EIA residential propane, Texas
Texas propane prices: $2.99 a gallon
Latest EIA residential survey, week ending 30 March 2026, the final release of the 2025-26 heating season. Weekly updates resume in October; the wholesale benchmark below is live.
The largest propane-producing state in the country, home to the global benchmark hub at Mont Belvieu, and still only mid-market at the house: what a Texan pays is set by truck miles, not by the feedstock next door.
Latest EIA residential propane price
Source: EIA State Heating Oil and Propane Program, Texas residential series. Refreshed automatically every Tuesday in season; wholesale daily.
Texas at a glance
Latest survey$2.99/gal
vs week before+1.8c
vs 4 weeks before+4.4c
vs same week last yearlevel
vs US ($2.67)12% above
Among 38 surveyed states20th cheapest
500-gal fill (400 usable)$1196
Week by week, 2025-26 season
Texas against the US average
Every point is an EIA survey week. This season Texas ran from a low of $2.91 (23 Feb) to a high of $2.99 (30 Mar), with the US average finishing at $2.67. Against the same week a year earlier it is level.
$2.91
Season low
23 February 2026
$2.99
Season high
30 March 2026
$2.99
Same week last year
31 March 2025, now level
$0.85
Wholesale today
Mont Belvieu spot, 15 September 2026, +17c vs a month ago
Source: EIA State Heating Oil and Propane Program, residential propane, full-service delivery, published October to March. Wholesale is the Mont Belvieu, TX spot price; retail usually follows it by four to eight weeks, which makes it the best off-season signal of where Texas prices are heading.
What a fill costs in Texas at $2.99
Tanks fill to 80% of their stated size to leave room for expansion, so a 500-gallon tank takes about 400 gallons. The right-hand column is the difference against the same fill at the US average.
| Tank | Usable gallons | Fill at $2.99 | vs US ($2.67) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 gal | 80 gal | $239 | +$25 |
| 250 gal | 200 gal | $598 | +$63 |
| 500 gal | 400 gal | $1196 | +$126 |
| 1000 gal | 800 gal | $2391 | +$252 |
A Texas home heating on propane through a typical winter burns 1,000 to 1,500 gallons, so fuel alone runs about $2989 to $4484 at this price, before tank rent or a service plan. The average is a benchmark, not a quote: enter your ZIP to ask up to three local dealers what they would charge you.
Texas against its South neighbours
The Atlantic-coast South (Virginia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia) sits above Texas, further from Mont Belvieu and carrying a thinner residential propane base. The Gulf-adjacent cluster (Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma) sits below Texas, physically closer to dense supply corridors with tighter rural routes. Texas straddles the two.
| State | Price/gal | 500-gal fill | vs US ($2.67) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $2.27 | $909 | -15% |
| Arkansas | $2.37 | $947 | -11% |
| Louisiana (regional est.) | $2.93 | $1172 | +10% |
| Kentucky | $2.94 | $1174 | +10% |
| Texas | $2.99 | $1196 | +12% |
| Mississippi | $3.05 | $1221 | +14% |
| Georgia | $3.16 | $1266 | +18% |
| Tennessee | $3.25 | $1299 | +21% |
| North Carolina | $3.45 | $1380 | +29% |
| South Carolina (regional est.) | $3.51 | $1405 | +31% |
| West Virginia (regional est.) | $3.51 | $1405 | +31% |
| Alabama | $3.52 | $1406 | +31% |
| Virginia | $3.56 | $1426 | +33% |
| Maryland | $3.74 | $1496 | +40% |
| Florida | $4.71 | $1882 | +76% |
| South average | $3.26 | $1304 | +22% |
States marked regional est. are not surveyed individually by EIA and carry their PADD regional figure. Full table on prices by state.
Why Texas runs 12% over the national average
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 in Chambers County, and exports LP-gas to the world through the Houston-Galveston terminals. It is not cheapest. The reasons are structural and rural, not feedstock.
Residential is not wholesale.
Mont Belvieu wholesale trades at a fraction of the residential rate. The gap is delivery economics: bobtail truck miles, route density, and how many customers a route serves per fill day. Texas households are widely dispersed compared with Louisiana or Arkansas, so per-gallon overhead is structurally higher despite production sitting next door.
The world's NGL hub is in Chambers County.
Mont Belvieu, east of Houston, is the largest propane and NGL storage-and-fractionation complex on earth, fed by Permian and Eagle Ford gas processing and connected to the Gulf Coast export docks. This makes Texas net-long on propane year round and keeps the Houston-Galveston and Eagle Ford corridors well supplied, which is why metro quotes there are among the state's lowest.
West Texas and Panhandle route-mile drag.
Midland-Odessa, Lubbock, Amarillo, El Paso and the Trans-Pecos sit far from Mont Belvieu and the Ship Channel. Delivery routes log hundreds of miles per day with low residential density between stops, so per-gallon retail there runs 30 to 60 cents above Houston metro rates. The weighted statewide EIA average reflects that pull.
