Arkansas Propane Price 2026: Cost Per Gallon, Suppliers & Delivery

Arkansas residential propane runs $2.37/gal in 2026, roughly -11% versus the national average and -27% versus the South regional norm. The full breakdown: real fill-cost math by tank size, the rice-drying and poultry-brooder demand that shapes Arkansas supply, LIHEAP via the Arkansas Energy Office, LPG Board licensing, and how to actually save money in a low-cost market.

Latest EIA residential propane price

Source: EIA Arkansas residential propane price survey. Current data is the final release of the 2025/26 heating season (week ending 30 March 2026). EIA pauses weekly publication April-September; next release expected October 2026. Refreshed 26 May 2026.

Arkansas Propane Pricing Snapshot (2026)

Arkansas residential avg

$2.37/gal

EIA SHOPP weekly survey, full-service residential delivery

vs national average

-11%

National avg $2.67/gal. Arkansas pays $0.31 less per gallon.

vs South region avg

-27%

Region avg $3.26/gal. Arkansas runs below the regional norm.

Annual fuel cost (1,000 gal)

$2367

Typical Arkansas propane-heat household uses 800-1,200 gal/year

500-gallon refill (400 usable)

$947

Most common residential tank size in Arkansas

Pre-buy savings (May-Aug)

$150-$300/yr

Lock-in or cap-price contracts beat winter spot pricing

Arkansas sits in the cheap cluster of US residential propane markets, alongside Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Pricing pressure is downward thanks to direct Mont Belvieu pipeline access via the Smackover NGL field, refining capacity at El Dorado (Lion Oil), and a dense network of agricultural LPG dealers built out for rice drying and poultry brooding. Local rates within Arkansas vary materially: Mississippi Delta routes near grain elevators tend to be tighter than Ozark routes north of the Buffalo River.

Why Arkansas Propane Prices Sit Where They Do

Arkansas consistently sits in the bottom decile of US residential propane prices. The drivers are structural, supply geography plus a heavy commercial load that disciplines the route economics, and they are not seasonal noise.

1. Smackover NGL field and Mont Belvieu pipeline access. The Smackover field across south Arkansas and north Louisiana has produced oil and gas since the 1920s and still feeds NGL processing capacity in the region. Arkansas terminals are within direct truck and short-pipeline reach of Mont Belvieu (Texas), the dominant US propane price-setting hub. Every transport step shaved off a delivery is roughly $0.05-$0.10/gal in retail margin saved.

2. Lion Oil refinery, El Dorado. Union County's Lion Oil complex is one of the largest refining and petrochemical operations in the south-central US and a long-standing source of regional NGL output. In-state production keeps Arkansas wholesale propane structurally cheaper than states that import every gallon by rail.

3. Agricultural propane backbone (rice, soybeans, poultry). Arkansas is the #1 US rice state, a top-tier soybean producer, and a top-three broiler state. Rice and soybean drying in August-October and broiler brooding year-round support a dense supplier network across the Mississippi Delta, Arkansas River Valley, and northwest grow-out region. Commercial volume keeps terminals turning, route density high, and per-gallon overhead low for residential customers riding the same trucks.

4. Mild winters limit peak-demand spikes. Arkansas heating-degree-day totals are roughly half of New England's. Peak January-February residential demand is moderate enough that regional storage absorbs it without forcing the spot-rate spikes Northeast markets see. The Ozarks and northern counties run colder and have ice-storm risk, but the statewide average smooths to a much lower number than the Northeast cluster.

Arkansas Propane Fill Costs by Tank Size (at $2.37/gal)

Propane tanks fill to 80% of stated capacity (the "80% rule") to allow for thermal expansion, an NFPA 58 safety requirement, not a supplier markup. Below is what each fill costs at the Arkansas 2026 average versus the national average. Real-world quotes vary 10-15% above or below the EIA statewide average depending on supplier, contract type, and delivery frequency.

Tank size	Usable gallons (80%)	Fill cost at $2.37/gal	vs national ($2.67/gal)
100 gal	80 gal	$189	-$25
250 gal	200 gal	$473	-$61
500 gal	400 gal	$947	-$123
1000 gal	800 gal	$1894	-$246

Compare to the national refill cost guide or check pricing in other states.

Arkansas Propane Companies: Verified Supplier List

Placeholder list, pending verification against the Arkansas LPG Board permit register. The named operators below are placeholder entries. We do not publish a state supplier list until each company has been verified against the official Arkansas Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board dealer permit register and the supplier's active service-area page. For the live, authoritative list, use the three sources listed in the "How to Find a Licensed Supplier" section below.

AmeriGas

National chain

Coverage: Statewide. Arkansas offices include Colchester (275 South Main St) and Bristol (651 Middle St); 269 service points listed across Arkansas.

