How Much to Refill Gas Bottle? Your Ultimate Guide to Gas Bottle Refilling and Cost Comparison in the UK

Refilling a propane gas bottle in the UK costs anywhere from £23.00 for a small 5kg BBQ cylinder up to £92.00 for a large 46kg bottle, based on retailer prices current as of May 2026. The exact figure depends on bottle size, your location, and which supplier you use. Prices vary enough between regions that it pays to check local suppliers rather than assuming a national rate applies to you.

What Does It Actually Cost to Refill a Gas Bottle in the UK?

Below is a breakdown of current propane refill prices from named UK retailers, giving you concrete figures to compare rather than vague ranges.

The Flogas 47kg bottle from Gas Depot UK at £89.99 with free London delivery works out fractionally cheaper per kilogram than Cheshire Gas's 46kg at £92.00. If you are in the capital and buying at that size, it is a straightforward saving.

Why Does the Price Vary So Much Between Suppliers?

Delivery area is the biggest factor. A supplier covering a tight local radius, like Boltons Bottle Gas in Bolton, can offer free delivery because the logistics are simple. A national supplier charging for courier delivery to a rural postcode will look more expensive on paper, even if the gas itself is priced similarly.

Bottle size also affects the per-kilogram cost considerably. The 5kg refill from Boltons works out at £4.60 per kg. Cheshire Gas's 46kg bottle at £92.00 works out at £2.00 per kg, less than half the price per unit of gas. If you use large volumes regularly, bigger cylinders save money over time.

The exchange model matters too. Towler & Staines charges £69.99 for a 13kg Calor cylinder when you are not handing back an empty. Hand one in and the price drops. Always ask the supplier what the exchange rate is before assuming the listed price applies to your situation.

Propane vs Butane: Does the Type Affect Refill Cost?

Propane and butane are priced similarly by volume, but they suit different jobs. Propane performs better in cold weather, which is why it is the standard choice for outdoor heaters, BBQs, and most home heating systems. Butane is more common for indoor portable heaters and camping stoves used in mild conditions. The prices in this article are all propane, as that is where most UK households spend their gas budget. Butane refill prices follow a similar structure, so the same size-and-supplier logic applies.

How to Find the Best Refill Price Near You

Start with a simple search for "propane gas bottle refill [your town]" rather than assuming a national supplier will be cheapest. Local independent gas merchants often undercut the big brands and offer free local delivery that national sites cannot match. Calor Gas has a dealer locator on its website that lists stockists by postcode, which is a useful starting point if you are specifically after exchange cylinders.

Watch out for VAT. The Towler & Staines price of £69.99 is listed as inclusive of VAT, which is the honest way to display it. Some trade-focused suppliers quote ex-VAT prices, so a figure that looks cheap can jump 20% at checkout. It is an easy mistake to make when comparing across suppliers.

If you use gas heavily, say running a heating system through winter, contact a regional distributor directly and ask about account pricing. Volume customers often get rates that never appear online.

Is It Cheaper to Buy a New Bottle or Refill?

Refilling is almost always cheaper than buying a new filled cylinder outright, once you own the bottle. The upfront cost of buying new includes the hardware itself, which for a 13kg Calor bottle can add £30 to £50 on top of the gas price. Once you are on the exchange system, you pay only for the gas. Keep your empty cylinder in good condition, because damaged or out-of-date bottles may be refused at the exchange point, leaving you paying full price for a new one.

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