This page was last updated in August 2025.

Budget Your Propane Plan Accordingly

Propane gas is a clean-burning, inexpensive choice to heat your home. You can use propane across your house, from your furnace to your stove to your fireplace. But how much will you need? How much will it cost? What size tank do you need?

This can be especially difficult to calculate given that many of us are currently working from home and using our appliances more than usual.

Let’s look at how much propane you can expect to use for each propane appliance. Before we dive in, remember that these estimates are averages. Propane usage varies depending on factors like how many people are in your home and how often you use propane appliances.

Don’t have time to scan the whole post? No problem.

Propane you will use per month & the cost:

*Based on the 2024 average price of $2.86.

Read on to see the breakdown of average monthly propane usage for the most common propane appliances. We’ll give you an idea of what factors affect the propane usage of each household appliance, too.

Not sure how to check how much propane is in your tank? Give this article a read to learn how to read the gauge.

Propane Usage per Appliance

Propane Gas Furnace (Annual Usage)

We will look at propane usage for your furnace on an annual basis. Why? Because most homes only run their furnace for 4-6 months. And the frequency of when we run it in the medium months varies.

Annual usage will also depend on the efficiency of your house.

Propane Gas Water Heater

The rule of thumb here is that you will use a baseline of 5 gallons per month just to keep the water heater running. Then you will use approximately 5 gallons per month/person.

Gas Ranges & Gas Dryers

Gas stove top ranges and gas clothes dryers will each use 3-5 gallons/month, depending on how often you use them. So if you use propane for whole house heating, using propane for your cooking and laundry is an efficient option.

What About Generators & Fireplaces?

Measuring usage for propane generators and fireplaces is tricky because there is no standard way they are used. This is why we recommend having a tank monitor to keep track of the propane use.

But generally, you can expect:

• Generators to use 2-3 gallons of propane per hour
• Fireplaces to use 1-3 gallons of propane per hour

The Average Cost of Propane Per Year

The average cost of propane per year (for homes that use propane for heating plus other appliances) is $2,000-$3,000. While this is more expensive on average than electric, it is less expensive than oil and more efficient than both.

Switch without losing what you’ve paid for.

When you become a Kauffman Gas customer, you will receive a gallon-for-gallon credit for up to 200 gallons of the propane you’ve already paid for from your current provider.

FAQ

How much propane does a home use monthly?

A typical household using propane for heat, hot water, and appliances may use around 120 gallons per month, totaling about $345 at $2.86/gallon.

What uses the most propane in a home?

Your furnace is the biggest user—averaging 80 gallons per month during colder seasons.

How much propane does a water heater use?

Expect 5 gallons monthly to maintain temperature, plus 5 gallons per person in the household.

How do I calculate propane for my furnace?

Use your home’s size:

• 1,000 sq ft: ~441 gallons/year
• 2,000 sq ft: ~888 gallons/year
  Divide by 6 for monthly winter usage.

How much propane does a generator or fireplace use?

Generators burn 2–3 gallons/hour; fireplaces 1–3 gallons/hour, depending on usage.

What’s the average yearly cost of propane?

Most households spend $2,000–$3,000 annually when using propane for heating and appliances.

How do I know how much propane is left in my tank?

Check the tank gauge—it shows the fill percentage. Or install a tank monitor for more precise tracking.

What if I switch propane providers mid-fill?

Kauffman Gas offers a gallon-for-gallon credit (up to 200 gallons) for propane you’ve already paid for.