Propane Tank Sizes (Standard Weight & Capacity)

Here’s our propane tank sizes guide including standard residential & commercial propane tank size chart, propane line measurements and propane consumption per hour.
Propane is one of the most efficient forms of gas to use around the home or for powering appliances and businesses. Aside from its efficiency because of its lighter state, it is also highly versatile and safe, which makes it one of the most utilized energy sources for homes and businesses—earning its nickname “portable gas” on top of it. 

There are many sizes available for propane gas, and each of these varieties can fulfill the needs of every household needing one specific size for a particular purpose and uses. Whether they are powering clothes dryers for laundromats or furnaces for an apartment complex, knowing the size is vital to ensure effectiveness.

Standard Propane Tank Size 

One of the foremost things a homeowner will encounter when looking for the perfect propane size is its size is usually measured in pounds. It is also important to note that this weight is how heavy a tank is when it is full of propane. This is vital since most propane tanks are filled only at an 80% capacity, leaving room for the content to expand. 

The standard propane size will differ from the smaller 20 pounds or 9 kilos propane tank to the much larger and heavier 1000-gallon propane gas used for more significant needs. Whether a homeowner needs a smaller or more extensive capacity of propane gas will depend on the house size and the number of gas-powered appliances in the home. 

Residential Propane Tank Sizes 

Other than businesses, homes also often require the need for a propane tank, and there are a variety of sizes available for them. There is the 20 pounds propane tank ideal for small-scale use to the larger 1000 gallon propane tank for bigger homes to use for home purposes, from heating to a central energy source. 

Another thing to consider when considering the propane tank size a homeowner will need is the climate where they live. A propane tank needed for a place with milder weather will not require such a big one compared to areas with a colder climate which will require all-around heating during wintertime. 

100 LB Propane Tank Size

One of the most utilized and standard residential propane tanks is the 100 pounds propane tank size. This tank can easily be stored downstairs in a basement of a home and does not require it to be installed underground. 

Most propane tanks with 100 pounds capacity have a height of 48 inches or 122 centimeters with a diameter of 18 inches or 71 centimeters. This gallon can be filled with a maximum of 23.6 gallons of liquid propane for a home to use. When empty, this tank weighs about 212 pounds. 

100 LB Propane Tank Uses 

With a 100-gallon propane tank being the most versatile option for most homes, there are a lot of uses to benefit from this propane tank size. This propane tank size can be used for home fireplaces in the winter, for cooking and barbecues, dryers, and also for short-term heating options for commercial job sites. 

A 100-gallon propane tank can last for an extended period, and it is also light enough that it can easily be moved around by an average person. This tank can also be filled at local filling stations as an added efficiency. 

60 Gallon Tank 

Other than the standard 100-gallon propane tank ready to be used at most homes for many purposes. There is also the smaller 60 gallons propane tank that can hold about 48 gallons of liquid propane at total capacity. 

Most 60 gallons of propane tanks have a height of 50 inches or around 127 centimeters and a diameter of 23.1 inches or about 59 centimeters. If the homeowner is approximately 6 feet in height, this tank will go up to their waist, depending on each brand and type of tank. 

60 Gallon Tank Uses

Although they are smaller than the standard 100 gallons propane tank, a 60-gallon propane tank is tiny but mighty. This tank is small enough that it could be hidden out of sight in many kitchens to power the oven but be mightily sufficient to power it, plus other small appliances in a home.

However, this tank is mostly advisable to be used in smaller homes than in larger scale ones, and the uses are limited to cooking appliances or dryers for residential clothes drying. When used in businesses, this tank might run out quickly. 

120 Gallon Propane Tank 

There is little difference between a 100-gallon propane tank and a 120-gallon one that, in most propane gas manufacturers and sellers, they are regarded as the same. Vertical 120-gallon propane tanks are often 54 and a half inches or 138 centimeters tall with a diameter of around 30 inches or 76 centimeters. 

This tank size can hold up to 96 gallons of liquid propane in full capacity. These tanks are so tall that if a homeowner is around 6 feet tall, it can extend up to their shoulders. 

