Propane tanks are great to have on hand, but they can be difficult to work with since they don’t outright tell you how many gallons are in the tank.
This applies to all propane tanks, including 50 pound propane tanks. Consequently, you may be wondering, how many gallons are in a 50 pound propane tank?
A 50 pound propane tank can hold about 11.8 gallons of propane whenever the propane is kept at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Changing the temperature of the propane will change this number, but most 50 pound propane tanks hold 11.8 gallons.
If you just want a quick answer to how many gallons are in 50 pound propane tanks, great. You have your answer.
However, we recommend reading on so you can learn how we got this answer and learn how to calculate propane tank pounds to gallons. Read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
How Many Gallons Are In a 50 lb Propane Tank?
50 pound propane tanks are considered slightly above average in size. The standard size propane tank is 20 pounds.
As a result, a 50 pound propane tank is slightly larger than the standard size. Consequently, 50 pound propane tanks are larger than the standard size in both dimensions and gallon capacity.
Simply put, 50 pound propane tanks can hold about 11.8 gallons of propane. The tanks themselves are normally 27.4 (L) inches by 15.1 (W) inches by 15.1 (H) inches. The empty weight of the container is 34.1 pounds as well.
Read also: Cheapest Propane Refill Near Me (Tanks Exchange Locations)
How Do You Calculate How Many Gallons Are In a Propane Tank?
Once again, you have the answer to the main question of this article. Even so, we recommend learning more about how many gallons are in a 50 pound propane tank. More specifically, you should want to learn how to do this calculation on your own so you can determine how many gallons are in any propane tank in the future.
The easiest way to calculate how many gallons are in a propane tank is to use the pound to gallon conversion whenever the temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, 1 pound of propane is roughly equivalent to 0.236 gallons.
You can use this information in order to determine how many gallons are in a propane tank. All you need to do is multiply the capacity of the propane tank in pounds by 0.236. Use the formula below to determine how many gallons are in your propane tank:
0.236 X tank capacity in pounds = tank capacity in gallons
Let’s apply this formula to a 50 pound propane tank. Simply multiply 0.236 by 50, and the result is 11.8 gallons. This formula can apply to any other size propane tank as well. Just substitute 50 for however many pounds are in your propane tank.
Read also: 7 BBQ Propane Refill Stations Near Me (Refill, Tank + More)
The One Exception: Temperature
That being said, the temperature can make this conversion unhelpful. The conversion of 1 pound being equivalent to 0.236 gallons only works whenever the temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you change the temperature, 1 pound of propane will have a different gallon equivalent.
Why is that? Temperature determines how the gas molecules interact. Higher temperatures cause the gas molecules to spread out, whereas colder temperatures cause the molecules to get tighter. Changing the temperature above or below 60 degrees Fahrenheit will then change the gallons as a result.
If the temperature is the one exception, why does this conversion rely on 60 degrees Fahrenheit specifically?
60 degrees Fahrenheit is the safest temperature for propane stored in a tank. Increasing or decreasing the temperature could cause the tank to be unsafe or not work properly.
So, all propane tanks should be stored at 60 degrees anyways.
Read also: How To Store Propane Tanks In Hot Weather: Storage Safety Tips
How Much Does a 50 lb Propane Tank Weigh Full?
A related question is how much the propane tank weighs when full. Figuring the full weight is a lot easier than the above formula, which is already pretty easy. Simply add the empty weight of the tank to the weight of the propane.
For a 50 pound propane tank specifically, you will need to add 50 pounds of propane to the weight of the tank. Most 50 pound tanks weigh about 34.1 pounds when empty. 50 + 34.1 equals 84.1, meaning the weight of a 50 pound propane tank when full is 84.1 pounds.
That being said, it’s important to weigh the tank before you fill it up. Not all 50 pound tanks will weigh 34.1 pounds. Weighing the tank beforehand gives you the most accurate answer.
