursts and crackling stars. These create more complex and visually impressive displays than single-effect fireworks.
How long does a firework cake last?
Most firework cakes last between 20-60 seconds, though some premium multi-shot cakes can burn for up to 2-3 minutes depending on the number of shots. Check the product information before purchasing to ensure it fits your display timing.
