Common Propane Tank Sizes

Written on: May 17, 2021

The propane tank is the heart of a propane-powered home, pumping gas to appliances that keep us warm, heat our water, cook our food, and more.

But choosing the tank size you need to power those appliances isn’t always easy to understand. How big a tank will you need to store propane for your furnace or outdoor living appliances? How much space will you need to place the tank? Do I need a horizontal tank or a vertical propane cylinder?

Propane Tanks 101

Here’s a short guide to propane tanks, including their capacity, dimensions, and typical uses for propane appliances around the home.

• 20-pound tank (portable) – If you have a portable propane grill, you’re probably familiar with the 20-pound propane tank. At about 1.5 feet tall and one foot wide, they hold about five gallons of propane – enough to work well for grills, patio heaters, and mosquito catchers. These tanks are typically brought in to a supplier to be exchanged rather than refilled.
• 100-pound tank (portable) – A step up in size from the common 20-pound tank, a 100-pound tank is great for use with a single appliance, such as a fireplace, stove, or clothes dryer. Like the 20-pound tank, these tanks are typically exchanged rather than refilled. A 100-pound tank must be placed at least three feet from doors or windows and five feet from an ignition source.
• 120-gallon and 250-gallon tanks (stationary) – Permanently installed at your home or work site, these intermediate propane tank sizes are good for most propane equipment applications except whole-house heating. Equipment may include stoves, clothes dryers, water heaters, space heaters, generators or fireplaces.
  Typical sizes are:
  • 120 gallon: 4’6″ high and 30″ in diameter (cylinder)
  • 250 gallon: 7’10” long and 30″ in diameter (“torpedo” type)
• 325-gallon or 500-gallon tanks (stationary) – Another permanently installed tank, these larger tanks are typically installed in households that use 100–200 gallons a month; a 500-gallon propane tank will be appropriate to heat most houses ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 square feet.
  Typical sizes are:
  • 350 gallon: 9’11” long and 30″ in diameter
  • 500 gallon: 9’11” long and 37.5″ in diameter
• 1,000-gallon tanks (stationary) – These tanks are used for large residential applications (4,500+ square feet) or commercial and industrial applications.
  Typical size is:
  • 1,000 gallon: 16’1.5″ long and 41″ in diameter

Need propane tank installation in Wyoming County? We can help. Contact the pros at Ace-Robbins today to learn more!