Different fuels and their energy valuesUpdated a month ago

There are many different types of fuel available for camp stoves, but what is the difference? The table below helps to rank the most popular fuels available on the market by highlighting how much energy each emits. 

Heat kcal/kg = the amount of energy that 1 kilogram of fuel gives off as heat when burned. The higher the number, the better. The higher the number, the less fuel you need to carry to do the same job.  

Boiling Point Index = fuel ranking for easier comparison (1-100), with Primus Gas setting the curve. This means that if you burned methylated spirits, you would need almost twice as much to boil the same amount of water as Primus Gas. 

ENERGY VALUE: Heat kcal/kg - Boiling power index

• Primus Gas: 11900 - 100
• Propan: 12000 - 101
• Butane: 11800 - 99
• White gasoline/petrol: 10200 - 86
• Kerosene/paraffin: 10100 - 85
• Diesel: 9800 - 82
• Charcoal: 8400 - 71
• Methylated spirits: 6300 - 53
• Dry wood: 4000 - 34