Propane is essential for RV living but it can be difficult to gauge exactly how long your RV propane will last before needing to be refilled. Many RVers speak of a time when they had run out of propane while having dinner on the stove or during a cold winter night. Don’t get stuck running out of propane at such an inconvenient time.
There are four steps to calculate how long your RV propane will last:
1. Determine Your Propane Tank Capacity
2. Calculate the Total BTUs the Tank(s) Will Provide When Full
3. Calculate the Daily BTU Consumption for Each Appliance
4. Calculate the Total Propane Consumption of All Appliances
These steps will help you estimate how long your RV propane will last and when you need to fill up. The calculations are easy and I’ll walk you through step-by-step.
1. Determine Your Propane Tank Capacity
You first need to know how many total pounds of propane you can carry in your tank(s).
Common propane tank capacities are:
| Number of Tanks | Pounds per Tank | Total Capacity | |
| Pull-behind Trailer | 2 | 20 lbs (4.5 gallons) | 40 lbs (9 gallons) |
| 5th Wheel | 2 | 30 lbs (7 gallons) | 60 lbs (14 gallons) |
| Class C | 1 | 40 lbs (9.4 gallons) | 40 lbs (9.4 gallons) |
My KZ Sidewinder 5th Wheel has two 30 pound tanks (60 pounds total).
To give you a point of reference, a 20 pound propane tank is typically what you’d use with a BBQ.
2. Calculate the Total BTUs Your Tank(s) Will Provide When Full
What are BTUs? BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. Though the term originated in the United Kingdom, it is now used around the world. The BTU measurement is part of the common system, along with pounds, inches and degrees Fahrenheit.
The British Thermal Unit is a way to measure energy. One BTU is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. Technically, this measurement refers to the amount of energy this process takes when water is at its greatest density, which usually happens at about 39 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it comes to propane, one pound provides 21,600 BTUs.
When my 5th Wheel’s propane tanks are full (60 pounds), I have a total of 1,260,000 BTUs available to use.
3. Calculate the Daily BTU Consumption for Each Appliance
You can calculate your daily propane usage after doing some simple calculations. We’ll cover the basics below in two parts: appliance BTU rating, and appliance daily run time.
All RV appliances that use propane have a BTU rating or propane burn rate. This rating determines how much propane the appliances will consume for each hour they are in use.
For example, a 30,000 BTU furnace will consume 30,000 BTUs of propane for each hour it is running. Typically, a 10 cubic foot refrigerator will use 1400 BTUs per hour. A 6 gallon Suburban water heater typically uses 12,000 BTUs per hour.
In addition, all RV propane appliances have a daily run time. The daily run time is the number of hours the appliance will run during a 24 hour period. Some appliances will run often, while others will only run once and a while. For example, a refrigerator runs most of the day and night, but a water heater only runs as needed when hot water is required.
Once you (1) learn the BTU rating of each appliance (the amount of BTUs it uses each hour it is on), and (2) estimate its daily run time (how many hours per day it will run), you will be able to calculate the total daily consumption of propane for all of your RV appliances.
Part 1 – Determine the BTU Rating of Each Appliance
Determining the BTU rating of each appliance is a fairly straightforward task. For many of your appliances, you can look up their BTU ratings in the instruction manuals you received when you purchased the RV.
If you do not have the instruction manual for an appliance, you should be able to find the manual online at the manufacturer’s website. To do so, you will need the make and model number of the appliance, which should be displayed somewhere on it. While the make of the appliance is typically obvious (showing prominently on the front), the model might be more obscure (printed on the side or back).
If you don’t have an appliance’s manual and cannot locate it online, use the following chart which shows common propane burn rates for typical RV appliances.
Common RV Appliance Propane Burn Rates
| Appliance | Capacity | BTUs per hour |
| Stove top – each burner | N/A | 5000 (low), 9000 (high) |
| Oven | N/A | 2000 (at 350 degrees), 2500 (at 425 degrees) |
| Refrigerator | 10 to 12 cubic feet 12 to 14 cubic feet | 1400 1700 |
| Water heater – tankless | Any size | 50,000 (most brands) |
| Water heater | Any size | 12,000 (Suburban) or 8800 (Atwood) |
| Furnace | 20,000 BTU 30,000 BTU | 20,000 30,000 |
| Fireplace | 20,000 BTU 30,000 BTU | 20,000 30,000 |
| Outside propane grill – each burner | N/A | 10,000 |
My 5th Wheel has a 10 cubic foot refrigerator (1400 BTU), a 10 gallon water heater (12,000 BTU), 3 stove top burners (5000 BTU each when on low), an oven (2000 BTU at 350 degrees), and a 30,000 BTU furnace.
Part 2 – Calculate the Daily Run Time of Each Appliance
You are now ready to determine the daily run time of each RV propane appliance.
When determining the daily run time, consider the following information and questions.
Stove top – each burner
How long do you use the stop top to boil water for tea or coffee?
How often do you use the stove top for cooking meals, and for how long?
Oven
How often and how long do you use the oven for cooking and baking?
Refrigerator
The average refrigerator runs for 16 hours per day.
Note: on shore power, your refrigerator will use electricity and not propane.
Water Heater
How many people are taking showers each day?
How long are their shower times?
How much hot water do you use when washing dishes?
Most water heaters with tanks produce 10 to 13 gallons of hot water for each hour of run time. This is assuming an incoming water temperature of 60 degrees. Add more time for lower outside temperatures.
Tankless water heaters do not preheat the water and only start using propane whenever hot water is needed.
Note: on shore power, your water heater will use electricity and not propane.
Furnace
Of all of the appliances, the furnace daily run time is the most difficult to determine due to variations in outside temperature and level of RV insulation. However, you can still get a good sense of how often it runs by paying attention to when the fan motor is kicking on and off.
