Generator Propane Tank Sizing Guide
Propane Tank Capacity and Size - LP Vapor Withdrawl
Tank Capacity
Total (gallons) |
Tank Capacity
Usable (gallons) |
Minimum
Temperature (°F) |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) |
Dimensions (inches) |
| Length |
Diameter |
Overall Height |
| 120 |
72 |
40 |
246,240 |
57″ |
24″ |
33″ |
| 20 |
164,140 |
| 0 |
82,080 |
| 150 |
90 |
40 |
293,760 |
68″ |
24″ |
33″ |
| 20 |
195,840 |
| 0 |
97,920 |
| 250 |
150 |
40 |
507,600 |
94″ |
30″ |
39″ |
| 20 |
338,400 |
| 0 |
169,200 |
| 325 |
195 |
40 |
642,600 |
119″ |
30″ |
39″ |
| 20 |
428,400 |
| 0 |
214,200 |
| 500 |
300 |
40 |
792,540 |
119″ |
37″ |
46″ |
| 20 |
528,360 |
| 0 |
264,180 |
| 850 |
510 |
40 |
1,217,700 |
165″ |
41″ |
50″ |
| 20 |
811,800 |
| 0 |
405,900 |
| 1000 |
600 |
40 |
1,416,960 |
192″ |
41″ |
50″ |
| 20 |
944,640 |
| 0 |
472,320 |
Tank Capacity Total
(gallons) |
120 |
150 |
Tank Capacity Usable
(gallons) |
72 |
90 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) >40°F |
246,240 |
293,760 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) >20°F |
164,140 |
195,840 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) >0°F |
82,080 |
97,920 |
Dimensions:
Length |
57″ |
68″ |
Dimensions:
Diameter |
24″ |
24″ |
Dimensions:
Overall Height |
33″ |
33″ |
Tank Capacity Total
(gallons) |
250 |
325 |
Tank Capacity Usable
(gallons) |
150 |
195 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) >40°F |
507,600 |
624,600 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) >20°F |
338,400 |
428,400 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) >0°F |
169,200 |
214,200 |
Dimensions:
Length |
94″ |
119″ |
Dimensions:
Diameter |
30″ |
30″ |
Dimensions:
Overall Height |
39″ |
39″ |
Tank Capacity Total
(gallons) |
500 |
850 |
1000 |
Tank Capacity Usable
(gallons) |
300 |
510 |
600 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) > 40°F |
792,540 |
1,217,700 |
1,416,960 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) > 20°F |
528,360 |
811,800 |
944,640 |
Tank Capacity
(BTU/hour) > 0°F |
264,180 |
405,900 |
472,320 |
Dimensions:
Length |
119″ |
165″ |
192″ |
Dimensions:
Diameter |
37″ |
41″ |
41″ |
Dimensions:
Overall Height |
46″ |
50″ |
50″ |
Estimated Fuel Usage for Liquid Propane (LP) and Natural Gas (NG)
Operating Cost for Propane or Natural Gas:
Operating Cost per Hour for Natural Gas Generators = NG Therms/hour x Cost of NG Therm
Operating Cost per Hour for Propane Generators = LP Gal/hour x Cost of LP Gal
Load
(kW) |
BTU/Hour |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
NG
(ft3/h3) |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
| 5 |
110,000 |
1.2 |
110 |
1.1 |
| 10 |
176,400 |
2.0 |
156 |
1.6 |
| 15 |
231,800 |
2.5 |
220 |
2.2 |
| 20 |
267,100 |
2.8 |
262 |
2.6 |
| 25 |
352,800 |
3.8 |
316 |
3.2 |
| 30 |
418,300 |
4.5 |
417 |
4.2 |
| 35 |
467,400 |
5.1 |
485 |
4.8 |
| 40 |
550,000 |
6.1 |
550 |
5.5 |
| 50 |
675,000 |
7.5 |
675 |
6.7 |
| 60 |
836,600 |
9.0 |
862 |
8.6 |
| 70 |
1,035,700 |
11.0 |
1,020 |
10.2 |
| 80 |
1,170,000 |
12.7 |
1,154 |
11.5 |
| 90 |
1,200,000 |
13.0 |
1,200 |
12.0 |
| 100 |
1,280,000 |
13.8 |
1,260 |
12.6 |
| 110 |
1,550,000 |
17.1 |
1,550 |
15.5 |
| 120 |
1,675,000 |
18.5 |
1,675 |
16.7 |
| 130 |
1,800,000 |
19.5 |
1,786 |
17.8 |
| 140 |
1,925,000 |
21.3 |
