11.5 lb. Tanks

A pan type cylinder is a low-profile propane tank: it holds its rated capacity in a shorter, wider body instead of a tall narrow one. That matters where vertical clearance is limited, such as under a cabinet, inside a tank enclosure, or beneath a grill or heater housing. Buyers sometimes call it a squatty propane tank, which describes the same shape.

Height, diameter and empty weight for this cylinder are listed in the specifications on this page, and the height is the figure worth checking, since low profile is the whole point of this shape. Compare it against your enclosure before ordering. A standard upright 11 lb bottle will be noticeably taller.

Around 2.6 gallons, since propane weighs roughly 4.2 pounds per gallon. Propane cylinders are rated by pounds of propane capacity rather than tank volume, so an “11 gallon” propane tank is a different and much larger thing. If you searched by gallons, check the pound rating before you buy.

Full weight is the empty tare weight stamped on the cylinder plus about 11 pounds of propane. The tare weight for this cylinder is in the specifications on this page. Fillers work from that stamped tare figure, which is why propane is filled by weight rather than to a pressure.

It means the cylinder was inspected and requalified by an authorized facility and passed, then returned to service with a current date stamped on it. It either meets the standard or it is scrapped, so a recertified cylinder is held to the same requirement as a new one. The difference is cost and finish.

Yes, provided the requalification date is current and the valve meets present requirements. Refill stations check the stamp before filling, and they apply the same check to new and recertified cylinders alike. An out-of-date cylinder is refused regardless of age.

Overfill Prevention Device requirements apply to portable propane cylinders in the common sizes, and United States refill stations will refuse a cylinder that requires an OPD and does not have one. The valve fitted here is listed in the specifications on this page. Confirm it against what your filler requires before ordering.

It suits grills, patio and construction heaters, camping and catering setups, and any application where a 20 lb bottle is more than needed or will not fit. In the pan shape specifically it is chosen where height is the constraint rather than capacity. It gives useful run time without the weight of a larger cylinder.

Run time depends on the burner’s output rather than the tank. As a guide, propane delivers roughly 21,600 BTU per pound, so an 11 lb fill provides on the order of 235,000 BTU in total; divide that by your appliance’s rated BTU per hour for an approximate figure. A high-output heater will empty it far faster than a single grill burner.

No. All cylinders ship empty for transport safety and must be filled before first use. Take it to any propane dealer or refill station for a standard fill by weight. Never attempt to transfer propane between cylinders yourself.

It depends on space and handling more than on performance, since both deliver vapor propane at the same pressure through the same regulator types. The 11 lb is lighter and, in the pan shape, much shorter, which is why it wins where the cylinder has to fit inside something. The 20 lb runs longer between fills.

You own it outright. That is worth noting against cage-exchange programs, which swap your cylinder for another and often deliver less than a full fill. Owning and refilling by weight means you pay for the propane you actually get.

Transport it upright and secured, and never leave a propane cylinder in a closed vehicle or in direct sun. Store it outdoors, upright, away from ignition sources and building openings. Keep the valve closed when not in use, including when the cylinder is empty.

Portable DOT propane cylinders are requalified on a set interval from the date stamped on the collar, with subsequent intervals depending on the requalification method used. A dealer reads that stamp at every fill. Because this cylinder has just been recertified, it starts with a current date.