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How To Tell If Propane Tank Is Empty by CampingForFoodies features a 30 pound propane tank sitting on the scale on the ground in front of an RV with text over the image that reads Is It Empty, How To Tell If Propane Tank Is Empty.
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How To Calculate Amount Of Propane Left In Your Tank

This is the most accurate method to determine how much propane is in a portable tank or if it is completely empty.
Active Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Yield: 1 tank's propane amount
Author: Kim Hanna

Equipment

  • Scale

Materials

  • 1 propane tank the portable tank you want to determine how much fuel is remaining

Instructions

  • Disconnect the propane tank from your RV or camping gear and close the valve.
  • Place the tank on a scale.
  • Record the current weight.
  • Subtract the (TW) tare weight from the current weight (see Note #1).
  • The difference between those numbers is the approximate weight of the propane that is remaining in the tank.
  • Divide that number by 4.2 (the weight of one gallon of propane) to calculate the approximate number of gallons of propane remaining in the tank (see Note #2).

Video

Notes

  1. The weight of empty propane tanks is also known as Tare Weight (TW). This weight is specific for each individual tank. There is a wide range of portable propane tank sizes that are used in various camping situations. The TW is stamped on the collar/handle of the propane tank.
  2. Example Calculation (Here is the math example from one of our RV’s 30 pound propane tanks after a week-long camping trip):
    • 40.4 pounds current weight of the tank – 25.1 pounds tare weight = 15.3 pounds of propane remaining in the tank.
    • 15.3 pounds of propane remaining in the tank / 4.2 pounds per gallon of propane = 3.6 gallons of propane remaining in our 30 pound tank.