1,925 |
19.2 |
| 150 |
2,050,000 |
22.7 |
2,050 |
20.5 |
| 200 |
2,800,000 |
30.9 |
2,800 |
28.0 |
| 300 |
4,100,000 |
45.3 |
4,100 |
49.0 |
Load
(kW) |
5 |
10 |
15 |
| BTU/Hour |
110,000 |
176,400 |
231,800 |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
1.2 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
| NG (ft3/hr) |
110 |
156 |
220 |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
1.1 |
1.6 |
2.2 |
Load
(kW) |
20 |
25 |
30 |
| BTU/Hour |
267,100 |
352,800 |
418,300 |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
2.8 |
3.8 |
4.5 |
NG
(ft3/hr) |
262 |
316 |
417 |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
2.6 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
Load
(kW) |
35 |
40 |
50 |
| BTU/Hour |
467,400 |
550,000 |
675,000 |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
5.1 |
6.1 |
7.5 |
NG
(ft3/hr) |
485 |
550 |
675 |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
4.8 |
5.5 |
6.7 |
Load
(kW) |
60 |
70 |
80 |
| BTU/Hour |
836,600 |
1,035,700 |
1,170,000 |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
9.0 |
11.0 |
12.7 |
NG
(ft3/hr) |
862 |
1,020 |
1,154 |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
8.6 |
10.2 |
11.5 |
Load
(kW) |
90 |
100 |
110 |
| BTU/Hour |
1,200,000 |
1,280,000 |
1,550,000 |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
13.0 |
13.8 |
17.1 |
NG
(ft3/hr) |
1,200 |
1,260 |
1,550 |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
12.0 |
12.6 |
15.5 |
Load
(kW) |
120 |
130 |
140 |
| BTU/Hour |
1,675,000 |
1,800,000 |
1,925,000 |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
18.5 |
19.5 |
21.3 |
NG
(ft3/hr) |
1,675 |
1,786 |
1,925 |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
16.7 |
17.8 |
19.2 |
Load
(kW) |
150 |
200 |
300 |
| BTU/Hour |
2,050,000 |
2,800,000 |
4,100,000 |
LP
(Gal/hr) |
22.7 |
30.9 |
45.3 |
NG
(ft3/hr) |
2,050 |
2,800 |
4,100 |
NG
(Therms/hr) |
20.5 |
28.0 |
49.0 |
Propane or Natural Gas Required to Run Common Appliances using a Generator
| Appliance |
Approximate Input
(BTU/hr) |
| WARM AIR FURNACE |
| Single Family |
100,000 |
| Multi-family, Per Unit |
60,000 |
| HYDRONIC BOILER, SPACE HEATING |
| Single Family |
100,000 |
| Multi-family, Per Unit |
60,000 |
| HYDRONIC BOILER, SPACE AND WATER HEATING |
| Single Family |
120,000 |
| Multi-family, Per Unit |
75,000 |
| RANGES |
| Free Standing, Domestic |
65,000 |
| Built-in Oven or Broiler Unit, Domestic |
25,000 |
| Built-in Top Unit, Domestic |
40,000 |
| WATER HEATER, AUTOMATIC STORAGE |
| 30 - 40 Gallon Tank |
35,000 |
| 50 Gallon Tank |
50,000 |
| WATER HEATER, INSTANTANEOUS |
| 2 Gallon per Minute |
142,800 |
| 4 Gallons Per Minute |
285,000 |
| 6 Gallons Per Minute |
428,000 |
| OTHER APPLIANCES |
| Water Heater, Circulating or Side-arm, Domestic |
35,000 |
| Refrigerator |
3,000 |
| Clothes Dryer, Type 1 (Domestic) |
35,000 |
| Gas Fireplace, Direct Vent |
40,000 |
| Gas Log |
80,000 |
| Barbecue |
40,000 |
| Gas Light |
2,500 |
| Incinerator, Domestic |
35,000 |
Warning: When using this information to perform electrical work, call a licensed electrician and consult the NEC® for safety.
All licensed electricians have passed examinations covering the National Electric Code®, know state and local building codes, and may carry insurance to cover damages.