Can You Fill Gas Cans or Jerry Cans at Costco? (Plus Propane)

Cheap Costco gas is tempting for the mower, the generator and the boat, not just the car. So can you fill a gas can or jerry can at the pump, and does Costco refill propane too? This post covers the rules in the US and Canada, how to fill a can safely, which gas cans Costco sells, and what we could confirm about Costco propane.

Short answer: Yes. You can fill gas cans at Costco gas stations and Canadian gas bars, as long as the can is an approved fuel container and it sits on the ground while you fill it, never in the trunk or truck bed. In most of the US the fire code limits each can to 6 gallons (22.7 L). Costco's attendants are there to enforce these rules and can refuse a can that doesn't meet them. Many Costco warehouses also refill propane tanks at a separate station, but not all of them, and Costco doesn't do tank exchanges.

Can you fill gas cans at Costco?

Yes. Costco doesn't ban portable containers. What it bans is filling containers that aren't made for fuel. Costco's gasoline pages say its "safety-certified" attendants enforce the national fire code, "including prohibitions against smoking, leaving the engine running, or filling portable containers not certified for such use."

The limits come from the fire code, not from Costco, so they are the same as at any gas station. The difference is that Costco always has an attendant on duty, and in both countries the fire code tells attendants to stop fuel going into containers that don't comply.

We found no Costco limit on how many cans one member can fill. The legal limits below, the attendant's judgment and the pump's pre-authorization hold (up to $150 in the US) are the practical limits. If you have several cans, go at a quiet time; our guide to Costco gas hours lists opening times.

The rules: US vs Canada

The two countries get to the same place by different routes. The US fire code limits the size of the container and where it sits. Canadian fire codes name the standards a container must meet, and federal transport rules limit how much you can carry home.

The US column follows the International Fire Code (IFC), which most states and cities adopt in some form; some use NFPA 1 and NFPA 30A or make local changes. The Canada column follows the National Fire Code as adopted by the provinces (we checked the British Columbia and Ontario texts).

What "approved container" means in practice

In the US, it means a gas can built for fuel, labelled for gasoline, with a certification mark and a tight cap. New cans made since January 1, 2009 must also meet the EPA's evaporative emissions standard and seal automatically. Milk jugs, water bottles and paint cans don't count.

In Canada, look for a can marked as meeting CSA B376 (the standard for portable gasoline containers) or ULC safety-container approval. The Scepter cans sold at Costco Canada are listed as "CSA Certified".

How much gas can you carry home in Canada?

Most people carrying a few jerry cans home fall under Transport Canada's 150 kg gross mass exemption. Transport Canada explains that the containers must weigh 30 kg or less each, and the 150 kg total includes the containers themselves. Its example: six jerricans of 25 kg each. The exemption only covers products sold to the general public and carried by the buyer (or the retailer).

A full 20 L plastic jerry can weighs about 16 to 17 kg (roughly 15 kg of gasoline plus the can), so it is comfortably under the 30 kg limit. Propane counts toward the same 150 kg total, and propane cylinders under this exemption can't be larger than 46 L. Provincial fire codes also limit storage at home. Ontario's, for example, allows 10 L of gasoline inside a dwelling unit and 30 L in an attached garage.

How to fill a gas can at Costco, step by step

The steps come from the fire code and US National Park Service safety guidance.

1. Take the can out of the vehicle. Set it on the ground next to the pump, away from your car. A can in a carpeted trunk or lined truck bed can't discharge static electricity safely.
2. Start the pump the normal way. Scan your membership card and pay with the same card you'd use for your car. The first-timer steps are in how to get gas at Costco.
3. Choose the grade. Regular is right for nearly all small engines. See Costco gas grades explained if your equipment asks for more.
4. Hold the nozzle open by hand. Don't use the hold-open latch. The code requires manual control when filling a container.
5. Keep the spout touching the can's opening and fill slowly, which cuts spatter and static.
6. Stop at about 95% full. Gasoline expands as it warms, so leave some room at the top.
7. Cap it tightly, wipe any drips, and secure it upright in the vehicle so it can't slide or tip.

Will the pump shut off on its own when the can is full?

Don't count on it. Automatic shut-off nozzles are designed for a car's filler neck and often cut off early or late with a gas can. On the Clark Howard community forum, some members called Costco's vapor-boot nozzles "VERY difficult" for containers, while others had no trouble; workarounds included pulling the boot back or pressing it against the can's opening. Treat these as member reports, ask the attendant if the nozzle won't flow, and watch the level yourself.

