Home / Cost guides / What changes the cost of LPG gas at home?
What changes the cost of LPG gas at home?
The cost of LPG at home depends on how it is supplied, how much you use, when and where it is delivered, and what the tank, appliances and servicing add. LPG is not covered by the energy price cap, so prices move with fuel markets, and this guide does not print a price.
Last reviewed:What is LPG, and who uses it at home?
LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas, is one way a home away from the mains gas network can heat water, run radiators and cook. QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and this guide is for any home there that is not on mains gas. Anyone in the UK can post a job or register, and this guide applies wherever you live.
HSE describes LPG as a fuel used in heating and cooking appliances, among other uses, and says it is mainly propane, butane or a mix of the two [S1]. It says LPG is supplied in canisters, cylinders and bulk storage tanks [S1]. At home that usually means either a tank in the garden, filled by a tanker, or a set of large cylinders swapped when they run out.
This guide does not print a price per litre or a yearly bill. The cost moves too much, and it depends on your house, your supplier and your appliances. Instead it explains what drives the cost, so you can compare suppliers and installers on the same terms.
Why is there no fixed price for LPG?
Ofgem says prices for heating oil and LPG are not covered by the energy price cap, and are set by fuel markets and can change quickly [S2]. It says costs can vary by location, season and delivery timing [S2]. Mains gas customers on a standard variable tariff have a cap on unit rates. LPG customers do not.
In practice that means two neighbours with the same boiler can pay different amounts, depending on their supplier, their contract and when they ordered. It also means a quote from last winter tells you little about this winter. Get prices in writing, with a date.
What changes the cost of LPG?
| Factor | What to ask | Why it moves the cost |
|---|---|---|
| Market price | Price per litre today, and how it is set | Not covered by the price cap, and can change quickly [S2] |
| Delivery timing | Price for an order now versus a set schedule | Ofgem says costs vary by delivery timing [S2] |
| Location | Whether your area has a delivery surcharge | Ofgem says costs vary by location [S2] |
| Season | Whether prices differ in summer and winter | Ofgem says costs vary by season [S2] |
| Supply type | Bulk tank, or cylinders | Tank and cylinder supplies are priced differently |
| Tank ownership | Who owns the tank and who maintains it | Rental terms, servicing and switching rules differ |
| How much you use | Size of house, insulation, hot water use | Bigger demand means more deliveries |
| Appliances | Boiler age and type, hob, fire | An older or poorly set boiler uses more fuel |
| Servicing | Annual service by a Gas Safe engineer | HSE strongly advises servicing at least annually [S3] |
| VAT on work | Included or extra on installation and servicing | Registration applies above £90,000 of taxable turnover [S7] |
The first four lines are about the fuel. The rest are about your home and your contract. You can shop around on both.
Bulk tank or cylinders?
A bulk tank sits outside and is filled by a tanker. Ask whether the tank is owned by you or by the supplier, who services it, what happens if you want to change supplier, and whether you have to buy a minimum amount each year. If the supplier owns the tank, read the contract terms on switching carefully before you sign.
Cylinders are swapped by hand or by the delivery driver. They can suit smaller demand, such as a hob or a single heater, and some homes use them for heating too. Ask how many cylinders the system needs, how they are changed over, and how you will know when to order more.
Either way, the pipework from the tank or cylinders to the house, and every appliance connected to it, is gas work. Ask any installer how the supply is protected, where the pipe runs, and how it will be tested.
HSE says LPG is heavier than air, so it will settle and may gather in low spots such as drains and basements, where it could present a fire, explosion or suffocation hazard [S1]. That is one reason tank and cylinder positions are chosen carefully. Ask the supplier or engineer to explain why they have placed yours where they have.
What do the appliances add to the cost?
LPG runs the same kinds of appliances as mains gas, adapted for LPG: boilers, cookers, hobs, fires and water heaters. The appliances add to the cost in three ways.
Fuel use. An old or badly set-up boiler burns more fuel for the same heat. If your boiler is near the end of its life, ask a heating engineer about efficiency when you compare quotes. Combi boiler costs explains what moves the price of a replacement.
Servicing. HSE strongly advises that all gas appliances, flues and pipework are installed, regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer [S3]. Include the yearly service in your running costs. Boiler service costs covers what a service involves.
Installation. HSE says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work [S3]. LPG is its own area. Check the engineer's card lists it. GOV.UK lists the installation of a new or replacement heating system or boiler, regardless of fuel type, among work that must be told to a building control body unless the installer is on a competent person scheme, and names Gas Safe Register as the scheme for gas appliances [S5].
Check any engineer on the Gas Safe Register before work starts.
Gas Safe Register. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Is it worth switching away from LPG?
That depends on your house and what you want from your heating, and this guide does not compare running costs. It can tell you what support exists and what to ask.
GOV.UK says the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can give a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler, and lists LPG among those fossil fuel systems [S4]. It says the scheme is open to people in England and Wales [S4]. Ofgem says the government has announced plans to increase the grant for households and businesses replacing oil or LPG heating [S2]. Check the current rules on GOV.UK before you make a decision.
