How to Check If Your LPG Gas Cylinder Is Full (or Being Short-Filled) in 2 Minutes

A full 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder in India should weigh roughly 29.5 kg gross — the empty cylinder (tare weight) plus 14.2 kg of gas. If your delivered cylinder weighs noticeably less than the tare weight printed on it plus 14.2 kg, you may have been short-filled. Here is how to check in about two minutes.

What should a full LPG cylinder weigh?

A full domestic cylinder weighs about 29.5 kg in total. That figure is made of two parts: the net gas content, which is 14.2 kg (±150 g) by regulation, and the weight of the empty steel cylinder itself, called the tare weight, which is typically around 15.3 kg. Because the steel cylinder weight varies slightly from one cylinder to the next, you should never rely on a single fixed number — you should read the tare weight stamped on your own cylinder.

Where is the tare weight written on the cylinder?

The tare weight is painted or stamped on the cylinder itself, usually on one of the metal stay plates near the top (the ring that protects the valve). It is commonly shown as "T.W." followed by a number in kilograms, for example T.W. 15.3. To know what your full cylinder should weigh, simply add 14.2 to the tare weight printed on that specific cylinder. If T.W. is 15.3, a properly filled cylinder should weigh about 29.5 kg.

How do I weigh my gas cylinder at home?

The fastest way is with a portable hanging scale. Hook the scale onto the cylinder's neck ring, lift it clear off the ground for a couple of seconds, and read the weight. Subtract the printed tare weight from the reading — the difference is how much gas you actually received. If that difference is well below 14 kg, raise it with your distributor at the time of delivery, before the delivery person leaves.

A ZoraCook Portable Hanging Digital Scale (₹349) reads up to 50 kg, has a backlit display for dim storerooms, and a tare button so you can zero out a hook or bag. It is the same tool people use to check airline luggage, so it earns its place in the house beyond gas day.

What counts as a short-fill?

The legal allowance is 14.2 kg ±150 g of gas, so anything from about 14.05 kg to 14.35 kg of net gas is within tolerance. If your measured net gas (scale reading minus stamped tare) is meaningfully under 14 kg, that is worth questioning. Check it on delivery rather than days later, since once the cylinder is in use it is hard to prove how much was missing.

Does this apply to portable butane cylinders too?

The tare-and-net method is specific to large domestic LPG cylinders. Small portable butane cans used for camping and tabletop cooking are sold by net fill weight printed on the can and are not weighed the same way. If you cook off the gas line — on a balcony, at a campsite, or during a power cut — a ZoraCook Portable Gas Stove (₹1,999) running on a portable butane cylinder (₹199) is a separate fuel system from your kitchen LPG line.

FAQ

How much should a full 14.2 kg cylinder weigh?
About 29.5 kg gross — roughly 15.3 kg tare (empty cylinder) plus 14.2 kg of gas. Always add 14.2 to the tare weight stamped on your specific cylinder.

How do I find the empty weight of my cylinder?
Look for "T.W." (tare weight) painted or stamped on a stay plate near the valve. That number is the empty weight of that exact cylinder.

How can I weigh an LPG cylinder at home?
Use a hanging scale rated for at least 30 kg. Hook it to the neck ring, lift, read the weight, and subtract the stamped tare weight to find the net gas delivered.

What is the legal tolerance on gas content?
14.2 kg ±150 g of net gas. A small variation is normal; a large shortfall is not.

When should I check the weight?
At the moment of delivery, before the delivery person leaves, so any shortfall can be raised immediately.