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Propane or butane for a gas BBQ

Updated: 23 October 2026

You are on the patio with a stainless steel gas BBQ and a regulator that may not belong to that valve. The first cook fails when the clip will not seat, or when the millibar rating belongs to a different gas. This page settles propane or butane for a gas BBQ before you turn anything on. Patio gas and propane sit at about 37 mbar, butane at about 28–30 mbar, and a Campingaz bottle needs its own screw-on. The [stainless steel gas BBQ comparison](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/stainless-steel-gas-bbq) ranks the grills. Prices below are amazon.co.uk listings from 19 October 2026. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You are on the patio with a stainless steel gas BBQ and a regulator that may not belong to that valve. The first cook fails when the clip will not seat, or when the millibar rating belongs to a different gas.

Our top picks

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Platinum 4+2

Best overall

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Platinum 4+2
8.0/10about £502.55
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CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Pro Deluxe 6+1

Rank 2

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Pro Deluxe 6+1
8.9/10about £299.99
View offer
Onlyfire Onlyfire 2-burner

Best value

Onlyfire Onlyfire 2-burner
7.7/10about £189.49
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Propane, patio gas, and a 37 mbar regulator
  2. 2.Butane at 28–30 mbar, and Campingaz
  3. 3.Which of these grills include a regulator
  4. 4.Why a large trolley ices a small bottle

Propane, patio gas, and a 37 mbar regulator

Patio gas is the propane UK suppliers sell for garden barbecues: a cylinder with a clip-on valve, regulated at about 37 mbar. Hamilton Gas Products puts propane and patio gas in that band, and the hose kits in this set are 37 mbar clip-ons, usually the 27 mm patio latch. That clip will not seal a butane cabinet bottle, and it will not screw onto a Campingaz thread. The regulator sets pressure. It does not make a small bottle keep up with every burner. On a CosmoGrill Platinum 4+2 the included 37 mbar kit is the default when the listing puts one in the box and you connect patio gas. The power line prints 20.7 kW and a bullet sums the burners to about 21.2 kW. A butane cylinder, or a Campingaz 907, still needs its own regulator. The buying guide only summarises the fitting.

Butane at 28–30 mbar, and Campingaz

Butane for a UK gas barbecue is regulated at about 28–30 mbar, a different part from the 37 mbar propane clip. A butane regulator on patio gas, or a propane clip on butane, leaves a lazy flame or a joint that will not seal. Supplier guidance treats butane as the milder-weather fuel: a cold bottle loses vapour pressure and the grill fades. Propane and patio gas are what those suppliers point to on a chilly evening. Campingaz 901, 904, and 907 bottles need a Campingaz screw-on. The 27 mm patio clip is the wrong shape. The Onlyfire two-burner states 4.7 kW, closer to a camping-stove draw than a six-burner trolley. Liquid Gas UK still says you do not use a barbecue indoors, including on butane. Forcing a patio clip onto a Campingaz thread damages the valve.
CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Platinum 4+2

Testsieger

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Platinum 4+2
8.0/10about £502.55
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Which of these grills include a regulator

Saved amazon.co.uk listings from 19 October 2026 split this set. Many CosmoGrill Platinum kits, and the Yamara 4+2, quote a 37 mbar propane regulator in the box. The Pro Deluxe 6+1, B07TN7QXR8, at £299.99 with 4.5 from 366 ratings, both names a regulator and says you buy it separately. B08NYRNQ1V (£502.55), B08NYZKMP7 (£539.10), and Yamara B0D1225W4W (£539.99) often include that kit. Larger Platinum trolleys, about £599.99 to £676.16 and about 27.7 kW stated, need the same match. A kit in the carton does not feed every UK cylinder at the printed kilowatts. If the Pro Deluxe box has no regulator, buy a 37 mbar clip-on for patio propane, a 28–30 mbar regulator for butane, or a Campingaz screw-on.

Why a large trolley ices a small bottle

A regulator sets pressure. It does not create vapour. On a trolley that states about 21 to 28 kW, a small bottle around 5 kg can ice when every burner is on. Shoppers report frost and a falling flame. Treat that as a rule of thumb, not a lab certificate. Light fewer burners, or move to a larger propane bottle, and check the regulator is still 37 mbar if you changed cylinder. If the cylinder frosts and you smell gas, turn the cylinder off outdoors and stop. GOV.UK guidance is outdoor use only: not indoors, in a tent, under an awning, or in a caravan. If soapy water still bubbles, or the ignition wiring is broken, stop and get advice or return the unit.

Common questions

Propane or butane for year-round UK use?
Propane or patio gas at about 37 mbar is what UK suppliers point to when the garden is cold. Butane at about 28–30 mbar fades when the bottle itself is cold. Neither rating carries a trolley near 21 kW if the bottle is too small.
What is patio gas?
Patio gas is propane sold for garden appliances, in a cylinder with a clip-on valve, regulated at about 37 mbar. Hose kits in this set use that clip, often on a 27 mm latch. Butane and Campingaz use different fittings.
Will the included CosmoGrill clip-on fit my bottle?
It fits the patio-propane bottle that clip was made for. Platinum and Yamara listings often include a 37 mbar clip-on, not a universal adaptor. Campingaz wants a screw-on, and butane wants about 28–30 mbar. The Pro Deluxe, B07TN7QXR8, names a regulator and also says none is included.
What does a Campingaz bottle need?
Campingaz 901, 904, and 907 cylinders need a Campingaz screw-on regulator. The 27 mm patio clip is the wrong part. A trolley stating about 21 to 28 kW draws more than a camping stove, so a small Campingaz bottle stays a weak choice.
Why is my cylinder icing on a big trolley?
On a grill that states about 21 to 28 kW, a bottle around 5 kg can ice if you run every burner. Use fewer burners, or a larger propane bottle with a 37 mbar regulator. If you smell gas as well as seeing frost, shut the cylinder off outdoors and stop.
Can I use the same regulator for propane and butane?
Propane and patio gas sit at about 37 mbar. Butane sits at about 28–30 mbar. One regulator does not cover both, and it does not cover a Campingaz screw-on. Read the millibar mark before the first cook.

Related pages

How to use a gas BBQ in the UK

Best stainless steel gas BBQ

Stainless steel gas BBQ

Stainless steel gas BBQ buying guide: kit and steel

How to clean a stainless steel BBQ without scratching

Sources

Public UK sources on outdoor fire safety, BS EN 498, cylinder use, and regulator pressure, plus buyer notes on cleaning stainless. Prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines saved with this comparison, shelf date 19–21 October 2026.

  1. GOV.UK — fire safety outdoors (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  2. BS EN 498:2012 — outdoor LPG barbecue type test (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  3. Liquid Gas UK — safe use of cylinders (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  4. Hamilton Gas Products — which regulator (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  5. Weber UK — cleaning gas barbecues (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  6. Riverside Garden Centre — cleaning the outside (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  7. Which? — gas barbecue care (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  8. HSE — LPG legal framework (retrieved 22.10.2026)