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

Louisiana residential propane is reported at $2.93/gal in the latest EIA release, +10% versus the $2.67 national average and -10% versus the South region. The figure is the EIA PADD 3 Gulf Coast estimate, EIA does not publish a Louisiana-specific state series, so PADD 3 is what represents Louisiana in the official weekly survey. This page covers the verified LPGC dealer search, LIHEAP through the Louisiana Housing Corporation, hurricane-season prep for coastal parishes, and the rural-route economics that keep retail at mid-South even though Louisiana is a Gulf-Coast NGL-producing state.

Latest EIA residential propane price

Source: EIA PADD 3 Gulf Coast residential propane estimate (no EIA Louisiana state-level series; LA is represented by the regional PADD 3 figure). 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.

Louisiana Propane Pricing Snapshot (2026)

Louisiana residential price

$2.93/gal

EIA PADD 3 Gulf Coast estimate (Louisiana state-level series not published by EIA, PADD 3 is the official representation)

vs national average

+10%

National avg $2.67/gal. Louisiana pays $0.25 per gallon more than the US average.

vs South region avg

-10%

Region avg $3.26/gal across 16 Census-South states. Louisiana sits below the regional norm.

Annual fuel cost (1,000 gal)

$2929

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

500-gallon refill (400 usable)

$1172

Most common residential tank size in Louisiana

Best time to fill

May to Aug

Off-season pre-buy and cap-price contracts typically save 10-20% vs winter spot rates

Source caveat. The figure shown is a PADD 3 (Gulf Coast) regional estimate, not a Louisiana-specific EIA value. EIA SHOPP does not publish a state-level Louisiana series; the agency uses the PADD 3 weekly figure to represent Louisiana, Texas, and the other Gulf Coast states. Local Louisiana retail per-gallon prices typically vary 15-25% above or below this figure depending on parish, supplier, and contract type.

Why Louisiana Propane Prices Sit Where They Do

Louisiana is one of the most propane-rich states in the country at the wholesale level. Major NGL fractionation and storage clusters at Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish), Convent (St. James Parish), and Baton Rouge sit on top of pipeline access to the Mont Belvieu hub via the Sabine corridor, plus terminal access to the Targa Sound Terminal in St. Charles Parish and Enterprise feeds into the Houston Ship Channel. Wholesale Louisiana propane is among the cheapest in the country.

The residential retail rate is a different story. At $2.93/gal, Louisiana sits in the cheap cluster of the South alongside Texas (TX), Arkansas (AR), and Oklahoma (OK), but not below them. The gap between Louisiana wholesale and Louisiana retail is among the wider in the country, and the reasons are structural, not seasonal.

1. Rural-route economics, not wholesale supply. Louisiana's residential propane base is concentrated in rural North Louisiana (Claiborne, Union, Morehouse, Jackson, Winn, Bienville parishes), the Cajun country prairies (Acadia, Vermilion, St. Landry, Evangeline), and small-town Southwest Louisiana from Sabine down to Calcasieu. These are long routes, low customer density, and miles of bobtail truck time per gallon delivered. That overhead lands in the per-gallon retail rate, not the wholesale cost.

2. Natural gas dominates urban markets. Atmos Energy, CenterPoint, and parish-level municipal gas utilities cover the I-20 corridor (Shreveport-Bossier, Monroe), Alexandria, Baton Rouge, the New Orleans metro, and parts of Acadiana. Inside those service maps natural gas is dominant, leaving propane to rural and small-town routes where customer density is structurally low. Smaller customer base means smaller per-route economies and higher per-gallon overhead.

3. Storm-risk premium on coastal parishes. Suppliers serving Cameron, Vermilion, Iberia, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne parishes carry higher insurance, asset-replacement reserves for tank washouts, and post-storm crew-deployment costs. That premium gets averaged across the customer base. The hurricane-season generator demand surge (1 June - 30 November) also pulls inventory into the residential channel at higher carrying cost than steady-state delivery.