Cotton drying and the Gulf hurricane cycle.
Two Texas-specific demand cycles sit on top of winter heating. Propane-fired cotton dryers on the High Plains tighten Panhandle supply from late September into December, and standby-generator fills surge along the coast in the days before a Gulf landfall warning. Both lift regional retail temporarily even though Mont Belvieu wholesale keeps running through storm prep and harvest.
Buying propane well in Texas: four moves that change the bill
A good dealer list is step one. In a state this big, the gap between a careless fill and a well-run propane account is a few hundred dollars a year, more in the rural west. Here is where that money is won.
01
Confirm the RRC licence
In Texas, propane dealers are licensed by the Railroad Commission of Texas Alternative Fuels Division, not the Department of Agriculture. Search the company at rrc.texas.gov/alternative-fuels/afs-search by name or licence number. Category E is the retail dealer class, H is cylinder dealer. Unlicensed delivery is illegal and uninsured, so if they are not listed, walk away.
02
Lock summer, not autumn
Texas wholesale bottoms out from May through August, after heating season and before the ag-drying draw. Most suppliers run pre-buy enrolment in that window, and locking or capping then routinely saves 10 to 20% versus winter spot rates. Ask for a cap-price contract, which lets you keep the savings if wholesale falls, rather than a flat pre-buy that locks you in either direction.
03
Quote all three supplier tiers
Texas has a genuine three-tier market: national carriers, Texas regionals, and county-level family operators. In the same Texas county the spread between the cheapest local and the priciest national quote can reach 30 to 60 cents a gallon, so pull one written quote from each tier. If you own your tank, say so up front, it removes the switching penalty leased-tank customers face.
04
Check CEAP eligibility
The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program, run by TDHCA through local Community Action Agencies, pays a heating benefit straight to your propane supplier for households at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, with priority for elderly, disabled and young-child households. Dial 211, call 877-399-8939, or apply at tdhca.texas.gov. Funds are finite each year, so apply early.
Rated by customers
Texas propane dealers worth calling first
A short, hand-checked list with strong public review scores, spread across the state. Ratings were read from the platforms named in August 2026 and move over time; a high score is where to start, not a guarantee. Get three written quotes whoever you call.
Central Texas / Hill Country
Direct Propane Services
Austin, Texas
4.8420+ reviews, Birdeye
Independent residential delivery across the Austin metro and the eastern Hill Country, repeatedly cited for responsive service and tank swaps.
See the reviews ›Gulf Coast / South Texas
Pico Propane and Fuels
Alvin, Texas
4.9400+ reviews, Birdeye
Multi-branch Texas independent; the Brazoria County (Alvin) branch south of Houston carries one of the strongest review bases in the state.
See the reviews ›Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex
Joe Rider Propane
Fort Worth, Texas
4.470+ reviews, Birdeye
Long-running Fort Worth family operator known for its keep-fill program and for filling both small and large tanks across Tarrant County.
See the reviews ›West Texas / Permian Basin
Pico Propane and Fuels
Odessa, Texas
4.680+ reviews, Birdeye
The Odessa branch serves the Permian Basin, where delivery routes are long and a well-reviewed local operator is worth the search.
See the reviews ›North & West-Central Texas
Haigood & Campbell
Archer City, Texas
4.230+ reviews, Birdeye
Fuel and propane distributor serving North Texas since 1947 out of Archer City, with yards around Wichita Falls and the western DFW fringe.
See the reviews ›Verified on the state registry
8 of the 396 Texas dealers on the RRC register
| Dealer | City | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 Propane LLC | Edinburg | (956) 607-8505 |
| 3-G Propane Services LLC | Edinburg | (956) 316-3357 |
| 301 Propane Holdings LP | Brady | (325) 313-0884 |
| A & D LP Gas LLC | Huntsville | (936) 661-6793 |
| A-B Gas Company, Inc. | Houston | (713) 682-5555 |
| Action Propane, Inc. | Leander | (512) 259-1196 |
| Adams Service Center LLC | Ranger | (254) 647-1641 |
| Aeropres Corporation | Shreveport | (318) 371-6415 |
Source: Railroad Commission of Texas LP-gas licensee register, captured 16 August 2026 (source document). A registry listing is a licence record, not an endorsement. Confirm current standing in the RRC Alternative Fuels search.
Texas propane, the questions people ask
Where do the dealers on this page come from?
The registry list is drawn from the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) LP-gas licensee register, the state's public record of companies licensed to store, sell and deliver propane, captured on 16 August 2026. It carries the consumer-facing Texas dealers (retail, engine-fuel and cylinder-dealer classes) that have a direct phone number. It is a licence snapshot, not an endorsement or a ranking, so still confirm current standing in the RRC search before you sign. In Texas the RRC Alternative Fuels Division does this licensing, not the Department of Agriculture, which trips up homeowners moving in from other states. The rated shortlist above it is separate: a hand-checked set of dealers with strong public review scores.
