Best Gas Cans for Emergency Fuel Storage (2026)

A generator without fuel is a very expensive paperweight.

Most people understand this in theory. In practice, they fill a couple of red plastic jugs, shove them in the corner of the garage, and check that item off their prep list. Six months later, those jugs contain oxidized, phase-separated fuel that will foul a carburetor and leave them without power during the exact emergency they prepared for.

The problem is almost never the fuel itself. It is the container and how the container is managed.

Choosing the right gas can, sizing your stockpile correctly, storing it safely, and rotating it on schedule — these are the four variables that determine whether your fuel reserve functions when you need it. This guide covers all four, plus the regulations around how much gasoline you can legally store and the best brands worth trusting with your fuel supply.

If you have not yet decided between a generator and other backup power options, the grid-down power comparison covers the tradeoffs between solar, generators, and battery banks before you invest in a fuel supply.

Plastic vs. Metal: Choosing the Right Material

Gas cans come in two primary materials: HDPE plastic and steel. Each has a legitimate use case, and understanding the differences will help you choose correctly for your specific storage scenario.

HDPE Plastic Cans

HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is the red plastic used in most consumer gas cans. It is lightweight, does not rust, resists impact, and costs significantly less than steel alternatives.

The limitation is vapor permeation. HDPE is slightly porous at the molecular level, and gasoline slowly evaporates through the walls over months. The process is slow, but in a 12-month storage window it becomes measurable. Standard HDPE also degrades under prolonged UV exposure, shortening the container’s useful life to roughly 5 to 10 years depending on storage conditions.

Not all HDPE is equal. Cross-linked HDPE — used in military-spec containers like the Scepter MFC — is denser, less permeable, and more impact-resistant than standard HDPE. The Scepter’s cross-linked construction dramatically reduces permeation compared to a standard hardware-store jug. If you are committed to plastic, cross-linked HDPE is the correct choice for storage beyond 6 months.

HDPE is the right choice when:

You rotate fuel every 3 to 6 months
Weight is a meaningful constraint (full HDPE 5-gallon can weighs about 31 pounds versus about 38 pounds for a steel jerry can)
Budget is limited and you need to build stockpile capacity now

Steel Jerry Cans

Steel provides near-zero vapor permeation. Where HDPE allows measurable vapor loss over months, steel traps it. A properly sealed steel jerry can — particularly an authentic NATO-spec design like the Wavian — maintains fuel quality over timelines that would compromise any plastic container.

The seal design matters as much as the material. The original NATO jerry can uses a lever-locking bail that compresses the lid gasket with significant force. When sealed correctly, the lid-to-body interface is effectively airtight. Air exchange — the mechanism behind moisture intrusion and oxidation — is stopped at the source.

Steel also lasts for decades. A well-maintained Wavian jerry can will outlive any plastic container in your stockpile, making the higher upfront cost economical over a long enough time horizon.

The trade-offs are weight, price, and rust risk. A full 20-liter steel jerry can weighs roughly 38 pounds. Steel is more expensive — quality steel jerry cans run $45 to $80 each versus $15 to $50 for plastic. And if the interior coating is damaged, exposed steel can rust and contaminate stored fuel.

Steel is the right choice when:

You store fuel for 12 months or longer between rotation cycles
Container longevity is a priority
You want maximum vapor impermeability and seal integrity

NATO-Style Jerry Cans

The NATO jerry can design traces directly to the original German Wehrmacht Kraftstoffkanister from the late 1930s — a design that solved long-term military fuel logistics so effectively that it has been substantially unchanged for nearly 90 years.

The authentic NATO design features three handles for flexible carrying configurations (one person carrying two cans, two people carrying one between them), a lever-locking bail that creates a compression seal without tools, a screw-cap vent that meets modern emissions standards, and an interior coating that prevents gasoline from contacting bare metal.

The Wavian, manufactured in Estonia, is the gold standard among NATO-style jerry cans available in the U.S. market. Knock-off NATO cans sold at lower prices frequently fail CARB compliance testing and have inconsistent seal quality. The Wavian’s premium price — roughly $45 to $80 depending on source — reflects genuine NATO-spec construction rather than the appearance of it.

EPA/CARB Compliance: What It Means and Why It Matters

CARB stands for California Air Resources Board. CARB-compliant fuel containers meet strict evaporative emission standards that limit vapor leakoff into the atmosphere.

