Propane tank installation costs $300 to $3,000 for an above-ground tank or $1,500 to $5,000 underground, including the tank and labor, per HomeGuide (January 2026)1. Angi and HomeAdvisor both publish a national average of $1,400 with most homeowners spending $600 to $2,50023 — the two are corporate siblings, and matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration. HomeAdvisor’s body text also gives a broader $350 to $5,500 spread against its own $600 to $2,500 normal range — presented as published3. Figures below are the latest published data from each source.
Cost by tank size
HomeGuide’s table includes the tank and installation1:
| Tank size (gallons) | Average total cost, installed (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Under 100 | $20–$65 |
| 100 | $300–$500 |
| 120 | $400–$900 |
| 250 | $500–$1,200 |
| 330 | $700–$1,500 |
| 500 | $1,000–$2,500 |
| 1,000 | $2,000–$5,000 |
HomeAdvisor’s size table publishes different figures — the table’s scope label doesn’t say whether labor is included, so treat these as published costs, units not specified3:
| Tank size (gallons) | Average cost range (HomeAdvisor) |
|---|---|
| Less than 100 | $35–$300 |
| 100 | $350–$500 |
| 120 | $400–$800 |
| 250 | $500–$1,000 |
| 500 | $700–$3,000 |
| 1,000 | $1,500–$5,500 |
Angi publishes its own five-row size table, from $35 to $55 at the small end to $400 to $800 at 420 — and repeats the identical rows under a second by-pounds label, presented as published2. Angi and HomeAdvisor both put a 250-gallon tank at $500 to $1,00023. Most homes heating with propane need a 500-gallon tank on HomeAdvisor’s sizing note, which HomeGuide prices at $1,000 to $2,500 installed13.
Above-ground vs. underground
HomeGuide prices above-ground installation at $300 to $3,000 and underground at $1,500 to $5,000, tank and labor included1. Angi and HomeAdvisor publish identical location figures: $400 to $3,500 above ground and $1,500 to $5,500 underground — corporate siblings, and matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration23. Angi’s own comparison puts underground installs at $1,100 to $4,700 more than above-ground — its own framing, attributed2.
Cost breakdown
HomeGuide’s breakdown by installation type1:
| Factor | Above-ground (HomeGuide) | Underground (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|---|
| Tank | $50–$2,000 | $500–$2,500 |
| Installation labor | $100–$500 | $200–$800 |
| Concrete pad | $75–$200 | N/A |
| Gas line connection | $75–$300 | $300–$700 |
| Excavation / trenching | N/A | $500–$1,000 |
| Total installed | $300–$3,000 | $1,500–$5,000 |
The same HomeGuide page’s headline labor figures are higher — $250 to $1,000 above ground and $1,000 to $2,500 underground, labor only — a different label than the breakdown table’s installation-labor rows, presented as published1.
Underground installation extras
Angi and HomeAdvisor publish identical underground line items: excavation at $50 to $200 per cubic yard, with a 500-gallon tank needing 10 to 12 cubic yards ($500 to $2,400); trenching at $400 to $1,200, which Angi prices per 100 linear feet; plumbing at $45 to $200 per hour; and gas line work at $120 to $1,35023. Both also price gas line installation separately at $250 to $800 with a $540 average at $15 to $25 per linear foot — a different scope label than the underground bullet, presented as published23. HomeGuide adds excavation at $100 to $300 per hour for an excavator and operator, trenching at $5 to $12 per linear foot, and gas line installation at $15 to $50+ per linear foot1.
Concrete pads
Angi and HomeAdvisor publish identical pad figures: $50 to $175 on average, or $4 to $25 per square foot depending on thickness — $50 to $75 for a 120-gallon tank, $75 to $125 for 250 gallons, and $125 to $175 for 500 gallons23. HomeGuide’s breakdown lists the concrete pad at $75 to $200, and separately prices a new concrete slab at $5 to $10 per square foot installed — different figures with different labels, presented as published1.
Labor and the tank itself
Angi puts labor at $250 to $5,000 with the tank itself at $30 to $3,500 depending on capacity2; HomeAdvisor publishes the same $250 to $5,000 labor range but $35 to $3,500 for materials — matching labor figures between corporate siblings, with a small divergence on the tank floor, presented as published23. HomeGuide’s headline labor figures are $250 to $1,000 above ground and $1,000 to $2,500 underground1.
Permits and inspections
Permit requirements and fees vary by municipality, so confirm with your local building authority; installers typically handle the paperwork. For budgeting, HomeGuide prices propane tank permits at $25 to $50, while Angi and HomeAdvisor both publish $25 to $150123. On inspections, all three sources publish $50 to $75 per year — HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor scope that figure to buried tanks, Angi states it generally123. HomeGuide adds that portable cylinders under 100 pounds need periodic recertification at $40 to $60 every 5 to 12 years from the manufacture date1.