It’s helpful to actually time (with a smartphone timer) how many total minutes in one hour the fan runs as it cycles on and off, especially during colder overnight hours. You can use that information as a guide for determining how long the furnace runs over a 24 hour period.
During a late fall night in Alaska, my 5th Wheel’s furnace ran 15 minutes per hour.
Fireplace
How long do you use the fireplace each day?
Outside propane grill
How often and for how long do you use your grill?
For appliances that you don’t use everyday, calculate an average use per day by taking your total weekly usage and dividing it by 7 days. For example, if you use your oven only 3 times a week, and run it for 2 hours each time, that equates to 6 hours total each week and .86 hours average per day.
3/week * 2hrs = 6 hrs/week
6hrs / 7 days = .86 hrs/day
Run time calculations will not be exact due to several variables. They are different for each RV owner and are highly dependent on the climate of the RV’s location. Variables affecting run time include the number of people living in the RV, the quality of RV insulation when using the furnace, the age of the appliances, outdoor temperature, etc. The purpose of these calculations is to give you a helpful estimate rather than an exact number.
I have calculated the following daily run times for my 5th Wheel’s propane appliances and shared them in the chart below.
5th Wheel RV Daily Propane Run Times
| Appliance | Daily Run Time |
| Stove top (5000 BTU each burner) | 1.5 hours |
| Oven (2000 BTU) | 0.5 hours |
| Refrigerator (1400 BTU) | 16 hours |
| Water heater (12,000 BTU) | 1 hour |
| Furnace (30,000 BTU) | 3.5 hours (Spring/Fall), 0.5 hours (Summer) |
4. Calculate Total Propane Consumption of All Appliances
Now that you know the BTU ratings of your appliances as well as their daily run times, you can calculate the total propane consumption of all of your RV appliances.
You can calculate the BTU usage of an RV appliance by multiplying the BTUs used per hour by the daily run time for that appliance.
BTUs per hour x daily run time
For example, the BTUs per day for my refrigerator is
(1400 BTUs) X (16 hours) = (22,400 BTUs per day)
You can calculate the total propane usage for an RV by adding the daily BTU usage for each appliance.
Daily BTU usage (Appliance 1) + Daily BTU Usage (Appliance 2) + …. = Total RV Propane BTUs Used
Use the empty chart below to help calculate your RV’s total propane usage.
RV Propane Consumption Table
| Appliance | BTUs per hour | Daily run time | BTUs per day BTU’s per hour X daily run time |
| Stove top | |||
| Oven | |||
| Refrigerator | |||
| Water heater | |||
| Furnace | |||
| Fireplace | |||
| Outside propane grill | |||
| TOTAL BTU’S PER DAY FOR ALL APPLIANCES |
Total BTU Calculations for 5th Wheel RV
| Appliance | BTUs per hour | Daily run time | BTUs per day BTU’s per hour X daily run time |
| Stove top | 5000 | 1.5 hours | 7500 |
| Oven | 2000 | 0.5 hours | 1000 |
| Refrigerator | 1400 | 16 hours | 22,400 |
| Water heater | 12,000 | 1 hour | 12,000 |
| Furnace | 30,000 | 3.5 hours (late Fall in Alaska) | 105,000 |
| Fireplace | N/A | ||
| Outside propane grill | N/A | ||
| TOTAL BTU’S PER DAY FOR ALL APPLIANCES | 147,900 |
My 5th Wheel’s two 30 pound propane tanks provide a total of 1,260,000 BTUs when full. With a 147,900 BTU propane usage each day, my propane will last 8.52 days.
(1,260,000) / (147,900) = 8.52 days
Eight and a half days doesn’t seem like much time but these usage rates are calculated based on boondocking 24/7 in Alaska during the fall when the temperature drops to around 30 degrees Farenheit overnight. If you are connected to shore power, appliances that are able to use electricity rather than propane will result in a reduced propane usage.
Experience is the Best Way To Learn
Over time, you will learn how long your propane will last. If you have two cylinders with an automatic changeover valve that switches over, keep checking the indicator flag to see when it changes over to the second tank. That will tell you exactly how many days your first propane tank lasted. If you have a fixed tank with a propane meter, check the meter often to gauge the amount of propane you are using as the days go by.
When Should I Refill My Propane Tanks?
If your RV has a removable two tank system with a changeover valve, configure your propane system to drain the first tank entirely before switching over to the second full tank. Once the first tank empties and the valve switches to the second tank, take the first tank in for a refill and reconnect it to the system. When the second tank empties, the valve will switch back over to the first tank, which is now full. Alternating tank refills in this way will make sure you have plenty of propane and never run out.
It is best to not let your propane run too low before getting your tank(s) refilled.
If you have one fixed tank, I recommend you refill it once it reaches 25% of capacity.
Can I Upgrade To Larger Propane Tanks?
If you have a removable tank(s) and are looking to increase your propane capacity, you may be able to fit a larger tank in the propane storage area. A 30 pound propane tank measures approximately 24 inches high by 12.5 inches in diameter. A 40 pound propane tank measures approximately 29 inches high by 12.5 inches in diameter.
You should also consider adding a smaller backup propane tank to have available in case you run out of propane and are not able to refill right away. I purchased an extra 25 pound propane tank and carry it in the back of my truck. A backup tank is especially useful when you’re in a very cold climate and depend on propane to keep you alive.
If you plan on remaining stationary for several weeks/months, you can acquire an external 100 pound propane tank that can be incorporated into your propane system. This is especially helpful if you are in a colder climate and needing to run your furnace for longer periods of time. Many U-Haul locations will rent and fill these 100 pound tanks.