Camping Propane Calculator
Add every propane appliance you'll use on your trip — stove, lantern, heater, fire pit, fridge, whatever's coming along — and see the total BTUs, pounds of propane, cylinders, and cost you should plan for. Built for tent campers, van lifers, and RVers who'd rather run the numbers once than guess and run out mid-trip.
Your appliances
Cylinder & cost settings
0 20 lb cylinders
Add an appliance below to see your estimate.
Per-appliance breakdown
| Appliance | BTU used | Propane (lb) | Share |
|---|
Never run fuel-burning appliances in enclosed spaces
Don't use camp stoves, lanterns, fire pits, or heaters inside a tent, camper, or other enclosed space unless that exact product is explicitly designed, labeled, and approved for indoor or enclosed use. Burning propane consumes oxygen and produces carbon monoxide — an odorless gas that can be fatal. Always follow the manufacturer's ventilation instructions and keep a battery-powered CO alarm near your sleeping area whenever a fueled appliance is running.
Your reserve margin
Add an appliance to see how much reserve propane this adds to your plan.
Cylinder usage
Why this estimate may vary
Real BTU draw depends on burner or dial setting — most appliances rarely run at full-blast for the entire time they're switched on. Cold temperatures and high altitude reduce a cylinder's output pressure, which can lower actual burn rate versus its rated BTU. Manufacturer BTU ratings are also measured under ideal lab conditions, so real-world performance often runs a bit lower than the label suggests.
How this estimate is calculated
Every appliance row multiplies its BTU-per-hour rating by the hours you'll run it each day, the number of days, its duty cycle, and how many identical units you're bringing. Thermostatic appliances like a 12-volt fridge, an RV furnace, or a portable heater don't fire constantly — the duty cycle knocks their usage down to the percentage of time the burner is actually lit, not just powered on. Add every row's BTUs together, divide by a standard planning conversion of 21,600 BTU per pound of propane, then add your reserve percentage on top.
Cylinders aren't filled to their full rated weight — refillable tanks are filled to roughly 80% of nominal capacity to leave vapor space, and 1 lb disposable bottles run closer to 90% of their rated fill — so the calculator divides your total propane needed by that usable amount per cylinder, then rounds up to a whole number of cylinders. If you're planning what else to pack alongside your fuel, the campfire wood calculator and the cooler ice calculator use the same day-by-day planning approach.
rowBTU = btuPerHour × hoursPerDay × days × (dutyCycle / 100) × quantity
lbPropaneWithReserve = (totalBTU / 21600) × (1 + reservePercent / 100)
cylindersNeeded = ceil(lbPropaneWithReserve / (nominalCylinderLb × usableFraction))
Assumptions & limitations
- 21,600 BTU per pound of propane is a standard planning conversion, not an exact physical constant — real yield varies slightly by blend and conditions.
- Appliance BTU ratings come from manufacturer specs at full output; most real-world use is lower unless you're always running an appliance wide open.
- Refillable cylinders are assumed filled to about 80% of nominal weight (vapor space safety margin); 1 lb disposable bottles are assumed filled to about 90%.
- Duty cycle is an estimate — actual thermostatic cycling depends on outside temperature, insulation, and how a unit is set.
- This tool doesn't account for altitude or cold-weather pressure drop, which can reduce real burn rate on any cylinder.
- Costs assume a flat per-cylinder refill or exchange price and don't include taxes, deposits, or delivery fees.
Practical recommendations
Round up, not down. If your trip could stretch a day longer than planned — weather, a late pack-up, extra guests — a 20% reserve is a reasonable starting point, and it's cheap insurance compared to a cold stove on your last morning. Bring one full spare 1 lb bottle even on a 20 lb-tank trip; it's a lightweight backup if your main cylinder runs low and you can't get to a refill station. And before you finalize how much space and how many cylinders to bring, double check your campsite size can actually fit your setup plus a safe storage spot for extra propane, away from the fire ring and out of direct sun.
Frequently asked questions
How long will a 1 lb propane bottle last?
It depends entirely on what's burning it. A single-burner backpacking stove at full output (around 10,000 BTU/hr) will empty a 1 lb bottle (about 0.9 lb usable) in roughly two hours of continuous use, but most people only run a stove for a fraction of that per meal, so one bottle often covers several days of actual cooking. A propane lantern at 2,000 BTU/hr can run nearly 10 hours on the same bottle. Enter your appliance and hours above for a number specific to your setup.
What does BTU mean and why does it matter?
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, a measure of heat energy. An appliance's "BTU per hour" rating tells you how much heat it produces (and fuel it burns) when running at full output — a 30,000 BTU/hr stove burns roughly three times as much propane per hour as a 10,000 BTU/hr stove at the same setting. Higher BTU generally means faster cooking or more heat, but also faster fuel use.
What is duty cycle and why isn't a heater running 100% of the time?
Duty cycle is the percentage of time a thermostatically controlled appliance is actually burning fuel, versus just being switched on. A portable heater might cycle on for 6 minutes out of every 10 to hold a set temperature — that's roughly a 60% duty cycle. Appliances like camp stoves and lanterns that you manually control don't cycle this way, so they're typically modeled at 100%.
Why is a 20 lb tank not actually 20 lb of usable propane?
Propane cylinders are never filled completely full of liquid — they're filled to roughly 80% of their rated weight (about 16 lb of propane in a "20 lb" tank) so there's vapor space left for the fuel to expand safely as temperature changes. That's a manufacturing and safety standard, not underfilling by the supplier.
Can I use a propane heater inside my tent?
Only if that specific heater is explicitly labeled and designed for use in an enclosed space and you follow its ventilation instructions exactly. Most propane appliances — including most portable heaters, stoves, and fire pits — are designed for outdoor or well-ventilated use only. Burning propane indoors without adequate ventilation can build up carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be fatal, well before you'd notice a problem. When in doubt, keep it outside and bring a battery-powered CO alarm regardless.
How much propane does an RV furnace really use?
An RV furnace is usually rated around 20,000-30,000 BTU/hr, but it cycles on and off to hold a set temperature rather than running continuously — a duty cycle around 30-40% is common in mild weather, higher in a hard freeze. That's why the calculator asks for duty cycle separately from the raw BTU rating; using the raw rating alone would badly overestimate real usage.
Do I need a bigger cylinder for cold weather?
Cold weather doesn't change how much propane you need for a given amount of heat, but it can reduce a cylinder's vapor pressure and output rate, especially as a tank runs low. In freezing conditions it's worth carrying extra reserve capacity or a second cylinder so you're not relying on a near-empty tank's reduced output.
How many cylinders should I bring on a multi-day trip?
Add up every appliance you expect to use, how many hours a day, and for how many days, then let the reserve margin add a safety buffer on top. The calculator rounds the result up to a whole number of cylinders since you can't buy a fraction of one — round trips are also a good time to bring one extra small bottle as backup.
Is it cheaper to refill or exchange a propane tank?
Refilling at a local station is usually cheaper per pound than an exchange-kiosk swap, because exchange tanks are often only partially filled and you're also paying for the convenience and the tank swap itself. Enter whichever price applies to how you actually restock to get an accurate cost estimate.
What BTU rating should I use for a portable propane fire pit?
Most portable propane fire pits fall somewhere between 30,000 and 60,000 BTU/hr; check the specification plate or manual for your exact model. Fire pits are typically run at full output the whole time they're lit, so a 100% duty cycle is a reasonable default unless yours has adjustable flame control you use to turn it down.