Buying vs. renting
HomeGuide prices tank rental at $25 to $150+ per year; Angi publishes $150 to $180 per year — the rental figures diverge, presented as published12. Owning means a higher upfront cost but lets you choose your supplier and negotiate the per-gallon rate; renting shifts repairs and maintenance to the propane company but usually locks you to its fuel12. Angi notes some companies waive the rental fee and charge a higher per-gallon rate instead2.
Refill costs
HomeGuide prices propane at $3 to $5 per gallon and notes tanks are filled to about 80% capacity for expansion1. Angi cites the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s $2.58-per-gallon average as of March 2024 — dated data, presented as dated — with state prices from about $1.60 to over $5 per gallon2. Angi and HomeAdvisor both put filling a 500-gallon tank at $600 to $1,60023, while a 20-pound grill tank runs $7 to $20 to fill or $42 to $80 full on Angi2. HomeGuide’s refill table by size1:
| Tank size | Capacity (gallons) | Average refill cost (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 lbs. | 4.6 | $15–$25 |
| 100 lbs. | 23 | $70–$120 |
| 120 gallons | 96 | $300–$500 |
| 250 gallons | 200 | $600–$1,000 |
| 330 gallons | 264 | $800–$1,300 |
| 500 gallons | 400 | $1,200–$2,000 |
| 1,000 gallons | 800 | $2,400–$4,000 |
How much propane a home uses
HomeGuide estimates a 2,000-square-foot home in a cold climate uses around 800 gallons per year when heat and appliances run on propane, and publishes per-appliance monthly usage: furnace 80 gallons ($240 to $400), water heater 20 gallons ($60 to $100), fireplace 16 gallons ($50 to $80), cooktop 5 gallons ($15 to $25), and clothes dryer 5 gallons ($15 to $25), all at its $3-to-$5-per-gallon price1. See our propane furnace cost guide for the heating side of the bill.
Tank prices by brand
HomeGuide’s brand table, tank unit only and labor excluded1:
| Brand | Average tank price (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| AmeriGas | $300–$1,200 |
| Blue Rhino | $15–$65 |
| Flame King | $25–$400 |
| Ferrellgas | $50–$250 portable; $300–$1,200 permanent |
Removal, relocation, and extra fees
HomeGuide prices removing an above-ground tank at $50 to $200 and a buried tank at about $500; Angi puts removal at $100 to $1,500 spanning unhooking to excavation, plus $200 if the pad needs replacing — different ranges with different scope descriptions, presented as published12. Relocating a tank runs $100 to $200 above ground or $1,000 to $1,500 buried on HomeGuide, which also lists a $25 minimum delivery fee, $200 extra for 3-day expedited delivery, $300 extra for 1-day emergency delivery, a $10 hazmat fee, and $100 to $250 early-termination fees on service contracts1.
Tank lifespan
The siblings diverge here: Angi puts tank life at about 12 years, with federal requalification or replacement every 5 or 10 years depending on type; HomeAdvisor says a maintained tank delivers over 30 years, citing the same 5-to-10-year federal requalification cycle — presented as published, attributed to each23.
Related cost guides
Start with propane furnace cost, then see gas line installation cost, furnace replacement cost and generator installation cost.
The bottom line
Budget $300 to $3,000 for an above-ground tank or $1,500 to $5,000 underground, installed, on HomeGuide’s figures, or $600 to $2,500 on the range Angi and HomeAdvisor both publish, with the 500-gallon size most homes need at $1,000 to $2,500 installed on HomeGuide. Renting at $25 to $150+ per year on HomeGuide or $150 to $180 on Angi trades a lower upfront cost for supplier lock-in, and refills run $3 to $5 per gallon on HomeGuide’s pricing. Get the pad, gas line, permits, and first fill itemized in the same quote as the tank.
*Installed figures are HomeGuide’s published data and include tank and labor. Sources (each fetched and read October 26, 2026; figures are each publisher’s latest published data):
1. HomeGuide, “How Much Does a Propane Tank Installation Cost?” (January 5, 2026) — homeguide.com/costs/propane-tank-installation-cost
2. Angi, “How Much Does Installing a Propane Tank Cost?” (updated October 19, 2026) — angi.com/articles/propane-tank-installation-cost.htm
3. HomeAdvisor, “How Much Does Propane Tank Installation Cost?” (updated June 19, 2026) — homeadvisor.com/cost/plumbing/propane-tank-installation