Propane Heating Cost Calculator
How much will it cost to heat your house with propane this winter? It’s one of the hardest bills to predict, because it depends on your house, your climate and a price that changes every week. Enter your home, your climate and your price per gallon below to see your winter bill, a monthly budget and how long a full tank will last. Below the calculator, I show exactly how the estimate works.
Prices: EIA weekly residential propane survey · By Nathan Brooks · Reviewed Oct. 15, 2026
Estimate your winter propane bill
Best: your supplier’s quote. Default: last U.S. average.
If you know it, we use it instead of the estimate.
Estimates only. Real use depends on your thermostat setting, windows, ceiling height, how cold the winter is and how many people live in the home. See “How we estimate” below.
How much propane does a house use per month in winter?
January is usually the coldest month and uses roughly a fifth of a year’s heating propane. If your bill is going to surprise you, it’ll be in January. Here’s what that month looks like for an average-insulated home with a standard 80% furnace:
| Climate | 1,500 sq ft | 2,000 sq ft | 2,500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | 58 gal | 78 gal | 97 gal |
| Moderate | 105 gal | 140 gal | 175 gal |
| Cold | 140 gal | 187 gal | 234 gal |
| Very cold | 175 gal | 234 gal | 292 gal |
| Extreme | 210 gal | 280 gal | 351 gal |
Estimated gallons in January for heat only. Our estimates, using the method explained below.
How long does a 500-gallon propane tank last in winter?
A 500-gallon tank is filled to about 80%, so it holds about 400 usable gallons. In January, that full tank lasts roughly:
| Climate | 1,500 sq ft | 2,000 sq ft | 2,500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | 212 days | 159 days | 127 days |
| Moderate | 118 days | 88 days | 71 days |
| Cold | 88 days | 66 days | 53 days |
| Very cold | 71 days | 53 days | 42 days |
| Extreme | 59 days | 44 days | 35 days |
That’s why most homes that heat with a 500-gallon tank need two or three deliveries a year in cold climates. My advice: don’t wait until the gauge is near empty. Order when it reads about 30%, because deliveries can take several days during cold snaps. For tank sizes and other appliances, see propane tank sizes and how long they last.
What this winter could cost
Using the same method as the calculator, a 2,000 sq ft average home in a cold climate uses about 980 gallons a year. At $2.60 a gallon, the U.S. average in the EIA’s first survey of the season (Oct. 5, 2026), that’s about $2,550 for the year, or roughly $210 a month on a budget plan. At last October’s $2.42, the same house would have cost about $2,370. So for a typical cold-climate home, this winter is shaping up to be about $175 more expensive, before any change in the weather.
Your own number can be very different, so run the calculator with your supplier’s actual price. If the result is a stretch, the time to act is now: compare suppliers, ask about budget plans and check whether you qualify for help, before the first big delivery. — Nathan Brooks
7 ways to lower your propane heating bill
- Lower the thermostat when you sleep or are away. The U.S. Department of Energy says turning it back 7°F to 10°F for 8 hours a day can save up to 10% a year on heating.
- Get quotes from at least three suppliers. Prices can differ a lot in the same area, especially if you own your tank. For most households, this is the single biggest lever.
- Ask about pre-buy and budget plans before winter. A pre-buy locks in a price; a budget plan spreads the cost over the year. Read the terms: some pre-buys expire if you don’t use the gallons, and a locked price only helps if the market rises.
- Choose automatic delivery if you tend to forget. Running out often means an emergency delivery fee and a required leak check before service is restored.
- Have your furnace serviced. A clean, well-tuned system burns less fuel and is less likely to fail on the coldest night of the year.
- Seal drafts and add insulation. In our estimate, going from “drafty” to “well insulated” cuts heating propane by about half.
- Check for help if the bill is too high. The federal LIHEAP program helps eligible households pay for heating fuel, including propane, through each state. Help paying for propane.
How we estimate
Heating gallons = heated area × heat-loss factor × heating degree days ÷ (91,452 BTU per gallon × furnace efficiency).
- Heating degree days (HDD) measure how cold a place is over a year, based on how far each day’s average temperature falls below 65°F. We use typical values for each climate band.
- Heat-loss factor: 8, 6 or 4 BTU per sq ft per degree day for drafty, average and well-insulated homes. These are simplified planning values, not an energy audit.
- Hot water: we add 250 gallons a year if you have a propane water heater. Supplier estimates for a family of four are around 300 gallons.
- January is treated as about 19% of the year’s heating.
As a check, our estimate for a 2,000 sq ft average home in a cold climate is about 980 gallons a year; one large U.S. supplier estimates about 890 gallons for a 2,000 sq ft home that runs its furnace 4–6 months a year.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to heat a house with propane?
For a typical 2,000 sq ft home with average insulation, roughly $1,950 to $3,250 a winter in most northern states at $2.60 a gallon (EIA, Oct. 5, 2026), and far less in mild climates. Use the calculator above with your home and your supplier’s price.
How many gallons of propane does a 2,000 sq ft house use?
For heat only, about 400 gallons a year in a mild climate and about 1,000 to 1,250 gallons in cold northern areas, assuming average insulation and a standard furnace. A propane water heater adds a few hundred gallons.
How much propane does a house use per month in winter?
In January, a 2,000 sq ft average home uses roughly 80 gallons in a mild climate and 190 to 280 gallons in cold to extreme climates.
How long do 100 gallons of propane last to heat a house?
In a cold climate in January, 100 gallons lasts a 2,000 sq ft average home about 16 or 17 days. In a mild climate it can last well over a month.
When should I order propane?
Order when your tank gauge reads about 30%. In winter, deliveries can take several days, and running out can mean extra fees and a safety check.
Keep saving
Sources
EIA Heating Oil and Propane Update · EIA weekly residential propane prices · EIA: British thermal units · EIA: degree days · U.S. DOE: programmable thermostats · Superior Plus Propane: yearly propane usage · LIHEAP (U.S. HHS)
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