Texas Propane Price 2026: Cost Per Gallon, Suppliers & Delivery
Texas residential propane runs $2.99/gal in 2026, roughly +12% versus the national average and -8% versus the South regional norm. Texas is the largest LPG-producing state in the US, Mont Belvieu sets the global benchmark, but residential retail is mid-tier for the South because rural-route economics in West Texas and the Panhandle pull the statewide average up. This is the no-spin breakdown: pricing snapshot, RRC-licensed supplier search, fill-by-tank-size math, the Mont Belvieu paradox, hurricane and harvest cycles, and CEAP assistance.
Source: EIA Texas 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.
Texas Propane Pricing Snapshot (2026)
EIA 2026 survey, full-service residential delivery, statewide
National avg $2.67/gal. Texas pays $0.31 more per gallon than the US.
Region avg $3.26/gal. Texas runs below the regional norm.
Texas produces the most propane in the US (Permian + Eagle Ford NGLs, Mont Belvieu hub) yet residential retail is mid-tier for the South, rural-route economics, not feedstock, set the price.
Typical Texas propane-heat household uses 800-1,200 gal/year for primary heat plus water and cooking
Most common residential tank size in rural Texas; 80% rule applied
Texas sits in the middle of the South regional cluster: cheaper than the Atlantic-coast South (Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina) but materially above the Gulf-cluster (Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma). Production proximity helps in the Houston-Galveston and Eagle Ford corridors, but residential rates in West Texas, the Trans-Pecos, and the Panhandle pull the statewide weighted average up.
Why Texas Propane Prices Sit Where They Do
Texas should be the cheapest residential propane market in the country, it produces more propane than any other state, hosts the global benchmark hub at Mont Belvieu, and is the world's largest LPG export point through the Houston-Galveston rail and marine infrastructure. It is not. The $$2.99/gal residential average puts Texas in the middle of the South cluster. The drivers are structural and rural, not feedstock.
Texas Propane Companies: How to Find a Licensed Supplier
Texas propane dealers are licensed by the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) Alternative Fuels Division, not the Department of Agriculture. This trips up homeowners moving from other states. The RRC publishes a public license search and any company quoting you must appear on it, unlicensed delivery is illegal in Texas.
- Texas RRC license search: rrc.texas.gov/alternative-fuels/afs-search, search by company name or licence number. Relevant categories for residential delivery are E (retail/wholesale dealer) and H (cylinder dealer). RRC licensing contact: lplicense@rrc.texas.gov, 512-463-6462.
- Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA): txpropane.com, state trade association founded 1944. Austin office at 401 W 15th Street, Suite 510, Austin, TX 78701; (512) 836-8620. Maintains a Find a Propane Retailer tool for members and TPGA member operators tend to be among the better-vetted residential suppliers.
- National Propane Gas Association (NPGA): npga.org, national trade association, useful as a cross-check for the larger chains.
Below is a tiered framework for the Texas market. Always quote at least three suppliers, including one national chain, one Texas regional operator, and one local independent in your county. Per-gallon spreads of $0.30-$0.60 within the same Texas county are common.
AmeriGas
National chainCoverage: Statewide. Major Texas operations centres in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, El Paso, McAllen, and Tyler. One of the largest residential footprints in Texas.
Notes: Largest US propane retailer. Predictable service and broad geographic coverage, but pricing rarely beats Texas regional operators on per-gallon. Best when you need wide statewide coverage or already have an AmeriGas tank.
Suburban Propane
National chainCoverage: Multiple Texas locations including DFW, San Antonio, Houston-area, and several West Texas markets. 24/7 customer line at 1-800-PROPANE.
Notes: Comparable per-gallon to AmeriGas. Negotiate hard on first-fill rate and ongoing per-gallon before signing a multi-year service agreement. Watch tank-rental clauses in coastal and Panhandle service areas.
ThompsonGas
National chainCoverage: Strong Texas footprint via acquisitions; serves East Texas, Houston metro, and Central Texas including Hill Country recreational propane (RV, lake homes, Airstream parks).
Notes: Active acquirer of regional Texas operators in recent years. Pricing varies by acquired-region legacy contract terms; quote a fresh per-gallon rate even if you inherited the account from a prior supplier.
Texas regional family operator
Regional family operator (placeholder)Coverage: Texas has multiple multi-generation family propane operators with in-state bulk storage in the Eagle Ford, Permian, Houston-Galveston, and Panhandle regions.
Notes: Regional family operators with their own bulk storage often price $0.10-$0.30/gal under the national chains because they cut out one rail-to-truck handoff. Verify any name quoted to you on the RRC licensed-dealer search before signing. We do not list specific names in this section without independent verification.
Permian Basin LPG specialist
Regional operator (placeholder)Coverage: Midland-Odessa, Big Spring, Andrews, Pecos, and surrounding West Texas oilfield communities. Specialists in oilfield, RV park, and rural residential delivery.
Notes: West Texas residential rates run $0.30-$0.60/gal above Houston metro because delivery routes are long and customer density is low. Specialist regional operators in Midland-Odessa typically beat national-chain rates by serving denser oilfield-residential routes.
