Choosing the Right Propane Tank Size for Your Restaurant

Posted: February 24, 2025

How does your hospitality business use propane?

If your business provides delectable cuisine and a wonderful dining experience for patrons, then you need dependable energy to power your cooking appliances, HVAC systems and other essential equipment.

At East Coast Propane, we proudly deliver fuel that powers the commercial kitchens of dining establishments in Newtown and throughout Bucks County. We also assist these businesses in identifying and installing the best propane tank size for their business needs.

In this article, we will discuss the reasoning behind choosing a particular commercial propane tank for a restaurant.

How Do Restaurants Use Propane?

As apparent as it might sound, the most important factor that determines how large a propane tank a restaurant needs is how many propane systems and appliances they have.

Here are a few of the standard uses for propane in restaurants:

1. Propane furnaces and boilers provide heat for dining spaces.
2. Commercial kitchens use propane to power a wide range of gas cooking products, like ranges, cooktops, ovens, broilers, griddles, fryers and warming stations.
3. Energy-efficient propane water heaters (traditional and tankless) provide hot water to clean dishes, cutlery, cookware, linens and uniforms.
4. Patio heaters and firepits allow diners to enjoy al fresco meals when it’s chilly outside.
5. Propane-powered gas logs and fireplaces elevate the ambiance of your lobby, bar and dining rooms.

Standard Commercial Propane Tank Sizes

There are multiple sizes of containers that can provide propane gas to your commercial appliances. If you need to power an individual patio heater, firepit or outdoor grilling station, a portable propane cylinder (20-, 30- or 40-pound) would probably be sufficient.

For larger appliances and systems, you’ll want to consider some higher-capacity tanks:

• One or two low-use propane appliances may require only a 60-gallon or 120-gallon tank.
• Several propane appliances would call for a 250-gallon or 325-gallon tank.
• Once you’re considering space heating and multiple propane appliances, you would want to look at a 500-gallon propane tank at a minimum. Many restaurants would use a 1,000-gallon or larger tank.

East Coast Propane Will Set You Up with the Fuel Service You Need.

The number of propane products you have is just the start of the calculations involved in choosing the right propane tank size for your restaurant. The East Coast Propane team will take into account the fuel efficiency ratings of the equipment in your commercial kitchen, as well as your space heating and water heating systems. If you use propane for heating, we’ll also account for the size of your restaurant and how well the building is insulated.

From there, the ECP team can install a commercial propane tank that will serve your needs. We’ll also develop a customized bulk propane delivery schedule so that you won’t run low on fuel.

At East Coast Propane, we value the satisfaction of you, your workforce and your patrons. To receive premium propane from a locally-based team that truly wants to help your business succeed, become an ECP customer today.