I have recently got way in to Minecraft but I really struggling to find coal, I have started again and again lots of times in hopes of finding coal, but no luck. Is there any tips for finding coal or is there another way to make light?

Find a forest and set it on fire?

Coal seems pretty common in the game, I'd just start digging through something and you're likely to find some at some point.

Coal can be found just about anywhere; sometimes it's right out in the open, other times you'll have to do some digging. If you absolutely need torches, but can't find any coal, and if you have a furnace, you can use wood planks to "cook" some logs to make charcoal, which I think works just like regular coal. I think you need one plank per log that you want to cook. Planks aren't very efficient fuel.

I usually find it in mountains. Just look on the outside of the mountains and your bound to find some.

Coal is great and all, but the smart man migrates over to charcoal as soon as possible. Trees are a renewable resource, and by extension so is charcoal. If you get a good tree farm going and cook the raw logs in a furnace you will very quickly end up with more charcoal than the wood you are consuming. 1 coal/charcoal can cook 8 logs resulting in 8 charcoal. Rinse and repeat the process until you have the fuel coming out of your ears.

I just trust in my senses.

The mountains are great. If it's not visible on the outside it's only a few blocks away on the inside.

It's EVERYWHERE MAN!

Coal is great and all, but the smart man migrates over to charcoal as soon as possible. Trees are a renewable resource, and by extension so is charcoal. If you get a good tree farm going and cook the raw logs in a furnace you will very quickly end up with more charcoal than the wood you are consuming. 1 coal/charcoal can cook 8 logs resulting in 8 charcoal. Rinse and repeat the process until you have the fuel coming out of your ears.

Be a bad boy; Santa will bring you some. 

Yeah just open your eyes. Coal is everywhere.

I've heard rumors that digging down from where you initially spawn generally yields coal. Never tested myself however...

I downloaded the Moar Ore mod, so I could stock up before the update. You hit an coal ore block and receive 4-6. Coal isn't hard to find, but I'm lazy.

Dig.

                   

Coal is great and all, but the smart man migrates over to charcoal as soon as possible. Trees are a renewable resource, and by extension so is charcoal. If you get a good tree farm going and cook the raw logs in a furnace you will very quickly end up with more charcoal than the wood you are consuming. 1 coal/charcoal can cook 8 logs resulting in 8 charcoal. Rinse and repeat the process until you have the fuel coming out of your ears.