The design requirement is straightforward: no separate vent hole. Legacy gas cans used a dedicated vent hole — a small opening separate from the pour spout — to allow air in as fuel poured out and prevent a vacuum lock. That vent hole is also a continuous leak point for fuel vapors and an ingress point for moisture and air.

CARB-compliant cans eliminate the separate vent hole entirely. The pour spout design incorporates air management so that venting occurs only through the pour pathway during active use. When closed, the container has a single sealed system rather than two separate openings.

This design is better for fuel preservation regardless of where you live. Every additional opening is an additional moisture intrusion and vapor loss point. Even if you are not in California, buying CARB-compliant cans improves your fuel preservation and future-proofs you against expanding state regulations.

CARB-compliant cans are legal in all 50 states, including California. Non-CARB cans with separate vents are illegal for sale in California and increasingly restricted in other states. If you are buying new containers today, buy CARB-compliant.

UL-listed and FM-approved are the other certifications to look for. These indicate the container has been independently tested for fire safety and construction standards. They are also the requirement for legal fuel storage under NFPA 30 — non-certified containers technically do not meet residential fire code regardless of what they are made of.

Child-Resistant vs. Ease of Use

Modern CARB-compliant spout designs sometimes incorporate child-resistant mechanisms that require a two-step motion to open — typically a press-and-turn or press-and-pull sequence that a young child cannot replicate.

The trade-off is convenience. Child-resistant closures add steps to every fueling operation, and in cold temperatures or while wearing gloves, they can be genuinely frustrating. The No-Spill design takes a different approach: a thumb-button pressure control that is intuitive for adults but not accessible to small children, without requiring a complex unlock sequence.

For most preppers: if children are in your household, child-resistant closures are worth the minor inconvenience. If children are not a factor, a high-quality CARB-compliant spout without the child-resistant mechanism offers faster operation during an actual emergency.

How Much Fuel to Store

The correct answer to “how much fuel should I store?” is not a round number — it is a calculation based on your specific generator and your target outage window.

Generator Fuel Consumption

Generator fuel consumption is rated at 50% load, which approximates typical emergency use cycling between a refrigerator, lights, phone chargers, and a furnace blower.

Generator Size	Fuel Use at 50% Load
Honda EU2200i (2,200W)	0.12 gallons per hour
Mid-size portable (3,500W)	0.35 gallons per hour
Large portable (5,500W)	0.52 gallons per hour
Whole-house portable (7,500W)	0.71 gallons per hour

For a 3-day outage (FEMA’s 72-hour minimum preparedness window) running your generator 8 hours per day:

Honda EU2200i: 0.12 x 24 hours = 2.9 gallons
3,500W mid-size: 0.35 x 24 = 8.4 gallons
5,500W large: 0.52 x 24 = 12.5 gallons
7,500W whole-house: 0.71 x 24 = 17 gallons

For a 7-day window at 8 hours per day, multiply those figures by 2.3. A 3,500W generator running 7 days requires about 19.5 gallons. Five 5-gallon cans (25 gallons) covers this scenario with a buffer for inefficient load management.

Vehicle Fuel Needs

If your emergency plan includes evacuation, factor your vehicle’s fuel consumption as well. A vehicle with a 15-gallon tank that gets 25 miles per gallon can travel 375 miles on a full tank. A single 5-gallon jerry can in the trunk extends that range by 125 miles — potentially the difference between reaching safety and running dry on a congested evacuation route.

Storage Target

Most preppers with a mid-size generator and a vehicle fuel contingency land between 15 and 25 gallons as a practical storage target. The NFPA 30 residential limit of 25 gallons in approved containers is the practical ceiling for home storage. Five standard 5-gallon cans gets you there.

Container Sizes: 1-Gallon, 2-Gallon, and 5-Gallon

1-Gallon Cans

One-gallon gas cans are primarily useful for small equipment: lawn mowers, chainsaws, portable generators for job sites, and similar applications. For emergency fuel storage, a 1-gallon can is rarely the right choice — the cost per gallon of container capacity is high, and building a meaningful reserve requires too many individual containers to manage.

When to use a 1-gallon can: Small engine maintenance, keeping fresh premix for 2-stroke equipment, or as a precise top-off container when you need to add a specific amount to a tank.

