Most Hill Country homes heating with propane need a 500 gallon tank. If propane only runs your cooktop and hot water, a 250 is usually enough, and a large house, a pool heater or a difficult driveway pushes you to a 1000. Tank size follows what you burn, not the square footage of the house.
Here is how the sizes compare and what actually moves the decision. It is one part of our complete guide to propane tanks.
What are the common propane tank sizes
Four sizes cover almost every home we serve around Buchanan Dam, Marble Falls and out toward Leander.
| Tank | What it usually runs | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| 120 gallon | One or two appliances | Hot water, a cooktop, a fireplace |
| 250 gallon | A few appliances, light heat | Smaller homes and weekend places |
| 500 gallon | Whole home heat, hot water, cooking | The most common residential tank |
| 1000 gallon | Large or high use homes | Also used where access is hard |
Capacity is not what you get
A 500 gallon tank holds about 400 gallons when full, because propane needs room to expand. Every size on that table behaves the same way, so compare them against each other rather than against the number on the label.
What decides the size you need
Four questions, and the first one does most of the work.
- Does propane heat the house, or only run a couple of appliances.
- Is there a pool heater, a shop heater or a standby appliance with a big draw.
- How often do you want a delivery, and how bad is the driveway.
- Is the house lived in year round, or is it a weekend place.
Heating is the dividing line
Whole home heat is far and away the biggest draw on a propane system in a Texas winter. A house that heats with propane is in 500 gallon territory before you count anything else.
Distance is a real factor out here
A place down a long road at Briggs or Andice is better off with more capacity and fewer visits. If you are unsure, call us and describe the property.
Is it better to go bigger
Usually yes, where it is a close call. You pay for the gallons you take, not for the size of the tank, so spare capacity does not cost you fuel.
What a bigger tank buys you
A longer runway in a cold snap, fewer deliveries, and more room to wait out a busy week. That is worth a lot in a part of the world where everybody needs propane in the same three days.
What it costs you
Space, and a larger clearance to the house and the property line, because required distances grow with tank size under NFPA 58. On a tight lot that can be the thing that decides it.
Frequently asked questions
What size propane tank do I need for a whole house
Usually a 500 gallon tank if propane is heating the house. A large home, a pool heater or a hard to reach property can push that to 1000.
How many gallons does a 500 gallon propane tank actually hold
About 400 when it is full, because propane is only filled to roughly 80 percent of capacity to leave room for expansion.
Can I change to a bigger tank later
Yes, though it means a tank swap and the new size has to meet the clearance rules in its position. Easier to get right the first time.
Does a bigger propane tank cost more to fill
Only in the sense that it holds more. The price is per gallon, so a bigger tank is a larger delivery rather than a more expensive one.
4-T Propane sizes and sets tanks across the Highland Lakes and Northwest Austin. Tell us what the house runs and we will tell you what it needs.
4-T Propane15115 TX-29, Buchanan Dam, TX 78609
(830) 220-9240