What does a full can cost?

As of our September 29, 2026 reading, the average US Costco regular price was $4.643/gal, so a 5-gallon can costs about $23.22 on average. In Canada the average was 173.0¢/L, so a 20 L jerry can costs about $34.60. Prices vary a lot by station, from 160.7¢/L on average in Alberta to 186.7¢/L in British Columbia. Check today's price at your station from the station finder before you go.

Can you fill a diesel can at Costco?

Yes, if your Costco sells diesel. The same container rules apply. Only a minority of stations have diesel: as of our September 29, 2026 reading, 67 US stations and 6 Canadian gas bars reported a diesel price. Our post on which Costco locations sell diesel lists them all.

Use a can made for diesel. By convention diesel cans are yellow and gasoline cans red, which helps prevent misfuelling. Diesel nozzles have a wider spout, so check the can's opening fits.

Can I…? Quick answers

Payment is the same as for a car: Visa credit, PIN debit, Apple Pay or a Shop Card in the US, and Mastercard, debit or a physical Shop Card at Canadian gas bars (see how to pay at Costco gas in Canada).

Which gas cans does Costco sell?

Costco's gas cans are mostly Scepter, and stock is seasonal. Here is what we found listed in late September 2026. Availability changes often, and warehouse stock differs from online stock.

Deal trackers reported the 5-gallon SmartControl on clearance at many US warehouses around July 2026, at $12.97 to $14.97. RedFlagDeals members have reported the 20 L two-pack in Canadian warehouses at $29 in past seasons.

Gas for small engines: ethanol and storage

Costco regular works in most small engines. It is usually E10 (up to 10% ethanol), like most gas in the US and Canada; our Top Tier post covers what is in it. Briggs & Stratton accepts up to 10% ethanol and at least 87 octane.

• Avoid E15 and higher in small engines. The EPA's E15 pump label warns against using it in lawn mowers, chainsaws, boats, motorcycles and other non-road engines. Costco gas is typically E10, but read the pump label: a few Midwest Costcos sell E15 (more on ethanol at Costco).
• Buy about a 30-day supply. Briggs & Stratton recommends buying fuel "in quantities that can be used within 30 days" and says gasoline starts to degrade in as little as 30 days.
• Add stabilizer for storage. Briggs & Stratton says a fuel stabilizer added to fresh fuel keeps it usable for up to 24 months. Add it to the can before or right after filling, so it mixes as you pour.
• Need ethanol-free fuel? Costco generally doesn't sell it; try marinas or independent stations.

Does Costco sell propane?

Yes, many Costco warehouses refill propane tanks, but not all, and Costco doesn't do tank exchanges. We found no Costco customer service page on propane, so these details come from warehouse listings, consumer guides and member reports, consistent across the US and Canada. Confirm with your warehouse.

• It's a refill station, not an exchange cage. You bring your own tank and an attendant fills it, so you keep any propane left in it.
• It's usually near the gas station or the tire center.
• You pay inside. The attendant gives you a slip and keeps the tank until you come back with a receipt from the checkout (or, at some warehouses, the tire center counter). A membership is required.
• Your tank must be in date and have an OPD valve. In the US, consumer guides say a standard BBQ cylinder must be requalified or replaced 12 years after it was made. In Canada, the Canadian Propane Association says cylinders must be requalified every 10 years and that "it is against the law to fill an outdated cylinder."
• No 1 lb camping cylinders. Costco fills standard grill tanks and larger, not the small disposable bottles.
• Tanks are filled to about 80% of capacity, the normal safety limit that leaves room for expansion.

Pricing varies by warehouse. In Canada, RedFlagDeals members report that some warehouses charge by weight and others charge a flat rate per tank. US consumer guides put a 20 lb refill at roughly $13 to $18 in mid-2026, but we have no official Costco price and don't track propane in our data.

How to find a Costco with propane

Open your warehouse's page on costco.com or costco.ca and look for "Propane" under Departments and Specialty Items. Consumer guides say some warehouses offer propane without listing it, so call the warehouse if it isn't shown. Warehouses with both a gas station and a tire center are the most likely to have it. The two California Business Center pages we checked didn't list propane. Costco also sells empty tanks, such as 20 lb steel cylinders on costco.ca and a 5 lb OPD cylinder on costco.com.