4. Agricultural and cultural seasonal layers. Rice crop dryers on the Acadia and Vermilion prairies, sugar mills in the Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Teche corridor, and the Mardi Gras boil-up cooker / cylinder-exchange surge all create supplier capacity tightness on bulk delivery routes from September through February. None of this lands directly in residential per-gallon pricing, but it constrains delivery scheduling exactly when residential customers most need a fill.

Louisiana Propane Companies: How to Find a Licensed Supplier

Propane dealers in Louisiana are licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission (LPGC), a state commission housed within the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, not the Department of Agriculture. Statutory authority is in La. R.S. 40:1846 et seq. The LPGC issues permit classes for different LP-gas activities (Class I = any phase of business; Class IV = transport and bulk; Class VI = retail container fill; plus cylinder requalifier and motor-fuel classes). Every person, firm, or corporation storing, selling, transporting, or installing propane equipment in Louisiana must hold an active LPGC permit.

Louisiana LPGC Permit Holders list, search at lpg.dps.louisiana.gov. The Commission publishes the full current Permit Holders list. If a quoting company is not listed, do not sign.
Louisiana Propane Gas Association (LPGA), the state trade association, founded 1949, at lapropane.org. Member-dealer lookup, training resources, and industry news for Louisiana retailers.
National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), national member directory at npga.org for national-chain coverage and licensed retailer cross-reference.

Tier-1 supplier list coming

Editorial pipeline

Coverage: A hand-curated list of named Louisiana propane suppliers (with HQ parish, coverage area, LPGC permit class, and notes on contract types) is in our editorial pipeline.

Notes: We publish supplier lists only once each name has been verified against the LPGC Permit Holders list at lpg.dps.louisiana.gov and the supplier's active service-area page. We do not generate supplier names from training data; that is a hallucination risk we treat seriously, particularly on a regulated-industry page like this one.

Quote checklist. Always get a written quote that itemises per-gallon price, delivery fee, tank rental (if applicable), minimum-delivery surcharge, monthly tank fee, and pump-out fee at contract end. Ask for the dealer's LPGC permit number and class on the quote. Compare two or three quotes before committing, per-gallon spreads of $0.30-$0.50 within the same parish are common.

Louisiana Propane Fill Costs by Tank Size (at $2.93/gal)

Propane tanks fill to 80% of stated capacity (the "80% rule") to allow for thermal expansion, a federal NFPA 58 safety requirement, not a supplier markup. Below is what each fill costs at the EIA PADD 3 Gulf Coast figure used to represent Louisiana. Real-world Louisiana quotes vary 15-25% above or below this figure depending on parish, supplier, and contract type.

Tank size	Usable gallons (80%)	Fill cost at $2.93/gal	vs national ($2.67/gal)
100 gal	80 gal	$234	+$20
250 gal	200 gal	$586	+$51
500 gal	400 gal	$1172	+$102
1000 gal	800 gal	$2343	+$204

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

Louisiana Heating Season, Cooling Load & LIHEAP

Louisiana's residential heating season is short and mild compared to the rest of the country, running roughly mid-November through early March, with peak demand on hard cold-snap nights in January and February. North Louisiana parishes see meaningfully more heating-degree days than the coastal parishes, but even in Shreveport the season is shorter than in any Northeast or Midwest market. The dominant residential energy load is summer cooling, not winter heating.

Typical Louisiana propane-heat households (in areas with no natural gas service) consume 800-1,200 gallons per year for space heat, water heat, range, and dryer. A 2,400 sqft home in rural Union or Caldwell parish using propane for the full load averages 900-1,100 gallons. A propane-only-for-cooking-and-water-heating household, with electric heat pump for space conditioning, runs 150-300 gallons annually. At $2.93/gal, that is $$2929 per year for a 1,000 gallon household, fuel only, before tank rental, delivery surcharges, or service-contract fees.

LIHEAP via the Louisiana Housing Corporation. Louisiana administers the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) at lhc.la.gov/energy-assistance. LHC contracts with local Community Action Partnerships and parish-level intake agencies. Eligibility is generally at or below 60% of state median income, with priority for elderly, young children, and disabled household members. There is a Crisis component for empty propane tanks or imminent disconnection. Worth flagging: Louisiana LIHEAP increasingly weights cooling assistance because cooling is the dominant residential energy load, the propane-heating share of the program is smaller than in northern states. Apply early; funds typically run out before the 30 September program close.

