Propane: 91,502 BTU per Gallon - How Many BTUs are in a Gallon of Propane - BTU Value of Propane
The BTU value of propane is the energy content of propane, as measured in BTUs.
Propane BTU per gallon: One gallon of propane has 91,502 BTU (British Thermal Units). So, 91,502 BTU is how many BTUs in a gallon of propane.
Propane Conversions: Pounds, Gallons, BTU, Therms & ft³ including propane BTU per gallon, propane BTU per cubic foot, propane therms to gallons and propane gallons to pounds conversion. There are 91,502 BTU in a gallon of propane.
Many of the other questions ask about the various Propane conversion values in US gallons, pounds, BTUs, therms and cubic feet.
The easiest way to answer most of them is with a Propane conversion chart or table…
Gallons to Pounds Propane Conversion - Propane Gallons to Pounds Conversion
1 gallon of propane weighs 4.23 pounds. So, a full 20 lb cylinder should contain 4.73 gallons of propane.
For gallons to pounds propane conversion (propane gallons to pounds conversion), 1 gallon of liquid propane = 4.23 pounds. A full 20 pound propane tank contains 4.73 gallons of propane. One pound of propane = 0.236 gallons (30.2 Ounces) of liquid propane.
A 20lb (4.73 gallon) propane tank has 432,804 BTU, based on propane BTU per gallon of 91,502 BTU @ 60ºF.
Propane Weight to Volume
For propane weight to volume, 1lb of propane @ 60ºF is 0.24 US gallons, for liquid propane. 1 lb = 8.59ft³ for gaseous propane.
For metric propane weight to volume, 1 kg propane is 1.96 litres of propane, for liquid propane. 1kg = 0.546m³ for gaseous propane.
Propane BTU per Litre = 23,700 BTU per Liter - Propane BTU Conversion for Volume
Propane BTU per liter = 23,700 BTU per litre of propane. In propane BTU per litre, which is a propane BTU conversion for volume, it combines an old imperial energy measurement - BTU - with a metric volume measurement - litre.
Propane BTU per litre = 23,700 BTU per litre of propane. 1MJ equals 948BTU, so to get an equivalent number of BTU, just multiply the MJ rating by 948.
1L = 25 MJ. So, to calculate propane BTU per liter: 25 MJ x 948 = 23,700 BTU
As a related value, propane BTU per kg - LPG BTU per kg: 1kg = 46,452 BTU
Combining metric and imperial measures is not typical but it can be easily calculated, as shown.
Propane BTU Conversion - BTU Value of Propane - Propane to BTU Conversion
In the propane BTU per gallon conversion, the BTU value of propane is 91,502 BTU in 1 gallon of propane gas. If you need to convert BTU to gallons of propane, you simply divide the entire BTU requirement by 91,502 BTU.
For propane therms to gallons, there are 1.1 (propane) therms per gallon. Propane BTU per liter = 23,700 BTU per liter.
Propane BTU (British Thermal Units) is a measurment unit for energy contained in the propane.
The following propane BTU conversion chart shows the common conversions including propane BTU per gallon, propane BTU per cubic foot (ft3), propane BTU per pound and more...
BTU Content - BTU Value of Propane - LPG Heating Value BTU
The BTU value of propane is the enrgy content of propane, as measured in BTUs. The following chart shows the BTU value of propane for various measurement units:
| Quantity of Propane Fuel | BTUs |
| 1 Gallon of propane | 91,502 BTU |
| 1 Cubic Foot (ft3) of propane | 2,488 BTU |
| 1 Pound of propane | 21,591 BTU |
| 1 Litre (1 Liter) of propane | 23,700 BTU |
| 1 Cubic Meter (m3) of propane | 87,863 BTU |
| 1 MJ of propane | 948 BTU |
| 1 Therm of propane | 100,067 BTU |
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All at 60ºF. Some BTU values are rounded
Copyright © 2010-2019. Elgas Ltd.
