Anyone who has fumbled with a camping stove on a chilly evening knows the sinking feeling of a sputtering flame, often caused by the gas canister — not just any canister, but the right blend and connection for your gear. This guide walks you through buying, storing, and comparing butane gas canisters, with a focus on the Irish and UK markets, so you can stay warm and well-fed without the guesswork.

4 related posts

Common canister weight: 220g (8 oz) ·
Typical boiling point: -1°C (30°F) ·
Primary use: Camping stoves, blow torches, portable heaters ·
Average price (220g): €3–€5 in Ireland/UK

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Increased adoption of isobutane blends for year-round use, especially in Ireland where winter temperatures hover near butane’s boiling point

The following table summarises essential specifications for butane gas canisters.

Key facts about butane gas canisters
Common size 220g (8 oz)
Boiling point -1°C (30°F)
Calor gas alternative 5kg butane bottle
Used in Camping stoves, blow torches, portable heaters
Price range (220g) €3–€5 (GetLocal.ie (Irish grocery and household retailer))
Vapor pressure (room temp) ~35 PSI (The Outdoor Gear Review (independent reviewer))
Common connection types Screw, bayonet, clip-on
Indoor storage limit Up to 30kg per residential property (Calor Gas (UK LPG supplier))
Shelf life Indefinite if stored correctly; valve seal may degrade over ~10 years
The upshot

Butane canisters are cheap and widely available, but their low boiling point means they struggle in cold Irish weather. A buyer who stores them indoors (allowed up to 30kg) and uses a winter blend like isobutane will avoid the most common flame failure.

Where can I buy camping gas canisters?

The Irish and UK market offers several outlets for butane gas canisters, from specialist camping shops to high-street retailers. The key is matching the connection type — screw, bayonet, or clip-on — to your stove.

Do Tesco sell butane gas?

Tesco UK lists butane gas cans for stove cookers on its product pages, but availability can vary by store (Tesco (UK supermarket) — note: specific URL for butane not provided in research; use in-store check). For a guaranteed purchase, consider specialist retailers.

Does B&Q sell Campingaz?

B&Q sells Campingaz stoves and some accessories, but canister availability is inconsistent. The B&Q website shows stoves without standalone canister listings (B&Q (home improvement retailer) — general site). It’s best to call ahead.

Do Halfords refill Campingaz 907?

Halfords UK offers Campingaz 907 refill services, according to their product pages (Halfords (automotive and leisure retailer) — general site). The refill is a direct exchange rather than a refill of your existing cylinder.

Butane gas canister near me

For quick local shopping, Irish retailers like Sportsden.ie (Irish outdoor retailer), Gilmartins.ie (Irish hardware store), and Guineys.ie (Irish department store) stock butane canisters. Great Outdoors Ireland sells the GoSystem bayonet 227g 4-pack (Great Outdoors Ireland (outdoor retailer)), while Heavins and GetLocal carry Milestone 220g 4-packs (Heavins (home and hardware store), GetLocal.ie (Irish grocery and household retailer)).

Butane gas canister for sale

  • Small screw-on (220g–227g): Ideal for compact camping stoves. Sold by Decathlon, GoSystem, and Milestone.
  • Large Calor butane bottles (5kg–15kg): Used for patio heaters and indoor heaters. Sold by Calor Gas.
Bottom line: Campers and DIY users should check the connection type before buying. If you own a GoSystem stove, bayonet cartridges are designed for it; for standard screw-thread stoves, any 220g butane canister will work. Calor bottles are for larger appliances.
The catch

Irish shoppers face higher per-canister costs than UK counterparts due to smaller market volumes and shipping. A 4-pack of 220g canisters costs roughly €12–€18 locally versus £8–£12 in the UK.

The implication: price conscious shoppers should compare 4-pack deals across Heavins, GetLocal, and Great Outdoors to offset the premium.

How long does a butane fuel canister last?

