[Eric in the Ozarks]

Here are some cost estimates:

$4.95 per gallon Kero works out to $36.68 per million BTUs.

Most propane delivered by truck is in the $2.60/gallon range. This would be $28.57 per million BTUs.

Here's how I come up with these figures:

Kerosene has 135,000 BTUs in a gallon. There are 7.41 “135,000s” in 1 million. 7.41 X $4.95 = $36.6795 MM/BTU.

Propane has 91,000 BTUs in a gallon. There are 10.99 “91,000s” in 1 million. 10.99 X $2.60 = $28.574 per million BTUs.

A $19 twenty pound tank with an actual 20 pounds of propane (propane weighs 4.2 pounds per gallon or 84 gallons in a 20 pound tank) is somewhere north of $62 MM/BTUs.

It would be unusual for a 20 pound cylinder to be filled to more than 19 pounds, so the cost would approach $70 MM.

[virgil283]

Here are some cost estimates: $4.95 per gallon Kero works out to $36.68 per million BTUs. Most propane delivered by truck is in the $2.60/gallon range. This would be $28.57 per million BTUs.

Thanks Eric, you make all that seem simple.....and easy to understand.

[mrsmith]

“84 gallons in a 20 pound tank”
The internet hates for people to use math on it! From my experience there muxt be some person actively transposing numbers and moving decimals in any math work posted on it.

@ $1/pound, 21,000 BTU/lb.
I get $47.60/MBTU for a 20 pound tank.