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

Ohio residential propane is $2.61/gal in the 2026 EIA survey, modestly below the $2.78 national average and slightly above the $2.47 Midwest regional average. Full breakdown of Ohio pricing, named in-state suppliers, fill-up costs, HEAP and PIPP help, and how Ohio compares to the rest of the Midwest.

Last verified 27 April 2026 · Sourced from EIA Ohio residential propane price survey

Ohio Propane Price Snapshot (April 2026)

Ohio residential price

$2.61/gal

2026 EIA weekly survey, statewide retail average

vs national average ($2.78)

-6%

Ohio pays $0.17 less per gallon than the US average

vs Midwest regional avg ($2.47)

+6%

Slightly above the Midwest average; below the Northeast and West

Annual cost (typical 900 gal household)

$2,349

Versus $2,502 at the national average

Heating-season window

Oct - Apr

Roughly seven months; coldest months Jan-Feb

Best time to fill

May - Aug

Off-season pre-buy saves $300-$500/year

Ohio sits in the middle of the national propane pricing distribution. Prices have tracked between 5% and 10% below the national average for most of the last five winters and 4% to 8% above the Midwest regional average over the same window.

Why Ohio Propane Prices Are Moderate

Ohio is a moderate-cost propane market: cheaper than the Northeast and the West, slightly more expensive than the cheapest Midwest states (Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas), and reliably below the national average. Four structural factors keep Ohio prices in this band.

Marcellus Shale production access. Eastern Ohio sits on the western edge of the Marcellus and Utica shale plays, two of the largest natural gas liquids production zones in the country. Propane is recovered as a by-product of NGL processing, and Ohio benefits from short-haul supply from in-state and neighbouring Pennsylvania and West Virginia processing facilities. That production proximity removes most of the long-haul transport premium that Northeast states pay.

Pipeline and processing infrastructure. Ohio is connected to the national propane pipeline grid via Sunoco Logistics (formerly TEPPCO) and other carriers, with rail terminals across the state for inbound supply from Mont Belvieu and Conway hubs. In-state and adjacent processing fractionators in Harrison County and across the Ohio River in West Virginia keep wholesale supply diverse and competitive.

Dense supplier competition in central and southern Ohio. The Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton corridors have heavy supplier overlap: AmeriGas, Suburban Propane, Ferrellgas, Heritage Cooperative, Buckeye Propane, and a long tail of independents all compete for the same residential routes. That density caps retail margins. The Cleveland and Akron metros see similar competition from Linden's Propane, Heritage Cooperative, and the nationals.

Rural Appalachian Ohio is propane-heavy. Eastern and southeastern Ohio (Athens, Vinton, Meigs, Monroe, Noble, Morgan, Perry, Hocking, Jackson, Pike, Adams counties) sits outside most of the natural gas footprint, which makes propane the dominant non-electric heating fuel. Demand is concentrated, routes are longer, and per-gallon prices in those counties typically run 15 to 30 cents above the urban averages even from the same supplier. Statewide weekly EIA averages blend both, which is why the headline number ($2.61/gal) understates rural delivered cost.

Ohio Propane Suppliers (Verified, April 2026)

These are the major residential propane suppliers serving Ohio in 2026. Coverage areas overlap; in most ZIP codes you will have a choice between a regional cooperative or independent and one or two of the nationals.

AmeriGas

King of Prussia, PA (national)

Largest US propane provider. Ohio offices include Plain City, Marion, Cambridge, Chillicothe, Troy, Belpre, Swanton, and Rome. Statewide residential delivery, auto-fill, budget plans, and tank exchange.

Suburban Propane

Whippany, NJ (national)

700+ locations across 42 states. Ohio offices in Columbus, Goshen, Wapakoneta, Enon, Hillsboro, Columbiana, Findlay, and Harrison, with service into Cincinnati, Hamilton, Butler, and Clermont counties.

Ferrellgas

Overland Park, KS (national)

National operator with Ohio depots in Columbus, Hebron, Chillicothe, Logan, Norwalk, Northwood, and Rogers. Auto-fill, online refill scheduling via MyFerrellgas, and 24/7 emergency service.

Heritage Cooperative (1st Choice Energy Services)

London, OH (Ohio cooperative)

Ohio farmer-owned cooperative serving central and eastern Ohio. Bulk plants in Barnesville, Canfield, Bellville, Kenton, and London cover Madison, Clark, Champaign, Union, Franklin, Pickaway, Fayette, Greene, Clinton, Delaware, and Logan counties. Residential, farm, and commercial delivery.

Buckeye Propane & Soft Water

New Holland, OH

Independent family-owned since 1957. Six locations across south and southwest Ohio, including Madison County HQ and a Leesburg office. Residential heating, agricultural propane, cylinder refill and exchange.