How do I verify a propane dealer is licensed in Texas?
Search the company in the RRC Registration, Certification and License Search at rrc.texas.gov/alternative-fuels/afs-search. Type the company name or licence number. The licence categories that matter for home delivery are Category E (retail/wholesale dealer, the main one), Category H (cylinder dealer), and Category L (engine and mobile fuel systems). RRC licensing contact: [email protected], 512-463-6462. If the company quoting you does not appear in the search, do not sign. Unlicensed LP-gas delivery is illegal in Texas and leaves you uninsured against an accident or a shorted fill.
Why is Texas propane more expensive than Louisiana or Oklahoma when Texas is the biggest LPG producer?
This is the Mont Belvieu paradox. Texas is the largest propane-producing state in the US, Mont Belvieu in Chambers County is the global benchmark hub for NGL pricing, and Permian and Eagle Ford gas processing keep Texas net-long on supply year round. Yet the EIA residential price is $2.99 a gallon, 12% above the $2.67 national average and set against a $3.26 South regional average. The answer is the wholesale-to-retail spread. Mont Belvieu wholesale trades far below Texas retail, but the residential price is set by truck miles and route density, not feedstock. West Texas, the Panhandle and the Trans-Pecos run long delivery routes with low customer density, which lifts the statewide average above neighbouring Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, where rural propane households cluster more tightly along supply corridors.
Am I eligible for the Texas Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)?
CEAP is the Texas version of LIHEAP, administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and delivered through local subgrantee Community Action Agencies that cover all 254 counties. Eligibility is gross household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, with priority for households that include an elderly member, a young child, or a person with a disability. The benefit is paid directly to your propane supplier. To find your local subgrantee, dial 211, call the TDHCA help line on 877-399-8939, or visit tdhca.texas.gov and search the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program. Apply early in the heating season, funds are finite each program year.
Who has the cheapest propane in Texas?
There is no single cheapest supplier statewide, and Texas is too large to generalise. Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin have the most competitive retail markets because route density is high and tankers reload directly from Mont Belvieu, the Houston Ship Channel and the Eagle Ford. West Texas (Midland-Odessa, Lubbock, Amarillo) and the Trans-Pecos run 30 to 60 cents a gallon above the urban quotes because delivery trucks log far more miles per fill. Quote at least three suppliers: one national chain, one Texas regional, and one local independent from the RRC-licensed directory in your county. Pre-buy and cap-price contracts signed May to August routinely save 20 to 40 cents a gallon versus winter spot rates.
Why is propane demand so high in the Texas Panhandle and High Plains?
Cotton drying. The Texas High Plains is one of the largest cotton-producing regions in the US, and propane-fired crop dryers run heavily from late September through early December as the harvest comes in. Agricultural draw in Lubbock, Lamb, Hale, Floyd and Castro counties tightens regional retail supply in autumn, and residential customers in the same counties often see a 20 to 40 cents a gallon seasonal premium during harvest peak. The same Panhandle storage infrastructure also serves grain drying in Deaf Smith and Parmer counties and feedlot heating. If you run propane heat in the Panhandle, top up to 80% in August before the ag draw begins.
Does propane price spike during hurricane season on the Gulf Coast?
Less than you might expect on the per-gallon price, but yes on availability and delivery surcharges. Standby-generator fills surge in the seven to ten days before a Gulf landfall warning, and suppliers in Brazoria, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson and Cameron counties impose route-priority surcharges or pause auto-fill scheduling for new customers. Wholesale Mont Belvieu propane is largely uncorrelated to hurricane season because production keeps running through storm prep, so the retail impact is from emergency-fill premiums and post-storm rebuild demand, both transient. If you live in a coastal Texas county, fill your generator tank to 80% by 1 June and again in October to ride the cycle without an emergency-rate quote.
When is the best time to fill my propane tank in Texas?
Late spring through midsummer, May to August, is the cheapest window statewide. Texas wholesale bottoms out after heating season ends and before the ag-drying draw and pre-buy enrolment open. Avoid filling in December to February when South-region demand peaks and route-priority fees hit. The tactical play is to arrive at winter with a 75 to 80% full tank from a September top-up at shoulder-season prices. Hurricane-coast households should add a June fill ahead of Atlantic storm season, and Panhandle households should lock in during August before the cotton-drying draw lifts regional rates.
Keep reading
All Texas dealers
The complete verified directory of 396 Texas propane dealers, by city and ZIP.
Dealers near you
Enter a ZIP to see the closest dealers and ask up to three for a price.
Propane prices today
The daily wholesale benchmark and the live state summer surveys.
Prices by state
All 50 states side by side, with regional context.
What a fill costs
Tank sizes, the 80% rule and the national refill guide.
How to pay less
Pre-buy timing, switching, owned versus leased tanks.
Run the cost calculator
Apply Texas pricing to your home, climate and usage profile.
500-gallon tank cost
Buy, install and refill costs for the most common Texas residential tank.