Here is more information about the empty weight of different size propane tanks:
| Propane Tank Size | Length | Width | Height | Empty Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 8 inches | 4 inches | 4 inches | 1.3 pounds |
| 2 lb | 10 inches | 5 inches | 5 inches | 2.1 pounds |
| 3 lb | 10 inches | 7 inches | 7 inches | 3.7 pounds |
| 5 lb | 12 inches | 8 inches | 8 inches | 6.7 pounds |
| 10 lb | 18 inches | 9 inches | 9 inches | 9.8 pounds |
| 11 lb | 12.4 inches | 12.2 inches | 12.2 inches | 10.4 pounds |
| 15 lb | 18 inches | 10 inches | 10 inches | 11.8 pounds |
| 20 lb | 18 inches | 12 inches | 12 inches | 13.5 pound |
| 25 lb | 21 inches | 12 inches | 12 inches | 15.1 pounds |
| 30 lb | 24 inches | 12.5 inches | 12.5 inches | 19.2 pounds |
| 33 lb | 26.75 inches | 12.5 inches | 12.5 inches | 23.3 pounds |
| 40 lb | 27 inches | 14.5 inches | 14.5 inches | 27.4 pounds |
| 50 lb | 27.4 inches | 15.1 inches | 15.1 inches | 34.1 pounds |
| 60 lb | 44.1 inches | 12 inches | 12 inches | 37.3 pounds |
| 80 lb | 46 inches | 12 inches | 12 inches | 43.2 pounds |
| 100 lb | 48 inches | 14.5 inches | 14.5 inches | 67 pounds |
| 120 lb | 48 inches | 16 inches | 16 inches | 75 pounds |
| 150 lb | 48 inches | 18 inches | 18 inches | 101 pounds |
| 200 lb | 48 inches | 19.6 inches | 19.6 inches | 127 pounds |
How Long Does a 50 lb Propane Tank Usually Last?
Figuring out how long your propane tank will last is an important task. Unfortunately, it can be a bit difficult to calculate this because many moving factors impact the lifespan of a single tank of propane. Most importantly, the BTU of the burner impacts how long a tank will last.
Looking at an example will probably be the most helpful.
Let’s say that you are using a 50 pound propane tank on a 32,000 BTU burner. That tank will last about 33.74 hours.
If you move that tank when full to a 40,000 BTU burner instead, the tank will only last 26.99 hours. On the flip side, the tank will last 35.99 hours if you move it to a lower-rated 30,000 BTU burner.
These different examples show that the BTU of your burner is the number one determiner of how long your propane tank will last. Determine the BTU and you’ll be able to predict how long the tank will last.
Read also: How Many Gallons In a 250 lb Propane Tank (Propane Tank Sizes)
How Do 50 lb Propane Tanks Compare To Other Sizes?
A 50 pound propane tank is slightly above the average size. The average size propane tank is 20 pounds, which is able to hold 4.6 gallons of propane. In comparison, a 50 pound tank can hold nearly three times as much propane at 11.8 gallons.
Even though a 50 pound propane tank is larger than the standard propane tank, it is far from being the biggest option available. There are some propane tanks as large as 30,000 pounds.
As you might imagine, propane tanks that are 100 pounds and over are normally used for commercial or serious residential uses.
In comparison, tanks smaller than 50 pounds are normally used for small appliances. A 20 pound propane tank, for instance, is frequently used for grilling purposes.
In other words, there are tons of different propane tank sizes to choose from. It’s important to consider the tank size in pounds and gallons to ensure that the tank you select is perfect for your intended uses.
| Tank Size | Gallons of Propane |
|---|---|
| 5 lb | 1 Gallon |
| 11 lb | 2.6 Gallons |
| 15 lb | 3.53 Gallons |
| 20 lb | 4.6 Gallon |
| 30 lb | 7 Gallons |
| 33 lb | 7.7 Gallons |
| 40 lb | 9.2 Gallons |
| 50 lb | 11.8 Gallons |
| 100 lb | 23.6 Gallons |
| 120 lb | 28.3 Gallons |
| 250 lb | 60 Gallons |
| 420 lb | 96 Gallons |
| 500 lb | 400 Gallons |
| 1000 lb | 800 Gallons |
| 30,000 lb | 24,000 Gallons |
Read also: Does Lowes Refill Propane Tanks (With 6 Filling Stations)
Final Thoughts
A 50 pound propane tank can hold about 11.8 gallons of propane. This amount of propane is nearly three times more than the amount of propane held in the standard 20 pound propane tank.
As a result, a 50 pound tank is larger and better suited for slightly bigger appliances.
Although you can take our word for it, you can do the math yourself by multiplying 50 by 0.236. You can even use this conversion to figure out how many gallons are in any propane tank, regardless of the size.
It’s important that you figure out how much a propane tank can hold before making your final decision so that you can select the best propane tank based on your intended uses.
If not, you could get a propane tank that’s far too small or large for whatever job you have.
References
https://www.amerigas.com/about-propane/propane-tank-sizes
https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/ways-to-estimate-how-much-propane-you-have-left/
https://learnmetrics.com/propane-tank-sizes/
Recent Posts
Have you ever wondered if Home Depot refills propane tanks? Well, look no more. We´ve got you covered. Does Home Depot Refill Propane Tanks? Home Depot does not refill propane tanks. However,...
Have you ever wondered if Walmart refills propane tanks? Look no more. We´ve got you covered. Does Walmart Refill Propane Tanks? Walmart does not refill propane tanks. However, they do offer...