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Propane Conversion Values
The following are some of the most common propane conversion values including propane BTU per gallon, propane BTU per cubic foot, propane therms to gallons and propane gallons to pounds conversion:
♦ BTU per Gallon of Propane: 1 Gallon = 91,502 BTU @ 60ºF
♦ BTU per Cubic Foot (ft3) of Propane: 1 cubic foot = 2,488 BTU @ 60ºF
♦ Therms to Gallons of Propane: 0.915 therms = 1 Gallon
♦ Gallons to Pounds Conversion of Propane: 1 Gallon = 4.23 Pounds
♦ Pounds to Gallons of Propane: 1 Pound = 0.236 Gallons (30.2 Ounces)
♦ Gallons to Cubic Feet (ft3) of Propane: 1 Gallon = 36.4 ft3 (Vapour/Gas)
♦ Cubic Feet (ft3) to BTU of Propane: 1 cubic foot = 2,488 BTU @ 60ºF
♦ Convert BTU to Gallons of Propane: 91,502 BTU = 1 Gallon
♦ BTU per pound of Propane: 1 Pound = 21,591 BTU @ 60ºF
♦ BTU per Litre (Liter) of Propane: 1 Litre = 23,700 BTU
♦ BTU per kg of LPG - BTU per kg of Propane: 1kg = 46,452 BTU
♦ Gallons to Therms of Propane: 1 Gallon = 0.915 therms
Note that all of the above are expressed in US Gallons.
Propane Conversion Charts - Propane BTU per Gallon - How Many BTUs are in a Gallon of Propane
The charts below cover most of the common units of measure and gas bottle-cylinder sizes for the USA including Propane BTU per Gallon (How Many BTUs are in a Gallon of Propane). You can convert:
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Propane BTU per Gallon
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Propane BTU per Cubic Foot (ft3)
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Propane Therms to Gallons
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Propane Gallons to Pounds Conversion
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Propane Pounds to BTU or vice versa
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And all other combinations
Imperial Gallons
Some countries use Imperial Gallons, which are about 20% larger than US Gallons.
To be exact, 1 Imperial Gallon ≈ 1.200950 US gallons
Note that most of these countries have converted to litres, in the metric system.
Gallons, Pounds, BTUs, Therms & Cubic Feet (ft3)
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Units of Measure
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Equivalent Units
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1 US Gallon
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4.23 Pounds
(4 Pounds 3.7 Ounces)
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1 Pound
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0.236 Gallons
(30.2 Ounces)
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1 US Gallon
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91,502 BTU @ 60ºF
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1 US Gallon
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0.915 therm
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1 cubic foot
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2,488 BTU @ 60ºF
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1 US Gallon
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36.4 ft3 Gas
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1 Litre
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23,700 BTU
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Note: Some numbers have been rounded.
Propane BTU Conversion - Propane BTU per Gallon
Propane BTU conversion is the most common conversion measures of propane energy content including propane BTU per gallon, propane BTU per cubic foot, propane therms to gallons and propane gallons to pounds conversion.
BTU is the acronym for British Thermal Unit, a unit of energy.
Propane BTU conversion is needed as gas appliances are rated in Propane BTU, based on the required energy input.
Propane BTU conversion is also used by gas companies to determine total gas load on a system when everything is running on maximum.
One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1lb of water by 1°F, at sea level.
The relative efficiency of the propane BTU conversion input into the gas appliance determines the heat output.
More propane BTU conversion energy content facts:
Propane BTU per Gallon - How Many BTUs are in a Gallon of Propane - 91,502 BTU
In the propane BTU per gallon conversion, there are 91,502 BTU in 1 gallon of propane gas. "
How many BTUs are in a gallon of propane?" is a very common question. It helps to calculate the gas consumption of an appliance, based on the BTU rating of the appliance.
In the propane BTU per gallon conversion, to convert BTU to gallons of propane just divide BTU by 91,502.
