How to Use the Camping Gas Consumption Calculator
Running out of fuel mid-trip means no more hot meals, so it helps to calculate how many canisters to pack before you leave. Enter your group size, cooking time per person per day, trip length, and temperature conditions, and the calculator estimates gas consumption (based on ~90g/hour for a standard-output burner) and how many 250g butane canisters you need. Colder temperatures reduce vaporization efficiency and increase consumption, which this calculator accounts for.
Reference Gas Consumption by Burner Output
| Output | Consumption (g/hr) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low | ~40-60g | Keeping warm, light simmering |
| Medium | ~60-90g | Standard cooking |
| High | ~90-120g | Boiling water, stir-frying |
Frequently Asked Questions
A standard 250g butane canister holds about 230g of usable fuel, which lasts roughly 2.5-3 hours on a standard-output burner.
Colder temperatures reduce butane's vaporization efficiency, weakening burner output and requiring more time or more gas to cook the same meal. In near-freezing conditions, isobutane blend canisters or a canister warmer are recommended.