Current US propane prices per gallon (2026)

What "the current propane price" actually means

When people talk about "the current propane price" they usually mean one of two figures, and the gap between them matters. The wholesale spot price at Mont Belvieu, Texas — the US propane fractionation hub — runs on a continuous market and is quoted in cents per gallon. The residential retail price is what dealers charge homeowners after transport, storage, terminal, delivery, service and margin are added on top. Retail typically sits $1.50–$2.00 per gallon above the Mont Belvieu spot.

The authoritative US public source for residential prices is the EIA Weekly Heating Oil and Propane Survey (WHOPS). It collects retail prices from a sample of dealers across the country every Monday between October and March, then publishes regional and state-where-available averages. There is no equivalent off-season weekly publication; from April through September the residential price series is paused. For year-round prices, the wholesale Mont Belvieu series remains the most useful proxy.

When comparing a dealer's quote against the EIA average, remember that the EIA figure is a survey mean. Individual customers can pay more or less depending on tank size, contract type, route density and the dealer's pricing programme. For practical context on how a quoted gallon price translates into an annual bill, see how much does propane cost.

How US propane prices have moved

US residential propane has cycled with crude oil and natural-gas liquids fundamentals over the past decade. The 2014–2016 oil crash pushed residential prices down toward $2.00 per gallon. The 2021–2022 reopening and the European energy crisis pulled them up toward $3.00. Since 2024 prices have moderated again into the $2.40–$3.20 winter band, with regional variation driving most of the spread.

The structural change of the past decade is the United States itself. The shale boom turned the US from a net propane importer into the world's largest exporter — propane LPG shipments leave Gulf Coast terminals for Asia, Latin America and Europe year-round. Strong export demand keeps a floor under domestic prices in mild winters when residential heating demand alone would not. For more on the long-term picture, see propane price trends.

What drives the price you pay

Five factors shape the retail price your dealer quotes. Understanding which one is moving in any given month helps you decide whether to fill now, wait, or lock a contract.

• Crude oil and NGL fundamentals. Propane is a by-product of natural-gas processing and oil refining. When the global energy complex rallies, the Mont Belvieu spot rallies with it. When it falls, propane usually follows.
• Winter heating demand. Cold weeks in the Midwest, Northeast and Plains spike inventory draws and lift the retail price within days. The EIA reports weekly inventory levels — see the Weekly Petroleum Status Report.
• US export demand. Roughly half of US propane production now leaves the country. Global LPG buyers (Japan, China, India, NW Europe) compete with US homeowners for the same molecules.
• Local route density and competition. Rural addresses at the end of long delivery routes pay more per gallon than dense suburban routes. Where one dealer has a local monopoly, prices tend to run higher.
• Tank size and fill volume. Larger fills (300+ gallons) almost always carry a lower per-gallon rate than small top-offs. Customer-owned tanks unlock shop-around freedom that leased tanks do not.

For a deeper breakdown of these drivers, see what affects propane prices, and for the seasonal pattern specifically, why propane is more expensive in winter.

Why prices vary so much by region

The EIA publishes regional averages for its five Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADDs). Within any given winter week, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive PADD can exceed $1.00 per gallon. The pattern is consistent year after year: the Gulf Coast (PADD III) prices lowest because that's where supply originates; the East Coast (PADD I) and Midwest (PADD II) price higher because of distance and demand; the Rocky Mountain region (PADD IV) and West Coast (PADD V) price highest because of logistical costs and limited local production.

State-level variation within each PADD is also significant. Texas and Louisiana, sitting next to the Mont Belvieu hub, consistently run below the national average. New York, Maine and New Hampshire tend to price at or near the top of the survey. Cold-but-supply-rich states like North Dakota and Wyoming sit closer to the middle. Browse the full list of state pages for local market context, regulators and dealer mix.

