If you plan to take a camp stove on your next trip, you probably wonder which equipment you should pick. There are different options regarding size, fuel, number of burners, portability, weight, shape, and other features.
However, a crucial question that many campers have is: How many BTU do I need for a camp stove? Is 10,000 BTU enough for a stove?
We recommend at least 7,000 BTUs if you are a hiker or backpacker and at least 10,000 BTU per burner if you are camping with your friends or family. Ideally, if you are in a large group, stick to options with multiple burners so that you can cook different dishes simultaneously.
Keep reading this article for all the answers and a detailed explanation.
By the way, The Camping Air Conditioner is sponsored by readers. When you buy through one of our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
What is BTU?
The acronym BTU stands for British Thermal Unit (BTU). It measures the amount of energy (heat) required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by 1 Fahrenheit in one hour (in the temperature that the water has the highest density – approximately 39 Fahrenheit).
The more BTUs a fuel (or stove) has, the more powerful it is, meaning that it can increase the temperatures at a faster pace and gets hotter.
What is a good BTU for a camp stove?
With a wide variety of models in the market, we recommend having at least 10,000 BTU to allow basic cooking. However, different campers and camping conditions will require different solutions (and amount of BTUs).
Overall, we recommend the following:
| Camping | How many BTUs for a camp stove | Notes/Tips |
| Backpackers and hikers | At least 7,000 BTUs |
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| Medium-sized groups (up to 5-6 campers) | At least 10,000 BTUs |
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| Large Groups or long-term camping | More than 20,000 BTUs |
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To avoid misunderstanding, you should consider the amount of BTUs required by a burner. Some stoves are sold in the market with a heating output of 20,000 BTU for two burners, which means that each burner has 10,000 BTU, in fact.
How many BTUs do Hikers and Backpackers need for camp stoves?
If you are a hiker or backpacker and are looking for lightweight and compact, you might use a smaller version, but we don’t recommend going below 7,000 BTUs. A good option is Coleman portable butane stove with one burner (7,650BTUs – below) – good value for money and efficiency!
If you want something even smaller yet powerful, Odoland 3500W (12,000 BTU) Windproof is an excellent option. This device is foldable and portable and comes with a carrying case to facilitate transportation – a must-have for backpackers and hikers.
Further, it provides excellent value for money, costing less than $25! It works from propane and butane-propane mixes, allowing maximum flexibility for you.
What is the smallest camping stove for backpackers and hikers?
There are plenty of small and compact options available in the market. We recommend the following options:
| Stove Name | BTU | Fuel | Weight | Price | Features |
| Odoland 3500W | 12,000 BTU | LPG (Propane/Butane) | 360g | $ |
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| Coleman Classic Backpacking Stove | 10,000 BTU | LPG (Propane/Butane) | 190g | S |
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| JetBoil Flash | 4500-9000 BTU | Isobutane | 370g | $$$ |
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Note: Even though some manufacturers argue their equipment runs from both butane and propane, we do not recommend using them interchangeably – if you want to understand why read this article – can you use propane fuel in butane stoves?
How many BTUs do a small group of campers need for camp stoves?
If you are on a group camping with a couple of friends (up to 4-6 people), we suggest having at least two burners with 10,000 heating output each.
This will allow more flexibility and ensure that large meals are prepared faster. Our recommendation is the Coleman Triton Propane Stove, which comes with two burners and total heating output of 22,000 BTUs (for better performance, consider using a kitchen stand with windshield, as wind might significantly impact your flames)
Is 10,000 BTU enough for a stove?
A 10,000 BTU should work well for most meals that you are going to prepare while camping. Just as a reference, a typical home stove usually comes with four burners, with 2 of them with 9,000 BTU capacity, one at 12,000, and a minor with 5,000.
Therefore, you will be able to quickly cook different dishes, such as eggs, soups, rice, heat your beans, and many other options.
