Filling a 500 gallon propane tank costs about $1,070 in 2026
That is 400 usable gallons at the last EIA national average of $2.67 per gallon. The same fill runs about $657 in Nebraska and $1,660 in Hawaii. A 500 gallon tank costs $1,000 to $2,500 installed above ground and $2,500 to $5,000 buried. A 20 pound grill tank refill is $12 to $20.
Propane tank refill cost by size
| 20 pound grill tank | $12 to $20 to refill. Costco charges about $13 to $15. An exchange costs $15 to $25 and gives you only 15 pounds. |
|---|---|
| 30 pound tank | $22 to $30. |
| 250 gallon tank | About $535 for 200 usable gallons. |
| 500 gallon tank | About $1,070 for 400 usable gallons. Angi gives a range of $600 to $1,600 by location. |
| 1,000 gallon tank | About $2,139 for 800 usable gallons. |
| Delivery surcharge | $5 to $25 per drop at many dealers. |
| Small fill penalty | $0.30 to $0.60 more per gallon below the dealer's minimum, which is often 100 to 150 gallons. |
| Emergency fill | $75 to $200 on top. |
Propane prices per gallon
| National residential average | $2.67 per gallon in the last EIA survey of the heating season, the week ending March 30, 2026. EIA pauses the weekly survey from April to September and resumes in October. |
|---|---|
| Cheapest and dearest states | $1.64 in Nebraska and $4.15 in Hawaii in the same survey. This Old House lists $1.61 in Oklahoma and over $5 in remote parts of Maine. |
| A typical 2026 delivered price | About $2.80 per gallon according to one dealer guide, and $1,400 or more for a 500 gallon fill in the Northeast in winter. |
| Grill tank refills at retail | $3.00 to $4.50 per gallon at most stations. Exchange cages work out to over $5 per gallon. |
| This winter | NEADA projects propane heating bills up 8.7 percent. |
Propane tank cost to buy and install
| 100 gallon tank, above ground | From $300 to $400 installed. |
|---|---|
| 500 gallon tank, unit only | $800 to $1,600. AmeriGas tanks run up to $1,200 for 500 gallons before installation. |
| 500 gallon tank, installed above ground | $1,000 to $2,500. |
| 500 gallon tank, installed underground | $2,500 to $5,000. |
| 1,000 gallon tank | Up to about $3,500 installed above ground according to Angi. More when buried. |
| Any underground tank | $1,500 to $5,500 depending on size. Digging and corrosion protection are the extra cost. |
| Renting a tank from the dealer | $50 to $200 per year. You must buy your propane from that dealer. |
What pushes the price up
| Your state | The same 400 gallons cost $1,003 more in Hawaii than in Nebraska. |
|---|---|
| The season | Prices rise with the first cold snap. Summer fills and pre buy contracts lock in a lower rate. |
| How you buy | Automatic delivery and pre buy contracts cut 5 to 10 percent. One off will call orders cost more. |
| Who owns the tank | A leased tank ties you to one dealer. An owned tank lets you shop every fill. |
| How much you use | Homes that only cook and heat water with propane pay a higher price per gallon than homes that heat with it. |
The 80 percent rule, and why your 500 gallon tank holds 400
Propane expands when it warms. Every modern tank has an overfill protection device that stops the fill at 80 percent. A 500 gallon tank takes 400 gallons. A 250 takes 200. A 1,000 takes 800. When a dealer quotes you for a fill, they mean the usable gallons, and all the fill prices on this page are worked out that way.
The same rule explains the grill tank. A 20 pound tank holds about 4.7 gallons when it is full. Exchange cages at gas stations and big box stores hand you a tank with only 15 pounds in it. That is why a $20 exchange works out to more than $5 a gallon, while a refill at a propane station is $3.00 to $4.50 a gallon and a warehouse club is under $3.
How often will I fill it
This Old House says a home that heats with propane in a cold climate needs a 500 gallon refill about every 3 to 4 months in the heating season. One propane site puts a typical whole home at 800 to 1,200 gallons a year. At $2.67 that is about $2,100 to $3,200 a year, and NEADA expects propane heating bills to rise 8.7 percent this winter.
Rent or own
Renting costs $50 to $200 a year and the dealer maintains the tank. The catch is that only that dealer can fill it, so you cannot shop around. Owning a 500 gallon tank costs $1,000 to $2,500 installed, and every fill after that can go to the lowest bidder. In a state where dealers differ by 30 cents a gallon, an owned tank saves about $120 on each 400 gallon fill.
Why this costs more in 2026
Propane comes from oil refining and natural gas processing, and it reaches you in a diesel truck. NEADA projects propane heating bills up 8.7 percent this winter.
Fuel is the common thread. AAA's national average for diesel passed $6 a gallon for the first time on September 11, 2026, up from about $3.70 a year earlier (CBS 8 reporting AAA). Every truck roll and every delivery carries that. Materials moved too. Associated Builders and Contractors reported construction input prices up 4.8 percent in a year as of March 2026, the largest annual gain since January 2023, and the Associated General Contractors said diesel jumped 37.8 percent in one month, the largest one month rise since 1990 (Roofing Contractor, April 2026). Some suppliers added freight surcharges this year. Ask how long your quote is good for.
How to judge the price you were quoted
- Ask for the price per gallon and the fees. Delivery, hazmat and fuel surcharges are separate lines at many dealers.
- Ask what the minimum delivery is. Below it you pay $0.30 to $0.60 more per gallon.
- Check it against the EIA state average. EIA posts state propane prices every week from October to March.
- Ask who owns the tank. If the dealer does, ask what it costs to switch dealers later.
- For an install, ask what is included. Pad or excavation, regulators, the line to the house, the permit and the first fill.
Ways to pay less
- Fill in late summer. Prices are lowest before heating demand starts.
- Lock in a pre buy or a price cap. It cuts 5 to 10 percent and protects you from a January spike.
- Own the tank if you plan to stay. Then get two or three quotes on every fill.
- Refill grill tanks, do not exchange them. You get the full 20 pounds for less money.
What will my propane fill cost?
Pick the gallons and type the price per gallon you were quoted. The total updates as you change them.
The default is the last EIA national average, $2.67. Type the price your dealer quoted to check the bill. State averages ran from $1.64 to $4.15. This is an estimate, not a quote.
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Book a free 15 minute callNo pitch deck. We run your audit live on the call.Common questions
How much does it cost to fill a 500 gallon propane tank?
About $1,070 in 2026. That is 400 usable gallons at the last EIA national average of $2.67 per gallon. By state it runs from about $657 to $1,660.
What is the price of propane per gallon?
$2.67 was the national residential average in the last EIA survey of the heating season, in March 2026. States ranged from $1.64 to $4.15.
How much does a 500 gallon propane tank cost?
$800 to $1,600 for the tank, $1,000 to $2,500 installed above ground and $2,500 to $5,000 installed underground.
How much does it cost to refill a 20 pound propane tank?
$12 to $20 at a refill station. An exchange costs $15 to $25 and holds only 15 pounds.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a propane tank?
Renting is $50 to $200 a year but ties you to one dealer. Buying costs more up front and lets you shop every fill.
Related winter costs
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, cropped.