Notes: Largest US propane retailer. Predictable service, but pricing rarely beats regional operators. Best when you need wide geographic coverage or already have an AmeriGas tank.

Suburban Propane

National chain

Coverage: Statewide via locations in Uncasville, South Windsor, Derby, and Windsor. Service areas span Hartford, Tolland, Middlesex, New London, Windham, Fairfield, New Haven, and Litchfield counties.

Notes: 24/7 customer line at 1-800-PROPANE. Comparable pricing to AmeriGas; negotiate hard on first-fill and per-gallon rate before committing.

Hocon Gas

Regional family operator (founded 1952)

Coverage: Five service centers: Danbury, Waterbury, Guilford, Norwalk, and Torrington. Covers Western, Central, South Central, Southwestern, and Northwestern Arkansas plus parts of NY and Western MA.

Notes: One of the largest Arkansas propane and heating oil distributors with 400,000+ gallons of in-state storage. Mid-priced. Strong appliance sales and service arm.

Arkansas Propane & Petroleum

Regional family operator

Coverage: Headquartered in Marlborough, Arkansas. Serves central and eastern Arkansas.

Notes: 300,000 gallons of on-site storage at Marlborough; advertised as the largest single-site retail propane facility in Arkansas. Often competitive on per-gallon rate.

Spicer Propane (Spicer Advanced)

Regional operator

Coverage: Eastern Arkansas and Rhode Island.

Notes: Propane plus HVAC services. Useful if you want a single vendor for fuel and heating-system maintenance.

New England Propane

Regional operator

Coverage: Fairfield County, Arkansas and neighboring Westchester County, NY.

Notes: Automatic delivery and 24/7 emergency response. GASCheck safety inspection program included with service.

Uncas Gas

Local independent

Coverage: Eastern Arkansas.

Notes: Smaller, route-dense operator. Decades of experience in local propane safety. Often the price leader in its service zone but limited geographic reach.

Northeast Oil & Propane

Local independent

Coverage: Windham and New London counties (Arkansas), parts of Eastern Tolland county, Western Rhode Island, and southern Worcester county (MA).

Notes: Fuel oil plus propane. Good option for dual-fuel households and for the eastern Arkansas/RI border region.

Superior Energy

Local independent

Coverage: Vernon, Arkansas and surrounding Tolland/Hartford county area.

Notes: Local dispatch, no remote call center. Smaller pricing footprint but service-focused.

How to Find a Licensed Propane Supplier in Arkansas

Arkansas regulates propane dealers under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board, authorised by Ark. Code Ann. § 15-75-101 et seq. Buying from an unlicensed dealer is both a safety risk under NFPA 58 and a consumer-protection issue under state law. Three reliable starting points:

Arkansas Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board, the state regulator at arkansaslpgasboard.com publishes industry forms, dealer-permit applications, transport permits, class A/B individual licenses, and Board rules. If the public-facing pages do not list a searchable license database, call (501) 683-4100 and ask whether the company you have a quote from holds an active dealer permit. Office address: 3800 Richards Road, North Little Rock.
Arkansas Propane Gas Association (APGA), the state trade association at arkansaspropane.com publishes a member directory and an associate-members list. APGA membership is voluntary, so a non-member is not automatically disqualified, but APGA membership is a meaningful signal of commitment to industry standards and continuing-education requirements.
National Propane Gas Association, the national trade body member directory at npga.org lists licensed propane retailers across all 50 states. Useful as a cross-check for any large or multi-state operator quoting Arkansas service.

Always get a written quote that itemises per-gallon price, delivery fee, tank rental (if applicable), minimum-delivery surcharge, and any monthly tank fee. Compare two or three quotes before committing. Per-gallon spreads of $0.30-$0.50 within the same county are common.

Arkansas Heating Season, Annual Use & LIHEAP

Arkansas's residential heating season runs roughly four months, late November through early March, with peak demand in January and early February. Northern Arkansas (Boone, Carroll, Marion, Newton, Searcy, Stone, Baxter) runs noticeably colder than the Delta and the south, and Ozark elevations above 1,500 ft can hold sub-freezing days for a week at a time during a cold snap.

Typical Arkansas propane-heat households consume 800-1,200 gallons per year, depending on house size, insulation, and how much of the load is propane versus another fuel. A 2,400 sqft home in Pulaski or Faulkner County with propane handling space heat, water heat, range, and dryer averages 1,000-1,100 gallons. A propane-only-for-cooking-and-water-heating household, with electric or natural gas for space heat, runs 150-300 gallons annually.

Translated to dollars at the 2026 Arkansas average: a 1,000 gallon household pays $2367 per year for fuel alone, before tank rental fees, delivery surcharges, or service contracts. That is $307 less than a comparable household at the national-average rate.