Hill Country / Central Texas operator
Regional operator (placeholder)Coverage: Hill Country (Kerr, Gillespie, Blanco, Comal counties) and Austin-area rural propane, including recreational and second-home accounts.
Notes: Hill Country pricing reflects a mix of urban-adjacent supply economics and recreational seasonal demand. Lakeside and ranch propane often runs higher per-gallon than year-round residential because delivery routes are seasonal.
Panhandle agricultural propane co-op
Local operator (placeholder)Coverage: Lubbock, Amarillo, Lamb, Hale, Floyd, Castro, Deaf Smith, and Parmer counties. Cotton-drying, grain-drying, and feedlot accounts plus rural residential.
Notes: Panhandle residential customers often share a supplier with their agricultural neighbours. Pricing tightens in September-November during cotton drying. Lock in pre-harvest if you can.
Local independent
Local independent (placeholder)Coverage: Single-county or two-county footprint typical for Texas local independents. East Texas, Brazos Valley, Coastal Bend, and Trans-Pecos all have active local-only operators.
Notes: Smaller, route-dense local operators often lead on price within their service zone. Verify on the RRC licensed-dealer search and confirm tank ownership terms, Texas allows tank purchase outright, which is the strongest leverage in this market.
Texas Propane Fill Costs by Tank Size (at $2.99/gal)
Propane tanks fill to 80% of stated capacity (the "80% rule") to allow for thermal expansion, federal NFPA 58 safety requirement, especially relevant in Texas summer heat. Below is what each fill costs at the Texas 2026 average versus the national average. Real-world quotes vary 10-15% above or below the EIA average depending on supplier, contract, region within Texas, and delivery frequency.
| Tank size | Usable gallons (80%) | Fill cost at $2.99/gal | vs national ($2.67/gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 gal | 80 gal | $239 | +$25 |
| 250 gal | 200 gal | $598 | +$63 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | $1196 | +$126 |
| 1000 gal | 800 gal | $2391 | +$252 |
Compare to the national refill cost guide or check pricing in other states. A typical Texas propane-heat household burning 1,000 gallons/year pays $2989 annually for fuel alone, before tank rental, delivery surcharges, or service contracts.
Texas Heating Season, Annual Use, and CEAP Assistance
Texas's residential heating season runs roughly four months, late November through mid-March, with peak demand in January and February. The Panhandle and High Plains see meaningfully colder winters than the Gulf Coast or Rio Grande Valley, so annual propane use varies more by latitude than in most states. Spring (March-April) and fall (October-November) shoulder seasons see modest space-heating demand on cold nights; June-September is essentially water-heating, cooking, and pool-heat only for propane households.
Typical Texas propane-heat households consume 800-1,200 gallons per year for primary space heat, water heat, range, and dryer. A 2,400 sqft home in the Panhandle running propane for primary heat averages 1,000-1,200 gallons. The same house in the Hill Country or Coastal Bend, where winter heating load is lower, runs 500-800 gallons. Propane-only-for-cooking-and-water-heating households (electric or natural gas for space heat) typically use 150-300 gallons annually.
Translated to dollars at the 2026 Texas average: a 1,000 gallon household pays $2989 per year for fuel alone. That is $$310 more than a comparable household in a national-average market.
Texas vs Other South Region 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 (this page) | $2.99 | $1196 | +12% |
| Kentucky | $2.94 | $1174 | +10% |
| Louisiana | $2.93 | $1172 | +10% |
| Arkansas | $2.37 | $947 | -11% |
| Oklahoma | $2.27 | $909 | -15% |
| South region average | $3.26 | $1304 | — |
| National average | $2.67 | $1070 | 0% |
Texas sits in the middle of the South cluster. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and the Atlantic-coast South are above Texas, distance from Mont Belvieu and a thinner residential propane base raise their per-gallon. Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are below Texas, they are physically closer to dense supply corridors and have higher residential propane share with denser routes. Texas's production proximity helps in the Houston-Galveston and Eagle Ford metros, but West Texas, Trans-Pecos, and Panhandle route economics pull the statewide weighted average up to $-8% versus the South regional average of $$3.26.
Texas Propane FAQ
Why is Texas propane more expensive than Louisiana or Oklahoma when Texas is the biggest LPG producer?
Who has the cheapest propane in Texas?
Am I eligible for the Texas Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)?
How do I verify a propane dealer is licensed in Texas?
Does propane price spike during hurricane season on the Gulf Coast?
Why is propane demand so high in the Texas Panhandle and High Plains?
When is the best time to fill my propane tank in Texas?
Read Next
Full 50-state propane price comparison with regional context.
Apply Texas pricing to your home, climate and usage profile.
Buy, install, and refill costs for the most common Texas residential tank.
Pre-buy, cap-price, supplier switching, and tank ownership tactics.
What a propane refill actually costs, by tank size and state.
Will-call vs automatic delivery, fees, and how scheduling affects per-gallon.