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Propane or butane for a BBQ in a British garden

Updated: 23 October 2026

You have a two-burner in the hall and a bottle that may be green patio gas, red propane, or blue butane from a camping trip. Propane or butane for a BBQ is not which gas burns better on a warm July day. Both will light a barbecue when the regulator, the clip, and the pressure match. They do not share a fitting, and butane fades when the bottle is cold. Whether a hose is in the carton is on the [2 burner gas BBQ comparison](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/2-burner-gas-bbq). The rules come from Calor and Liquid Gas UK's Consumer Guidance Sheet 39. We did not pressure-test these barbecues. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You have a two-burner in the hall and a bottle that may be green patio gas, red propane, or blue butane from a camping trip. Propane or butane for a BBQ is not which gas burns better on a warm July day.

Our top picks

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill stainless 2 burner

Best overall

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill stainless 2 burner
9.2/10about £119.99
View offer
Campingaz Campingaz Xpert 200 LS Plus

Alternative

Campingaz Campingaz Xpert 200 LS Plus
4.8/10about £224.99
View offer
BROILUCK BROILUCK 2+1 burner

Best value

BROILUCK BROILUCK 2+1 burner
5.1/10about £89.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Propane or butane in a British garden
  2. 2.Which regulator fits which cylinder
  3. 3.What these listings actually include
  4. 4.Cylinder size and a regulator that is too old

Propane or butane in a British garden

Calor recommends propane outdoors. It vaporises at about minus 42 degrees Celsius. Butane's boiling point is about minus 2, so a cold blue cylinder fades on a sharp evening. A mild afternoon can still be fine. April or October is a propane job if you want the flame to stay usable. Patio gas is Calor's green propane, in 5 kg and 13 kg, with a clip. Calor points 5 kg at grills of up to three burners. Red propane, blue butane, and Campingaz bottles are different connectors. An Xpert trolley does not mean the barbecue wants a Campingaz cylinder.

Which regulator fits which cylinder

Match the gas, the clip, and the millibar marking. Patio gas is a 27 mm clip-on. Standard butane is a 21 mm clip-on. Many red propane cylinders use a POL screw. A 27 mm clip will not replace a 21 mm clip. Liquid Gas UK puts butane regulators at 28–30 mbar and propane at 37 mbar. New regulators should be marked to BS EN 16129, with a 10-year life guide when no shorter life is printed. A 37 mbar patio regulator is not converted to butane on a blue cylinder. Leak-test a swap on the how to use a gas BBQ page.
CosmoGrill CosmoGrill stainless 2 burner

Testsieger

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill stainless 2 burner
9.2/10about £119.99
View offer

What these listings actually include

Both CosmoGrill listings name a propane hose and regulator. If your bottle is green patio gas, that is the match those cartons describe. If it is blue butane or a POL propane cylinder, the included regulator is the wrong clip until you replace it. The Modern Group fuel line names a propane regulator and does not name a hose on its own. BROILUCK does not name a hose or a regulator, and UK reviews say you buy the pipe. The Xpert 100 L line says lid. The onlyfire line says lid and thermometer. The Xpert 200 line says lid, rack, and thermometer. A 5 kg patio cylinder still leaves you short of a 27 mm clip-on and a sound hose. The best-value price does not include that hardware. What to check before you pay is the 2 burner gas BBQ buying guide.

Cylinder size and a regulator that is too old

Calor's 5 kg patio cylinder is the size they point at grills up to three burners. A 13 kg cylinder lasts longer and is heavier. Neither size changes the 27 mm clip. Red propane on a POL fitting needs a 37 mbar POL regulator. Blue butane, on mild days only, needs a 28–30 mbar 21 mm regulator. Replace a regulator that is cracked or past the printed life. Ten years, where no shorter life is printed, is the Liquid Gas UK figure. Rubber hoses have the same 10-year note, and sooner if they are cut or stiff. If bubbles remain after a soapy-water test, stop. A UK review of the Xpert 200 says a standard butane bottle does not fit the shelf. Stand the cylinder beside the barbecue if the gap is too tight.

Common questions

What is patio gas?
Calor's green propane cylinders, in 5 kg and 13 kg, with a 27 mm clip-on. Calor points the 5 kg size at barbecues of up to three burners. It is not the same fitting as blue butane, as many red propane cylinders on a POL screw, or as a Campingaz bottle.
Will a butane regulator fit a propane cylinder?
No. Standard butane is a 21 mm clip at about 28–30 mbar. Patio propane is a 27 mm clip at 37 mbar. Many red propane cylinders are a POL screw. Forcing one regulator onto the other valve damages the fitting. Change to the regulator made for that bottle, then leak-test.
How big a cylinder for two burners?
Calor's guide is a 5 kg bottle for grills up to three burners. Gardeners' World's about ten barbecues from 5 kg is their rule of thumb for one- to three-burner grills, not a timed test of these listings. A long cook on both burners uses it faster. A 13 kg cylinder lasts longer and is heavier to carry. Neither size changes the 27 mm patio clip.
Can I use the barbecue in winter on butane?
You may get a weak flame or none once the cylinder is cold, because butane stops vaporising usefully near freezing. Calor's outdoor recommendation is propane for that reason. A warm cupboard is not a fix, and a cylinder does not belong under the stairs. Keep the bottle outdoors, upright, and change it outdoors with the valve off first.
Does the bottle in the photo fit under the trolley?
Not always. A UK review of the Campingaz Xpert 200 says a standard UK butane bottle does not fit between the shelf and the pan. The listing does not give a measured gap. If it will not fit, stand the cylinder beside the barbecue, outdoors, and do not force the shelf.

Related pages

Best 2 burner gas BBQ

2 burner gas BBQ

2 burner gas BBQ buying guide: grate, heat, and hose

How to use a gas BBQ: light, leak-test, shut it down

2 burner vs 3 burner gas BBQ: cool zone and guests

Sources

Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures for these ASINs on 19 October 2026. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

  1. BSI: BS EN 498:2012 outdoor LPG barbecues (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. GOV.UK: Regulation 2016/426 in Great Britain (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. GOV.UK: fire safety outdoors (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. London Fire Brigade: barbecue leaflet, April 2024 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Calor: gas bottles for BBQs (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Calor: hose and regulator (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. Liquid Gas UK: Consumer Guidance Sheet 39 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Which?: best gas barbecues 2026 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  9. Weber GB: Spirit E-210, outside this set (retrieved 19 October 2026)