Stove Fuel Calculator
Fuel burn tracks boiled-water volume: two cooked meals a day per person, with a strong penalty for freezing weather and snow melting. A 15% planning margin and canister conversion are built in.
Result
- Expected burn
- 360 g
- 230 g canisters
- 2
How the calculation works
The model scales a per-person daily burn by party, days and weather:
- Baselines for two cooked meals per person per day: canister 60 g, white gas 50 g, alcohol 70 g.
- Cold weather (near or below freezing, or melting snow) multiplies the burn by 1.6.
- Canister trips round up to whole 230 g canisters; liquid and alcohol stoves also get a milliliter fill-line figure.
Fuel is half the kitchen plan - the food weight calculator covers the other half, and the altitude cooking guide explains why boil times stretch up high.
Planning estimate only - not safety advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much fuel does a typical hiker burn per day?
Planning values land around 50-70 g per person per day for two cooked meals in mild weather, depending on the stove and how much hot drink you make. That is the baseline the calculator scales from - cold weather can push it 50% higher or more.
Why does cold weather cost so much more fuel?
Three effects stack up: water starts colder, stoves and gas lose output in the cold (canister pressure drops badly near freezing), and winter trips often melt snow for water, which multiplies burn time. The calculator applies a 1.6x factor for near-freezing conditions.
Should I bring part canisters or a bigger one?
The calculator rounds up to whole 230 g canisters including a 15% margin. Partial canisters from earlier trips are fine if they hold pressure - weigh a full canister (printed on the label) against the spare one to see what is left.
How does this connect to my trip settings?
If you set your trip at the top of the page, the days field starts from its length. Party size and stove stay yours to set - the trip context does not know who is coming.