Enter Your Setup
This calculator accounts for generator load, your climate region, season, and all propane uses. Results are significantly more accurate than flat-rate estimates.
Step 1 — Your Tank
Drag the slider or click the gauge to set your current fill level. Keep 20% in reserve — propane suppliers and installers require it.
Empty25%50%75%Full
Step 2 — Your Climate & Season
This affects heating load. Select the region that best matches your location — US and Canada both covered.
🌴 Tropical / Gulf Coast
Florida, South Texas, Gulf states — no real winter, hurricane season
🌤 Mild / Coastal
Pacific NW, California, Mid-Atlantic coast, BC coast
🍂 Moderate
Tennessee, Virginia, Oklahoma, southern Ontario, most mid-states
❄️ Cold Winter
Midwest, Great Plains, New England, Quebec, most of Canada
🥶 Severe Winter
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Dakotas, Northern Canada, mountain states
☀️ Arid / Southwest
Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, inland California, hot summers / cool winters
Step 3 — Generator
Yes — I have a propane standby or portable generator
Enter size and daily runtime below
This is the biggest variable. A 14kW generator powering typical home essentials runs at about 40–50% load. Running AC plus appliances pushes 60–70%. Check everything in the Generator Size Calculator first for the most accurate number.
35%
Light — essentials only, no AC
50%
Moderate — typical home, mild weather
65%
Heavy — AC running, full household
85%
Near full — large home, heavy demand
Step 4 — Other Propane Uses
Home heating — propane furnace or boiler
Automatically adjusted for your climate and season
Cooking — propane range or outdoor camp stove
~0.5 gallons per day for typical cooking
Water heater — propane tank-style
~1.5–2 gallons per day for a typical household
Step 5 — Propane Price (optional)
Used to calculate outage cost. US average: $2.50–$4.00/gal. Canada: $3.20–$4.50/gal equivalent. Leave at default if unsure.
per gallon | Canadian users: enter your price in CAD per litre × 3.785
Your tank will last approximately
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| Outage Length | Gallons Needed | Estimated Cost | Your Coverage |
|---|
Planning estimate only. Actual propane consumption depends on generator load, home insulation, outdoor temperature, appliance age and efficiency, and operating patterns. Generator load percentage is the biggest variable — our estimate is based on the load you selected. For your most accurate number, run your appliances through the Generator Size Calculator first to determine actual load percentage. Always consult your propane supplier before hurricane season or winter. Maintain at least 20% tank reserve at all times.
Common Questions
Why does generator load percentage matter so much?
It's the single biggest variable in propane consumption. A 14kW generator at 35% load uses about 0.6 gal/hr. The same generator at 85% load uses 1.5 gal/hr — more than twice as much. Most online calculators ignore this and give worst-case numbers that cause people to overestimate their needs. Your actual load depends on what's plugged in and running.
How much propane does a standby generator use per day?
A 14kW generator at 50% load uses approximately 0.9 gallons per hour, or about 21 gallons per day running 24 hours. At 35% load that drops to roughly 13 gallons per day. At 85% load it rises to about 36 gallons per day. Season and climate also matter — a generator running AC in a Florida August works harder than the same generator in mild spring weather.
How long will a 500-gallon propane tank last during a hurricane outage?
A 500-gallon tank at 60% full has about 240 usable gallons (keeping 20% reserve). Running a 14kW generator at 50% load 24 hours per day uses roughly 21 gallons per day — about 11 days. Running 8 hours per day extends that to about 33 days. In a hurricane scenario with no AC on the generator and minimal load, you could stretch well beyond those numbers.
When should I fill my tank before hurricane season?
Fill to 80% or above before June 1 — the start of Atlantic hurricane season. Propane suppliers get slammed with delivery requests as storms approach and typically prioritize existing customers on automatic delivery schedules. If you're not on auto-delivery, call proactively. After a major storm makes landfall, delivery trucks may not be able to reach you for days or weeks.
How much does it cost to run a generator on propane during a week-long outage?
At $3.25/gallon and a 14kW generator running 24 hours at 50% load (21 gal/day), a 7-day outage uses about 147 gallons and costs approximately $478 in propane. Running 8 hours per day cuts that to about $159. For most households with a whole-home generator, the fuel cost of a week-long outage is $150–$600 depending on generator size, load, and runtime.
What's different about propane needs in Canada vs the US?
Canadian winters are longer and colder across most provinces, meaning heating loads are significantly higher and sustained for longer periods. A Manitoba or Ontario home may run a propane furnace 8–12 hours per day for 5+ months. This dramatically changes annual propane consumption compared to US Gulf Coast or Southern states. Canadian propane prices are quoted per litre — multiply by 3.785 to convert to gallons for comparison.