Your Guide To Buying Propane At Sam’s Club - AisleofShame.com (2024)

Propane is one of the most common fuels used to power household appliances, furnaces, grills, and more. Whether you’re using propane to heat your home or fuel your next campout, Sam’s Club is a great place to stock up on all your propane needs.

Your Guide To Buying Propane At Sam’s Club - AisleofShame.com (1)

Contents

  • 1 Propane Brands Available at Sam’s Club
  • 2 How To Exchange Propane Tanks at Sam’s Club
  • 3 Pricing
  • 4 Does Sam’s Club Refill Propane Tanks?
  • 5 FAQs

Propane Brands Available at Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club sells propane and propane tanks from the following brands…

  • AmeriGas
  • Coleman
  • Worthington

As far as we can tell, all of the pre-filled and exchangeable propane tanks sold at Sam’s Club (the ones housed out front in the metal cages) are provided by AmeriGas. Coleman sells smaller propane cylinders through Sam’s Club which are designed for camp stoves, while Worthington sells new, empty propane tanks and cylinders, which can be filled anywhere that offers propane filling services.

However, if you’re looking to purchase a pre-filled propane tank or exchange an empty tank for a full one, then AmeriGas is your brand choice when shopping at Sam’s Club.

Some Sam’s Club locations even have self-serve propane exchange kiosks, provided by AmeriGas…

Because these kiosks are housed outside the store and do not require paying for your purchase at a Sam’s Club register, anyone can purchase AmeriGas propane at Sam’s Club without the need for a membership. However, if your location does not have a self-serve kiosk, you will need a membership to pay for your propane exchange inside the store.

Unfortunately not everyone has had great experiences with these AmeriGas kiosks at Sam’s Club. According to this Reddit user, the 5-gallon propane tanks aren’t reliably full…

Your Guide To Buying Propane At Sam’s Club - AisleofShame.com (2)

How To Exchange Propane Tanks at Sam’s Club

Depending on which Sam’s Club location you visit, there are two main ways to exchange a propane tank–via a self-serve propane exchange kiosk or the old-fashioned way (which we’ll go over below).

To use a self-serve AmeriGas kiosk at Sam’s Club, simply bring your empty propane tank or tanks with you to the kiosk and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to pay for your exchange with a credit or debit card (cash is not accepted).

Once your exchange has been paid for, the front of the kiosk will open and you will be able to deposit your empty tank and grab a fresh one. Full tanks are typically marked with blue plastic caps over the line connection. For a closer look at how to use an AmeriGas kiosk, check out this helpful video provided by AmeriGas.

To exchange a propane tank at Sam’s Club the old-fashioned way, follow these steps…

  1. Arrive at any Sam’s Club location that offers propane tank exchange with your empty tanks in your vehicle
  2. Head into the store and visit any register (if you have other shopping to do, wait until you have everything you need and then head to the checkout area as you normally would)
  3. Let your cashier know that you would like to pay for a propane tank exchange (if you have multiple tanks with you, let them know how many tank exchanges you need)
  4. The cashier will ring you up for the cost of your propane along with your other purchases
  5. After you’ve paid for your purchase and taken your other items out to your vehicle, grab your empty propane tanks and bring them to the front of the store where the propane cages are (typically located near the doors)
  6. A Sam’s Club employee will meet you there with a key to open the cage and hand you your new propane tanks
  7. To avoid having to carry the full propane tanks too far, you can pull up to the front of the store and park there temporarily while you load your propane into your vehicle

Keep in mind that this is the same process you’ll follow when purchasing a new propane tank. You do not have to have an empty propane tank to buy propane at Sam’s Club. If you need a propane tank, simply visit any Sam’s Club location that sells propane and let a cashier know you would like to purchase a new tank. The price for a new tank is about 30-50% more than the price of an exchange.

Pricing

Unfortunately, it’s hard to provide any reliable information about the price of propane at Sam’s Club. This is because propane prices are extremely volatile, just like gas and diesel prices. After all, propane is a petroleum product subject to the same politics and pricing regulations as other petroleum gas.

According to several unverified sources online, price estimates range from about $14 to about $21 per tank when you exchange a 5-gallon (20-lb) AmeriGas propane tank at Sam’s Club. If this is true, these prices are much lower than what you can find elsewhere. Propane tank exchanges can cost as much as $30 to $35 at other retailers.

Does Sam’s Club Refill Propane Tanks?

While Sam’s Club offers a convenient method for exchanging empty propane tanks for full ones, they do not refill propane tanks on site.

If you can find a location that offers propane tank refilling, this is often the least expensive way to load up on propane.

Stores With Propane Tank Refilling Services

If you’d rather refill your empty tanks that pay for an exchange, try visiting one of these retailers…

  • Costco (propane refilling only available at select locations)
  • U-Haul
  • Tractor Supply Co.
  • AmeriGas

FAQs

Does Sam’s Club carry small propane tanks?

Yes. You can purchase 16-oz Coleman Propane cylinders (popular for camping) from Sam’s Club here.

How long will two 20-lb propane tanks last?

