If you’re coming to Norway in an RV or just want to cook using gas, then you’re going to want to know how to refill propane tanks in Norway. Norway’s rich history with oil and gas means that there are multiple different options for filling up propane gas tanks, so let’s look at the specifics of how you can refill propane tanks in Norway.
The best places to refill propane tanks in Norway are at manned gas stations, or at automatic gas tank exchanges that are found alongside roads and at campgrounds (they are very common). Most of these offer an exchange where you trade in an old, empty gas tank in exchanged for a full one at a fee.
It’s most common to find somewhere where you can exchange your old, empty propane gas tank for a new, full one, but there are also some services that offer to refill your own gas tanks. The latter service is much more rare, but there are some options (we’ll get back to these later in the article).
Anyway, let’s continue on to the part about finding and using these propane tank exchanges!
How to find automatic gas tank exchanges in Norway
There are plenty of automatic gas tank exchange stations in Norway, and you’re never really far away from one. They can be a bit difficult to spot from a distance, so you might want to prepare ahead of time if you’re beginning to run out of gas.
One option to find automatic gas tank exchanges is to use Google Maps and type in the word “gassautomat” or the word “propanautomat”. This will show nearby gas tank exchanges. But for some reason, I find that far from all gas tank exchanges show up on Google Maps, so you might not find the closest one.
Another option is to use the specialized website called “Finnpropan“, which can be translated to “Find Propane”. This is a website that shows a big map of Norway, and allows you to search or zoom in to find a gas tank exchange near you.
A third option is to simply keep your eyes open. There are plenty of these propane gas tank exchanges where you can refill propane, and you’re never really far from one. I was surprised to see how many I found when I started noticing them when researching for this article.
I have found them at almost all gas stations, at many grocery stores, outside kiosks, at campgrounds, at tourist information points, at hardware stores, and at places like Europris. Expect every small town, village or gas station to have a place to refill propane.
Refilling propane tanks at gas stations
Pretty much all manned gas stations offer a propane tank exchange service where you can pay a fee to exchange your empty propane gas tank for a full one.
This service is often a bit hidden, so you will need to ask the people working there for the exchange. But don’t worry, they will offer it as long as you ask.
The only exceptions I’ve met to this service is when the gas station has an automatic gas tank exchange right on the outside of the gas station itself. In these cases, the staff at the gas station will simple give you directions to the closest exchange station.
How to refill your own, empty propane tanks
There are a few options for those of you who want to actually keep your own propane tank, but it’s far more rare to find services where you can actually refill your tank compared to exchanging it for a new one.
You are not legally allowed to refill your own propane tanks in Norway. This is due to safety concerns, which has lead to the service of exchanging old, empty propane tanks for new ones to become the norm.
This means that you need to find a place where certified personnel can fill your tank for you. This is going to take more time and be more expensive than exchanging it.
Some Coop Obs Bygg stores do offer this service, as well as some smaller carpentry and industrial shops around Norway.
How much does it cost to exchange or refill propane tanks in Norway?
The price for exchanging or refilling a propane gas tank in Norway is determined by the seller of the service, so it will be different from place to place.
A typical fee for exchanging an empty propane tank for a full one is around 130 – 290 NOK for a 5 or 6 kg tank, or between 300 and 500 NOK for a 10 or 11 kg propane tank.
Some places are cheaper, others are more expensive. If you want to save money, consider checking out a few nearby places before choosing which one to use.
The fee for refilling gas to your own propane tanks are typically a bit higher since it requires certified personnel.