PropaneTankRefillCost.com is an independent resource. Not affiliated with any propane retailer or fuel company. Prices based on 2026 published retailer pricing and EIA data. Confirm current prices with your local retailer.
Last verified April 2026

Propane Tank Refill Cost in 2026: $15-20 at Refill Stations, $20-25 at Exchange

The honest, no-bias answer. Every major retailer - Costco, Tractor Supply, U-Haul, Blue Rhino - with real 2026 prices side by side. Plus the refill vs exchange dollar math worked out so you don't have to.

Where should I go?

If you own your tank: refill at Costco, U-Haul, or Tractor Supply. You'll save $5-10 per fill-up and get a full 20lb of propane, not the 15lb short-fill you get with exchange.

If you don't own a tank: exchange at Blue Rhino or AmeriGas at your nearest gas station or hardware store.

Select Tank Size
20 lb (BBQ) • 3.76 gal usable
CostcoCheapest
~$14
BJ's
~$14
U-Haul
~$16.5
Tractor Supply
~$18.5
Blue Rhino (exchange)(15lb only)
~$23

Typical 2026 prices. Confirm with your local retailer.

2026 Propane Refill Price Matrix

All major US propane retailers compared. Prices verified April 2026. Exchange tanks are short-filled to 15lb.

RetailerMethod$/Gallon20lb Tank
CostcoBest ValueRefill$2.80-$3.00$13-15
BJ's WholesaleRefill~$2.90-$3.10$13-15
U-HaulMost LocationsRefill$3.00-$4.00$14-19
Tractor SupplyRefill$3.79-$4.15$17-19
Ace HardwareRefill$3.80-$4.50$18-21
Home DepotExchange~$5.30 equiv~$19.98 (15lb fill)
Lowe'sExchange~$5.30 equiv~$20 (15lb fill)
Blue RhinoExchange~$5.33 equiv$22-25 (15lb fill)
AmeriGasExchange~$5.33 equiv$22-25 (15lb fill)

Sources: Retailer published pricing pages, April 2026. Why exchange is more expensive.

Refill vs Exchange: The 30-Second Math

Exchange costs 73% more per pound of propane. Here's the exact breakdown.

R
RefillBest Deal
~$17
typical 20lb refill
Propane delivered20lb (full tank)
Gallons filled3.76 gal
Cost per lb$0.85/lb
Cost per gallon~$4.50
E
Exchange73% more/lb
~$22
typical 20lb exchange
Propane delivered15lb (short-fill)
Gallons filled3.53 gal
Cost per lb$1.47/lb
Cost per gallon~$6.23
$

The 33% rule: When you refill, you take home 33% more propane for less money. Exchange at $22 for 15lb vs refill at $17 for 20lb - that's an extra 5 pounds of propane for $5 less. Full breakdown with all the math.

Refill Cost by Tank Size (2026)

20 lb Tank
$15-20
3.76 gal of propane
BBQ grills, portable heaters
See prices →
30 lb Tank
$22-30
5.66 gal of propane
RV tanks, larger heaters
See prices →
40 lb Tank
$30-40
7.5 gal of propane
Large RV, forklifts
See prices →
100 lb Tank
$70-100
18.9 gal of propane
Cabin heat, generators
See prices →
Tank Expiry Alert

Tank over 12 years old? It cannot be refilled until recertified (DOT rule). Check the manufacture date stamped on the tank collar. Recertification costs $40-60 - or replace for $30-50. Full guide here.

Propane Refill Prices by Region (2026)

Northeast pays 30% above Gulf Coast. Click a region for details. Full state-by-state breakdown.

