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Propane Tank Usage Calculator
Estimate how many hours a propane tank lasts for an appliance based on its BTU rating.
Propane in tank
Appliance rating
Hours used per day
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How it works
Hours = (pounds × 21,591 BTU) ÷ appliance BTU per hour
A pound of propane holds about 21,591 BTU. Dividing a tank’s total energy by an appliance’s hourly BTU draw gives its runtime — useful for grills, heaters and stoves.
Worked example
A 20 lb tank (431,820 BTU) running a 30,000 BTU/h heater lasts about 14 hours 24 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How many pounds in a standard grill tank?
A common "20 lb" BBQ tank holds about 20 lb (4.7 gallons) of propane when full.
Do appliances run at full BTU always?
No — many modulate or run on low, which extends runtime beyond this full-rate estimate.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.