Arrick's Propane

Lucasville, OH

Largest independent propane retailer in the Tri-State Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia region. Eight retail offices including Peebles, Proctorville, Mount Orab, and Lucasville plus 13 satellite bulk plants. Strong coverage of Brown, Highland, Clermont, Clinton, Warren, and Scioto counties.

Linden's Propane

Wellington, OH

Independent family-owned since 1958. Serves ten counties in north-central Ohio near Lake Erie: Lorain, Medina, Cuyahoga, Huron, Erie, Ashland, Wayne, Summit, plus surrounding service area. Residential, commercial, and agricultural delivery.

Southern Ohio Propane

Hillsboro, OH

Family-owned and operated in Hillsboro by Brian and Cindy Michael. Serves Highland County and surrounding southern Ohio counties with residential propane delivery on a five-working-day order cycle.

Smaller regional independents (Apollo Propane in Moraine, Schilling Propane in north-central Ohio, NW Ohio Propane in Bryan, Pivotal Propane on the Ohio-WV border, Apache Propane in Bluffton, Centerra Co-Op, Sunrise Cooperative, Prism Propane, and dozens of single-county family operators) are not listed here but are licensed propane retailers in Ohio. Always pull two or three written quotes before signing because per-gallon spreads of 25 to 40 cents within the same county are common.

Ohio Propane Fill-Up Cost by Tank Size

Propane tanks are filled to 80% capacity (the "80% rule") to allow for thermal expansion. Costs below use Ohio's $2.61/gal residential rate and the usable gallon count for each tank size.

Tank size	Usable gallons (80%)	Ohio fill cost ($2.61/gal)	National avg cost ($2.78/gal)	Ohio savings
100 gal (portable)	80	$208.80	$222.40	-$14
250 gal (small home)	200	$522.00	$556.00	-$34
500 gal (standard residential)	400	$1,044.00	$1,112.00	-$68
1,000 gal (large home / cold-climate)	800	$2,088.00	$2,224.00	-$136

A typical Ohio household heating a 2,000 sqft home burns 700 to 1,000 gallons per year, which translates to two full fills of a 500-gallon tank. Annual propane spend ranges from $1,827 (low usage) to $2,610 (high usage) at the current state-average rate. Rural Appalachian Ohio households running larger tanks and longer winters can hit $3,000 to $3,500 per year.

Ohio Heating Season, Pre-Buy Strategy, HEAP & PIPP

Ohio's heating season runs roughly seven months, from early October through late April, with the coldest stretch and highest demand falling in January and February. Propane retail prices follow that demand curve, peaking in late winter and bottoming in late spring through midsummer.

Summer pre-buy savings. A typical Ohio household burning 800 to 1,000 gallons per year saves $300 to $500 by locking a pre-buy contract in May through August versus paying spot rates during heating season. Cap-price contracts, which set a ceiling but let you benefit if the market falls, are a useful middle ground if you do not want to commit cash up front.

Ohio HEAP eligibility. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is Ohio's implementation of federal LIHEAP, administered by the Ohio Department of Development. The 2025 to 2026 program year runs 1 July 2025 through 30 May 2026. HEAP pays a once-yearly benefit directly to your propane supplier toward winter heating costs. Income eligibility is at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (households larger than eight use 60% of state median income). The Winter Crisis Program runs alongside HEAP from November through March for households facing disconnection or already out of fuel. Apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov or through your local Community Action Agency. Processing can take up to 12 weeks.

PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus). PIPP is a long-term affordability programme that lets income-qualified households pay a fixed percentage of monthly income toward their utility bill (6% of monthly income for natural gas heating, 10% for all-electric, $10 minimum). PIPP is structured around regulated utility accounts (natural gas and electric companies) rather than bulk fuel propane suppliers, so most propane households use HEAP and the Winter Crisis Program instead. If you have a regulated utility account alongside propane, PIPP may still apply to the gas or electric side.

Practical sequence for an Ohio propane household: apply for HEAP in September if you may qualify, sign a pre-buy or cap-price contract with your supplier in June or July, and top up your tank to 80% by mid-October. That combination protects you from both winter spot-market spikes and supplier minimum-delivery surcharges.

Ohio vs Other Midwest States (April 2026)

State	Price/gal	vs national avg ($2.78)	500-gal fill cost
Illinois	$2.71	-3%	$1,084
Michigan	$2.65	-5%	$1,060
Ohio (this page)	$2.61	-6%	$1,044
Indiana	$2.58	-7%	$1,032
Wisconsin	$2.52	-9%	$1,008
Minnesota	$2.48	-11%	$992
Kentucky	$2.41	-13%	$964
Missouri	$2.35	-15%	$940
Iowa	$2.22	-20%	$888
Kansas	$2.28	-18%	$912
Nebraska	$2.24	-19%	$896

Midwest regional average: $2.47/gal. Ohio sits $0.14 above the regional average and is the third-most expensive state in the region behind Illinois and Michigan. Kentucky is included as the closest southern neighbour with a meaningful Ohio commuter overlap. See full state-by-state pricing for all 50 states.