2-Gallon Cans

Two-gallon cans occupy the sweet spot between portability and capacity. A full 2-gallon can weighs roughly 13 pounds — manageable for anyone, including older household members or those with limited strength. They fit behind a rear seat in most SUVs and take minimal space in a truck bed.

For vehicle emergency reserves and bug-out kit fuel, a 2-gallon can is the practical choice. Midwest Can’s 1200 model is the most widely available and CARB-compliant option in this size.

When to use a 2-gallon can: Vehicle trunk emergency reserve, supplemental portable fuel, situations where weight or size limits 5-gallon containers.

5-Gallon Cans

Five-gallon cans are the primary tool for emergency fuel storage. The math is simple: five cans reaches the 25-gallon NFPA 30 residential limit, and 5 gallons is the largest practical amount for a single person to carry safely (roughly 31 pounds full for plastic, 38 pounds for steel).

The 5-gallon format is also the most efficient for storage space, container cost per gallon, and fuel management. Every major brand — Scepter, Wavian, No-Spill, VP Racing — offers their flagship products in 5-gallon configurations.

Use 5-gallon cans for: Primary generator fuel stockpile, the core of any emergency fuel reserve.

Best Gas Can Brands

Wavian — Best for Long-Term Storage

The Wavian 20-liter NATO jerry can is the gold standard for serious long-term fuel storage. Manufactured in Estonia to authentic NATO specifications, it provides near-zero vapor permeation through welded steel construction, a lever-locking bail that creates an effectively airtight seal, and an interior coating that prevents rust contamination.

At $45 to $80 per can, Wavian commands a significant price premium over plastic options. That premium buys container longevity measured in decades rather than years, and fuel preservation that genuinely extends storage windows for preppers who cannot commit to strict 6-month rotation schedules.

Wavian is one of the only steel NATO-style jerry cans that is EPA and CARB compliant and legal in all 50 states. Many cheaper NATO-lookalike cans fail this test.

Scepter — Best HDPE Option

The Scepter Military Fuel Can (MFC) uses cross-linked HDPE — a denser, less permeable formulation originally developed for NATO military logistics — in a modern CARB-compliant design. It offers meaningfully better storage performance than standard consumer plastic cans without the weight and cost of steel.

At $42 to $50 per can, the Scepter costs 3 to 4 times more than a basic plastic jug. For a prepper building a 5-can 25-gallon stockpile, the total cost premium over budget cans is roughly $150 to $175 — a reasonable investment for the cross-linked HDPE’s superior permeation resistance and UL/FM certifications.

No-Spill — Best for Frequent Use

The No-Spill 1405 solves the most common failure mode of fuel handling: spills during the pour. Its pressure-control spout uses a thumb-button that meters airflow against fuel flow, eliminating the vacuum-lock glug that causes most spills with standard cans.

For preppers who run their generators regularly — monthly testing, seasonal use, or frequent outages — the No-Spill’s controlled pour reduces fire risk and fuel waste at every fueling operation. At $25 to $30, it is a reasonable mid-range investment for daily-use containers.

The trade-off is spout mechanism complexity: more moving parts than a simple cap-and-spout design. Verify the button mechanism before relying on it after extended storage.

Midwest Can — Best for Value and Portability

Midwest Can produces a range of CARB-compliant HDPE containers in 1-gallon, 2-gallon, and 5-gallon configurations. The quality is honest consumer-grade: adequate for 3 to 6 month rotation cycles, not the material for 18-month storage.

The 1200 2-gallon model is the go-to choice for vehicle trunk fuel reserves. The 5-gallon models provide a reasonable budget option for preppers who commit to strict rotation schedules. Midwest Can is widely available at hardware stores and home centers.

VP Racing — Best for Ethanol-Free Fuel

VP Racing’s containers use heavy-wall HDPE specifically formulated for fuel compatibility, including specialty fuel formulations. If you source ethanol-free (E0) gasoline — the most stable fuel for long-term storage — VP’s containers are designed for this application.

Note that CARB compliance varies by VP Racing product line. Their standard motorsport cans are not CARB-compliant. Verify compliance before purchasing if you are in California or a CARB-adopting state.

How Long Does Gasoline Stay Good?

