Common Stationary Propane Tank Sizes
Stationary sizes are water-capacity gallons. PERC dimensions are guidance and vary by manufacturer; confirm the exact tank before installation.
The full U.S.-unit reference remains available below. Search and metric conversion require JavaScript.
| Tank size / water capacity | Approx. propane at 80% | Outside diameter | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 gal | 96 gal | 24 in | 5 ft 6 in |
| 250 gal | 200 gal | 30 in | 7 ft 8 in |
| 320 gal | 256 gal | 32 in | 9 ft |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | 38 in | 10 ft |
| 1,000 gal | 800 gal | 40 in | 16 ft 8 in |
| 2,000 gal | 1,600 gal | 49 in | 21 ft 4 in |
The 80% column is a transparent reference calculation: water capacity × 0.80. It is not an instruction to fill a tank or a substitute for the tank data plate, supplier requirements, or applicable codes.
How Common Stationary Tank Sizes Compare
Relative side-view scale using PERC guidance dimensions. Tank fittings are intentionally omitted; proportions are for size comparison only.
Portable Propane Cylinder Size Chart
Portable cylinders are commonly identified by pounds of LPG. Values below are for Worthington’s cited steel portable-cylinder family; its published dimensions are approximate and other products can differ.
| Propane rating | LPG capacity | Height | Diameter | Nominal tare weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.25 lb | 1 gal | 11.8 in | 9.1 in | 11 lb |
| 11 lb | 2.6 gal | 16.6 in | 9.1 in | 13.3 lb |
| 20 lb | 4.7 gal | 17.2 in | 12.3 in | 16.6 lb |
| 30 lb | 7.1 gal | 23.7 in | 12.3 in | 23.3 lb |
| 40 lb | 9.4 gal | 29.3 in | 12.3 in | 28.7 lb |
| 43.5 lb | 10.3 gal | 32.5 in | 12.3 in | 33.9 lb |
| 60 lb | 14.2 gal | 44.1 in | 12 in | 48.1 lb |
| 100 lb | 23.6 gal | 48 in | 14.7 in | 68 lb |
Other Common Propane Sizes You May See
These are useful real-world cross-references, but they are kept separate because they come from different product/supplier families than the primary PERC stationary table and Worthington portable-cylinder table.
325 gallon stationary tank
260 gal at 80%
Ferrellgas lists a common 325-gallon tank at approximately 30 in diameter × 10 ft long. Treat these as supplier guidance, not universal manufacturer dimensions.
33.5 lb steel forklift cylinder
7.9 gal LPG
Worthington’s steel forklift specification lists approximately 26.9 in high × 12.3 in diameter and a 34.5 lb nominal tare.
What Are Common Propane Tank Sizes Used For?
Application examples help identify a size, but they are not sizing recommendations. Actual selection depends on appliance load, climate, vaporization, delivery interval, container type, and local requirements.
| Size | Common example use |
|---|---|
| 20 lb | Grills and portable outdoor appliances |
| 33.5 lb | Forklift / material-handling cylinder |
| 120 gal | One or two lower-use residential propane appliances |
| 250 gal | Moderate residential use or several propane appliances |
| 325 gal | Backup generators or smaller-home applications |
| 500 gal | Whole-home heating and multiple appliances in many installations |
| 1,000 gal | Higher-demand residential, commercial, or agricultural use |
DOT Cylinder vs. ASME Propane Tank
Portable cylinders
Common refillable portable propane cylinders are DOT-specification containers. They are commonly identified by propane weight, such as 20 lb, 30 lb, 40 lb, or 100 lb.
Stationary tanks
Permanently installed residential and commercial storage tanks are commonly ASME containers and are usually described by water-capacity gallons such as 120, 250, 500, or 1,000 gallons.
Do not identify or approve a container solely from its apparent capacity. Use the actual data plate and manufacturer specification.
What Does a Propane Tank’s “Size” Mean?