Professional cooking ranges are much higher, with burners going from 12,000 to 30,000 BTU each.
How many BTUs do I need for my camp stove when camping with my family?
If you are camping with your family or in a large group of campers, it might be appropriate to consider larger equipment (above 20,000 BTU), with more heating output and more burners.
Here, there are two options that we would recommend: if this is a base camping, where you are staying for a few days, it might be worth considering HikeCrew Cast Iron 3-Burn Gas Stove 225,000 BTU (below). This model comes with three separate burners, ensuring flexibility and plenty of heating power. It is lightweight yet sturdy and only weighs 20 pounds.
HikeCrew Cast Iron 3-Burn Gas Stove (picture below) also comes with flame control and wind panels to increase efficiency. The drawback of this option is the big propane tank that you will need to carry around. However, if you are camping for a couple of days/weeks, it might be the perfect option.
- Powerful - 225,000 BTU
- Triple Burner - Ideal for family camping
- Removable legs (easy to carry)
- Heavy-dut
Our second recommendation is Camp Chef explorer 30,000 BTU, which comes with two burners and is made of cast aluminium. It comes with temperature and flame control that facilitate the cooking process.
Its detachable steel legs and windscreen facilitate transportation and increase practicality. You can also buy some accessories, such as the cast iron grill griddle and an outdoor pizza oven adapter, to prepare a wide variety of meals.
How many BTUs does it take to boil 1 pound of water?
The exact amount will depend on certain factors, such as water temperature, pressure, time, etc.
If we consider that water will boil at 212°F and the starting temperature is 32°F, it would be required 180 BTUs to boil 1 pound of water (in one hour). The faster you want to boil it; the more BTUs are needed.
Does higher BTU use more gas in your camping stove?
Usually, the higher the BTU output, the more gas/fuel your camping stove will use. However, you should also pay attention to the efficiency of your stove.
The higher the consumption, the more fuel you will need to carry. Therefore, choose the most suitable option for you.
How many BTUs is good for a camping grill?
The answer to this question relies more on the grilling area.
As a rule of thumb, it is suggested that you have 75 to 100 BTU per square inch (2.54cm x 2.54cm) of the heating surface.
For example, the cast iron grill griddle for Camp Chef Explorer 30,000 BTU comes with the following dimensions – 16 inches x 14 inches. Therefore, it would need from 16,800 (16in x 14in x 75 BTU) to 22,400 BTUs (16 in x 14 in x 100 BTU).
Can I use a stove inside my tent?
Even though it is not ideal, you can use a stove inside your tent, provided you follow some safety measures, such as:
- Ensure there is plenty of ventilation in your tent
- Use a carbon monoxide detector
- Remove or isolate any flammable material
- Use a fire mat below your stove
- If you intend to use a stove inside your tent routinely, buy a tent with a stove jack.
- Consider an electric stove alternative.
Propane vs Butane Stove - which is better?
We have written a detailed article to answer this question – read it here. Overall, we recommend the following:
- Propane stoves are mandatory if you are camping in cold conditions, with temperatures below 0 Celsius degrees!
- For backpackers and hikers, we recommend butane options since their fuel is lightweight and easy to store.
How can I camp without a stove?
There are a couple of options, such as:
- bringing meals that do not require heating (nuts, cereal bars, wraps, tuna, bread, etc.);
- If you are camping over a weekend, cooking your meals ahead and bringing in small containers might be a good choice.
- cooking using a campfire.
- You can use an electric alternative, such as an electric skillet for camping.
Conclusion
As discussed, the BTU requirements for your camping stove will depend on your camping needs. Overall, we recommend at least 10,000 BTUs to ensure you prepare most of your meals.
For backpackers, heating outputs of 7,000 BTU should be sufficient to prepare small meals. If you are camping in large groups, consider bringing a bigger stover with multiple burners (and at least 10,000 BTU heating output for each burner).
Have a delicious meal!
