What Is The Price Of Propane At Costco?

What is the propane pricing per gallon at Costco? Costco’s propane pricing per gallon will be roughly $2.73 per gallon on average. Propane prices fluctuate depending on region, same like diesel and gas prices. They offer one of the cheapest prices in the industry, which we think is quite an accomplishment!

One of the most advantageous aspects of purchasing propane from Costco is that you can do your grocery shopping and other tasks at the same time. It does, however, create a perplexing position. What’s the best way to pay for your propane?

To be honest, the answer is contingent on the other services or shopping you wish to engage in. If you’re going grocery shopping, paying for propane in the store is the best option.

However, if all you need is propane, we recommend going to the tire service facility cashier.

When it comes to Costco propane refill prices, it’s unbeatable. Some may use the term “cheap,” but this implies a low-quality product, which is not the case with Costco propane.

How much does a 20-pound propane bottle cost?

For our rental home, I recently purchased a propane grill. With heavy use, the tank, as you could expect, runs out rather frequently. Because I deal with propane prices on a regular basis, I can provide you with all the information you require.

Filling a 20-pound gas tank will cost between $14 and $20. The amount you pay is determined by the cost of a refill, which is normally between $3 and $4 per gallon. Multiply the cost of propane per gallon by 4.7 because a 20 pound propane tank holds around 4.7 gallons. For instance, $3 multiplied by 4.7 equals $14.10.

Some people use a propane tank swap, which is a service provided by many big box stores such as Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot. The cost of the transaction is normally around $20 plus tax, however there are occasionally discounts. Filling saves roughly $8 on average.

Pro Tip: If you ever buy a new tank, I highly recommend getting one with a built-in gauge, such as one of these on Amazon.

Are the propane tanks at Costco pre-filled?

The steps to refilling your Costco propane tank are as follows:

  • In the store’s parking area, look for the Costco Propane Service Station (it will probably be near the tire shop).
  • Bring your drained tank to the gas station.
  • To let the attendant know you’ve arrived, press the button. Look for a sign that says anything like “Call Attendant, Push Button” or something along those lines.
  • The attendant will greet you at the station and check to see if your propane tank is still in good condition. NOTE: Costco does not accept expired tanks, so double-check the expiration date before heading to the store.
  • While you wait, the attendant will fill your tank and provide you with a receipt.
  • Your tank will remain at the station until you pay for the propane and return to pick it up later.

What is the current propane price per gallon?

The current propane price per gallon is higher than the same period last year. This means that propane costs are anticipated to climb throughout the United States over the winter season, and home propane budgets will have to account for higher propane pricing now. The current propane price of $2.337 per gallon merely represents an average propane price; you may pay more or less for propane based on your usage and region. However, it serves as a solid benchmark for today’s propane pricing per gallon.

Is it true that Costco sells empty propane tanks?

5 gal, 20 lb Flame King Max Empty Steel Propane Cylinder with OPD Valve & Gauge | Costco All foods, including fresh, frozen, and basics for the home.

How long would a 20-pound gas tank keep you going?

Grills, water heaters, and fireplaces all use small, portable propane tanks, often known as DOT tanks. They can weigh anywhere from 20 to 100 pounds. Its lifespan is determined by the size of your grill and how frequently you use your heater or fireplace.

A medium-sized grill on high heat will use about two pounds of fuel per meal as a rule of thumb. On a medium grill, a 20lb propane tank will give 18-20 hours of cooking time if you follow this rule. In as little as 10 hours, a larger barbecue can burn through 20 pounds of propane.

How many gallons does a 20-pound propane tank hold?

Propane Tank, 20 pound Grill cylinders are 20-pound propane tanks that store 4.6 gallons of propane when fully charged.

What’s the difference between a 15-pound propane tank and a 20-pound propane tank?

All grill bottle tanks must have an OPD valve. The acronym OPD stands for “Overfill Protection Device.” It’s a safety device that keeps the tanks from overflowing. The company will not be able to fill your tank if it does not have an OPD. If your tank has a flywheel valve, it is an older model that can’t be filled. The OPD valves are triangular in shape (see below).

