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Grill Fuel Cost per Cookout Calculator

Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.

Compares what a single cookout costs on propane versus natural gas and shows how long a dedicated gas line takes to pay for itself, for owners choosing a fuel before the grill is built in.

Your numbers

Results update as you type.

Your estimate

Propane cost per cookout...
Natural gas cost per cookout...
Annual savings with natural gas...
Gas line payback...

Estimates only. Assumptions are listed below, and you can change every input.

The fuel decision on a built-in grill is permanent in a way that a freestanding cart never is. Once the orifices are set and the counter is closed up, switching from propane cylinders to a plumbed natural gas line means a conversion kit at best and a new grill at worst. Most buyers know natural gas is cheaper per cookout but have no idea whether the savings justify trenching a line across the yard.

This calculator converts your grill's average burner output and cook time into the energy used per session, then prices that energy two ways: by the share of a 20 pound propane cylinder it consumes, and by the therms of natural gas it would draw at your utility's rate. Multiply by how often you cook and you get the annual difference, and dividing the cost of the gas line by that difference gives an honest payback period. It ignores taste, convenience, and the pleasure of never running out mid-sear, which are reasons enough for many owners.

How to use this tool

  1. Find your grill's rated main burner BTU in its specification sheet, then scale it down to the share of full output you actually cook at.
  2. Enter how long the burners run per cookout, how many cookouts you host in a year, and the fuel prices from your propane supplier and your gas bill.
  3. Add the plumber's quote for the gas line and compare the per-cookout costs, the annual savings, and the payback period.

What the math assumes

  • A 20 pound propane cylinder is assumed to deliver about 430,000 BTU, which is roughly 4.7 gallons of propane at about 91,500 BTU per gallon; exchange cylinders are often filled to less than that, so real cost per cookout can run higher.
  • One therm of natural gas equals 100,000 BTU by definition, and your utility's price per therm is assumed to include delivery charges if you enter it that way.
  • The burner output you enter is treated as a steady average across the whole session, including preheat, and the grill is assumed to be shut off promptly when cooking ends.
  • Annual savings equals the propane cost minus the natural gas cost for one cookout, multiplied by the number of cookouts you enter; payback simply divides the gas line cost by that figure.
  • The calculator ignores the cost of the grill itself, any conversion kit, cylinder deposits, and the value of not running out of fuel, all of which can change the decision.

Frequently asked questions

Why is natural gas usually cheaper per cookout than propane?

Natural gas is metered at utility rates and delivered by pipe, while propane arrives in a cylinder that includes the cost of filling, transporting, and exchanging it. The gap varies with local prices, so enter your own numbers rather than trusting a rule of thumb.

Does a natural gas grill cook any differently from a propane one?

The heat output is designed to be the same once the grill is fitted with the correct orifices for its fuel. What changes is that you never swap a cylinder and never run out halfway through a dinner party.

Can I convert a propane grill to natural gas later?

Some manufacturers sell conversion kits and some forbid conversion entirely, so check before you buy. The safer path on a built-in is to decide the fuel first and order the grill in that configuration.

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