Burn time is the second most searched question after availability. A 220g butane canister typically runs for 1–2 hours on a high stove setting, according to common manufacturer specifications (The Next Challenge (camping gear guide)). But this depends on the burner’s power rating.

Clear How Long Does Butane Canister Last 220g?

  • At 2,500W output: roughly 2 hours (estimated from product comparisons in camping guides).
  • At 1,000W simmer: can last 4–5 hours.
  • Boiling 16 oz of water: approximately 3 minutes, as tested by The Outdoor Gear Review (independent tester).

The implication: a 220g canister is fine for a weekend camping trip with moderate cooking. For longer trips or heavy use, carry spares or switch to a larger propane/isobutane blend.

How much is a bottle of butane gas in Ireland?

Prices vary by retailer, pack size, and whether you buy a single canister or a larger Calor bottle.

Butane gas canister price

Why this matters: a single 220g canister costs about the same as a pint of beer in Dublin — cheap enough to stock up, but the per-gram cost drops significantly when buying 4-packs.

Is there a difference between butane gas and Calor gas?

Yes — and the confusion is understandable. Calor is a brand, not a gas type. Calor Gas sells both butane and propane canisters for different applications (Calor Gas).

Is Campingaz the same as butane?

Campingaz is a brand of butane/propane mix canisters designed for camping. Their most common cylinder, the Campingaz 907, contains a butane-propane blend (The Next Challenge (camping gear guide)).

The difference between butane and propane – Calor Gas

  • Boiling point: Butane -1°C, propane -42°C (Calor Gas).
  • Indoor/outdoor: Butane works better indoors because it doesn’t vaporise well in cold. Propane excels outdoors in winter (Calor Gas).
  • Pressure: Propane has much higher vapor pressure (~145 PSI at room temp) than butane (~35 PSI), so stoves must be designed for it (The Outdoor Gear Review (independent reviewer)).

Should you use propane or butane?

For indoor use and mild weather, butane is cheaper and safe. For cold outdoor camping (below 0°C), propane or isobutane blends are essential. Calor Gas recommends butane for indoor heaters and propane for outdoor barbecues and winter use.

Comparison: Butane vs Propane vs Isobutane
Property Butane Propane Isobutane
Boiling point -1°C -42°C -11°C (approx.)
Vapor pressure (room temp) ~35 PSI ~145 PSI ~50 PSI
Best use Indoor heaters, summer camping Outdoor cold weather, high power All-season camping, high altitude
Common canisters 220g screw, 5kg Calor 3.9kg–47kg Calor 100g–450g blend canisters

The trade-off: butane is cheaper and easier to store indoors, but useless when the temperature drops below freezing. For Irish winter camping (common temps: 2°C to 8°C), butane will work, albeit with reduced pressure.

Bottom line: For Irish campers, butane suffices for mild-weather trips; switch to isobutane or propane for reliable cold-weather performance.

Can butane be stored outside in winter?

Yes, but with important caveats. Butane can be stored outdoors if the canister is kept upright and away from frost, according to winter storage guides (Calor Gas guidance). However, cold temperatures reduce vapor pressure, leading to poor performance.

Winter Storage Tips for Your Patio Gas Bottle – Safety & Maintenance Guide

  • Store upright in a ventilated area, out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources (Heavins (home and hardware store) product warning).
  • If storing outdoors, protect from rain and snow to prevent rust on the canister.
  • Keep away from children and flammable materials.
  • Test the connection after storage: a dab of soapy water on the valve will show bubbles if there’s a leak.

What this means: storing butane canisters in an unheated garage over an Irish winter is acceptable, but don’t expect full performance until the canister warms up. Move it indoors an hour before use.

Bottom line: Irish campers should store canisters indoors overnight before use to avoid cold-induced pressure loss.

How to tell if a butane canister is empty?

No gauge, no problem. There are three simple ways to check remaining gas.

How much gas is left in your canister?

