Natural Gas Consumption Calculator

Sizing Gas Supply to Match Burner Load

Natural gas is metered by volume, so converting a burner's heat input rating into cubic meters per hour of gas draw is the first step in sizing a gas meter, regulator, or supply line.

The Formula

Gas Consumption = (Heat Input(kW) × 3.6) / Heating Value(MJ/m3)

Pipeline-quality natural gas typically has a heating value of 36–40 MJ/m3; this calculator defaults to 38 MJ/m3 if not specified.

Worked Example

A 100 kW burner running on gas with a 38 MJ/m3 heating value:

Consumption = (100 × 3.6) / 38 = 9.47 m3/hr

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter the burner's Heat Input in kW.
  2. Optionally enter the local gas Heating Value (defaults to 38 MJ/m3).
  3. Select Calculate to get gas consumption in m3/hr.

Related Calculations

Sizing for a different fuel? See the LPG Consumption Calculator, or check overall combustion air needed in the Combustion Air Flow Calculator.