Propane Usage Scenarios & Home Setups

All Setups Ranked by Annual Consumption

How to Use These Scenarios

Find the scenario that most closely matches your home's propane appliance configuration and use it as a starting point for budgeting and tank selection. If your situation does not match any scenario exactly, choose the closest match or use our interactive calculator to build a custom estimate. You can also compare multiple scenarios to understand how adding or removing specific appliances affects your overall propane consumption and costs.

The recommended tank size for each scenario accounts for the annual consumption volume with adequate capacity to avoid running empty between typical deliveries. For heating-dependent scenarios, remember that winter consumption can be 2-3 times the annual monthly average, so the tank must hold enough propane to cover peak months even if deliveries are spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Choosing a tank one size larger than the minimum recommendation provides a comfortable buffer.

Understanding Annual Cost Variation

The costs shown use the national average propane price of $2.50 per gallon. Your actual costs will differ based on your state's propane pricing, your dealer's rates, and whether you use pre-buy contracts or market-rate pricing. In low-cost states like North Dakota and Iowa where propane averages $1.80-1.95 per gallon, all costs are approximately 25% lower. In high-cost states like Hawaii, Connecticut, and Massachusetts where propane averages $3.50-4.50 per gallon, costs are 40-80% higher than the national average figures shown here.

Seasonal price fluctuations add another layer of variability. Propane prices typically rise 15-30% during winter when demand peaks. Pre-buying at summer prices through a fixed-price contract is one of the most effective strategies for reducing annual propane costs. Many dealers offer this option between May and August, locking in the per-gallon price for the entire heating season ahead.