On the collar of your propane tank, you’ll find a date stamped on it. Smaller propane tanks, according to the Department of Transportation, have a 12-year useable life. They’ll need to be refurbished after that. If a tank has the stamp 04 10, for example, it will need to be replaced or repaired on May 5, 2022. The majority of local propane retailers can repair or replace out-of-date propane tanks.

To Refill or Exchange

I would advocate having your propane tank filled by a local provider over a tank exchange at a gas station or big box store in terms of getting the most bang for your buck. The national businesses frequently use only 15 pounds of propane in their BBQ tanks. This implies you’ll only get 3.5 gallons of propane (15 pounds of propane = 3.5 gallons of propane). Normally, your propane tank is filled with 20 lbs of propane (4.7 gallons) from your local garden center or gas marketer.

Some may wonder what the big deal is considering the difference is only 1.2 gallons. However, 1.2 gallon of propane means around four to five hours of additional grilling time when it comes to grilling. I could show you the math, but it would boring even Steven Hawking.

Furthermore, the cost of a tank at one of these exchanges is usually $20-22. Many local propane marketers offer tank swap rates throughout the summer months if you look around. The price of a bottle exchange usually ranges from $12 to $15.

The per-gallon comparison is as follows:

Knowing When To Refill Your Tank

The simplest way to figure out when your tank needs to be refilled is to weigh it. The difference between the Tare Weight and the remaining propane is the amount of propane.

Consider the following scenario:

TW=17, and the tank’s overall weight is 25 lbs. This indicates you have 8 lbs (25 lbs7 pounds = 8 lbs) or 1.9 gallon of propane left. It’s worth noting that 1.9 gallon equals around 7 hours of grilling time.

Isn’t it always great to leave a BBQ with your tank slung over your shoulder and go weigh yourself? It’s a fantastic party trick. False.

Having a backup tank and just swapping it out is the best choice. You will also be charged a flat rate rather than a per gallon fee if you bring a half-full tank to be filled. As a result, it’s also preferable to run out and then get it filled. You can achieve this with the help of a backup tank.

What is the most cost-effective month to purchase propane?

Fall officially begins this week, and despite the uncharacteristically mild weather we’ve had in the Hudson Valley in recent weeks, there’s no disputing that crisp days and nights are on the way in the not-too-distant future.

That makes now, in late September and early October, an excellent time to schedule your next propane supply, among other things.

Why? There are four major causes for this:

  • There is a lack of demand. Propane prices rise in response to increased demand, which is strongest when temperatures drop. Propane prices might also rise during the summer months, when people pack up their campers and RVs for a vacation or camping trip. Early fall is a “shoulder season” between these peak demand times, which means it’s frequently the greatest time to save money on propane tank refills.
  • The weather has been more consistent.
  • Sudden cold spells are prevalent in late autumn and early winter, but occur less frequently in the early fall.
  • It assists you in remaining prepared.
  • Extreme cold can quickly cause propane shortages, resulting in no-heat situations as people rush to fill their tanks. Cold weather can sometimes cause power outages, necessitating the use of propane to keep your family safe and warm. You’ll have piece of mind knowing that your family will be secure in any weather if you schedule your propane tank refill in the early fall.
  • You will have all of the conveniences of home.
  • You’ll be counting on gas to bring home comfort throughout the heating season, whether you’re firing up the propane grill for a game, lighting up your propane fireplace for a warm evening at home, or turning up the propane spa for a cold night bath. Fill your propane tank immediately to ensure that you’ll have comfort for months to come.

What is behind the rise in propane prices?

Increased propane prices can be aggravating and even painful at times. But try to rest easy knowing that propane is still one of the most cost-effective options to heat your home and power your appliances. Propane accomplishes all of this while lowering carbon emissions.

Furthermore, historical trends have proven that what goes up must come down when it comes to prices. It’s only a question of when. The feeling among the local propane companies, as well as the industry in general, is that the sooner the better.

Propane Price Swings Are More Moderate than Oil

You may have noticed that when compared to heating oil, gasoline, and other fuels generated from a barrel of crude oil, price swings with propane are more moderate. According to state data published at the end of March 2022, the retail price of propane is 27 percent more than a year ago, while the retail price of heating oil is up 76 percent.

