Searching for Calor gas near me usually means one of two things: your bottle has run dry mid-BBQ, or you’re buying your first cylinder and you’re not sure which size you actually need. Either way, the bewildering wall of red, blue and green bottles doesn’t help.
This guide cuts through it. We’ve put every common Calor gas bottle size into one simple comparison table, matched each to the jobs it’s built for, and explained where to buy or refill — whether you’re in Kent for direct delivery or anywhere in the UK looking for your nearest stockist.
Calor gas bottle sizes: the at-a-glance table
Most of the confusion around Calor comes down to two things — bottle colour (which tells you the gas inside) and size (which tells you how long it lasts and what it’s suited to). Here’s the whole range Adams Gas stocks in one place:
| Bottle | Gas type | Colour | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5kg / 3.9kg Calor | Butane | Blue | Portable indoor heaters, small cabinet heaters |
| 7kg Butane | Butane | Blue | Indoor cabinet heaters, occasional use |
| 15kg Butane | Butane | Blue | Larger indoor heating, higher demand |
| 5kg Patio Gas | Propane | Green | Single BBQ or one patio heater, easy to carry |
| 13kg Patio Gas | Propane | Green | Patio heaters, larger gas BBQs, longer runtime |
| 6kg Propane | Propane | Red | Heating, catering, smaller appliances |
| 13kg Propane | Propane | Red | Home & site heating, catering, multiple appliances |
| 19kg Propane | Propane | Red | Higher-demand heating, light commercial |
| 47kg Propane | Propane | Red | Commercial heating, continuous / heavy use |
| 12kg & 18kg Autogas | Propane (autogas) | — | Forklift trucks and LPG fleet refuelling (B2B) |
Always check that your appliance and regulator match the bottle before connecting. If you’re unsure, ask us — getting the regulator right matters more than the brand on the bottle.
Butane or propane? The one decision that matters most
Before you worry about size, get the gas type right — it’s the difference between a bottle that works in winter and one that doesn’t.
Butane (blue bottles)
Butane burns cleanly and is ideal indoors for portable and cabinet heaters. Its catch is the cold: butane struggles to vaporise below around freezing, so it’s a poor choice for outdoor use in winter. Small 4.5kg and 7kg bottles make it easy to lift and store.
Propane (red bottles)
Propane works in much colder temperatures, which makes it the go-to for outdoor, catering, commercial and site heating. It runs at a higher pressure than butane (so it needs its own propane regulator) and comes in everything from a handy 6kg up to a serious 47kg workhorse.
Patio gas (green bottles)
Patio gas is simply propane in a green bottle with a clip-on regulator fitting, designed for gas BBQs and patio heaters. The 5kg is light enough to carry one-handed; the 13kg lasts far longer for heavy summer use. If a patio heater is your main job, our guide to what gas bottle you need for a patio heater walks through it in detail.
Touring in a caravan or motorhome instead? See what size caravan gas cylinder you need.
Where to buy or refill Calor gas near you
In Kent? Adams Gas supplies Calor cylinders direct, with fast local delivery across the county. Browse the Calor Gas range, our wider BBQ & patio gas, propane and butane bottles — and check that we cover your postcode on the areas we deliver page.
Outside Kent? You’re never far from gas. Use our stockist finder to locate the nearest Adams Gas stockist for refills and exchanges, with more than 90 independent outlets across the country.
When you reorder, you’re usually exchanging an empty for a full — so it pays to know when yours is running low. Our quick reads on how to tell if your cylinder is almost empty and how long a gas bottle lasts help you avoid running dry at the worst moment.
The rent-free alternative worth knowing about
Traditional bottled gas often involves a refundable cylinder deposit or an ongoing rental agreement. If you’d rather not tie money up in a bottle you don’t own, Adams Gas offers rent-free cylinders — you pay for the gas, not a standing rental charge. For pubs, caterers, market traders and tradespeople getting through serious volume, that adds up. Our rent-free cylinders guide explains how it works, and our lightweight Gaslight refills are a popular, easy-to-carry propane option for BBQs and patios.
Buying Calor gas for a business or shop?
If you run a forecourt, hardware shop, garden centre or convenience store, stocking bottled gas is a reliable, repeat-purchase line that brings customers back. Adams Gas supplies trade partners across the South East and supports a national network of independent outlets. Find out more about becoming an Adams Gas stockist, or explore our propane and Calor gas ranges to see what your customers will be asking for.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between butane and propane Calor gas?
Butane (blue bottles) is best indoors for portable and cabinet heaters but performs poorly in cold weather. Propane (red and green bottles) works in much lower temperatures and is suited to outdoor, catering and commercial use. They use different regulators, so always match the regulator to the gas.
Which Calor bottle should I get for my BBQ or patio heater?
For most gas BBQs and patio heaters, choose patio gas (the green propane bottles). A 5kg is light and easy to move for occasional use; a 13kg lasts much longer for a busy summer. Check your appliance takes a clip-on patio gas regulator.
Where can I buy or refill Calor gas near me?
If you’re in Kent, Adams Gas delivers Calor cylinders directly — order online and check your postcode on our delivery page. Anywhere else in the UK, use our stockist finder to locate your nearest outlet for a refill or exchange.
How much does Calor gas cost?
Prices vary by bottle size and gas type, and most refills are an empty-for-full exchange rather than buying a new bottle each time. For current pricing, check the live product pages or contact the Adams Gas team — and ask about rent-free cylinders if you want to avoid deposits and rental fees.
Do I have to pay a deposit on a Calor gas bottle?
Many traditional cylinders carry a refundable deposit or rental charge. Adams Gas also offers rent-free cylinders, where you pay for the gas rather than renting the bottle — often the cheaper route for higher-volume users.