LIHEAP for Arkansas income-qualified households. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is administered in Arkansas by the Arkansas Energy Office (AEO) within the Department of Energy & Environment, with applications taken by Community-Based Organizations (CBOs / Community Action Agencies) that cover all 75 counties. Regular Assistance for the 2025-26 winter program is open through March 31, 2026; Crisis Assistance through April 30, 2026 or until funds run out. Eligibility is based on the AEO Income Eligibility Chart by household size; priority categories include households with members aged 60+, disabled, or under age 6. Apply through your county's CBO, not directly to the Energy Office.

Summer pre-buy is the single biggest lever. Pre-buying or capping in May-August routinely saves $150-$300 per year for a 1,000 gallon household versus paying winter spot rates. Most Arkansas suppliers run their pre-buy enrollment between May 1 and August 31. Read the fine print: cap-price contracts let you keep savings if wholesale falls; flat pre-buy locks you in either direction. Tornado-season generator households should fill in May regardless of contract structure, late spring lows beat hurricane-driven supply tightness in the Gulf.

Arkansas vs Other South States (2026)

State	Price/gal	500-gal refill (400 usable)	vs national ($2.67)
Florida	$4.71	$1882	+76%
Maryland	$3.74	$1496	+40%
Virginia	$3.56	$1426	+33%
Alabama	$3.52	$1406	+31%
South Carolina	$3.51	$1405	+31%
West Virginia	$3.51	$1405	+31%
North Carolina	$3.45	$1380	+29%
Tennessee	$3.25	$1299	+21%
Georgia	$3.16	$1266	+18%
Mississippi	$3.05	$1221	+14%
Texas	$2.99	$1196	+12%
Kentucky	$2.94	$1174	+10%
Louisiana	$2.93	$1172	+10%
Arkansas (this page)	$2.37	$947	-11%
Oklahoma	$2.27	$909	-15%

Arkansas sits in the cheap-cluster of the South alongside Texas ($2.99), Louisiana ($2.93), Oklahoma ($2.27), and Mississippi ($3.05). All five share Mont Belvieu pipeline access and a heavy agricultural propane backbone. The full South region averages $3.26/gal, well below the $2.67 national mark.

Arkansas Propane FAQ

Am I eligible for Arkansas LIHEAP and how do I apply?

Arkansas LIHEAP is administered by the Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), part of the Department of Energy & Environment, and pays a benefit directly to your propane supplier toward winter fuel costs. Applications do not go to the Energy Office; they go to the Community-Based Organization (CBO, often a Community Action Agency) that serves your county. AEO's CBO network covers all 75 Arkansas counties. Eligibility uses the Arkansas LIHEAP Income Eligibility Chart, which is tied to household size; priority categories include households where a member is age 60+, disabled, or under age 6. The 2025-2026 Winter Program opened December 8, 2025 for priority households and January 5, 2026 for general applicants. Regular Assistance is available through March 31, 2026 and Crisis Assistance (for emergency fuel deliveries) through April 30, 2026 or until funds run out. Bring photo ID, Social Security cards, recent utility/propane delivery receipts, proof of income, and proof of residency. Apply at $2.37/gal current pricing, the benefit goes further when statewide rates are below the $2.67 national average like they are now.

How do I check if a propane dealer is licensed by the Arkansas LPG Board?

Arkansas regulates propane dealers under the Arkansas Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board (LPG Board), authorised by Ark. Code Ann. § 15-75-101 et seq. The Board is housed within the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment at 3800 Richards Road, North Little Rock (501-683-4100), and issues dealer permits, transport permits, and individual class licenses (Class A bulk, Class B retail, etc.). The Board's website at arkansaslpgasboard.com publishes industry forms, certifications, and rules; if you cannot confirm a dealer's license status from the public-facing pages, call the Board directly with the company name and ask whether they hold an active dealer permit. Do not buy bulk propane from anyone who cannot produce a current LPG Board permit number on request. Unlicensed delivery is both an NFPA 58 safety violation and a consumer-protection issue under state law, and your homeowner's insurance may not cover an incident involving an unlicensed installer.

Why does Arkansas propane cost less than the US national average?

Arkansas pays $2.37/gal versus the $2.67 national average, roughly -11% below. Three structural reasons. First, supply geography: Arkansas sits on top of the Smackover NGL field in south Arkansas, has direct truck and pipeline access to Mont Belvieu (Texas) hub propane, and hosts the Lion Oil refinery in El Dorado (Union County), one of the largest refining/petrochemical complexes in the south-central US. Second, supplier density: agricultural propane demand for rice and soybean drying and poultry brooding has built out a large network of LPG dealers across the Mississippi Delta and the Arkansas River Valley, and that density disciplines retail margin. Third, climate: Arkansas's winter is short and mild relative to the Northeast, so peak space-heating demand is moderate and storage facilities don't need to absorb the same January spikes that push Northeast prices up. Net effect: South regional average is $3.26/gal and Arkansas runs $0.89 below that.

