Butane bottles (bombonas): buying, replacing and what they cost

Key rules

• Price revision: The maximum price of a 12.5 kg bottle is revised every two months, with any change capped at 5 percent.
• Deposit: Only your first bottle needs a returnable deposit; later exchanges need no new one.
• Storage: Never keep bottles below ground level or in closed spaces.
• Gas smell: Close the valve, open windows, avoid electrical switches, and call 112 or the distributor.

How butane pricing works

The 12.5 kg bottle has a maximum price set by the government, with taxes included. You never pay more than that for the bottle itself. The price is revised on the third Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November. The timeline below shows the latest price change and the next revision.

Home delivery usually adds a small delivery charge on top of the regulated price. Ask the distributor for the total before you order.

Where to buy

Home delivery is the easiest route. Order by phone, app or website from the local distributor or agent of Repsol Butano or Cepsa/Disa. The delivery person takes your empty bottle and leaves a full one.

You can also swap bottles at points of sale: authorised agents, some petrol stations and some shops. Hand over the empty bottle and take a full one.

Delivery days and charges vary by area. In rural areas there may be fewer delivery days, so order before your bottle runs out.

Your first bottle and the fianza

Your first bottle normally needs a one-off returnable deposit, the fianza. It is usually tens of euros, and the amount depends on the distributor and bottle type. You get it back when you return the bottle and end the contract. Later swaps need no new deposit. The checklist below covers what to bring.

Storing and using bottles safely

• Keep the bottle upright, in a ventilated place, away from heat, flames and sunlight.
• Never keep it in a basement, below ground level or in a closed space. Butane is heavier than air and collects low down.
• Don't keep spare full bottles inside the home beyond what you need.
• Check the dates on the hose and regulator.
• Test connections with soapy water, never a flame.
• Close the valve after use.

If you smell gas, close the valve and open the windows. Don't switch electrical items on or off. Then call 112 or the distributor.

Budgeting

Plan for the regulated price, the delivery charge, and the fianza once at the start. Check the current maximum price with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, or ask the distributor.

Timeline and deadlines

When the maximum butane price changes

• New maximum price for the 12.5 kg bottle takes effect: every two months, on the third Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November

• Size of any price change: at each revision, any change is capped at 5 percent

• Next revision after the September one: third Tuesday of November, then again in January

First butane bottle: what to bring and check

• Bring your ID: DNI, NIE or passport.

• Give the address where the bottle will be used and a contact phone number.

• Have the one-off returnable deposit (fianza) and payment for the bottle ready, in cash or by card. The distributor sets the amount.

• Ask whether the distributor needs a signed supply contract.

• Find the date stamped on your regulator. It is valid for 5 years from manufacture, so replace it if that date has passed or it is damaged.

• Find the expiry date printed on the hose and replace the hose if it has passed or the rubber is cracked.

• Buy a compatible regulator from the distributor if you don't have one, and have an authorised installer or the distributor fit any replacement.

Quick answers on gas and butane

How long does a 12.5 kg butane bottle last?

A standard 12.5 kg butane bottle typically lasts about one to two months for cooking and some hot water. With a butane water heater or portable heater it can last only a few weeks. One person who only cooks may stretch it to two to three months.

Who pays for a gas inspection in a rented flat?

It depends on who holds the gas contract, because the gas company bills the contract holder directly. Inspections apply to piped natural gas, not butane bottles. The landlord normally pays to keep the fixed installation compliant, including repairs needed to pass. Check your lease.

How do I read the date on my butane hose?

The hose has an expiry date (caducidad) printed as month and year, and you must replace it by then even if it looks fine. It is usually 4 years after manufacture. Replace it sooner if it is cracked.

Can my landlord make me put the gas contract in my name?

No law forces you to, but your landlord can ask and most Spanish leases require tenants to take utilities in their own name. Your landlord stays responsible for a safe, compliant installation either way.