Cooking is the indispensable activity when it comes to outdoor camping. A propane stove is a perfect choice for this kind of task as it is easy to use, can cook big meals for medium to large groups in a short time.
We have researched a lot of models to pick these best camping propane stoves below.
Here are the best camping propane stoves (2025 Update):
- Best Overall: Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2
- Best Canister: Etekcity Portable Camping Stove
- Best Single-Burner Tabletop: Gas ONE New GS-3400P
- Best Gas Fire Pit: Outland Firebowl 893 Deluxe
- Ultra Portable: Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove
- Best For Car Camping: Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven
- Best For Large Groups: CONCORD Triple Burner
| Top 7 Best Camping Propane Stoves | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2
| Read Our Review |
Best Canister | Etekcity Portable Camping Stove
| Read Our Review |
Best Single-Burner Tabletop | Gas ONE New GS-3400P
| Read Our Review |
Best Gas Fire Pit | Outland Firebowl 893 Deluxe
| Read Our Review |
Ultra Portable | Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove
| Read Our Review |
Best For Car Camping | Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven
| Read Our Review |
Best For Large Groups | CONCORD Triple Burner
| Read Our Review |
Best Overall: Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2
- Large cooking surface
- 3-sided windshield
- 2 30,000 BTU cast-aluminum burners
- 4 adjustable legs
- Rugged design for durability
- Bulky and heavy
- Not so good for simmering a small portion
Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2 is the best choice for big-group camping as it is powerful (2 * 30,000 BTU burners) and has a large cooking surface (14 x 32 inches).
The burners are all aluminum casted, the frame and the surface are ruggedly designed, making the stove durable and suitable for outdoor uses. However, it is too bulky for small camping or backpacking.
Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2 is featured with a 3-sided windshield for windy places and 4 adjustable detachable legs for uneven grounds. Two appliance-style temperature-control dials let you fully adjust the heat of two burners separately.
Being a 14" cooking system, Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2 can be easily used with a wide range of accessories, from the Professional Grill Box to the Italia Artisan Pizza Oven. The stove can be connected to any common propane tank. by a 3 ft. hose with a regulator. A 20 lb propane tank can provide about 15 hours of cooking.
One drawback of Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2 is that the power is so powerful that it’s hard for simmering a small portion.
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 14W x 29H x 32L inches |
| Total output | 2 x 30,000 BTUs/Hr |
| Cooking area | 448 sq. in |
| Weight | 30.5 lbs |
| Time to boil | Less than a minute for 1 liter of water |
| Simmer | Okay for medium to large portions |
| Highlight features | 4 removable legs, 3-sided windscreen, Two 30,000 BTU burners. |
Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2 is the best overall camping propane stove for big-group camping.
Best Canister: Etekcity Portable Camping Stove
- Ultralight for great portability
- 4 non-slip arms for easy fixation of pots and pans
- Windproof Honeycomb-shaped fuel design for efficient combustion
- Affordable
- Small cooking surface
Etekcity Portable Camping Stove is both portable and durable. It is made of Stainless Steel and Aluminum Alloy to minimize the weight but maximize the durability. The included carrying case further adds to the portability as it can simply be tossed in a bag without worry.
It can carry pots and pans up to 7" of diameter firmly with a 4 foldable anti-slip arm system. The stove is compatible with any 7/16 thread single butane/butane-propane mixed fuel canisters (EN 417). There is a control valve for heat adjustment. Etekcity Portable Camping Stove can fast boil as easy as slow simmer.
Etekcity Portable Camping Stove is equipped with Piezo Ignition and Closed fuel design for burning outdoors. The electric-spark ignition system and the honeycomb-shaped fuel design help the stove to ignite quickly and increase combustion efficiency in windy environments.
Before cooking with Etekcity Portable Camping Stove, you should bury the propane tank under the ground to firmly fix it on the ground.
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 1.81"x 2.36" x 3.15" |
| Total output | 6,666 BTUs/hour |
| Cooking area | Fit to pots or pans with diameter up to 7" |
| Weight | 0.05 lb |
| Time to boil | 3.5 minutes for 1 liter of water |
| Simmer | Great |
| Highlight features | Leave-No-Trace standard, Piezo Ignition, Windproof Honeycomb-shaped fuel design |
Etekcity Portable Camping Stove is a portable canister propane stove for small-group camping and trekking.
Best Single-Burner Tabletop: Gas ONE New GS-3400P
- Compatible with both butane and propane fuel
- Stable and Easy to use
- Safety features
- UL and CSA certification
- The body is made of aluminum, not stainless steel
Gas ONE New GS-3400P is certificated by UL and CSA assuring that the product meets safety and performance standards. It is an easy-to-use tabletop stove.