Hurricane-season prep (1 June - 30 November). Coastal parishes (Cameron, Vermilion, Iberia, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne) drive a predictable surge in residential propane generator demand. Top off your tank before season opens (May or early June), not in a named-storm cone of uncertainty. Suppliers prioritise existing auto-fill customers when storms approach; will-call customers go to the back. If you rely on portable cylinders for cooking after a power loss, keep two filled 20-lb tanks plus a third staged for swap. Post-landfall, residential delivery may pause 24-72 hours while crews assess road access and bulk-storage damage at terminals around Sulphur, Convent, and Baton Rouge.

Summer pre-buy is the single biggest residential lever. Pre-buying or capping in May-August routinely saves 10-20% per year for a 1,000 gallon household versus paying winter spot rates. Most Louisiana suppliers run pre-buy enrollment between May 1 and August 31. Read the contract: cap-price contracts let you keep savings if wholesale falls; flat pre-buy locks you in either direction. Bulk agricultural customers (rice dryers on the Acadia / Vermilion prairies, sugar mills in Lafourche / Iberia / St. Mary) typically negotiate separate seasonal commercial agreements through their LPGC Class I or Class IV dealer.

Louisiana 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 (this page)	$2.93	$1172	+10%
Arkansas	$2.37	$947	-11%
Oklahoma	$2.27	$909	-15%
South region average	$3.26	$1304	+22%

Louisiana sits in the cheap cluster of the South alongside Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Despite being a Gulf-Coast NGL-producing state with major terminals at Sulphur, Convent, and Baton Rouge, the residential retail rate lands at mid-South, the wholesale advantage is largely absorbed by long rural-route economics, low residential customer density outside natural-gas service maps, and the storm-risk premium on coastal parishes. The full South region averages $$3.26/gal across the 16 Census-South states tracked on this site.

Louisiana Propane FAQ

How much does propane cost per gallon in Louisiana?

The figure on this page is $2.93/gal, sourced from the EIA weekly residential propane release for week ending 30 March 2026. Important caveat: EIA does not publish a Louisiana state-level residential propane series. The number you see is the PADD 3 (Gulf Coast) regional estimate, which EIA uses to represent Louisiana, Texas, and the rest of the Gulf states. Compared to the $2.67 national average, that is +10%, and -10% versus the South region average of $3.26/gal computed across the 16 Census-South states tracked on this site. What you actually pay in Acadiana, North Louisiana, or the Northshore depends on supplier, route density, contract type, and tank ownership. Per-gallon spreads of $0.30-$0.50 within the same parish are common.

Am I eligible for LIHEAP in Louisiana, and how do I apply?

Louisiana administers the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC). LHC funds the program statewide and contracts with local Community Action Partnerships (CAPs) and parish-level agencies to take applications and issue benefits paid directly to your utility or propane supplier. The 2026 program runs April through 30 September or until funds are exhausted. Eligibility is generally tied to household income (typically at or below 60% of state median income) with priority for households containing elderly members, young children, or persons with disabilities. There is also a Crisis component for households facing imminent disconnection or empty propane tanks. Worth knowing: Louisiana LIHEAP increasingly weights cooling assistance because cooling is the dominant residential energy load in the state. Start at lhc.la.gov/energy-assistance to find your local intake agency. Apply early in the season, funds are first-come, first-served and typically run out before September.

How do I verify a Louisiana propane dealer is properly licensed?

Propane dealers in Louisiana are licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission (LPGC), a separate state commission housed within the Department of Public Safety, not the Department of Agriculture. Statutory authority is in La. R.S. 40:1846 et seq. The LPGC issues permit classes for different activities: Class I covers any phase of LP-gas business, Class IV covers transport and bulk sale to other licensees, Class VI covers retail container fill, and additional classes cover cylinder requalification, motor-fuel dispensing, and tank installation. Every person or firm storing, selling, transporting, or installing propane equipment in Louisiana must hold an active LPGC permit. Verify your dealer at lpg.dps.louisiana.gov before signing any contract, the Commission publishes a current Permit Holders list. If a quoting company is not listed, do not proceed: unlicensed delivery is a safety violation and a consumer-protection risk.

