Propane Cost Calculator for Gallons & Price

Figure out what a propane run costs from an appliance's BTU rating, run time, and fuel price, plus the gallons and liters of propane it burns.

Inputs
BTU/hr
hr
$/gal
Results update as you type — no submit
ResultsLIVE
Fuel cost
$4.92
burns 1.64 gal (6 L)
Propane burned1.64 gal
Price$3.00/gal
Formula
cost = 1.64 gal × $3.00/gal = $4.92

Pricing a propane appliance is a two-step calculation. First find the fuel it burns: multiply the appliance's BTU-per-hour rating by the run time and divide by 91,502 BTU per gallon. Then multiply those gallons by the price you pay at the tank. The result is the cost to run that appliance for that stretch of time.

The fuel side is fixed physics — the same 91,502 BTU per gallon underlies every propane estimate. The price side is the part that moves. Delivered residential propane swings with season, region, and how much you buy per fill, so plug in your own most recent price rather than a national average for a number you can trust.

Because the math is linear, the tool doubles as a quick what-if. Halve the runtime and the cost halves; enter a higher price and watch the operating cost climb. That makes it useful for comparing a propane appliance's running cost against electric or wood before you commit.

Worked example
Appliance 30,000 BTU/hr · runtime 5 hours · price $3.00/gal
gallons = (30,000 × 5) ÷ 91,502 = 1.64 gal (about 6 L)
cost = 1.64 × $3.00 = $4.92

Find the gallons it burns, then multiply by your price. A 30,000 BTU/hr heater run 5 hours burns about 1.64 gallons; at $3.00 a gallon that is roughly $4.92, or just under a dollar an hour.

SOURCES Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) (91,502 BTU/gal)
Estimates for planning only — prices vary