Contract types that affect your effective rate

The headline per-gallon quote is only part of the story. The contract structure you sign with your dealer determines how much that quote actually changes between fills, and whether you carry the price risk or your dealer does. The five common US residential structures:

For decision-making, the most important question is which party carries winter price risk: you (will-call, auto-fill at market) or your dealer (capped, fixed pre-buy). See fixed propane pricing for a deeper comparison of pre-buy, capped and fixed contracts, and automatic propane delivery for the operational mechanics of auto-fill.

How to compare current propane prices in your area

A single per-gallon quote tells you almost nothing in isolation. To get a real comparison, you need itemised quotes from at least three dealers serving your address, and you need to add up all the cost components — not just the per-gallon rate.

• Get itemised quotes from 3+ dealers. Ask each for the per-gallon rate at your expected fill size, plus tank rent, delivery/hazmat fees, after-hours rates, minimum delivery volume and contract length. The lowest gallon rate is not always the cheapest all-in.
• Time pre-buy decisions for summer. Dealer pre-buy offers come out between June and September. The full picture is on summer propane fill.
• Customer-owned vs leased tanks. Leased tanks lock you to one supplier; customer-owned tanks let you shop every fill. See buying or renting a propane tank.
• Check LIHEAP eligibility. Most states allow the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to pay for propane. Eligibility and benefit levels are set state by state.
• Match the contract to your usage. A light user (under 200 gal/yr) rarely benefits from pre-buy. A heavy user (1,000+ gal/yr) usually does. See how to select a propane company for a full decision framework.

The major national dealers — AmeriGas, Suburban Propane and Ferrellgas — operate in nearly every state, but regional independents and farmer cooperatives often beat them on price for high-volume customers. Always include at least one local independent in your three-quote comparison. For a deeper look at the propane market structure, the dynamics of the spot market shape every retail quote.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average US propane price right now?

During the October–March heating season, the EIA Weekly Heating Oil and Propane Survey publishes a fresh national average every Monday. Heading into May 2026, residential propane has been running in the $2.40 to $3.20 per gallon range, with regional variation of roughly $1.00 between cheapest and most expensive PADDs. Always check the current EIA WHOPS release before assuming a specific number.

Does the EIA publish propane prices off-season?

No. The Weekly Heating Oil and Propane Survey runs only from October through March. From April to September the residential price series is paused. For year-round prices, the wholesale Mont Belvieu spot price is the most useful continuous data source.

Why is propane more expensive in winter?

Winter pulls residential demand into a narrow five-month window, drawing inventory down faster than refineries and fractionators can replace it. Dealers also recover their fixed costs across fewer summer gallons, so the per-gallon margin in heating season is higher. The full breakdown is on why propane is more expensive in winter.

Why is my propane price higher than the EIA average?

The EIA average is a national or PADD-level mean. Your address may sit at the end of a long delivery route, with low fill volumes, in a county served by one dealer with no local competition, or on a leased tank that limits shop-around freedom. Any of these will push your effective rate above the mean. Customer-owned tanks, larger fills and quote-shopping among 3+ dealers are the highest-leverage levers to close the gap.

Are propane prices regulated?

No. Unlike natural-gas utilities, US propane retail prices are not utility-regulated. They are set by individual dealers in a competitive market. State-level consumer protection laws exist in many states (anti-fill rules, deposit refunds, disclosure requirements) but no state PUC sets a propane tariff. The closest equivalent to a benchmark is the EIA survey, which is reporting, not regulation.

Going further

This page is the entry point to PropaneDeal's prices cluster. From here, the deeper resources are:

• Propane price per gallon — explains the per-gallon quote in detail
• Propane price trends — long-term historical context
• Propane price today — daily wholesale spot snapshot
• What affects propane prices — full driver breakdown
• Cost of filling a propane tank — turns the per-gallon rate into a fill estimate
• How to save on propane — usage-side levers, not just price-side
• Propane vs natural gas — when each fuel makes more economic sense