Gas vs Charcoal Grill Cost Calculator
Compare the annual cost of gas grilling vs charcoal grilling.
Enter your cooking frequency and fuel costs to see which saves more money.
Annual Cost Comparison
Gas vs Charcoal compares the true fuel costs of each grilling method over a year.
Annual Gas Cost = (Sessions/Year × Hours/Session × BTU Usage) / BTU per Gallon × Price per Gallon
Annual Charcoal Cost = Sessions/Year × Lbs per Session × Price per Lb
Cost breakdown per cookout:
- Propane: ~$1.50–3.00 per session (1–1.5 hours)
- Charcoal: ~$2.50–5.00 per session (briquettes)
- Lump charcoal: ~$4.00–8.00 per session
A 20 lb propane tank:
- Costs $15–25 to refill
- Lasts 18–20 cookouts (about 18–20 hours of grilling)
- Contains ~430,000 BTUs
A 15 lb bag of charcoal:
- Costs $10–20
- Lasts 3–5 cookouts (4–5 lbs per session)
Hidden costs to consider:
- Charcoal needs lighter fluid or chimney starter
- Gas grills have higher upfront cost but lower fuel cost
- Charcoal grills need ash cleanup (time cost)