Camp Stove Fuel Calculator
Fill in the values and the answer updates as you type.
How the Camp Stove Fuel Calculator works
Heating water takes 4.186 kJ per liter per degree Celsius. Energy = liters × 4.186 × (100 − start temperature) × days. Divide by stove efficiency to get the fuel energy needed, then by about 46 kJ per gram for an isobutane and propane blend. A reserve margin covers wind, cold, and simmering. Integrated canister stoves reach about 70 percent efficiency, open burners often 30 to 40 percent. Boiling at altitude needs slightly less energy. Example: with Water to boil per day 3 L, Trip length 3 days, and Starting water temperature 10 °C, the result is Fuel needed with reserve (g) = 126; Canisters needed = 1; Heat energy needed (kJ) = 3,391.
Inputs and results
The Camp Stove Fuel Calculator takes 6 inputs and gives 4 results.
What you enter
- Water to boil per day (L) — starts at 3.
- Trip length (days) — starts at 3.
- Starting water temperature (°C) — starts at 10.
- Stove system efficiency (%) — starts at 70.
- Net fuel per canister (g) — starts at 230.
- Reserve margin (%) — starts at 20.
What you get
- Fuel needed with reserve (g)
- Canisters needed
- Heat energy needed (kJ)
- Fuel per day (g)
Example: Camp Stove Fuel Calculator with the starting values
With water to boil per day 3 L, trip length 3 days, starting water temperature 10 °C, stove system efficiency 70 % and net fuel per canister 230 g, the calculator returns:
| Fuel needed with reserve (g) | 126 |
|---|---|
| Canisters needed | 1 |
| Heat energy needed (kJ) | 3,391 |
| Fuel per day (g) | 42 |
Change any value above and the results update straight away.
Camp Stove Fuel Calculator FAQ
How do I use the Camp Stove Fuel Calculator?
Enter water to boil per day, trip length, starting water temperature and stove system efficiency in the fields, then read fuel needed with reserve (g), canisters needed, heat energy needed (kj) and fuel per day (g) in the result panel. The answer updates as you type, and you can press Calculate or Enter to refresh it. Use “Copy link” to share your exact numbers with someone else.
What does the Camp Stove Fuel Calculator calculate?
Gas fuel and canisters needed to boil water for a trip. It returns fuel needed with reserve (g), canisters needed, heat energy needed (kj) and fuel per day (g) from the 6 values you provide.
What values does the Camp Stove Fuel Calculator start with?
It opens with water to boil per day 3 L, trip length 3 days, starting water temperature 10 °C and stove system efficiency 70 % so you can see a working result straight away. Replace them with your own numbers, or press Reset to return to these starting values.
Is the Camp Stove Fuel Calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent to or stored on our servers. See the Privacy Policy for details.
Can I rely on the Camp Stove Fuel Calculator for important decisions?
Treat the result as a well-rounded estimate. Real situations often have details a general calculator cannot know, so confirm important decisions with a qualified professional. See the Disclaimer for more.