Just place it on an even surface, put a pot on the 4-big-arm support system, and turn the fire on. Being a tabletop stove with a large cooking area, Gas ONE New GS-3400P will stand firmly on the ground and hold the pot firmly.
Gas ONE New GS-3400P has a Built-in Pressure Sensor Cartridge Ejection System and a Gas Flow Cut Off Mechanism to prevent any unwanted accident. The stove will eject cartridge when irregular pressure is detected - maybe it’s an inappropriate cartridge or the gas is leaking.
You can also use both 8 oz Butane Canister and 16.4 oz Propane Tank with the stove.
However, a big drawback of Gas ONE New GS-3400P is that the body is made of aluminum but not stainless steel. That means the stove is easier to get rust and stain, it is likely to be misshapen when getting crash, and the body of the stove is hotter while cooking.
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 5.3L x 4.4W x 1.7H inches |
| Total output | 8,000 BTUs/hour |
| Cooking area | 62 sq. in |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs |
| Time to boil | 2.5 minutes for 1 liter of water |
| Simmer | Great |
| Highlight features | UL and CSA certification, Built-in Pressure Sensor Cartridge Ejection System, Gas Flow Cut Off Mechanism |
Gas ONE New GS-3400P is an easy-to-use and safety camping stove.
Best Gas Fire Pit: Outland Firebowl 893 Deluxe
- Super powerful
- CSA approved fire pit
- Come with a Cover & Carry Kits
- Lack of Ignition
Instead of traditional wood-burning fire pits, people nowadays favorite gas fire pits as they are easy to use and are completely smokeless. We found Outland Firebowl 893 Deluxe is one of the best gas fire pits on the market.
It’s easy to set up, attractive looking, durable, and CSA approved. CSA certification is a set of standards ensuring that a fire pit has been thoroughly tested by an accredited testing laboratory to meet specified safety and performance requirements.
The included 4.4-Lb natural lava rock set enhances the flickering effect to the fire pit. The stove is high-quality steel constructed with a protective enamel finish, along with stainless steel burner and fasteners, ensure dependable longevity.
Outland Firebowl 893 Deluxe is not only a decor accessory but also a super powerful stove. It has the total output of 58,000 BTUs/HR that can boil a liter of water in tens of seconds. There is a chrome valve knob for varying flame
The only inconvenience of Outland Firebowl 893 Deluxe is that you need to ignite manually as the fire pit doesn’t come with a built-in ignition.
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 19L x 19W x 11H inches |
| Total output | 58,000 BTUs/Hr |
| Cooking area | 350 sq. in |
| Weight | 23.3 lbs |
| Time to boil | 20 seconds for 1 liter of water |
| Simmer | Bad |
| Highlight features | CSA approved fire pit, included Cover & Carry Kit |
Outland Firebowl 893 Deluxe is not only a perfect decor accessory for camping events but also a super powerful stove with a large cooking surface.
Ultra Portable: Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove
- Lightweight and compact
- High output power
- Stand firm on the ground
- Small cooking surface
Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove is an ultra-portable camping propane stove. It has a super lightweight and compact design. Moreover, the burner and base can be separated from the 16.4 oz. propane cylinder for easy carrying.
Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove is featured with PerfectFlow technology for consistent performance, even in extreme outdoor conditions, like sub-freezing temps or high altitudes. The Wind baffle design protecting the flame from the wind helps increases the efficiency of fuel combustion.
Despite being a compact camping stove, Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove has a high output power of 10,000 BTUs/Hr. The stove can boil a liter of water in about 3 minutes. A 16.4-oz propane cylinder is enough to keep the stove burning on high up to 2.5 hours. You can twist the control knob to get a precise temperature.
Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove fits up to 8-inch pan. The large stand and the large base offer stability for easy stirring.
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 7.8L x 7.8W x 6.6H inches (includes tank) |
| Total output | 10,000 BTUs/Hr |
| Cooking area | Fit up to an 8-inch pan |
| Weight | 0.02 lb |
| Time to boil | 3 minutes for 1 liter of water |
| Simmer | Great |
| Highlight features | Perfectheat technology, Wind baffles |
Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove is a high power but ultra-portable camping propane stove.
Best For Car Camping: Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven
- Efficient gas usage
- Can cook various types of food
- Can cook a really big portion at once
- Too big that only suitable for car camping
Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven is a big boy that weighs 35 lbs and has a tabletop design. Obviously, it isn’t for backpacking. It’s for car camping.
Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven is very versatile as it has 2 large burners and an oven. You can cook from muffins to bacon.
The total output of the oven is only 3,000 BTUs/hour, which sounds a bit under-powered. However, you’ll be surprised by its efficiency as the oven is put inside an insulated box.
