Your cans
Put each can on a kitchen scale and enter what it weighs now, fuel and all.
Cans to keep
Transfers
Totals
How to use the calculator
Supported sizes are 110 g, 227 g and 450 g threaded isobutane canisters. Gross weight is the empty can plus whatever fuel is left in it, which is exactly what your scale reads.
- Enter the gross weight in grams of each can, in the column for its size. Rows appear as you fill them, so add as many cans as you own.
- The solver picks the set of cans with the lowest total empty weight that still holds all your fuel.
- Once every weight is plausible you get a donor and recipient map, the exact grams to move, and what the result weighs on your back.
Weights below an empty can or above its capacity are flagged as you type, so a transposed digit does not quietly become a plan.
Isobutane canister empty and full weights
Weigh a can and subtract the empty weight to see how many grams of fuel remain. These are the MSR figures the solver uses; other brands are typically within a few grams.
| Canister | Fuel capacity | Empty weight | Full gross weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 g (small) | 110 g | 101 g | 211 g |
| 227 g (medium) | 227 g | 147 g | 374 g |
| 450 g (large) | 450 g | 216 g | 666 g |
Frequently asked questions
How much fuel is left in my isobutane canister?
Weigh the canister on a kitchen scale and subtract the empty can weight: about 101 g for a 110 g can, 147 g for a 227 g can, and 216 g for a 450 g can. The remainder is fuel in grams.
Can you transfer fuel between isobutane canisters?
Yes. A threaded canister-to-canister transfer adapter connects two Lindal-valve cans. Chill the receiving can and warm the donor can so pressure moves fuel downhill, then verify the result on a scale. Do it outdoors, away from flames, and never fill a can above its rated capacity.
Does this calculator work with Jetboil, Snow Peak, GSI, or Coleman canisters?
Yes. Most 110 g, 230 g, and 450 g isobutane canisters share the same threaded Lindal valve and very similar empty weights, so the MSR figures are a close match. If your brand's empty weight differs by a few grams, the plan is still correct; only the reported remaining fuel shifts slightly.
What does the calculator optimize?
It finds the set of cans with the lowest total empty weight that can hold all of your fuel, then the fewest transfers and fewest grams moved to fill them. Everything runs in your browser; no data is uploaded. Read how the solver works for the details.