Is bottled gas cheaper than piped gas?

For low use like cooking only, bottled gas can be cheaper because there is no daily fixed charge. For high use like hot water and heating, piped gas may work out cheaper per unit despite the fixed charge.

What bottle sizes are common?

9kg bottles are common for BBQs and portable heaters, while 45kg bottles are used for whole-home cooking, hot water and heating. The price per bottle and how fast you use them drive the cost.

Bottled Gas Cost Calculator

This New Zealand calculator works out the yearly cost of bottled LPG for cooking, hot water or heating, from the bottles you use and the price per refill. Bottled gas avoids the daily fixed charge of piped gas but costs more per unit, so the total depends on how many bottles you get through. You enter the bottle price and how often you refill, and the tool shows the cost per week and per year.

Price per bottle refill

Bottles per year

Bottle rental per year (if any)

bottled gas cost per year

Per week$0

Refills cost$0

Bottled LPG has no daily fixed charge, unlike piped gas, but costs more per unit of energy. Some suppliers charge bottle rental. For cooking only, bottled is often cheaper; for heavy use, compare with piped gas or electric. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator multiplies the bottles you use a year by the refill price, adds any bottle rental, and shows the yearly total and the cost per week. Because bottled gas has no standing daily charge, light users like cooking-only households often find it cheaper than piped gas; heavy users with hot water and heating on gas may find piped gas or electric cheaper overall.

Worked example

At $45 a refill and 8 bottles a year, the refills cost $360. With no rental, that is the yearly total, about $7 a week, for cooking-level use.

Related calculators

Gas vs Electric Cooking Calculator: cooking costs.
Hot Water Cost Calculator: hot water cost.
Home Heating Cost Calculator: heating costs.
Electricity Cost Calculator: power costs.

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