120 Gallon Propane Tank Uses

Like the 100-gallon propane tank before it, a 120-gallon propane tank poses a lot of uses for any homeowners needing it. One distinct difference is that the former is easy to move around as opposed to the latter, which is not easy to move around. What a 120-gallon propane tank makes up for is the tank’s ability to be used for essentially everything. 

It can be used to heat homes, provide a home with hot water, for use to power cooking and washing and drying appliances, fireplaces or generators for blackouts, plus pool and garage heating, and any other temporary heating solution. 

It is common to see multiple 120-gallon tanks tied together for a bigger purpose and uses. 

250 Gallon Propane Tank Size 

This next tank will bridge the gap between small and large home propane users since it can support moderate use and not just small-scale ones, which is the 250-gallon capacity propane tank. This tank can hold up to 200 gallons of liquid propane to fulfill the 80% safety rule. 

This often horizontal cylindrical propane tank can extend up to 92 inches or 234 centimeters long with a diameter of 30 inches or 76 centimeters. When empty, it can weigh around 483 pounds, with the full tank weighing 1333 pounds. 

250 Gallon Tank Uses

Because of its bigger size, the 250-gallon propane tank holds a much bigger task for more home requirements, like auxiliary heating power solutions for homes. This propane tank can be used to power multiple water heaters. It can also be powerful enough to heat pools and power generators for a medium-sized home during a blackout. 

Although this is a lot bigger, it is also more advisable to install this propane tank size for places that experience shorter cold or winter times. The efficiency of this tank will also depend on the square footage of a specific home and how much it will use. 

500 Gallon Propane Tank Size 

A larger capacity tank perfect for larger residential homes is the 500 gallons propane tank. This tank is extensive, and although it can still be easily installed in a basement or a garage, homeowners also have the option to install it underground. 

Most 500-gallon propane tanks extend up to 120 inches or 305 centimeters long with a diameter of 37 inches or around 94 centimeters. This propane tank can hold up to 400 gallons of liquid propane. When empty, it can weigh 949 pounds, and when full, this tank weighs a whopping 2649 pounds. 

500 Gallon Tank Uses

A 500-gallon propane tank has the capacity to contain around 50 million BTUs, and if a homeowner is using a central heater that requires 10000 BTU a day, this tank can keep the heat going for almost half a year or around 190 days. For commercial applications, it will take much shorter. 

This powerful propane tank can power a home’s heating system, and it can be used for commercial heating and cleaning, dry cleaning for laundromats, generators, crop dying, and many other practical solutions both for residential and commercial use. 

1000 Gallon Propane Tank Size 

One of the best options for residential buildings and commercial establishments is a 1000 gallons propane tank. This tank holds around 800 gallons of propane at total capacity.

Most 1000 gallons of propane tanks are about 16 feet or 192 inches long. It will be about 4 feet and 2 inches tall, or around 50 inches, with a diameter of 41 inches or 104 centimeters. This tank size is often found buried underground to power anything from a larger home to a business establishment. 

1000 Gallon Tank Uses

A 1000-gallon propane tank is a workhorse since it can provide gas needs for larger homes, smaller apartment complexes, businesses, or sea fleets for a significant period of time.

Some specific uses are whole-house heating and cooling systems, commercial building heating, commercial cooking for larger-scale restaurants and buffets, for use in larger-scale laundromats, crop drying in agriculture use, and even storage for small-scale filling stations.

This size is pretty powerful and can be installed, whether over or underground, depending on the space available for each home. 

Portable Propane Tank Sizes

Portable propane tank sizes have a lot of uses, but they are mostly utilized for mobile cooking and heating solutions for things like camping and RV traveling.

Small is relative when it comes to defining how much is needed for a specific portable propane tank; that’s why although they are less than the more giant and more permanent propane tanks, bigger portable propane gas is still available. 

The standard portable propane tanks are available in the market range in a variety of sizes, from the 1 pound variety for fast cooking to the much bigger 100 pound ones for RVs. 

