Tightly constrained experimental thermogravimetry proves to be effective for characterising the effects of rank and maceral variations on Bowen Basin coal combustion behaviour. These coals show an increase in char burnout temperature with rank for both dull, inertinite-rich and bright, vitrinite-rich coals. Most dull coals have higher char burnout and peak combustion temperatures than their bright rank equivalents. The maximum rates of combustion for dull coals are lower than their bright counterparts, with the difference between the two varying with rank.