How should coastal Louisiana parishes prepare propane supply for hurricane season?

Hurricane season is 1 June to 30 November and drives a predictable surge in residential propane generator demand across Cameron, Vermilion, Iberia, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne parishes. Practical playbook: top off your tank before the season opens (May or early June), not during a named-storm cone of uncertainty. Suppliers prioritise existing auto-fill customers when storms approach; will-call customers go to the back of the queue. Run a dry-fire test on your standby generator in May. If you rely on portable cylinders for cooking after a power loss, keep at least two filled 20-lb tanks and a third staged for swap. Post-landfall, supplier delivery may be suspended for 24-72 hours while crews assess road access and bulk-storage damage at terminals around Sulphur, Convent, and Baton Rouge, plan for that gap. Parishes from Sabine through Plaquemines typically see Class I and Class IV LPGC dealers prioritise commercial accounts (gas stations, lift stations, hospitals) before residential refills resume.

Why does Louisiana sit in the cheap cluster of the South but not at the very bottom?

Louisiana is a Gulf-Coast NGL-producing state with major fractionation, storage, and export terminals at Sulphur, Convent (St. James Parish), and Baton Rouge, plus pipeline access to the Mont Belvieu hub via the Sabine corridor. That advantage shows up in wholesale pricing, Louisiana wholesale propane is among the cheapest in the country. But the residential retail rate is set by last-mile economics, not wholesale. Louisiana's residential propane base is concentrated in rural North Louisiana, the Cajun country prairies (Acadia, Vermilion, St. Landry), and small-town Southwest Louisiana where natural gas service does not penetrate. Routes are long, customer density is low, and the storm-risk premium on coastal parishes raises supplier insurance and asset-replacement reserves. Result: at $2.93/gal, Louisiana sits in the cheap cluster of the South alongside Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, but not below them. The gap between Louisiana wholesale and Louisiana retail is one of the wider in the country.

Should I switch from propane to natural gas in rural North Louisiana?

In most of rural North Louisiana, the question is moot, natural gas distribution does not reach you. Atmos Energy, CenterPoint, and the parish-level municipal gas utilities serve the I-20 corridor, Shreveport-Bossier, Monroe, and Alexandria, plus the major Acadiana and Baton Rouge metros. Outside those service maps, propane is the only piped-fuel option, and your choice is propane vs electric resistance / heat pump heat. For homes already on propane in a no-natural-gas area, the realistic levers are pre-buy contracts, tank ownership (so you can shop on price), and load-shifting non-essential uses (clothes drying, pool heating) to off-peak electric. If you live inside a natural-gas service area and pay propane retail at $2.93/gal, the natural-gas tariff usually wins on per-BTU cost, but the conversion (line tap, boiler/furnace replacement, appliance regulators, tank removal) typically costs $4,000-$10,000 and takes 6-12 years to pay back at current spreads. Run the math against your actual annual propane spend before committing.

Why does propane demand in Louisiana spike around Mardi Gras and the rice harvest?

Louisiana propane demand has agricultural and cultural seasonal layers most other states do not. The rice and crawfish economy on the Acadia, Vermilion, and Jefferson Davis prairies runs propane crop dryers in late summer and into autumn, pulling commercial-volume bulk deliveries that compete with the start of residential heating top-offs. Sugar mills in the Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Teche corridor (Assumption, Lafourche, Iberia, St. Mary parishes) burn propane for boiler ignition and process heat during the September-January grinding season. And then there is Mardi Gras and the parade-and-festival circuit: boil-up cookers, jambalaya pots, and food-truck fryers across the state run on 20-lb and 30-lb portable cylinders, with cylinder-exchange demand spiking the two weeks before Fat Tuesday. None of this directly moves the residential retail per-gallon rate, but it does create supplier capacity tightness on bulk delivery routes from October through February, which is exactly when residential customers most need a fill.