20 LB Propane Tank 

One of the most commonly used portable propane tanks is the 20-pound propane tank, which is used for many things like cooking. Many of the 20-pound propane tank varieties are available with a dimension of 12 by 12 by 18 inches or around 30 by 30 by 46 centimeters.

A 20-pound propane tank will weigh around 14 pounds when empty, but once filled, the weight can go up to 31 pounds which is generally still light compared to the bigger ones. 

20 LB Propane Tank Uses

Owing to its smaller size and lighter capacity, a 20 pound of propane gas tank has limited use, and most of them will involve cooking. A 20-pound propane gas tank is great for outdoor cooking, and it can also be used for short-term patio heaters and generators for blackouts and other outdoor purposes.

To power a space heater for a home, this 20-pound propane gas tank can last more than a day or 34.4 hours, all in all, to be exact. Not a bad track record for such a small tank. 

RV Propane Tank Uses

Propane gas tanks for RVs are used in a variety of ways and solutions. Not only are they used to power RV furnaces, RV stove burners and ovens, and the bathroom water heater, but propane gas for RV will power appliances inside the vehicle when electricity is not readily available.

Such appliances are refrigerators that use electric power, but with a propane tank readily available and installed in the RV, travelers or RV owners can easily have the comfort of refrigeration in their travels or mobile homes. 

33 LB Propane Tank Size

One of the ideal propane tank sizes for RVs is the 33 pounds propane tank with a height of around 26.75 inches or 61 centimeters with a diameter spanning 12.5 inches or 30 centimeters.

A 33 pounds propane gas tank can hold up to 7.8 gallons of propane gas when full, and because of its lighter weight, it can easily be picked up by anyone making it very portable and ideal for outdoor use or RV living. Another plus is it can easily be filled up in many filling stations. 

Propane Tank Sizes For Grills 

One of the uses of a smaller propane tank is for operating grills, and the best size for this purpose is the smaller ones at 20 pounds for grill tanks or outdoor kitchens, 30 pounds for commercial grills, and 40 pounds for a propane tank for bigger grills. Depending on how long it will be used, they can last for a long time if their sole purpose is for cooking. 

Propane Bottle Sizes

Propane bottle sizes or LPG gas bottles are available for those who need them, from the smaller 45-kg LPG bottle to the more enormous 210 kilograms variety. There is also an in-between size of 90 kilograms. 

Propane Tank Size Chart

Propane Tank Size:	Length (Inches)	Diameter (Inches)	Width (Inches)	Height (Inches)	Empty Weight
20 LB		12	12	18	13.5 pounds
33 LB		12.5	12.5	26.75	23.3 pounds
100 LB		18	18	48	37.3 pounds
60 gallon		23.1	23.1	50	67 pounds
120 gallon		30	30	54.5	260 pounds
250 gallon	92	30	30		483 pounds
500 gallon	120	37	37		949 pounds
1000 gallon	192	41	41		1760 pounds

What Size Propane Tank Do I Need? 

There are many propane sizes to choose from; ultimately, it will depend on what a homeowner wants to do with it. For a regular home running multiple appliances at once, the perfect fit is the 500-gallon propane tank if their homes are under 3500 square feet. For homes above that size, upgrading to the 1000-gallon or 2000-gallon variety is more advisable. 

What Size Propane Line From Tank To House? 

Propane lines from the tank to the house will depend on how many appliances are in the place since, to determine the pipe size needed for the propane, one must add the BTUs of all the home appliances first.

Another is looking at the pipe material; copper and iron pipes are the most common. For copper pipes, sizes can range from 1/4 to 1 1/4 inches. In contrast, iron pipes are available at 1/2 inch to 4 inches to bigger 8 inches. 

How Long Will Propane Last? 

How long propane last will depend on the use. One tank will last at least 18 to 20 hours for grilling using a medium-sized grill. For furnaces, one gallon of propane will be used every hour, while water heaters require at least 1.5 gallons of propane per day for regular heated water use. 

Visit our underground propane tank pros and cons guide for more related content.