Who AmeriGas is
AmeriGas was founded in 1959 and grew through decades of acquisition into the largest US residential propane marketer. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UGI Corporation (NYSE: UGI), the Pennsylvania-based diversified energy holding company. Until 2019 AmeriGas traded on the NYSE as a master limited partnership (ticker APU); UGI took it fully private that year.
Today AmeriGas operates a network of roughly 1,500 distribution locations across 50 states, plus tens of thousands of cylinder-exchange points (the AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange brand, the major competitor to Blue Rhino in grill-cylinder swap). Combined customer count is approximately 1.4 million residential and commercial accounts. For a wider competitive view, see our top national propane companies overview.
Services offered
AmeriGas covers the full residential service stack: bulk propane delivery, tank installation and leasing, system maintenance, parts and accessories for propane appliances, and 24/7 emergency response. For agricultural and commercial customers it also handles motor fuel, forklift cylinders, and large bulk loads. Cylinder exchange is national through the AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange retail network.
Standard residential delivery options are automatic (keep-full) and will-call. Pricing programmes include market-rate per-delivery quotes, fixed-price contracts and budget billing. Local availability varies by district — the menu in rural Maine is not identical to the menu in suburban Texas.
Pricing
AmeriGas is a market-rate dealer — its per-gallon quote tracks the regional wholesale spot plus a retail markup of $1.50–$2.00 per gallon, in line with the broader US residential propane market. As a large national operator with route-density advantages in dense markets and a thinner cost structure in remote ones, it tends to price at or near the regional average rather than competing aggressively on price against small local independents.
What moves your effective rate up or down: tank size, fill volume, contract type, your address's distance from the depot, and whether you negotiate. Customers reporting high effective rates almost always cite small leased-tank, low-volume, will-call setups; customers reporting competitive rates cite customer-owned tanks, 500+ gallon fills, and pre-buy contracts. For market context see AmeriGas propane rates, current US propane prices and what affects propane prices.
Customer experience and complaints
AmeriGas has the customer-service profile of a large, geographically dispersed business: extremely variable by local district. In some markets reviews are strong (responsive office, dependable delivery, fair pricing); in others the same brand draws sustained criticism, often around price changes mid-contract, surprise fees, slow auto-fill scheduling, and friction around tank-pickup when customers try to switch suppliers.
For a sample of the public complaint base, see Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot profiles. Our overview is on AmeriGas complaints. Two structural points matter: AmeriGas, like all US propane retailers, is not utility-regulated, so state PUCs have limited authority over pricing or service disputes; and consumer protections vary by state (some states have anti-fill laws, tank-pickup fee caps, mandatory disclosure rules — most do not). Always verify what your state's propane regulations are before signing.
Strengths and weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| National footprint — service available in every state | Pricing rarely competitive with the cheapest local independents |
| 24/7 emergency response | Service quality highly variable by district |
| Full service menu (fixed price, budget billing, auto-fill, etc.) | Frequent complaints around tank rent & pickup fees on contract exit |
| Cylinder exchange network nationwide | Less flexible on price negotiation than small dealers |
| UGI corporate backing — financial stability | Some markets report slower auto-fill scheduling than smaller competitors |
Alternatives to AmeriGas
The two other US national propane retailers are Suburban Propane (~1 million customers, 41 states) and Ferrellgas (~700,000 customers, owner of the Blue Rhino tank-exchange brand). Pricing across the three is usually similar; differences come down to local service quality and contract terms.
Regional and independent dealers often beat the nationals on price for high-volume customers. Notable regional players include Blossman Gas (Southeast), Cenex (CHS) (Midwest/Plains farm cooperative), Paraco Gas (Northeast), Lakes Gas (upper Midwest), MFA Oil (MO/AR/OK), ThompsonGas, and Pinnacle Propane. The full list is on list of propane companies.
Before switching, see switching propane companies and how to select a propane company for the decision framework.
When AmeriGas is the right choice
AmeriGas is the safe-default pick when you need a propane supplier that definitely operates at your address, you want a full menu of contract options, and you value 24/7 emergency response. It is less compelling if you are a high-volume customer (1,000+ gal/year) able to negotiate hard with a local independent, or if you live in an area where service-quality complaints concentrate.
For most customers, the right move is to get three quotes — one from AmeriGas, one from another national, one from a local independent — and compare itemised. The headline gallon rate matters; so do tank rent, delivery surcharges, and contract length. See getting quotes from propane companies.
Frequently asked questions
Is AmeriGas really the largest propane company in the US?
Yes. By customer count (~1.4 million) and geographic coverage (all 50 states), AmeriGas is the largest US residential propane retailer. Suburban Propane is #2 and Ferrellgas #3.
Is AmeriGas a public company?
AmeriGas itself is wholly owned by UGI Corporation, which trades on the NYSE as UGI. AmeriGas was an independent MLP (NYSE: APU) until UGI took it fully private in 2019.
How do I leave AmeriGas as a customer?
If you have a leased AmeriGas tank, contact your local AmeriGas office to request tank pickup and final billing. Pickup fees apply in many states. See early termination fees and switching propane companies for the full process.
Is AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange the same company?
Yes — AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange is the same parent company's grill-cylinder swap brand, sold at supermarkets, hardware stores and gas stations. It competes directly with Blue Rhino (owned by Ferrellgas).