Fuel to Melt Snow Calculator

Estimate snow mass, melt-water yield, start-temperature penalty, stove efficiency, fuel grams, reserve fuel, pot batches, and water for winter camp snow melting.

⛺Snow Melt Presets

⚙Calculator Inputs

Measurement system Metric is used internally, then results are displayed in either system.

Snow input method Choose how you measured the snow before melting.

Fuel type Energy density changes the fuel grams estimate.

Snow density Density sets the water yield when volume is known.

Loose snow volume (L) Volume of unpacked snow loaded into pots or stuff sacks.

Harvest length (m) Used with width and depth when measuring a snow patch.

Harvest width (m) Use the actual collected area, not the whole campsite.

Snow depth collected (cm) Depth harvested from the measured rectangle.

Known snow mass (kg) Use this if you weighed snow or collected packed blocks.

People needing water Used for per-person water and hydration check.

Target water per person (L) Drinking plus cooking water for this melt session.

Snow start temperature (deg F) Colder snow needs extra energy before it reaches melting point.

Finished water temperature (deg F) Use 32 for just melted, 160 for hot drinks, 212 for boiling.

Stove efficiency (%) Wind, pot shape, flame size, and lid use all change efficiency.

Fuel reserve (%) Add margin for priming, spills, wind, and extra hot drinks.

Starter water in pot (L) A little liquid water reduces scorching and speeds the first melt.

Usable pot capacity (L) Use the safe working capacity, not brim capacity.

Melt Water 0 L water yield

Fuel Needed 0 g with reserve

Snow Mass 0 kg ice equivalent

Pot Batches 0 80% safe fill

Enter snow and stove details to estimate melt fuel.

📊Detailed Breakdown

🧪Spec Grid

0 MJ

Useful Heat

warming plus melting

0 g

Base Fuel

before reserve

0 L

Per Person

finished water

0 L

Water Gap

vs target need

📘Reference Tables

Snow Type	Density	10 L Snow Yields	Camp Note
Very light powder	50 kg/m3	0.5 L water	Huge volume, low yield
Cold powder	80 kg/m3	0.8 L water	Common after fresh storms
Settled powder	120 kg/m3	1.2 L water	Better for camp collection
Wind slab	180 kg/m3	1.8 L water	Dense but slower to scoop
Packed camp snow	250 kg/m3	2.5 L water	Good pot yield
Wet spring snow	350 kg/m3	3.5 L water	Heavy and efficient

Fuel	Energy	Typical Efficiency	Winter Note
Isobutane canister	46 MJ/kg	35-60%	Warm canister helps pressure
White gas	44 MJ/kg	40-65%	Reliable in deep cold
Propane	46 MJ/kg	35-60%	Strong cold output
Alcohol stove	27 MJ/kg	25-45%	Slow for big snow melts
Kerosene	43 MJ/kg	35-60%	Good expedition fuel
Wood fire	16 MJ/kg	10-25%	Wet wood lowers output

Start Temp	Heat to 32 F	Melt Energy	Extra vs 32 F Snow
32 F snow	0 kJ/kg	334 kJ/kg	0%
20 F snow	25 kJ/kg	334 kJ/kg	7%
10 F snow	46 kJ/kg	334 kJ/kg	14%
0 F snow	67 kJ/kg	334 kJ/kg	20%
-20 F snow	109 kJ/kg	334 kJ/kg	33%

Water Plan	Per Person	Snow at 120 kg/m3	Use Case
Hot drinks only	0.75 L	6.3 L snow	Evening camp
Dinner and drink	1.5 L	12.5 L snow	Short overnight
Full evening	2.5 L	20.8 L snow	Cook and hydrate
Cold day fill	3.5 L	29.2 L snow	Next day bottles

💡Snow Melting Tips

Start wet: Put starter water in the pot before adding snow so the first load melts into slush instead of scorching dry crystals against hot metal.

Feed the pot: Add snow in small charges and keep the lid on; a half-full pot usually melts faster and wastes less fuel than a packed mound.

The calculator uses standard heat values for ice warming, latent heat of fusion, water warming, stove efficiency, and fuel energy density. Real trips still need judgment for wind, pot fit, priming, and weather.

Snow isnt liquid water that a persons can be drunk by. In order for snow to become liquid water that can be drunk by a person, it must be melted. The fuel require to melt the snow depends upon an amount of snow that is to be melted and the tempature of the snow that is to be melted.

Many traveler dont account for the fuel required to melt snow while on a trip. As a result, travelers often experience a shortage of fuel during there trips. Since snow contain air, the melted water from snow may contain a relatively small volume of liquid water compared to volume of snow that is melted.

Melting Snow for Drinking Water

The density of the snow is one of the factor that must be considered in the calculation of the amount of liquid water that will be obtained from melting snow. The density of snow can range from low density for powder snow to high densities for snow that the wind packs. If a person dont take into account the density of the snow that will be melted, a person may either have to carry too much snow, or may not have enough liquid water for drink.

The density setting on the calculator allows a person to adjust for the density of the snow that will be melted. The other factor that must be considered is the temperature

Fuel to Melt Snow Calculator