Why does rice drying and soybean drying matter for Arkansas propane prices?

Arkansas is the #1 rice-producing state in the US, growing roughly half the national crop, and a top-tier soybean producer. Both crops are typically harvested wet and must be dried to a target moisture (around 13% for storage) before going into long-term storage. The dominant drying fuel across the Mississippi Delta is propane, fired through fan-and-burner units at on-farm bins or commercial drying facilities. Drying season runs August through October and concentrates millions of gallons of propane demand into a 60-90 day window, exactly the period when residential pre-buy contracts are being signed. The result is a market that runs efficiently on volume: large bulk deliveries to grain operations keep terminal throughput high and per-gallon overhead low, which feeds back into the residential rate of $2.37/gal. The flipside is that a wet-weather harvest year (heavy rain at harvest, more drying required) can briefly tighten supply and push autumn residential quotes $0.15-$0.30/gal above the EIA statewide average.

Does poultry farming affect Arkansas propane demand?

Yes, and substantially. Arkansas is consistently a top-three US broiler-chicken state by production, with the bulk of production concentrated in the northwest (Benton, Washington, Madison, Carroll counties) and along the I-40 corridor. Commercial broiler houses use propane brooders to keep day-old chicks at 90°F+ for the first 1-2 weeks after placement, plus radiant tube heaters to maintain house temperature in winter grow-outs. A typical broiler house can burn 8,000-15,000 gallons of propane per year depending on flock cycles and winter severity, and a four-house grower complex often runs a 30,000-gallon bulk tank refilled on contract. This commercial demand is what supports the dense network of agricultural LPG dealers across northwest and central Arkansas, the same dealers who serve rural residential customers. Net effect for homeowners: more competition on routes, less seasonal scarcity, and a narrower per-gallon spread between summer pre-buy and January spot rates than you would see in a propane market with no commercial backbone.

How should Arkansas households prepare propane for tornado season and ice storms?

Arkansas faces two propane-relevant weather hazards. Tornado season peaks April-May (a secondary fall peak in November), and a single supercell can knock out grid power for 2-7 days across multiple counties; whole-house propane standby generators have surged in installs across central Arkansas as a result. Sizing rule of thumb: a 22-24kW residential standby generator burns roughly 2-3 gallons per hour at half load, so a 500-gallon tank (400 usable) supports about 6-7 days of continuous backup before refill. Ice-storm risk is highest in the Ozarks and northern counties (the December 2000 ice storm and the February 2009 storm both caused multi-week outages in the Ozarks). Practical steps: (1) keep the tank above 30% from October through March, not the more relaxed 20% threshold suppliers default to; (2) confirm with your supplier that you are flagged as a generator household so they prioritise you on a major-outage callout list; (3) if you live in Newton, Searcy, Stone, or Boone county, ask whether your supplier has a designated cold-weather route plan, since rural Ozark grades become impassable for bobtails after freezing rain. At $2.37/gal, a full 500-gallon refill costs about $947, cheap insurance for a week of generator runtime.

When is the cheapest time to fill a propane tank in Arkansas?

Late spring through midsummer (May through August) is the consistent low-price window in Arkansas. Two forces line up: residential heating demand is essentially zero by April, and the agricultural drying surge has not yet started. Most Arkansas suppliers run pre-buy enrollment (lock a per-gallon rate for next winter) and cap-price contracts (set a ceiling but benefit if the market falls) between May 1 and August 31. Lock-in pricing in that window has historically run $0.15-$0.30/gal below the December-February spot, which on a 1,000-gallon annual usage is $150-$300 saved. Read the contract: a flat pre-buy locks you in either direction, while a cap-price gives you upside if wholesale falls. If your tank sits below 30% in September, fill it then at shoulder-season pricing rather than waiting for January. Statewide pricing today is $2.37/gal at $0.31 below the $2.67 national average; that gap typically widens further in summer.

Arkansas Propane Price 2026: Cost Per Gallon, Suppliers & Delivery

Arkansas Propane Pricing Snapshot (2026)

Why Arkansas Propane Prices Sit Where They Do

Arkansas Propane Fill Costs by Tank Size (at $2.37/gal)

Arkansas Propane Companies: Verified Supplier List

AmeriGas

Suburban Propane

Hocon Gas

Arkansas Propane & Petroleum

Spicer Propane (Spicer Advanced)

New England Propane

Uncas Gas

Northeast Oil & Propane

Superior Energy

How to Find a Licensed Propane Supplier in Arkansas

Arkansas Heating Season, Annual Use & LIHEAP

Arkansas vs Other South States (2026)

Arkansas Propane FAQ

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