Camp Stove Fuel Estimator
Estimate how many gas canisters or how much white gas, propane or alcohol your trip needs – and what it costs. All costs in US dollars (USD).
Camp Stove Fuel Calculator: How Many Gas Canisters Do I Need?
Running out of stove fuel on day three of a backpacking trip means cold dinners and no morning coffee. Carrying too much means extra weight and wasted money. Our free camp stove fuel calculator estimates exactly how much stove fuel you need for any hike, camping trip or expedition, and what it will cost in US dollars.
It covers every common camping stove: isobutane gas canister stoves (MSR PocketRocket-style), integrated canister systems (Jetboil-style), car-camping propane stoves with 16.4 oz green cylinders, liquid fuel stoves burning white gas or Coleman fuel, and ultralight alcohol stoves. The estimator adjusts for cold weather, wind, altitude and snow melting, and adds a safety margin so you never come up short.
How to use the backpacking fuel calculator
- Choose your stove and fuel type, then the canister, cylinder or can size you plan to buy. A typical price is filled in, which you can edit.
- Enter people and days.
- Add hot meals per person per day and the water boiled for each meal. Freeze-dried meals usually need 0.4–0.6 litres (about 2 cups).
- Add hot drinks such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate, and any simmering time if you cook real meals like pasta or rice.
- Set the conditions: temperature, wind and altitude. If you are winter camping, add the snow you will melt for water.
- Read how many canisters to bring, the total fuel in grams or millilitres, the fuel weight, the leftover fuel and the cost per person.
How much stove fuel per person per day?
These are good rules of thumb for three-season conditions when you mostly boil water:
| Stove type | Fuel to boil 1 litre | Per person per day* |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated canister system (Jetboil-style) | 7–10 g | 12–20 g |
| Upright canister stove (isobutane) | 10–14 g | 20–30 g |
| Liquid fuel – white gas | 20–30 ml | 35–60 ml |
| Alcohol stove | 30–40 ml | 50–80 ml |
| Two-burner propane camp stove | 18–25 g | 40–80 g (more with real cooking) |
*Based on two hot meals and one hot drink per day (about 1.25–1.75 litres of water). Cold weather, wind and simmering can double these numbers.
Example: 2 people, 3 days, canister stove
Two hikers each eat two hot meals a day (0.5 L each) and have one hot drink (0.25 L). That is 2 × (1.0 + 0.25) = 2.5 litres a day, or 7.5 litres over three days. At 12 g per litre, that is 90 g of fuel. In mild weather (×1.15) with a 15% safety margin, it comes to about 119 g of isobutane: one 230 g (8 oz) canister with plenty to spare, for about $8.
Gas canister sizes: 100 g vs 230 g vs 450 g
| Canister | Fuel | Typical boils (1 L) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g / 3.5–4 oz | 100 g | 8–10 | Solo overnights, 1–2 people for 1–2 days |
| 230 g / 8 oz | 230 g | 17–23 | Most weekend and 3–5 day backpacking trips |
| 450 g / 16 oz | 450 g | 35–45 | Groups, base camps, longer trips |
Larger canisters cost less per gram, but the steel weighs more. The calculator compares every size so you can pick the lightest or cheapest option for your trip.
Tip: Weigh your canisters. A full 230 g canister weighs about 360–370 g with its steel shell. Subtract the empty weight printed on some canisters (or weigh an empty one) to see how much fuel is left, then take the partly used canisters on short trips.
Canister vs white gas vs alcohol: which fuel is best?
Isobutane canister stoves
Canister stoves are light, clean and easy, with simmer control and no priming. Their weakness is the cold: butane struggles to vaporise below about 32°F (0°C), so output drops in freezing weather. Keep the canister warm, choose an isobutane/propane blend, or use an inverted-canister stove in winter.
White gas (liquid fuel) stoves
Liquid fuel stoves burn hot in any temperature and at high altitude, and you can see exactly how much fuel is left in the bottle. They are the classic choice for winter camping, snow melting, mountaineering and groups. They need priming and a little maintenance.
