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Home / 20lb Refill Cost
Last verified April 2026

20lb Propane Tank Refill Cost: $15-20 in 2026

$13-15
Costco / BJ's
$14-19
U-Haul
$17-20
Tractor Supply
$20-25
Exchange (15lb only)

20lb Tank Specifications

Nominal capacity20 lb (4.7 gallons total)
Usable propane (80% fill)3.76 gallons / 16-17 lb
Exchange fill (Blue Rhino / AmeriGas)3.53 gallons / 15 lb (short-fill)
BBQ grill runtime (medium burners)18-25 hours
Typical use caseBBQ grill, portable heater, turkey fryer
Tank weight (empty)~17 lb
Tank weight (full)~37 lb
Recertification due12 years from manufacture date

20lb Tank Refill Prices by Retailer (2026)

RetailerCost (20lb)Propane deliveredNotes
Costco$13-153.76 gal (16-17 lb)Membership req. Cheapest option.
BJ's Wholesale$13-153.76 gal (16-17 lb)Membership req. East Coast heavy.
U-Haul$14-193.76 gal (16-17 lb)No membership, 1,400+ locations.
Tractor Supply$17-203.76 gal (16-17 lb)By-the-gallon billing.
Ace Hardware$18-213.76 gal (16-17 lb)Varies by franchise.
Blue Rhino (exchange)$20-253.53 gal (15 lb)15lb short-fill - not 20lb.
AmeriGas (exchange)$20-253.53 gal (15 lb)15lb short-fill - not 20lb.

BBQ Season Cost Math

For a typical summer BBQ season (April-October), grilling 2x per week at 1-2 hours per session uses roughly 10-15 refills. Here's the annual cost comparison:

OptionPer fill12 fills/yr20 fills/yr
Costco (best)$14$168$280
U-Haul (typical)$17$204$340
Tractor Supply$18.50$222$370
Blue Rhino exchange$23$276$460

FAQ

How much does it cost to refill a 20lb propane tank?
$15-20 at refill stations in 2026. Costco $13-15, BJ's $13-15, U-Haul $14-19, Tractor Supply $17-20. Exchange (Blue Rhino, AmeriGas) costs $20-25 but only fills to 15lb.
How much propane does a 20lb tank hold?
4.7 gallons at capacity, filled to 80% = 3.76 gallons (16-17 lb). Exchange tanks are pre-filled to only 15lb = 3.53 gallons. You get ~6.5% more propane from a refill station.
How long does a 20lb propane tank last for grilling?
18-25 hours of cooking on medium heat on a standard 2-3 burner grill. For typical backyard grilling (1-2 hrs per session), a 20lb tank lasts 10-20 sessions or 4-6 weeks in a regular grilling season.
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Updated 30 April 2026