Bottled Gas Cost Calculator NZ

This calculator works out how much bottled LPG really costs you a year, whether you use it for cooking, hot water or heating, so you can budget accurately or compare it against piped gas and electricity. Bottled gas is priced differently to piped gas: there is no daily fixed charge, but you pay more per unit of energy, so your true yearly cost depends on how many bottles you get through and what each refill costs. You enter the price you pay per bottle refill, how many bottles you typically use in a year, and any annual bottle rental your supplier charges. From those figures, the calculator returns your total bottled gas cost per year, broken down into the cost per week and the refills cost on its own, so you can see at a glance what you are spending. This is useful whether you are checking a supplier's pricing, deciding between a 9kg bottle for occasional cooking or a 45kg bottle for heavier household use, or working out if piped gas or electric would suit you better. Because bottled gas avoids the standing daily charge that piped gas carries, light users often find it cheaper, while households running hot water and heating off gas may find piped gas or electric works out less overall. Figures are indicative only, since refill prices and rental charges vary by supplier and region.

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$360
bottled gas cost per year
Per week$7
Refills cost$360

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.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does bottled gas cost a year?

It depends on how many 9kg or 45kg bottles you use and the refill price. Bottled LPG avoids the daily fixed charge of piped gas, but costs more per unit of energy, so the yearly cost comes down to how many bottles you get through.

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.