Ohio Propane Price FAQ

Who has the cheapest propane in Ohio?

Pricing is competitive across Ohio's main residential suppliers and the cheapest provider depends on your county, contract length, and whether you pre-buy or pay will-call. National operators AmeriGas, Suburban Propane, and Ferrellgas all run budget plans, auto-fill programs, and pre-buy contracts that typically shave $0.15 to $0.40 off the spot rate. In central and southwest Ohio, independents like Buckeye Propane (Madison County since 1957) and Heritage Cooperative (1st Choice Energy) often beat the nationals on will-call pricing because of lower delivery costs per route. In southern Ohio, Arrick's Propane and Southern Ohio Propane compete hard on rural delivery rates. In northern Ohio, Linden's Propane runs aggressively on the Lake Erie counties. Always pull two written quotes before signing because per-gallon spreads of 25 to 40 cents within the same county are routine.

Am I eligible for Ohio HEAP or PIPP propane help?

Possibly. Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is the state's implementation of federal LIHEAP, administered by the Ohio Department of Development. The 2025 to 2026 HEAP program year runs from 1 July 2025 through 30 May 2026. HEAP pays a once-yearly benefit directly to your propane supplier or bulk fuel vendor toward winter heating costs. Eligibility is set at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (households larger than eight use 60% of state median income). The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) is a separate program that lets income-qualified households pay a fixed share of monthly income toward their utility bill, although PIPP is primarily structured for natural gas and electric utility accounts and propane customers usually rely on HEAP and the Winter Crisis Program instead. Apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov or through your local Community Action Agency. Processing can take up to 12 weeks, so apply in autumn before heating season opens.

Should I use propane or natural gas in Ohio?

It depends entirely on whether your address has natural gas service. In Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, and most established suburbs, natural gas (delivered by Columbia Gas of Ohio, Dominion Energy Ohio, or Duke Energy Ohio) is the default heating fuel and is generally cheaper per BTU than propane. If gas service is on your street, gas usually wins on running cost. Propane dominates in rural Appalachian Ohio (Athens, Vinton, Meigs, Monroe, Noble, Morgan, Perry, Hocking, Jackson, Pike, and Adams counties), in lake-area cottages, and in newer subdivisions outside the gas footprint. For those addresses, propane is your only practical option short of all-electric heat. If you have a choice (rare), the natural gas tap fee and meter install often runs $1,500 to $3,500 but pays back within five to seven winters versus propane at Ohio's $2.61/gal rate.

Is summer pre-buy worth it for Ohio propane?

Usually yes, although the savings are smaller in Ohio than in the Northeast. Ohio propane prices follow a mild seasonal cycle: prices typically bottom in May through August and peak in January and February. A pre-buy or summer-fill contract locks the off-season rate for delivery during winter. For a typical Ohio household burning 800 to 1,000 gallons per year, pre-buying in June at roughly $2.30 to $2.45 per gallon versus paying $2.65 to $2.85 during midwinter saves $300 to $500 per year. The risks: if spot prices fall below your locked rate (uncommon but possible) you overpay, and most pre-buys require either upfront cash or a credit check. Cap-price contracts, which set a ceiling but let you benefit if the market falls, are a useful middle option if you do not want to commit cash up front.

Why do propane prices vary so much between urban and rural Ohio?

Two reasons: route density and competition. Urban and suburban Ohio (Columbus metro, Cincinnati metro, Cleveland metro, Dayton metro) has dense supplier coverage, short delivery routes, and direct pipeline access through Sunoco Logistics and the Marcellus production zone. That combination keeps central and southwestern Ohio close to the regional average. Rural Appalachian Ohio (eastern and southeastern counties) has longer delivery distances per customer, fewer suppliers competing for the same household, and higher fixed delivery costs spread over fewer gallons. Per-gallon prices in rural Athens, Vinton, or Monroe counties typically run 15 to 30 cents above prices in dense Franklin or Hamilton county neighbourhoods, even from the same national supplier. Heritage Cooperative, Arrick's Propane, and Southern Ohio Propane price more aggressively in rural counties because that is where their core customer base sits.

When is the best time to fill a propane tank in Ohio?

Late spring through midsummer (May to August). Prices in Ohio bottom out after heating season ends and before the next-winter pre-buy window opens. By September most suppliers have raised their cap-price and will-call rates ahead of October deliveries. The worst months to fill are December through February, when cold-snap demand pushes spot prices to their annual peak across the Midwest. If your tank is below 30% in autumn, fill it; do not wait for January hoping prices will fall. For owned tanks, top up to 80% in June or July and you will rarely need a winter emergency fill. Ohio's heating season runs roughly seven months from October through April, with the coldest stretch in January and February.