Camping with Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven is not different than having a hearty meal in your backyard with full of kitchen tools.
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 12.5L x 21W x 18H inches |
| Total output | 2 Burners * 7,500 BTU, 1 Oven * 3,000 BTU |
| Cooking area | 430 sq. in |
| Weight | 35 lbs |
| Time to boil | 3 minutes for 1 liter of water |
| Simmer | Great |
| Highlight features | Internal oven, Nonstick enamel cooking surface, Folding lid provides a three-sided windscreen, Removable oven racks |
Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven is a combination of a burner stove and an oven that lets you cook any kinds of food when camping.
Best For Large Groups: CONCORD Triple Burner
- 3 burners with a very large cooking surface
- Super powerful output
- 4 detachable legs for all kinds of grounds
- You have to lit 3 burners manually
If you are holding a camping event for a large group, CONCORD Triple Burner is the perfect choice to cook the meals.
No matter how many members do you have, 3 burners with 630 square inches and cooking area and 55,000 BTUs/Hr of total output each will meet your cooking demand.
You can control three burners’ heat separately for all styles of cooking. 4 detachable adjustable legs help the stove stay firm on uneven grounds. The stove is made from Heavy Duty Cast Iron with Weather Proof coating, which will last a Lifetime.
The only inconvenience of CONCORD Triple Burner is that there is no built-in ignition. So, you have to lit 3 burners manually.
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 35L x 18W x 29H inches |
| Total output | 3 * 55,000 BTUs/Hr |
| Cooking area | 630 sq. in |
| Weight | 39 lbs |
| Time to boil | 20 seconds for 1 liter of water |
| Simmer | Okay for medium to large portions |
| Highlight features | Adjustable legs |
CONCORD Triple Burner has a super large cooking surface that is perfect for large-group camping.
To choose a suitable camping propane stove, you should consider these factors:
Size and Weight
- It’s important to be small and lightweight to be a camping stove so that you can carry it all the roads you go.
- Propane stoves are usually used for medium to large group camping, so they are not so compact, however, at least they should not be so bulky.
Cooking surface
- A large cooking surface allows you to cook larger portions for many people at once.
Total output
- On average, the total output of 7,000 BTUs/Hour per burner is sufficient.
- You should choose a stove that allows you to adjust the flame. You can lower the output to 5,000 BTUs to simmer or increase it to cook faster.
Other accessories
- Consider detachable adjustable legs for the stove to stay firm on uneven grounds, windshields for effective burning even in windy environments, Windproof Honeycomb-shaped fuel designs for better combustion. Or you might one a get a gas fire pit to decorate the outdoor ambiance.
Which Brands Make The Best Camping Propane Stoves?
Here are top 3 brands you should consider when buying the best camping propane stoves:
Camp Chef
- Camp Chef has been a leading manufacturer in the cooking industry for more than 20 years. They produce a wide range of high-quality products and accessories to cook for outdoor gatherings. From camp stoves, portable ovens to BBQ boxes and flattop griddles.
Etekcity
- Etekcity is an e-commerce retailer serving customers in home improvement, consumer electronics, and outdoor equipment. They headquartered in California, USA and have 3 other offices in Germany and China, which are all really to support all the customers across the World. Etekcity is famous for their good customer service and good but affordable products.
Gas ONE
- Gas One is one of the biggest names in the outdoor cooking industry. They manufacture from cooking tools like stoves, burners, pots, grills to stove accessories like LP accessories and windscreens. All have good quality that serves their mission as "Bring people together through outdoor camping".
FAQs
Are propane stoves safe?
Propane stoves are as safe as you use them outdoors. Propane burning leaves a bit of waste, in which there is CO - a colorless, odorless toxic gas that is very harmful if you expose too much to it.
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a propane stove?
Yes, you can. However, if you follow some safety practices, you’ll be fine. First, don’t use the stove in an airtight place. And second, don’t let unburned propane gas leak.
Is there a difference between natural gas and propane stoves?
Not so much, but there are. It’s the difference in size of the gas jets and pressure. Propane needs a higher oxygen-to-gas ratio than the natural gas to be combusted, which means propane is compressed at a higher pressure than natural gas.
So, a typical propane stove would use a different type of valve to connect to the tank from the valve used with a typical natural gas stove. However, there are a lot of models that are compatible with both natural gas pipe and propane tank.
Are portable propane heaters safe for indoor use?
No. It is not recommended.
How hot does a propane stove top get?
It depends on the models. Some can reach above 500 degrees F.
How many BTU’s do I need for cooking?
On average, the total output of 7,000 BTUs/Hour per burner is sufficient.
Conclusion
Above are my full review of the best camping propane stoves. Hope that the information in this article will help you find the suitable propane stove for you.