This depends. Your propane tanks will deplete depending on how often you use them. For example, if your propane tanks power all of your home appliances and heating/cooling systems, two 20-lb tanks will run out quite quickly (approximately 1-2 weeks). However, if you only power one or two appliances with propane, or if you only use your tanks occasionally to power a grill or other freestanding appliance, they will last much longer.

Does Sam’s Club have a propane vending machine?

Some locations do, but not all. Check with your local Sam’s Club to find out if they have an automated propane exchange kiosk.

Your Guide To Buying Propane At Sam’s Club - AisleofShame.com (2024)

FAQs

How much is 1 lb of propane? ›

The Simple Answer

To put it simply, 0.236 gallons = 1 pound of propane.

What propane tank should I get? ›

A 500-gallon tank is usually the best option for homes using propane for heat and powering appliances. If your home exceeds 3,500 square feet, you should consider buying two 500-gallon containers or installing a larger underground propane tank.

Is Bernzomatic camping gas the same as propane? ›

The Bernzomatic® TX916 Propane Camping Gas Cylinder provides 16oz of clean-burning, portable propane fuel. This lightweight, compact tank fits all standard portable propane appliances, tabletop grills and propane torches with a CGA 600 connection and is ideal for on-the-go cooking, grilling, heating and lighting.

Do Costco propane tanks come filled? ›

The propane tank is empty and ready to be filled with gas.

How much is 20 lbs of propane? ›

An empty 20 lb tank will hold about 4.7 gallons of propane. That is $18.47 at $3.93 per gallon, which is the low quantity price (I just paid $3.44 per gallon when filling several tanks). The exchange is about the same price. Keep in mind this comparison is as if the exchange gives you a FULL tank.

How many gallons of propane are in a 20lb tank? ›

20 lb Propane Tank

Uses: Commonly used for resale and with propane grills, generators, patio heaters, and other outdoor equipment. 20 pound propane tanks are often referred to as grill cylinders and hold 4.6 gallons of propane when full.

What are the latest propane prices? ›

Basic Info. US Residential Propane Price is at a current level of 2.475, down from 2.567 last week and down from 2.671 one year ago. This is a change of -3.58% from last week and -7.34% from one year ago. US Residential Propane Price measures the price in USD per gallon of propane.

What is the lowest you should let your propane tank get? ›

Letting your propane tank gauge fall below 20% can not only be uncomfortable for you and your family, but it can also be a safety hazard. As your propane level gets low, it is designed to emit a small propane smell. The smell can be equated to the smell of rotten eggs.

What is the standard size propane tank for a house? ›

500 Gallon Tank

Benefits: A 500-gallon propane tank can be placed above ground or underground. This size tank is the most commonly used propane tank size and can be used to heat entire houses and for commercial applications.

What is the difference between the blue and yellow Bernzomatic? ›

Parts of a Torch

The cylinder can hold any of the three major fuel types: propane, max power propylene (or MAP-Pro), and butane. These fuel types are indicated by the color of the cylinder: blue for propane, yellow for MAP-Pro, red for oxygen, and green represents butane.

Does propane go bad? ›

Unlike those other types of fuel, propane never “goes bad.” It makes propane an extremely smart choice for all kinds of appliances and equipment in your home. This includes water heaters—which you use all the time—but also for those appliances you use sporadically, like space heaters and fireplaces.

What happened to MAPP gas? ›

A set of MAPP and oxygen cylinders is used for oxy-fuel welding and cutting. MAPP gas was widely regarded as a safer and easier-to-use substitute for acetylene, but, early in 2008, its production was discontinued at the only remaining plant in North America that still manufactured it.

Does Costco sell empty propane tanks? ›

Empty Propane Cylinder Tank 16.4 Oz, 2 Pack - With Refill Kit | Costco.

Why are propane tanks so expensive? ›

Low supply and increased fuel consumption have driven the rise of propane prices in 2021. In 2020, U.S. production of all fuel, including propane, decreased for a period.

When can a propane tank not be filled? ›

Specifications vary from country to country, but in the United States, a propane cylinder is qualified for 12 years from the date it was manufactured. After that, it needs to be requalified before it can be refilled.

How long will a 1 lb propane tank last? ›

The 1lb propane tank can last from 1 to 2 hours at full capacity, depending on the appliance's consumption rate. However, sometimes, it depends on the usage patterns in each operation.

How much propane is 5 lbs? ›

So a 5 pound tank would actually be "full" with 4 pounds of propane. This would be approximately 80,000 BTUs. So running at 5,000 BTUs implies around 16 hours of use. That should be more than enough for 10 days of cooking.

Can I refill a 1lb propane tank? ›

Summary: The U.S. Department of Transportation, cautions the public to never refill DOT 39 cylinders, such as the 1lb. cylinders used for camping. These types of containers were not designed to withstand the stresses of emptying and refilling.

How many pounds is a 100 gallon propane tank? ›

Understanding How Much Propane is in Your Tank…and How Heavy it is!
Size of Propane TankWeight of Tank When EmptyWeight of Tank When Full
20 lbs.16 – 18 lbs.36 -38 lbs.
100 gallons215 lbs.555 lbs.
120 gallons260 lbs.668 lbs.
150 gallons315 lbs.825 lbs.
5 more rows
Jan 4, 2023

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