Propane BTU per Gallon: is 91,502 BTU (Propane BTU per galllon).
Propane BTU per 100 gallon propane gas tank is 9,150,200 BTU.
Propane BTU per Gallon of a 20lb tank: 4.73 gallon (20lb) propane tank is 432,804 BTU.
So, if you divide 91,502 by the BTU rating of the appliance, you can calculate how much propane will be used by the appliance per hour.
You can also calculate how many hours a certain propane gas bottle size will last by dividing the BTU of the contents by the BTU rating of the appliance.
The following are the values for BTU in 1 gallon of propane gas and per ft3 of propane gas, as well as the values in MJ, litres and watts:
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Propane BTU per Gallon: 1 Gallon = 91,502 BTU @ 60ºF
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Propane BTU per Cubic Foot (ft3): 1 cubic foot = 2,488 BTU @ 60ºF
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Propane Therms to Gallons: 0.915 therms = 1 Gallon
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Propane Gallons to Pounds Conversion: 1 Gallon = 4.23 Pound
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Propane BTU per MJ: 1MJ = 948 BTU
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Propane BTU per Watt: 1 watt = 3.41214 BTU/hr
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BTU per Litre of Propane Liquid: 1 Litre = 23,700 BTU
Convert BTU to Gallons of Propane
Convert BTU to gallons of propane by dividing the BTU by 91,502. You simply divide the entire BTU requirement by 91,502 BTU.
So, if you know the BTU/hr consumption of an appliance and multiply by how many hours you intend to run it, you arrive at the total propane BTU requirement.
Then you divide the total propane BTU requirement by 91,502 to determine how many gallons of propane will be required.
As an example, you have a gas heater with a 23,700 BTU (25MJ) per hour consumption and you want to run it for 8 hours.
23,700 x 8 = 189,600 BTU requirement
189,600 ÷ 91,502 = 2.072 gallons of propane required
Propane to Natural Gas BTU Conversion
In a propane to natural gas BTU conversion, propane has more than double (2.42 times) the energy of natural gas, per cubic foot.
Propane BTU per cubic foot: 1 Cubic Foot (ft3) = 2,488 BTU
Natural Gas BTU per cubic foot: 1 Cubic Foot (ft3) = 1,030 BTU
Propane Therms to Gallons: Therms per Gallon & Gallons per Therm
For propane therms to gallons, there are 1.1 (propane) therms per gallon. This is for US gallons of propane.
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Propane Therms per Gallon: 1 Therm = 1.1 US gallons of propane
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Propane US Gallons per Therm: 1 (propane) therm per 0.915 gallon
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Propane BTU per Therm: 1 therm = 100,067 BTU
So, if you want to convert propane therms to gallons, it is 1 (propane) therm per 0.915 gallon.
CFH to BTU Propane - Propane BTU Conversion for Gaseous Volume - Propane BTU per Cubic Foot
Propane BTU per cubic foot: 1 cubic foot = 2,488 BTU @ 60ºF so, one CFH equals 2,488 BTU per hour: 1CFH = 2,488BTU/hr.
Propane contains 2,488 BTU whilst 1 cubic foot of natural gas contains 1011 BTU. Therefore, the energy content of propane is more than double that of natural gas, when measured by gaseous volume.
In the propane BTU conversion for gaseous propane, the CFH to BTU propane is based on the flow rate of CFH being Cubic Foot per Hour, so 1 CFH = 2,488 BTU per hour of propane.
Remember that Propane BTU per cubic foot (ft3): 1 cubic foot of propane = 2,488 BTU @ 60ºF
So, one CFH equals 2,488 BTU per hour: 1CFH = 2,488BTU/hr
Example of a CFH to BTU propane calculation:
If the flow rate is 20 cubic feet per hour, the total BTU of heat produced per hour would be 2,488 BTU/cubic foot x 20 cubic feet/hour = 49,760 BTU per hour.