For gasoline prices, start at the US hub or Canada hub; state and province pages such as Texas and Ontario list every station.

Frequently asked questions

Will a Costco attendant stop me from filling a gas can?

Only if the container or the way you're filling it breaks the fire code. Costco attendants must stop fuel going into containers that aren't certified for fuel, that are too large, or that are still in a vehicle. A certified can on the ground is fine.

Can I fill a gas can in the back of my pickup at Costco?

No. US fire codes ban filling containers in a truck bed, trunk or passenger compartment, and Canadian fire codes ban filling containers that are in a vehicle. Lift the can out and set it on the ground first, because a truck bed liner can stop static electricity from discharging safely.

Can you get propane at Costco gas stations in Canada?

Many Canadian Costco warehouses have a propane refill station, often near the gas bar or tire centre, but not every warehouse does. Your cylinder must be within its 10-year requalification date, and you pay inside the warehouse, so check your warehouse page or call ahead.

Does Costco exchange propane tanks like Blue Rhino?

No. Costco refills the tank you bring, and it doesn't swap empty tanks for full ones. If you don't have a tank, you can buy an empty one at Costco and have it filled.

Is Costco gas OK for my lawn mower and generator?

Yes, Costco regular (typically 87 octane, up to 10% ethanol) meets Briggs & Stratton's recommendation for small engines. Buy about a 30-day supply, add a fuel stabilizer if it will sit longer, and never use E15 in small engines.

Sources

• Gasoline Question and Answer, Costco: attendants enforce the national fire code, including the ban on filling uncertified portable containers.
• Costco Gasoline: Environment, Costco: the same container prohibition, spill kits on every fuel island, and vapor containment.
• Costco Gas Station FAQs, Costco Customer Service: pre-authorization of up to $150 on debit and Visa.
• Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code 2015 (IFC) Chapter 23, UpCodes: the 6-gallon (22.7 L) limit, approved closures, ban on portable and cargo tanks, nozzle held open by hand, no filling in a trunk or truck bed, attendant duties.
• British Columbia Fire Code 2018, Section 4.6 Fuel-Dispensing Stations: attendants must prevent dispensing into non-conforming containers or containers in a vehicle; no hold-open devices.
• Ontario Fire Code Section 4.2, Container Storage and Handling: container standards (TDG, CSA B376, CSA B306, ULC/ORD-C30) and home storage limits.
• Safety awareness materials FAQ, Transport Canada: the 150 kg gross mass exemption, 30 kg per container, the jerrican example, and the 46 L limit for propane cylinders.
• Portable fuel container rules, 40 CFR Part 59 Subpart F, eCFR: EPA emissions standard for portable fuel containers from 2009 (seen in search results).
• Fire Prevention 52: Gas Cans, US National Park Service: place the can on the ground, fill manually, fill only 95% full, never fill in a vehicle or truck bed.
• Costco gasoline is a problem for filling containers, Clark Howard Community: member reports on Costco nozzles and gas cans, 2023 to 2026.
• Scepter 20 L Gas Can, 2-pack, Costco.ca: product specs, CSA Certified.
• Scepter SmartControl Gas Can, 5 Gallon, Costco Business Delivery and Scepter Ameri-Can 2 Gallon 4-pack: US listings (seen in search results).
• Scepter SmartControl 5 Gallon, Warehouse Runner: 2026 warehouse clearance prices (seen in search results).
• Fuel recommendations, Briggs & Stratton: up to 10% ethanol, 87 octane minimum, no E15, 30-day supply, stabilizer.
• Final Rule: Regulation to Mitigate the Misfueling of Vehicles and Engines, US EPA: E15 not for non-road engines, E15 pump label (seen in search results).
• What You Need To Know Before Filling A Propane Tank At Costco, House Digest: refill process, pay inside, membership required, not all warehouses.
• Costco Propane Refill, Camping For Foodies: "Propane" listing on warehouse pages, no exchanges, no 1 lb cylinders.
• FAQs, Canadian Propane Association: 10-year requalification, illegal to fill outdated cylinders.
• Flame King 20 lb Steel Propane Cylinder, Costco.ca and 5 Lbs. Steel Propane Cylinder with OPD Valve, Costco.com: empty tanks sold by Costco (seen in search results).
• Costco Propane Tank Refill, RedFlagDeals Forums: Canadian member reports of pricing by weight vs flat rate (seen in search results).