Two sizing conventions appear in everyday propane use. Refillable portable cylinders are commonly labeled by the pounds of propane they are intended to contain, while stationary ASME storage tanks are commonly described by water-capacity gallons. That is why a 20 lb cylinder and a 500 gallon stationary tank should not be compared as though the numbers represent the same quantity.
The stationary dimensions on this page are general PERC guidance. PERC explicitly notes that tank sizes and dimensions vary by manufacturer, so use the chart for identification and space planning only until the exact tank model is known.
Why Doesn’t a 500 Gallon Tank Hold 500 Gallons of Liquid Propane?
The “500 gallon” designation is water capacity. Using the normal 80% reference convention in the research basis, the quick comparison is 500 gal × 0.80 ≈ 400 gal of propane. Treat that as an approximate reference value, not a filling instruction; the actual permitted fill is governed by the container, filling equipment, conditions, supplier practices, and applicable requirements.
420 lb vs. 120 Gallon Propane Tanks
The names come from different rating conventions. The cited Worthington 420 lb vertical heating tank is specified at 100 gallons of LPG capacity and 52 inches high by 30 inches in diameter. PERC’s general 120 gallon stationary-storage row is a water-capacity designation with different guidance dimensions. Always compare the actual product data plate and manufacturer specification instead of assuming the names are interchangeable.
How Do You Choose a Propane Tank Size?
This chart answers the dimensional lookup question; it does not select a tank for a building. PERC notes that proper ASME storage-tank sizing depends on factors that affect vaporization, including liquid level, surrounding temperature, whether the container is aboveground or underground, and the lowest winter temperature at the location. Actual system selection also depends on connected appliance load and the desired delivery interval.
Installation clearances, placement, transport, pressure/strength approval, underground suitability, and code compliance are outside this chart’s scope. Confirm those requirements with the actual tank specification, a propane professional, and applicable codes.
Sources, Scope, and Verification
Stationary tanks: Propane Education & Research Council, The Propane Technical Pocket Guide, accessible 2021 publication (4482-BR-21), Table 4, “Propane Storage Tank Capacities and Measurements.” The table provides water capacity, outside diameter, and length and states that its dimensions are guidance because tank dimensions vary by manufacturer. PERC currently lists product 4482-BR-25 as the current Technical Pocket Guide; that package requires account access, so this page does not claim the public 2021 dimensional table is the latest revision.
Portable cylinders: Worthington Enterprises, Steel Portable Cylinders LPG, February 2025. This page uses its model/size, LPG capacity, approximate height and diameter, and nominal tare-weight fields. The 60 lb U.S. LPG capacity is displayed as 14.2 gal, consistent with Worthington’s published 53.8 L metric value.
420 lb cross-reference: Worthington Enterprises, Heating Tanks LPG, February 2025, 420 lb model.
Method: source values are stored in U.S. customary units. Metric display values are mathematical conversions of the cited U.S. values—not copied from a manufacturer’s separately published metric column—using 1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 U.S. gal = 3.785411784 L, and 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. Stationary 80% values are calculated as water capacity × 0.80. Dataset version: T2E-PROPANE-CONTAINER-SIZES-2026-09-v1.1.
Propane Tank Size FAQ
The cited Worthington 20 lb steel portable cylinder lists 4.7 gallons of LPG capacity. Other cylinder products should be checked against their own data plate and manufacturer specification.
PERC’s Table 4 guidance lists a 500 gallon water-capacity tank at 38 inches outside diameter and 10 feet long. PERC also states that dimensions vary by manufacturer.
Using the page’s transparent 80% reference calculation, 1,000 gallons of water capacity × 0.80 = approximately 800 gallons of propane. This is a reference value, not a filling instruction.
No. PERC explicitly labels its stationary dimensions as guidance because tank sizes and dimensions vary by manufacturer. Confirm the exact product specification before planning an installation.