Propane Cost Calculator | Current Price Per Gallon by State
Propane prices vary by more than a dollar per gallon depending on your state, the season, and whether you own or rent your tank. A delivery that costs $300 in Texas can run $600 for the same gallons in New England.
This propane cost calculator gives you two figures: what a tank refill costs right now, and what you should expect to spend on propane heating each month. It works as a residential propane usage calculator and a refill cost estimator in one tool.
Select your state to pre-fill the average residential price, enter your tank size and current fill level, and the calculator returns your estimated refill cost. Add square footage and climate zone to get the monthly heating estimate alongside it.
Propane Cost Calculator
Estimate your tank refill cost and monthly heating expense
Propane Tank Refill Cost
Pre-fills typical residential average
Edit to match your supplier quote
Monthly Heating Cost
Tank Refill Estimate
Tank capacity
Fills to 80% max capacity
Current level
Gallons needed
Estimated Refill Cost
Monthly Heating Estimate
Home size
Climate zone
Estimated gallons per month
Propane price per gallon
Estimated Monthly Heating Cost
State prices are approximate residential averages based on EIA data and vary seasonally. Enter your supplier's quote for an accurate refill estimate. Monthly heating figures assume propane as primary heat source at 85% furnace efficiency.
How the Propane Cost Calculator Works
The tank refill estimate starts with your tank size and current fill percentage. Because propane expands with temperature, suppliers fill residential tanks to a maximum of 80 percent capacity. The calculator determines how many gallons are needed to reach that 80 percent mark from your current level, then multiplies by the price per gallon you enter.
The monthly heating estimate uses a gallons-per-square-foot factor calibrated by climate zone: mild climates require approximately 0.016 gallons per square foot per month during peak heating, rising to 0.080 gallons per square foot in very cold climates.
These figures assume propane as the primary heat source with a modern furnace running at 85 percent efficiency. The annual estimate multiplies the monthly figure by the typical number of heating months for each zone.
Selecting your state pre-fills the price field with an approximate residential average based on EIA regional survey data. The price field is editable, so enter your supplier's actual quote for an accurate refill total.
Propane Price Per Gallon by State
Prices below show the approximate cost of propane per gallon today by state, based on EIA residential survey data.
Actual quotes from local suppliers vary by delivery volume, tank ownership arrangement, distance from distribution hubs, and seasonal demand.
*as of June 2026
| State | Avg. $/Gal | State | Avg. $/Gal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2.15 | Montana | $2.15 |
| Alaska | $2.85 | Nebraska | $2.05 |
| Arizona | $2.25 | Nevada | $2.50 |
| Arkansas | $2.00 | New Hampshire | $3.20 |
| California | $3.10 | New Jersey | $2.75 |
| Colorado | $2.20 | New Mexico | $2.15 |
| Connecticut | $3.25 | New York | $2.80 |
| Delaware | $2.65 | North Carolina | $2.20 |
| Florida | $2.40 | North Dakota | $2.10 |
| Georgia | $2.15 | Ohio | $2.20 |
| Hawaii | $4.20 | Oklahoma | $1.95 |
| Idaho | $2.10 | Oregon | $2.35 |
| Illinois | $2.20 | Pennsylvania | $2.55 |
| Indiana | $2.15 | Rhode Island | $3.10 |
| Iowa | $2.05 | South Carolina | $2.20 |
| Kansas | $2.00 | South Dakota | $2.10 |
| Kentucky | $2.10 | Tennessee | $2.10 |
| Louisiana | $1.90 | Texas | $1.85 |
| Maine | $3.15 | Utah | $2.20 |
| Maryland | $2.70 | Vermont | $3.20 |
| Massachusetts | $3.10 | Virginia | $2.50 |
| Michigan | $2.30 | Washington | $2.45 |
| Minnesota | $2.25 | West Virginia | $2.35 |
| Mississippi | $2.00 | Wisconsin | $2.20 |
| Missouri | $2.05 | Wyoming | $2.10 |
Northeast states consistently rank highest due to longer heating seasons, higher distribution costs, and greater demand concentration. Gulf Coast and Southern Plains states stay lowest year-round, with Texas and Louisiana benefiting from proximity to propane production and processing facilities.
What Drives the Price at Your Supplier
Four factors explain most of the variation between a quote you receive and the state average in the table above.
Tank ownership. If your supplier owns the tank on your property, they typically charge a higher per-gallon rate in exchange for covering maintenance and installation. Owning your tank lets you shop multiple suppliers, which tends to lower the per-gallon rate by 15 to 30 cents.
Delivery volume. Smaller deliveries cost more per gallon. A 100-gallon top-off on a 250-gallon tank costs more than filling a 500-gallon tank from 20 percent. Deliveries scheduled at 20 to 30 percent secure better pricing than emergency fills at 5 to 10 percent.
Seasonal demand. Propane tracks crude oil markets loosely but spikes during cold snaps when demand outpaces local distribution capacity. Pre-buy contracts, typically offered between July and September, lock in a fixed price before the peak demand window opens.
