Propane Tank Run Time Estimator

Reviewed on October 7, 2026 by The Fire Pit Collection team. How we review

How long a propane tank lasts depends mostly on one number: the burner's BTU rating. Enter the BTU from the product page or manual, pick your tank, and this estimator shows the run time at full flame, based on published tank capacities and the energy in a gallon of propane.

How the estimate works

A full tank holds a set number of gallons of liquid propane. Manchester Tank lists the propane capacity of its standard 20 lb cylinder as 4.7 gallons, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration lists one gallon of propane as 91,452 Btu. Multiply the two and divide by the burner's BTU per hour, and you have hours at full flame. The tool rounds down, never up.

Real run time is usually different. Most people run a fire feature below full flame, which stretches a tank. Cold weather, wind and a tank that was not completely full all shorten it. Treat the result as a planning number, not a promise.

Choosing a tank setup

Many fire tables hide a 20 lb cylinder inside the base, which keeps the look clean. Larger burners empty a small cylinder faster, so if you plan long evenings around a high output feature, ask about a larger tank in a separate enclosure, or natural gas if your home has it. Our guide to fire tables with tank storage covers the trade offs.

Sources

Manchester Tank, Portable DOT Steel LP Gas Cylinders, LPG capacity (gallons) by cylinder size
U.S. Energy Information Administration, British thermal units (Btu), sample Btu conversion factors (propane)

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