Alcohol stoves
Alcohol stoves are ultralight, silent and cheap to run with denatured alcohol (methylated spirits in the UK). They are slower and struggle in wind and cold, so they suit solo hikers who only boil water.
Propane camp stoves
Two-burner propane stoves are the go-to for car camping and family camping. Disposable 16.4 oz cylinders are convenient. If you camp often, a refillable 20 lb tank with an adapter hose is cheaper per meal and reduces waste.
How weather, wind and altitude change fuel use
- Cold: near-freezing water takes longer to heat, and canisters lose pressure. Budget 30–60% more fuel.
- Wind: a breeze can steal half your stove’s heat. Always use a windscreen with liquid fuel and alcohol stoves (but never fully enclose a canister).
- Altitude: water boils at a lower temperature, so cooking food takes longer, although boiling water is a little faster.
- Snow melting: turning snow into water uses roughly twice the fuel of boiling the same amount of liquid water. Winter campers often plan 150–250 g of fuel per person per day.
10 ways to use less stove fuel
- Use a lid on every pot. It is the easiest fuel saver of all.
- Use a windscreen or cook in a sheltered spot.
- Boil only the water you need, and measure it.
- Choose a heat-exchanger pot or an integrated stove system.
- Run the stove at medium, not full blast, because full flame wastes heat up the sides of the pot.
- Cold-soak or rehydrate meals in a cosy instead of simmering.
- Start with water warmed by the sun, or with stream water rather than snow.
- Keep canisters warm in cold weather, inside your jacket or sleeping bag.
- Cook as a group with one big pot instead of several small ones.
- Test your stove at home to learn its real fuel consumption.
Buying and travelling with stove fuel
You cannot fly with gas canisters or white gas in the USA or the UK, in either checked or carry-on bags. Plan to buy fuel at your destination at outdoor stores, big-box retailers, hardware stores or trail towns. On thru-hikes such as the Appalachian Trail, the PCT or the West Highland Way, check which resupply points sell canisters. Always pack out empty canisters and recycle them where facilities allow.
Budgeting a full trip? Add driving costs with the road trip fuel cost calculator, and permits and parking with the trailhead parking & permit cost tool.
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Frequently asked questions
How many gas canisters do I need for a 3-day hike?
For two people boiling water for two meals and a hot drink each day, one 230 g (8 oz) isobutane canister is usually enough for three days in mild weather. Solo hikers can often use a 100 g canister. Use the calculator to adjust for your meals, the temperature and wind.
How long does a 230g gas canister last?
A 230 g canister boils roughly 17–23 litres of water with a standard canister stove, or more with an integrated system. That is about 6–10 person-days of boil-only cooking in three-season conditions.
How much stove fuel do I need per person per day?
Plan about 20–30 g of isobutane, or 35–60 ml of white gas, per person per day for boil-only meals in three-season weather. Winter camping and snow melting can raise this to 150–250 g per person per day.
Do canister stoves work in cold weather?
Canister stoves lose pressure below about 32°F (0°C) because butane stops vaporising well. Isobutane/propane blends, keeping the canister warm, or an inverted-canister stove help. For sustained freezing temperatures, white gas stoves are more reliable.
How long does a 16.4 oz propane cylinder last?
A 16.4 oz (465 g) propane cylinder lasts about 1–2 hours on one burner at full flame, or roughly two to four days of breakfast and dinner cooking for two people on a two-burner camp stove.
Can I fly with camping gas canisters?
No. Gas canisters, white gas and other stove fuels are not allowed in checked or carry-on luggage on flights in the USA, UK and most other countries. Buy fuel at your destination.
How do I check how much fuel is left in a canister?
Weigh it on a kitchen scale and subtract the empty canister weight. You can also float it in water: many canisters have a gauge on the side showing the fuel level by how high it floats.