Click a region to see pricing detail
Northeast$3.57/gal
Midwest$3.10/gal
South$2.44/gal
West$3.20/gal
Full state breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to refill a 20lb propane tank?⌄
$15-20 at dedicated refill stations in 2026. Costco charges $13-15, Tractor Supply $17-20, U-Haul $14-19, and BJ's $13-15. Exchange networks like Blue Rhino and AmeriGas charge $20-25 but only fill the tank to 15lb, not the full 20lb. You pay about 73% more per pound of propane at exchange vs refill stations.
Is it cheaper to refill or exchange a propane tank?⌄
Refill is significantly cheaper. Exchange at $22 for 15lb works out to $1.47/lb of propane. Refill at $17 for a full 20lb works out to $0.85/lb - that's 73% cheaper per pound, plus you get 33% more propane. The only times exchange is worth it: you don't own a tank, your tank is expired, or you need propane urgently from a gas station at odd hours.
Where is the cheapest place to refill propane?⌄
Costco and BJ's Wholesale at $2.80-$3.10/gallon are typically cheapest, requiring a warehouse membership. U-Haul offers $3.00-$4.00/gallon at 1,400+ pay-at-the-pump locations nationwide with no membership required. Tractor Supply charges $3.79-$4.15/gallon. Order to check: (1) Costco or BJ's if you have a membership, (2) U-Haul for convenience and scale, (3) Tractor Supply for rural areas.
What size propane tank do I have for my BBQ grill?⌄
Standard BBQ grills use a 20lb propane tank. This tank holds 4.7 gallons at full capacity but is filled to only 80% (3.76 gallons, or about 16-17 lb of actual propane) for safety. A 20lb tank provides roughly 18-20 hours of cooking time on a medium-sized grill. Refill cost is $15-20 at most stations.
Does Costco refill propane tanks?⌄
Yes, most Costco warehouses offer propane refill at the fuel station area, but availability varies by location. Call ahead before making a special trip. Costco's 2026 rate is approximately $2.80-$3.00/gallon, making a 20lb tank refill $13-15 - one of the best prices available. An active Costco membership ($65/year for Gold Star) is required.
How old can a propane tank be before it needs recertification?⌄
DOT regulations require recertification 12 years after the manufacture date, then every 5 years after that. The manufacture date is stamped on the tank collar (e.g. '04 18' means April 2018, expiring April 2030). Refill stations will refuse expired tanks. Recertification costs $40-60 at AmeriGas, Ferrellgas, or select U-Haul locations. Alternatively, a new 20lb tank costs $30-50 at most hardware stores.
How much propane does a 30lb tank hold and what does it cost to refill?⌄
A 30lb propane tank holds 7.1 gallons at capacity and is filled to 80% (5.66 gallons, about 26-27 lb of propane). Refill cost in 2026: $22-30 depending on retailer and region. Tractor Supply and U-Haul both accept 30lb tanks. Exchange networks generally don't carry 30lb tanks, so refill is the primary option for this size.
What is a good per-gallon price for propane refill in 2026?⌄
Anything under $3.50/gallon is excellent for retail propane refill in 2026. The EIA national residential average is approximately $2.78/gallon, but retail BBQ-tank refill markup runs $3.00-$4.50 at most stations. Costco at $2.80-$3.00/gallon is the benchmark. Over $5.00/gallon equivalent (as with exchange networks) means you're paying a convenience premium.

How We Got These Numbers

Retailer prices are sourced directly from each company's published pricing pages and confirmed by local location checks in April 2026. Per-gallon prices for Costco, Tractor Supply, U-Haul, BJ's, and Ace Hardware are direct-quoted. Exchange network prices (Blue Rhino, AmeriGas) are from their published point-of-sale pricing. The EIA national residential propane reference price ($2.78/gallon, April 2026) is used for the regional comparison baseline.

Regional price spreads use EIA Propane Residential Price by State data. The 15lb short-fill convention for exchange tanks is documented in Blue Rhino and AmeriGas published tank specifications. All prices should be confirmed with your local retailer before travel - propane prices vary by location and change over time.

EIA Residential Propane Prices (April 2026)Blue Rhino Product SpecificationsAmeriGas Exchange Program TermsTractor Supply Published Refill PricingU-Haul Propane Center Network DataCostco Fuel Station Pricing

Related Resources

Propane Cost Per Gallon 2026

Residential propane heating rates by state. Annual cost calculator for homeowners.

See residential rates→
Considering switching to gas heat?

Gas boiler installation and replacement costs by system type and region.

Gas boiler cost guide→
Save on every propane fill-up

Best credit cards for gas and fuel purchases - earn 3-5% back on every tank.

Best gas credit cards→

Updated 30 April 2026