Guide
Where to buy BBQ gas in the UK
Published
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In short
In the UK, BBQ gas bottles are rented from suppliers such as Calor and Flogas and sold through local stockists: garden centres, DIY and hardware stores, builders' merchants, caravan and camping shops and some petrol stations. Your first bottle comes with a cylinder agreement; after that you swap empties for full ones of the same supplier. Use the supplier's online stockist finder to locate your nearest exchange point.
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Buying gas for a BBQ is less obvious than it looks, because in the UK you do not normally own the bottle. You pay for the gas and rent the cylinder from a supplier, and you swap empties at that supplier's stockists. Getting the wrong gas, the wrong bottle or a brand your local shop does not take causes most of the confusion. This article explains how the system works and where to buy.
How the UK bottle exchange system works
The large refillable gas bottles used for BBQs belong to the gas supplier. When you buy your first full bottle, you sign a cylinder refill agreement and pay a one-off charge for the right to use and exchange the cylinder. After that, you take your empty back to a stockist of the same supplier and pay only for the gas in a full replacement.
Keep your agreement paperwork. You may need it if you return the bottle for good, and some suppliers refund part of the charge when you do. Stockists usually exchange only their own supplier's bottles, so a Calor bottle goes back to a Calor stockist and a Flogas bottle to a Flogas stockist.
Where to buy
Stockists vary by area and change over time, so always check the supplier's online stockist finder before you travel.
| Where | Notes |
|---|---|
| Garden centres | Often stock patio gas and propane in BBQ season |
| DIY and hardware stores | Many larger stores have a gas cage outside |
| Builders' merchants | Usually stock propane in several sizes |
| Caravan and camping shops | Good for smaller propane and butane bottles |
| Some petrol stations and farm shops | Check the brand they exchange |
| Supplier delivery | Some suppliers deliver certain cylinder sizes to your home |
Propane, butane or patio gas?
Most UK gas BBQs run on propane, usually from a red Calor bottle or the equivalent from other suppliers. Patio gas is propane in a green bottle with a clip-on valve, designed for BBQs and patio heaters. Butane, in blue Calor bottles, works poorly in cold weather and is less common for BBQs. Check your BBQ's manual for the gas it is set up for, and buy a regulator that matches the bottle you choose.
Our what gas bottle for a BBQ article explains the differences, and how to connect a gas bottle covers fitting the regulator.
Propane
screw-on regulator
Typical sizes: 3.9, 5, 6, 13 and 19 kg
Butane
clip-on regulator
Typical sizes: 4.5, 7 and 15 kg
Patio gas (propane)
clip-on regulator
Typical sizes: 5 and 13 kg
Typical UK bottle colours and sizes; always fit the regulator made for your bottle and gas.
What size bottle to buy
Bigger bottles last longer and need fewer trips but are heavier to carry and may not fit inside your BBQ's cabinet. Common propane sizes for BBQs include 5 kg, 6 kg and 13 kg; patio gas usually comes in 5 kg and 13 kg. Measure the space in your BBQ's bottle bay before choosing.
Our gas bottle burn time tool estimates how many hours of cooking each size gives on your BBQ, and how long does a BBQ gas bottle last explains the maths. Small portable grills may also use disposable cartridges, sold in camping shops; check the grill's manual.
Carrying and storing bottles
Transport bottles upright and secured, with the valve closed and the safety cap fitted. Keep car windows open a little and drive straight home. Store bottles outdoors, upright, in a well-ventilated spot away from drains, cellars, heat and direct sun. Never store them in a cellar or below ground level, as leaking gas is heavier than air and collects in low places.
If you are still choosing a BBQ, our best gas BBQs guide notes regulators and bottle bay sizes, and the portable gas BBQs guide covers cartridge models.
Note:Only buy refills through the supplier's authorised stockists. Never try to refill a BBQ bottle yourself, and never use a damaged, rusty or out-of-date cylinder. For any fixed gas installation, use a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy BBQ gas at B&Q? Many larger DIY stores stock bottled gas, but brands and sizes vary by branch. Check the store or the gas supplier's stockist finder.
Can I swap a Calor bottle for a Flogas one? Usually not. Stockists generally exchange only their own supplier's cylinders.
Do I own the gas bottle? No. You rent it under a cylinder agreement and pay for the gas each time you exchange.
Where is the nearest place to get BBQ gas? Use the Calor or Flogas online stockist finder with your postcode.
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