Propane vs butane torches: which should you stock?
Short answer. Stock propane torches for outdoor and heavy-heat jobs such as weed burning and charcoal lighting, because propane keeps its pressure in cold weather. Stock butane torches for kitchens, bars, jewelry and hobby work, where buyers want a small refillable tool used indoors at room temperature.
The difference starts with the gas
Butane boils at about −1 °C. Below that temperature a butane tank produces little or no vapour pressure, so a butane torch sputters or will not light outdoors in winter. Propane boils at about −42 °C, so a propane cylinder still delivers gas on a frosty morning. That one property decides most of what follows.
Because propane is stored at higher pressure, propane torches attach to a separate cylinder rather than carrying gas in the handle. In North America, handheld propane torches usually screw onto disposable 1 lb cylinders; other markets use different cylinders and connectors, so confirm the connection for your country before you order.
Side by side
| Factor | Butane culinary torch | Propane torch |
|---|---|---|
| Gas supply | Built-in tank, refilled from a butane canister | Screws onto a propane cylinder |
| Cold weather | Weak below about 0 °C | Works in winter conditions |
| Size | Hand-sized, 6.5 g to 25 g tank in our range | 300 mm to 760 mm long in our range |
| Heat | Precise, concentrated flame | Large flame; our CE annex lists 20–22 kW for GF-8010/8011/8016 |
| Typical buyers | Kitchenware, bar supply, jewelry, hobby, gift | Garden, hardware, BBQ, farm supply |
| Typical jobs | Crème brûlée, searing, soldering, small glass work | Weed burning, lighting charcoal, thawing, outdoor heat jobs |
Flame temperature is not the deciding factor
Catalog flame temperatures for both types sit in a similar band: our butane torches are listed at 1100 °C to 1350 °C, and our propane torches at 1350 °C. Temperature at the hottest point of the flame says little about how much heat the torch delivers. For jobs like weed burning or lighting a grill, the size of the flame and the gas flow matter more, and that is where propane torches lead.
What to stock for each channel
Garden, hardware and farm supply
Lead with a long-reach propane weed burner such as GF-8016 (760 mm, CE certificate GK 007996 001), and add a pistol-grip model like GF-8010 for charcoal and general heat jobs.
Kitchen, bar and gift
Choose refillable butane torches with a stable base and a safety lock, for example GF-901 or GF-877, both listed on EU type-examination certificate GB 003869 001.
Outdoor and camping
Mini butane torches sell well as add-ons, but remind customers they lose power in the cold. For group cooking, the ZTZ-8020 stove delivers 16.8 kW.
One rule for both
Torches ship without gas. Butane and propane are dangerous goods for air and express transport, so your customers buy gas locally. Say so on the box and in your listings.