  1. Weigh it: An empty 220g canister weighs about 100g (tare weight). Weigh the canister and subtract 100g — the remainder is the gas left (The Next Challenge (camping gear guide) via Australian Hiker).
  2. Shake test: Hold the canister to your ear and shake gently — sloshing liquid means there’s still fuel inside (common user tip).
  3. Float test (leak check only, do NOT perform on stove): Submerge in warm water — bubbles indicate a leak, not gas level. Use only as a leak check (The Next Challenge (camping gear guide) via Australian Hiker).
Safety warning

Never puncture or incinerate a butane canister, even if you think it’s empty — residual gas can cause explosion. Dispose of empty canisters at a recycling centre that accepts aerosol/LPG containers.

What to watch

The shake test is reliable only when the canister is mostly full. A nearly empty canister may not produce a sloshing sound. The weigh test is always accurate.

Confirmed facts

  • Butane is a form of LPG with boiling point -1°C (Calor Gas)
  • Milestone 220g 4-packs contain flammable butane gas (Heavins (home and hardware store))

What’s unclear

  • Exact compatibility of Campingaz 907 with non-Campingaz stoves
  • Price variation across all Irish retailers — only spot prices known
  • Whether B&Q sells standalone butane canisters
  • GoSystem 227g bayonet canister compatibility with non-GoSystem stoves (limited to product page claims)
  • Residential storage limit of 30kg may vary by local regulations
  • Weighing is the most accurate method to check remaining gas (The Next Challenge (camping gear guide)) — but other methods may suffice
Bottom line: The pattern: for reliable gas checks, weigh the canister; quick field checks can use the shake test, but don’t rely on it when near empty.

Quotes from the field

“All of our cylinders go through our 7 point cylinder safety checks.”

— Calor Gas (UK LPG supplier)

“How much gas is left in your canister? Weigh the canister and subtract the empty weight.”

— Australian Hiker (via The Next Challenge)

“Butane produces the lowest temperatures of all gas canisters and can be used for soft soldering.”

— Screwfix.ie (trade tool retailer)

For the Irish camper or DIYer, the practical consequence is clear: butane canisters are a cheap, accessible fuel source, but they come with temperature and compatibility limits. If you’re camping above 0°C and using equipment designed for screw- or bayonet-type canisters, butane works well. For year-round use — especially in winter — look for isobutane blends or winterised propane canisters. For Irish campers, the choice between butane and Calor gas boils down to portability vs fixed supply, not the gas itself.

If you are considering butane canisters for portable cooking, you may also want to compare them with larger refillable options like the 15kg LPG gas bottle cost and refill guide for longer-term outdoor fuel needs.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

Can I use butane indoors?

Yes, but only in well-ventilated areas. Butane heaters and single-burner stoves are designed for indoor use. Never use a camping stove indoors without adequate ventilation due to carbon monoxide risk. Calor Gas states butane is “better suited to indoor use” because of its higher boiling point.

Is butane safe for cooking food?

Yes, when used with appropriate utensils. Butane is a common fuel for camping stoves and blow torches used in food preparation. Ensure the canister is rated for cooking and follow the appliance instructions.

How do I dispose of an empty butane canister?

Do not put in household recycling. Take empty canisters to a recycling centre that accepts LPG containers. Some councils will take them if punctured (with the gas fully released) — check local rules. Never incinerate.

Can I refill a butane canister?

Not recommended and often illegal. Most single-use butane canisters are not designed for refilling. Attempting to refill can cause leaks, overpressure, and explosion. Use new canisters or buy refillable cylinders like Calor bottles.

Are butane canisters recyclable?

The metal canisters (steel) are recyclable once fully emptied and depressurised. However, many recycling centres require them to be sorted separately from other metals. Check with your local waste facility.

What is the shelf life of a butane canister?

Butane canisters have an indefinite shelf life if stored correctly — upright, cool, dry, away from heat sources. The can itself will last many years. However, the valve seal may degrade over a decade, so check for hissing or rust before use.