Do you have a 20lb propane tank to cook? If so, you’re on the right page. Today, we will talk about the 20lb propane tank and its refill cost. Mainly, a propane tank is costly, and people primarily exchange their tank in Walmart or other super shops.
Some factors affect the cost of the propane tank, including the total gallons, price of the propane or fuel, and more. If you have a clear idea about these factors, you can easily calculate the cost.
How much does a 20lb propane tank cost?
A 20lb propane tank will cost around $100. It will depend on the quality and other factors as well. A budget-friendly tank will cost you $50. When you go for the best quality tank, you will need to invest more. But you can avail yourself of a standard propane tank within hundred bucks.
The cost of the propane tank also depends on one more factor. It is filled or unfilled.
Filled propane tanks will cost more, whereas the unfilled propane tank will be budget-friendly. If you have a limited budget but want to buy a tank, you should go for the empty tank.
It might cost you around 30-50 dollars to buy the empty tank. You will also find second-hand used propane tanks with a very low budget. You can buy the new 20lb propane tank for $25-$30. You will find similar budget-friendly tanks on Amazon.
If you search on Amazon for the 20lb propane tank, you will get hundreds of options out there. Both high-quality and budget-friendly tanks are available. You can choose the suitable one for your vehicle as per your budget.
You can also exchange your existing propane tank with a new one by adding some bucks with it. Your nearby fuel shop might have this offer. Go there and check the deals. Maybe you will find your perfect match over there.
How much does a filled propane tank cost?
Filled propane will cost a minimum of $30 and a maximum of $800 or more. It depends on the tank capacity and per gallon rate.
But when you want to purchase a brand new propane tank, it will cost you 150-200 dollars. It’s a standard price for a 20lb propane tank.
A filled high-quality propane tank will cost around $1000. Yes, you read that right; it is one thousand dollars. We all know that quality has value; therefore, you need to invest more in a quality propane tank.
But the truth is people don’t buy the best quality propane tank too often. They search for a budget-friendly fuel tank that will last years. Brands have also come up with the updated propane tank, which is cost-effective and ensures quality as well.
“3” reason why a 20lb propane tank costs so much
There are multiple factors behind the cost of propane tank. Let’s get to know them.
Overseas Demand:
Propane tanks have a very high demand in other countries, but the manufacturer is limited. Here the equation is high demand and low supply. It affects the price directly.
When the demand goes high, but the supply is low or shortage, the price of that product costs higher than the others. The same happens with the propane tank. It has high overseas demand, but the supply is short.
Quality:
Propane tank is not a mere fuel tank that you can buy for a few bucks. Manufacturers maintain the high quality to make this tank.
They use quality metal and other layers, making this tank durable and sturdy. It has an expiry date as well.
The quality remains another reason why a 20ib propane tank costs so much. You can buy a tank worth $1000, you may find it too costly, but it is worth it. It will give you a secure user experience that no other tank could give you either.
Inventory:
Sometimes, propane gas is more available than the tank inventories. When the inventories go lower, the price automatically goes higher. It is for excessive demand and lower inventories.
Mainly, the gas is natural; you can extract the gas from different corners of the world. But you cannot build a propane tank from natural sources. You need to have metal and other ingredients which are not available, like gas.
How long will a 20lb propane tank last? Is it cheaper to refill propane or exchange?
A 20lb propane tank will last for 18-20 hours. It depends on the grill size. If you have a large grill, it will last for 10 hours.
In that case, you will use the propane gas at a higher heat on an elevated grill. The 20lb propane tank will go for 18 to 20 hours when you cook with a medium grill and high heat.
After finishing the 20lb propane tank, you can either refill it or exchange it with a new one. Which one is cheaper? The exact answer is refilling.
You can quickly fill the tank with $20, but you need to pay more than that when you go for the exchange. So, it’s always better to refill the propane tank unless you want the bigger tank.
IF you want to change your smaller propane tank with the bigger one, you have to exchange the existing one.
Let’s say you have a 5lb propane tank, and you want the 20lb tank. You have no other option than to exchange the propane tank for a new one. It will cost you more, but it’s effective.
How much does a 20 lb propane tank cost to fill?
A 20lb propane tank cost around $20. But it depends on the tank capacity and per-gallon price.
If the per-gallon price is $4, the 20lb propane tank can hold up to 4.7 gallons. Therefore, the estimated cost will be around $18-$20. This is how you can calculate the cost to refill the propane tank.
This price is not fixed yet; you need to check the fuel or gas price. It depends on various factors and goes higher or lower from time to time.
But most of the time, the propane gas goes higher, so it might cost more than $20. The price is higher than in 2021. It is expected to rise in the following month.
Natural resources have a shortage in the world. We consume most of the gas and other natural resources as well. That’s why the price is going up day by day. SO, before refilling the tank, ask the dealer about the current price.
How much does it cost to exchange a 20 lb propane tank?
Exchanging a 20lb propane tank is a popular way to get a new propane tank when it gets old or needs upgrading.
When you have used a propane tank for years, you must exchange the propane tank with the new one. Besides, you can also exchange the tank to go for the bigger one.
Most people want to exchange their 20lb propane tank with the 50lb tank due to their higher needs.
Whatever the reasons are, you need to spend more bucks on exchanging a propane tank than the refilling. The exchange will allow you to get a new or bigger size propane tank.
Every gallon will cost you around $6. If you want to exchange an existing 20lb propane tank with the new one, it will cost you around $30.
When you go for the bigger size tank exchange option, you need to spend more. If you want to exchange the 20lb tank with a 50lb tank, you will spend double the price of 20lb.
How much does it cost to certify a 20 lb propane tank?
After five to ten years, you need to certify your 20lb propane tank. Every propane tank has its expiry date. When you buy a new tank, you get a certification from the manufacturer. Manufacturers give you ten years of using a certificate most of the time.
After that time, you must recertify your propane tank from the local agent. You should go to the authority website and schedule a certified time for your propane tank. They will notify you of the appointment schedule.
Then you will go there and certify the 20lb propane tank with the given information. And it will cost 50-60 dollars to certify a 20lb propane tank. The cost will depend on the current price of the propane gas and other factors.
Therefore, it’s better to ask them about the certification fees and the procedures. You will get pretty much everything on the authority site. When the price goes lower, you may need only $30 to cost for the recertification of your 20lb propane tank.
Final Thoughts
The cost of a 20lb propane tank will depend on different factors, including the demand and supply, shortage of the supply, gas price, and more. Typically, the 20lb propane tank will cost around $100. It’s not universal; you might require more if you want to get the best quality tank.