Gas Appliance BTU Demand Chart
Typical input BTU/hr for common gas appliances, used to total the connected load before sizing the gas piping. Add up the inputs of everything the piping feeds, allow for future appliances, and size the longest run against your fuel’s pipe table. These are manufacturer-typical ranges — the appliance nameplate is authoritative.
Typical appliance input ratings
| Appliance | Typical input (BTU/hr) | For quick totaling |
|---|---|---|
| Range (freestanding, burners + oven) | 50,000–90,000 | 65,000 |
| Cooktop | 40,000–85,000 | 40,000 |
| Oven / broiler (built-in) | 14,000–25,000 | 20,000 |
| Water heater, tank (30–50 gal) | 30,000–55,000 | 40,000 |
| Water heater, tankless | 120,000–200,000 | 150,000 |
| Furnace (warm-air) | 60,000–120,000 | 100,000 |
| Boiler (hydronic) | 80,000–140,000 | 100,000 |
| Clothes dryer | 18,000–35,000 | 35,000 |
| Gas fireplace / logs | 20,000–90,000 | 50,000 |
| BBQ / outdoor grill | 40,000–80,000 | 40,000 |
| Pool heater | 100,000–400,000 | 200,000 |
From appliances to pipe size
Sizing a gas system starts here. Total the input ratings of every appliance on the piping to get the connected load, which the code permits you to pad by up to 50% for future additions. That total is what the pipe has to carry to the most remote outlet. From there, the longest-length method sizes each segment: take the single longest developed length from the meter or regulator to the farthest appliance, and size every section of the system for that length against the capacity table for your fuel and material — natural gas, propane, or CSST.
Common questions
How many BTU does a gas appliance use?
It varies by appliance and model, but typical inputs are around 65,000 BTU/hr for a range, 40,000 for a tank water heater, 150,000 for a tankless water heater, 100,000 for a furnace, and 35,000 for a dryer. Pool heaters are the big ones at 100,000–400,000. Always use the nameplate rating when you have it — these are planning figures for totaling a load.
How do I use appliance BTU to size gas pipe?
Add up the input ratings of every appliance the piping serves to get the connected load. The code lets you increase that by up to 50% for future appliances. Then work the longest-length method against the pipe sizing table for your fuel — converting to CFH by dividing by the heating value (1,030 for natural gas, 2,500 for propane) if the table is volume-based.
Is the demand the input or the output rating?
The input rating — the gas the appliance consumes — not its output (which is reduced by efficiency). Gas piping is sized on input, and that is the number on the appliance nameplate expressed in BTU/hr.
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