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SlickFly 17.9K Views
Jun 18, 2021 6:49 PM

Propane Tank Refill by fill volume - BJ's price capped at $13.98

$14

BJs Wholesale
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https://www.bjs.com/help/what-siz...lub-fill-/

Hi All. I am researching a place to get my Blue Rhino Tanks refilled. I know that the exchange is a loss making proposition as the tanks are filled to 75% capacity only.

After making a few calls I found that BJ's is the lowest in MA. They fill by volume & the max price is capped at $13.98.

Could you guys share the lowest cost to get the Propane Tanks refilled?
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https://www.bjs.com/help/what-siz...lub-fill-/

Hi All. I am researching a place to get my Blue Rhino Tanks refilled. I know that the exchange is a loss making proposition as the tanks are filled to 75% capacity only.

After making a few calls I found that BJ's is the lowest in MA. They fill by volume & the max price is capped at $13.98.

Could you guys share the lowest cost to get the Propane Tanks refilled?

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43 Comments

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Jun 18, 2021 7:10 PM
15.7K Comments
Joined Feb 2007
sarcasmogratisJun 18, 2021 7:10 PM
15.7K Comments
Agree that refill rather than exchange is usually more cost effective.

Lowest price is going to be very regional, but a club like BJs has a good chance of being very competitive.

Also check commercial gas stations/heavy equipment rental places (like United or Sunbelt) as they often do refills
Jun 18, 2021 7:13 PM
1.5K Comments
Joined Jan 2011
bugelrexJun 18, 2021 7:13 PM
1.5K Comments
Blue rhino doesn't have a proprietary valve?
Jun 18, 2021 7:16 PM
311 Comments
Joined May 2010
syndkitJun 18, 2021 7:16 PM
311 Comments
It takes 4.6 gallons of LPG to fill a completely empty 20lb. cylinder. Tractor Supply charges by the gallon. So few places charge by the gallon. Most are preset prices on tank size. In my area it $2.89 a gallon that would be $13.294 for 20# tank. Also some propane companies are high price for refilling the small cylinders because they are a nuisance to them. There's no real profit for the time/labor it takes to perform the service. They prefer bulk deliveries. And normal exchange retailers you get 15 lbs of fuel for the price of twenty because of Federal Transportation Regulations so your net is (4.24 lbs per gallon=3.53gals). They will check the date on the tank so make sure before you go, the tank has a good date. https://www.ferrellgas.com/tank-t...o-do-next/ If not bite the bullet go to the exchange a find a newly inspected tank you can keep for about 5 years or more!
Jun 18, 2021 7:36 PM
360 Comments
Joined Sep 2010
froberts2Jun 18, 2021 7:36 PM
360 Comments
Quote from syndkit View quoted comment :
It takes 4.6 gallons of LPG to fill a completely empty 20lb. cylinder.
And just to being this back to the OP's comments around 75% full, 4.6 gallons is actually a 20lb cylinder at 80% full, which is the most that they should be filled to.

If Blue Rhino do fill to 75% as claimed then it's not like they are shorting you 25% as that number implies, but only <10%.
1
Jun 18, 2021 7:42 PM
108 Comments
Joined Jul 2007
ShortChangeJun 18, 2021 7:42 PM
108 Comments
I think that UHaul centers, the main ones, have propane - not the filling station pickup locations.
Original Poster
Jun 18, 2021 7:52 PM
609 Comments
Joined Jun 2019
SlickFly
Original Poster
Jun 18, 2021 7:52 PM
609 Comments
Quote from ShortChange View quoted comment :
I think that UHaul centers, the main ones, have propane - not the filling station pickup locations.
Yes you are right. I called my nearest Uhaul & learnt… they never carried Propane, but Uhaul website still populates their location on their propane link.
Original Poster
Jun 18, 2021 7:57 PM
609 Comments
Joined Jun 2019
SlickFly
Original Poster
Jun 18, 2021 7:57 PM
609 Comments
Quote from froberts2 View quoted comment :
And just to being this back to the OP's comments around 75% full, 4.6 gallons is actually a 20lb cylinder at 80% full, which is the most that they should be filled to.

If Blue Rhino do fill to 75% as claimed then it's not like they are shorting you 25% as that number implies, but only <10%.

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Jun 18, 2021 8:07 PM
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Joined Jun 2006
JamesqJun 18, 2021 8:07 PM
2.8K Comments
Quote from froberts2 View quoted comment :
And just to being this back to the OP's comments around 75% full, 4.6 gallons is actually a 20lb cylinder at 80% full, which is the most that they should be filled to.

If Blue Rhino do fill to 75% as claimed then it's not like they are shorting you 25% as that number implies, but only <10%.

So seems like a 20# tank is full (80%) at 20#. So a 20# tank filled to 100% would be 25#.

When filling a 20# tank to 80%, you will fill to 20#.

Those prefilled 15# tanks leave out 25% of the propane.... you are paying like $5gl when propane is like $2.25-$3.50gl

Guess the extra $4.50-$6 is the 'convenience fee' you have to pay to come back 33% more often and exchange your tank.
Jun 18, 2021 8:13 PM
438 Comments
Joined Jun 2004
FFPlayerVIIIJun 18, 2021 8:13 PM
438 Comments
I go to ACE Hardware for my propane refills.
Jun 18, 2021 8:54 PM
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Joined Jul 2019

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Jun 18, 2021 9:40 PM
15.7K Comments
Joined Feb 2007
sarcasmogratisJun 18, 2021 9:40 PM
15.7K Comments
Quote from IndiaPaleAle View quoted comment :
I'll take the exchange vs time equity going somewhere exclusively for a propane refill, especially when you consider Walmart pretty easy to slip past the exchange part and get a full tank for $16.
Yes, theft is cheaper.
You are correct.
🤦
1
Jun 18, 2021 10:06 PM
3.7K Comments
Joined Jul 2019

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Jun 18, 2021 10:17 PM
28 Comments
Joined Jun 2011
fuprestiJun 18, 2021 10:17 PM
28 Comments
Most U-Haul company owned stores pump propane by the gallon.

https://www.uhaul.com/Propane/
1
Jun 18, 2021 10:25 PM
602 Comments
Joined May 2014
GlockGuy07Jun 18, 2021 10:25 PM
602 Comments
I just filled 2 tanks and it cost just under $20. I only ever fill there

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Jun 18, 2021 10:54 PM
1.6K Comments
Joined Nov 2012
tomeaineJun 18, 2021 10:54 PM
1.6K Comments
Standard 20# tank refill is $11 near me in Mass. I typically just use a blue rhino tank in circulation..once it goes bad replace it at Walmart and refill

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