A heat pump is a different system, often with larger radiators or underfloor heating, and a hot water cylinder. Heat pump installation costs explains that job. Some homes move from LPG to oil instead, which brings its own tank and servicing. Oil boiler costs covers that.
If you keep LPG for cooking but change the heating, ask how the tank or cylinders and the remaining pipework will be dealt with. If you stop using LPG entirely, ask the supplier how the tank will be removed and the supply made safe. Do not leave a disconnected system for someone else to find.
Safety and what it costs to get it right
HSE says a powerful odorant is added to LPG so that it is easily detected [S1]. If you think you can smell gas, turn appliances off, do not operate switches or use flames, open doors and windows, and call your supplier's emergency number. Keep that number somewhere easy to find.
HSE says it is illegal for anyone to use a gas appliance if they suspect it is unsafe, and that you should turn it off and not touch it until a Gas Safe registered engineer has checked it [S3]. Do not try to repair an LPG appliance, regulator or pipe yourself. This guide gives no steps for gas work.
HSE strongly recommends carbon monoxide alarms as one useful precaution, and says they should not be regarded as a replacement for regular maintenance and safety checks [S3].
How do you compare LPG suppliers and installers?
For fuel, ask each supplier for a written price per litre, the date of that price, any delivery or surcharge terms, whether you are tied to buying a minimum amount, who owns and maintains the tank, and what happens if you want to switch.
For installation or servicing, ask each engineer to price the same job: which appliance, where it goes, how it connects to the supply, whether a flue is involved, what testing is done, and what paperwork you get. Citizens Advice suggests trying to get written quotes from at least 3 different traders [S6]. It says a quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is just a rough guess [S6]. It also says to be wary if a price is a lot lower than the others, because they might not be quoting for exactly the same work [S6].
Our heating engineers and plumbers pages cover boiler and gas appliance work.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Our old LPG combi boiler keeps losing pressure. Please quote for a replacement LPG boiler and say what the yearly service involves."
- "We have an LPG tank and a gas hob. We want to replace the heating with a heat pump but keep the hob on cylinders. Please advise and quote."
- "Annual service for an LPG boiler and an LPG fire in a rented cottage. Landlord needs the paperwork."
Posting an LPG job
Say whether you have a tank or cylinders, which appliances run on LPG, and what you want done. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Questions about LPG gas costs
How much does LPG cost for a house?
This guide does not print a figure. Ofgem says LPG prices are not covered by the energy price cap, are set by fuel markets and can change quickly, and that costs vary by location, season and delivery timing. Ask suppliers for a written price per litre, and what is included with it.
Is LPG covered by the energy price cap?
No. Ofgem says prices for heating oil and LPG are not covered by the price cap. That is why your bill can change from one delivery to the next, and why comparing suppliers matters more than it does for mains gas.
Do I need a Gas Safe engineer for LPG appliances?
Yes, for work on gas appliances. HSE says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work, and that the competencies are on the back of their ID card. Check the card covers LPG before work starts.
Can I get help to switch from LPG to a heat pump?
Possibly. GOV.UK says the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can give a grant towards replacing fossil fuel heating, including LPG, with a heat pump or biomass boiler, in England and Wales. Ofgem says the government has announced plans to increase that grant for homes replacing oil or LPG heating. Check eligibility on GOV.UK.
Why does LPG smell?
HSE says a powerful odorant is added to LPG so that it is easily detected. If you smell it, treat it as a possible leak. Turn appliances off, do not use switches or flames, get fresh air in, and call your supplier's emergency line.
Should I service an LPG boiler every year?
HSE strongly advises that all gas appliances, flues and pipework are installed, regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Put the service in your running costs when you compare LPG with other fuels.
Does VAT change the price?
It can for the work. A business must register for VAT if its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000. Ask whether VAT is included on any installation or servicing quote.
Does QuoteZila check heating engineers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
Part of Cost guides. All services
Related trades
Cost guides
Related pages
- Moving a Gas Meter: What Changes the Cost. What moves the cost of moving a gas meter: who owns it, how far it goes, supplier or network operator, digging and the gas work inside your home.
- Oil Boiler Quote: What to Compare. What changes an oil boiler quote: the appliance, the tank, the flue, the controls and how the job is signed off. This guide does not print a boiler figure.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila pricing line.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: About liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/lpg/about.htm
- S2: Understand your energy costs if you are not protected by the energy price cap, Ofgem. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/understand-your-energy-costs-if-you-are-not-protected-energy-price-cap
- S3: Gas safety: home owners, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqownerocc.htm
- S4: Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
- S5: Building work, replacements and repairs to your home, GOV.UK (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government). Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-work-replacements-and-repairs-to-your-home/building-work-replacements-and-repairs-to-your-home
- S6: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S7: Register for VAT, GOV.UK (HMRC). Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat