How the Butane Converter Works
The Butane Converter divides butane mass by liquid butane density. The default 0.573 kg/L fits liquid n-butane at 25°C (77°F).
Enter the butane mass
Type the net weight: 0.227 kg for a standard stove canister.
Keep or adjust the density
Liquid butane weighs 0.601 kg/L at 0°C and 0.584 kg/L at 15°C.
Read the liquid volume
Multiply liters by 1,000 for mL.
Check gas output
The table lists the vapor volume at 15°C.
Butane Converter Formula
The butane formula is Vliquid = m ÷ 0.573 at 25°C. One kilogram of butane vapor fills about 0.407 m³ at 15°C and 1 atm.
- 58.12
- Molar mass of butane (C₄H₁₀), g/mol
Worked Examples
- 227 g stove canister: 227 ÷ 0.573 = 396 mL of liquid.
- Lighter refill (300 mL can): 0.3 L × 0.573 = 172 g of butane.
- Vapor: 227 g × 0.407 L/g = 92 L of gas.
Butane Converter Conversion Table
A 227 g butane canister holds about 396 mL of liquid. The table converts canister and cylinder sizes.
| Container | Butane Mass | Liquid at 25°C (mL) | Gas at 15°C (L) | Burn Time at 150 g/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lighter (refillable) | 8.000 g | 13.962 | 3.254 | 0.05333 h |
| 100 g screw canister | 100.00 g | 174.52 | 40.680 | 0.667 h |
| 220 g canister | 220.00 g | 383.94 | 89.496 | 1.467 h |
| 227 g (8 oz) canister | 227.00 g | 396.16 | 92.344 | 1.513 h |
| 450 g canister | 450.00 g | 785.34 | 183.06 | 3.000 h |
| 4.5 kg cylinder | 4,500.0 g | 7,853.4 | 1,830.6 | 30.000 h |
| 7 kg cylinder | 7,000.0 g | 12,216 | 2,847.6 | 46.667 h |
| 15 kg cylinder | 15,000 g | 26,178 | 6,102.0 | 100.00 h |
What is a Butane Converter?
A Butane Converter is a calculator that converts butane mass into liquid and gas volume.
Butane (C₄H₁₀) boils at −0.5°C (31°F), so butane stoves lose pressure in cold weather. Isobutane boils at −11.7°C and works better in cool conditions.
Camping canisters often blend butane with 20–30% propane or isobutane. The blend keeps the canister pressure up as the outdoor temperature drops.
What are the Uses of a Butane Converter?
There are 4 main uses of a Butane Converter.
Camping trips
Hikers convert canister weight into cooking hours.
Lighter refills
Users check how many refills one can provides.
Catering burners
Caterers plan canisters per event.
Aerosol filling
Fillers dose butane propellant by mass and volume.