250-Gallon Propane Tank Refill Cost: $535 in 2026
A 250-gallon home propane tank holds 200 usable gallons after the 80% safety fill. At the latest EIA national residential average ($2.67/gal), a full refill from near-empty costs about $535 at retail. 250-gallon tanks are common for smaller homes (1,200-1,800 sqft) using propane for water heat + cooking + a fireplace, or for whole-home heating in warmer climates where annual usage runs 400-800 gallons.
250-Gallon Tank Specs
| Nominal capacity | 250 gallons |
| Usable capacity (80% safety fill) | 200 gallons |
| Refill cost at national average | $535 ($2.67/gal) |
| Cheapest state refill | Nebraska: $328 ($1.64/gal) |
| Most expensive state refill | Florida: $941 ($4.71/gal) |
| BTU per full refill | 18.3 million BTU |
| Typical use case | Mid-sized residential heating, hot water + cooking + fireplace combo, warmer-climate whole-home |
| Delivery method | Bobtail truck (no self-service) |
| Typical delivery fee | $0-$50 |
| Partial-fill surcharge (below 200 gal) | $25-$75 |
| Volume discount tier | 5-8% |
250-Gallon Refill: How the Cost Breaks Down
- Start with the EIA per-gallon average. The current US residential propane price is $2.67/gal (week ending 30 March 2026). State-by-state, the spread is $1.64 (cheapest, Nebraska) to $4.71 (most expensive, Florida). Your local supplier sets a retail rate near your state's EIA average.
- Multiply by usable gallons. 250 nominal × 0.80 safety fill = 200 usable gallons. 200 × $2.67 = $535 at the national-average retail rate.
- Subtract the volume discount. At a 250-gallon delivery size, most suppliers take 5-8% off the per-gallon rate. At 250 gallons you cross into the discount tier: most suppliers take 5-8% off the per-gallon retail price and waive any partial-fill surcharge.
- Add delivery fee (if any). Many suppliers include delivery free at this order size. Some charge a flat $0-$50 per stop, or waive it on auto-delivery accounts.
- Skip the partial-fill surcharge. Most suppliers add $25-$75 on deliveries below 200 gallons. At 250 gallons you're well above the threshold, so this surcharge does not apply.
Auto-Delivery vs Will-Call for 250-Gallon Tanks
Supplier monitors degree-days (or a smart tank gauge) and schedules fills automatically. Typically 5-10% cheaper per gallon because the supplier optimises route density. Default for 250-gallon residential customers.
You call when the gauge reads 20-30%. Useful if you have your own tank gauge alert OR you want price flexibility (calling at a forecast low). Pays the higher spot rate; only worth it if you watch pricing actively.
Lock a per-gallon rate in summer (typically May-Aug) for the next winter's deliveries. Usually 5-10% under spot, with a cap-price option that lets you keep the savings if the market falls. Strongly worth it in EIA-forecast spike years.