Distance from terminals. Rural customers farther from distribution terminals pay a transport surcharge that urban customers do not. Rural Pennsylvania and Maryland customers often pay 20 to 40 cents above the state average shown in the table.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Tank Refill, Pennsylvania Customer
500-gallon tank at 25 percent fill, Pennsylvania average price $2.55 per gallon
Target fill: 80% of 500 = 400 gallons
Current gallons: 25% of 500 = 125 gallons
Gallons needed: 400 – 125 = 275 gallons
Estimated refill cost: 275 × $2.55 = $701.25
At $3.00 per gallon from a spot delivery, the same fill runs $825. Pre-buying in summer at a locked rate of $2.20 saves approximately $152 on the same fill.
Example 2: Monthly Heating Cost, Maryland Home
1,800 sq ft home, moderate climate, Maryland average price $2.70 per gallon
Monthly gallons: 1,800 × 0.030 = 54 gallons
Monthly cost: 54 × $2.70 = $145.80
Annual estimate (5 heating months): ~$729
The same home at the Pennsylvania average of $2.55 would cost approximately $137.70 per month, or about $8 less per month. Shopping across state lines when a rural property straddles a border can produce real savings.
Example 3: 20 lb Tank, Exchange vs. Refill Cost
Outdoor fire pit, 50,000 BTU, 20 lb cylinder
Exchange program at hardware store: 15 lb fill (standard exchange cap) at $25.00
Refill at propane dealer: 4.73 gallons (full 20 lb fill) at $3.50/gal = $16.56
Savings per fill: $25.00 – $16.56 = $8.44
Over 12 fills per season: $101.28 saved by refilling instead of exchanging
Exchange programs are convenient but consistently deliver less fuel at a higher per-gallon cost. A dedicated refill station delivers 33 percent more propane than an exchange for a lower total price.
What Your Result Means
The refill estimate assumes your supplier fills to 80 percent. Some suppliers stop at 75 percent during summer months to allow for temperature expansion; if your actual delivery is slightly less than the calculator projects, that is the reason.
The monthly heating figure is a peak-season estimate. Most households use significantly less propane in shoulder months like October and March than during January and February. Multiply the monthly figure by the heating months shown in the annual note for a full-season budget baseline. Actual use is typically lower if propane is supplemental rather than the sole heat source.
The propane tank calculator at Fire Pit Surplus covers run time and tank sizing for specific appliances. It is particularly useful for propane fire pits where session count matters as much as cost. Use that tool to size a tank for outdoor heating appliances; use this calculator to plan your home heating budget.
For homeowners evaluating a switch to wood heat, the wood stove BTU calculator estimates cord consumption alongside stove sizing. The wood stove flue size calculator confirms liner sizing before installation. Those two tools together cover the full wood stove planning process.
For outdoor use without home heating requirements, wood-burning fire pits are available without the fuel planning complexity of a whole-home system. Fire tables offer a gas option at a fixed installation cost. Buyers comparing propane and natural gas for permanent outdoor installations can browse natural gas fire pits as a no-tank alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fill a 500-gallon propane tank?
Filling a 500-gallon tank from 20 percent to the standard 80 percent delivery point needs approximately 300 gallons. At $2.55 per gallon, that refill costs around $765. Use the propane cost calculator above with your tank size and fill level for a precise estimate.
What is the average cost of propane per gallon today?
The cost of propane per gallon today averages between $1.85 and $3.25 depending on state, with a national average near $2.40 to $2.60 during the heating season. Gulf Coast states run lowest; New England states run highest. Prices peak in winter and ease in spring.
How much propane does a house use per month?
A 1,500 square foot home in a cold climate uses approximately 80 to 90 gallons per month when propane is the primary heat source. In a moderate climate, the same home uses 40 to 50 gallons per month. Actual use depends on insulation quality and furnace efficiency.
Why is propane so much more expensive in the Northeast?
Northeast propane prices reflect longer heating seasons, higher transportation costs, and greater demand during cold snaps. New England has no nearby propane production or processing facilities, adding significant distribution cost not seen in Gulf Coast or Plains states.
Is it cheaper to own or rent a propane tank?
Owning a tank costs $400 to $2,000 upfront but lets you shop multiple suppliers for better per-gallon pricing. Renting locks you into one supplier's rates. Customers using over 500 gallons per year typically recover the full tank cost within two heating seasons.
How can I lower my propane bill?
Locking in a pre-buy contract before October saves 10 to 20 percent versus spot prices. Scheduling fills at 20 to 30 percent avoids delivery surcharges. Improving attic insulation reduces monthly consumption more than any other single upgrade for most older homes.
Final Thoughts
The propane cost per gallon is driven by state, tank size, delivery volume, and whether you own the tank. The price per gallon in the table gives you a benchmark to evaluate supplier quotes. The propane cost calculator estimates your propane tank refill cost and monthly heating budget in one step, using your actual price input rather than a fixed national average.
For appliance-specific fuel planning, the propane tank calculator covers run time for outdoor heaters and fire features. For buyers considering wood stoves as alternative heating sources, the BTU and flue calculators cover sizing. Fireplaces are another option covered by the same sizing tools. The fire pit block calculator handles material planning for DIY outdoor builds.
State price estimates are based on EIA regional survey data and reflect approximate residential averages. Actual prices vary by supplier, delivery volume, and contract terms. Contact local propane suppliers for current quotes before budgeting.