Electricity is also not cheap. With an average retail price of 19.50 cents per kWh, New York is among the top ten states with the highest average retail price of electricity in the residential sector. To put that in context, the average electricity rate in the United States is 13.75 cents per kWh.

Propane: A Domestic Form of Energy

One of propane’s advantages is that it is a wholly domestic energy source. In fact, the United States exports roughly twice as much propane to the rest of the world as it consumes domestically.

Despite the fact that propane is still valued on the global market in the same way that oil is, the quantity of domestic North American production ensures supply stability and helps to temper pricing in the United States.

Crude oil, on the other hand, is still an imported product, even if we produce a lot of it here, and we still obtain it from certain countries who don’t like us very much.

Supply and Demand

A common factor for higher propane pricing is a mix of high demand and lower-than-average inventory. While you may associate propane with home heating and appliance use, it has a much broader application.

For example, due of its increased use as a petrochemical feedstock, the great majority of which are sourced from crude oil and natural gas, global demand for propane has surged. Many end products, such as plastic, paper, glue, and detergents, are made from these petrochemicals. The main users of propane are petrochemical companies.

According to the Energy Information Administration, despite rising U.S. prices, global demand for U.S. propane has remained stable since foreign prices for propane and other feedstocks have also climbed.

Here are a few more of the many variables that can influence the amount you pay for propane in the end.

Global Conflicts and Natural Disasters

When war, political unrest, conflict, or natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, or hurricanes strike other parts of the globe, crude oil and natural gas prices might be affected. Because propane is a by-product of both crude oil and natural gas, higher costs for these fuels affect propane pricing.

All energy prices were rising before the commencement of the war in Ukraine in late February, in anticipation of possible penalties against Russia’s energy industry if the country attacked Ukraine.

Russia wields power as the world’s third-largest producer of petroleum and liquid fuels, trailing only the United States and Saudi Arabia. It is a major crude oil and natural gas exporter.

Even the possibility of an interruption in energy supplies will have a significant impact on commodity traders’ purchasing and selling decisions. This is known as the fear factor in the frantic world of investment.

When Russia invaded and the US imposed an embargo on Russian imported oil and petroleum products, with other nations anticipated to follow suit, it created a huge energy hole that needed to be filled. Those who earn a living on the energy markets don’t like it when things are uncertain. This comprises both speculators wagering on price movements and hedgers reducing risk for their clients involved in oil production or consumption.

Propane Exports

Many people are unaware that the United States is a major propane exporter, and that business is growing. This is beneficial for the big wholesale propane providers, but it raises demand even more in an industry that doesn’t typically hold large amounts of propane at once. Many propane providers are compelled to deliver the amount of propane they’ve agreed to export, leaving even less propane available for domestic use.

Weather Extremes

A scarcer market develops when supply is reduced during a period of strong demand, such as the winter months. When a cold spell is particularly severe or lasts longer than usual, the scarcity is exacerbated. People may begin to panic buy, as we witnessed with the toilet paper scarcity at the outset of the pandemic.

It isn’t just chilly weather that can drive up propane usage. During the agricultural growing season, heavy rains result in abundant harvests that must be dried quickly and in large quantities. Propane is one of the fuels used to dry crops. Propane usage in corn-producing states normally increases during the corn harvest in September and October, followed by a higher increase in January due to space-heating needs.

Other Factors That Influence Price

Long-term considerations such as proximity to supply, transportation constraints, energy legislation, and industry patterns have all influenced where propane prices move. These concerns have also surfaced more recently:

  • The cost of transporting fuel has increased.
  • COVID-19-related workforce concerns have resulted in additional costs.
  • Shortages have resulted from supply chain issues, causing shipment delays and higher prices for supplies, parts, tanks, and other resources.

What Comes Next?

We don’t know where things will go from here, but if history is any indication, we may expect big price drops in the not-too-distant future. Nothing will make your local propane company happier than a return to regular costs.

Until then, put your faith in your propane supplier, and let’s hope that, regardless of what happens with energy prices, we’ll soon be living in a more peaceful world.