Propane Bottle-Cylinder Sizes - Domestic LPG Cylinder Dimensions
Propane cylinder-bottle sizes incorporate domestic LPG cylinder dimensions including the 100lb propane cylinder size, 200lb propane bottle size and 420lb propane cylinder sizes.
The various propane bottle sizes exist because different people used different amounts of gas and the propane cylinder sizes are selected accordingly.
Domestic propane bottle-cylinder sizes are the same for LPG bottle sizes and propane bottle sizes, as they are the same gases. Propane is also called LPG, as is butane.
Propane Cylinder Dimensions - Sizes
Not surprisingly, when propane cylinder sizes are discussed, it is in USA measurements.
This is because the USA uses the term 'Propane' in lieu of 'LPG'.
So, where LPG cylinder sizes are conveyed in kilograms, propane cylinder sizes are expressed in pounds.
Therefore, in the table below, the propane cylinder sizes are in pounds...
For Australian LPG gas bottles & cylinders:
See metric conversions of LPG in kg, Litres, MJ, kWh, BTU & m³
How Many Gallons in a 20 Pound Propane Tank?
A 'full' 20 pound propane tank would contain 4.73 gallons of propane.
A 20lb (4.73 gallon) propane tank has 432,804 BTU, based on propane BTU per gallon of 91,502 BTU @ 60ºF.
Note that in some US tank exchange programs, the fill is something less than 20 pounds and is labelled accordingly.
The image above is a typical 20 pound (9kg) propane tank.
How Many Gallons are in a 100 lb Propane Tank - 23.64 Gallons in a 100 lb Propane Tank
There are 23.64 gallons in a 100 lb propane tank. Propane is sold by weight and 100 lb propane tanks are typically filled on digital scales. A 100 lb propane tank weighs about 71 lb when empty and 171 lb when full. 100 lb is the net weight of the gas contents.
A 100lb (23.64 gallon) propane tank has 2,095,396 BTU, based on propane BTU per gallon of 91,502 BTU @ 60ºF.
A 100 pound tank is roughly the same size as a 45kg gas bottle.
They are small enough to be exchanged or tanker filled.
The image to the right is of a typical 100 pound propane tank.
100 lb Propane Tank Dimensions
100 lb propane tank dimensions for width and height are approximately 14¾ in x 47½ in (375mm x 1206mm). 100 lb propane tank dimension for tare weight is 71 lb (32.2kg) and capacity is 25 gal (94.6L). This varies based on the tank manufacturer.
100 lb Propane Tank Dimensions Chart
| 100 lb Propane Tank Dimensions | ||
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| Height | 47½ in | 1206mm |
| Diameter | 14¾ in | 375mm |
| Tare Weight | 71 lb | 32.2kg |
| Capacity | 25 gal | 94.6L |
| Copyright © 2019 Elgas Ltd. | ||
Background Information
Propane Specific Gravity - Density
Unlike water, 1 pint of propane does not weigh ≈ 1lb. It actually weighs 0.51lbs.
This is because the density or specific gravity of propane is only about half that of water.
Converting from weight to volume, 1lb of propane @ 60ºF has a volume of 0.24 US gallons.
Conversely, 1 US gallon of propane @ 60ºF only weighs 4.23lbs, instead of the 8.34lbs it would weigh if it was water.
Important Note:
All volumes are quoted in US gallons, as opposed to imperial gallons.
Imperial gallons are 20% larger.
Propane Liquid to Gas Volume Expansion
Propane expands about 270 times in volume when it goes from liquid to gas.
So, 1 US gallon of liquid propane equals 36.4 ft3 of gaseous propane
Gas Bottle Tare Weight
Tare weight is the empty weight of the gas bottle-cylinder.
Along with the gas bottle dimensions, they can vary greatly by manufacturer and date of manufacture.
For example, older bottles tend to be heavier than more recent versions.
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The information in this article is derived from various sources and is believed to be correct at the time of publication. However, the information may not be error free and may not be applicable in all circumstances.