Gasoline shelf life is one of the most misunderstood topics in emergency preparedness. The common assumption — that gas stored in a can lasts indefinitely or at least several years — is wrong for most real-world storage situations.

Without Stabilizer

E10 gasoline (10% ethanol, standard pump gas): 30 to 60 days. Ethanol is hygroscopic — it actively absorbs moisture from the air. As the ethanol absorbs water, it drops out of suspension with the gasoline in a process called phase separation. Once phase separation occurs, the fuel is ruined and no additive will restore it.
Ethanol-free gasoline (E0): 3 to 6 months. Without ethanol’s moisture absorption, E0 degrades more slowly through simple hydrocarbon oxidation. The absence of phase separation means degraded E0 at least does not damage engines the way separated E10 does.

With Fuel Stabilizer

Adding a quality fuel stabilizer at the time of filling dramatically extends these windows:

E10 with STA-BIL: Up to 24 months with manufacturer guarantee
E0 with PRI-G: Up to 2 to 3 years in sealed, temperature-stable storage
E10 with PRI-G in a sealed steel can: PRI-G claims indefinite preservation; documented cases of fuel restoration after 13 years exist in industrial applications

The stabilizer must be added to fresh fuel — not to fuel that has already been sitting for weeks or months. Stabilizers slow the oxidation process; they cannot reverse it once degradation has begun. Add stabilizer at the point of filling, at the pump or immediately after, before oxidation can start.

For the full comparison of stabilizer options and dosing by product, see the best gas stabilizer guide.

Temperature and Seal Quality

Two variables that matter nearly as much as stabilizer choice:

Temperature: Gasoline vapor pressure rises with temperature, accelerating evaporation and oxidation. Fuel stored in a hot garage through a southern summer degrades faster than fuel stored in a cool, shaded detached shed. The coolest available storage location meaningfully extends effective shelf life.

Seal integrity: A container with a worn lid gasket or damaged spout threads allows continuous air and moisture exchange with every temperature cycle. Even perfectly stabilized fuel in a compromised container will degrade faster than untreated fuel in an airtight steel jerry can. Inspect and replace seals before each rotation cycle.

Using Fuel Stabilizer to Extend Shelf Life

Fuel stabilizer is the lowest-cost, highest-impact investment in your fuel storage system. Treating 25 gallons costs $1.75 with PRI-G or $4.00 with STA-BIL — less than the cost of a single gallon of fuel. The return is storage life measured in years rather than months.

The core rule: Add stabilizer immediately when filling. Not the same day. Not later in the week. At the pump or within an hour of bringing the fuel home, before oxidation begins.

Dosing reference by common product:

Product	Standard Dose	Storage Duration
PRI-G	1 oz per 16 gallons	Indefinite in sealed container
STA-BIL Storage (red)	1 oz per 5 gallons	Up to 24 months
Star Tron Enzyme	1 oz per 16 gallons	24-plus months
Lucas Oil Stabilizer	1 oz per 2.5 gallons	12 to 24 months

Note that STA-BIL’s higher dose rate means it is more expensive per gallon treated than PRI-G or Star Tron, despite its lower upfront bottle price. The cost-per-gallon figures matter more than the per-bottle price when sizing your treatment supply.

PRI-G’s unique advantage is restoration capability at double dose — it can revive fuel that has been sitting for years. No other consumer product makes this claim with testing data to support it. Storing a bottle alongside your fuel cans gives you the option to attempt restoration if rotation slips beyond schedule.

Gas Storage Safety

Gasoline is highly flammable. The vapor, not the liquid, is what ignites — and vapor is heavier than air, which means it pools at floor level and can travel significant distances from the container to reach an ignition source. Safe storage practices are not optional.

Location

Best: Detached structure (shed, detached garage) away from your living space, well-ventilated, concrete floor.

Acceptable: Attached garage with proper precautions — see below.

Never: Inside your home, in a basement, under a stairwell, in a crawl space, or anywhere air circulation is limited.

Ignition Source Clearance

The most dangerous ignition sources in a typical home are:

Gas water heaters with standing pilot lights
Gas furnaces with pilot lights or auto-ignition
Electrical panels (arc-flash risk)
Power tools that spark (angle grinders, circular saws)
Vehicle engines and exhaust systems

Keep fuel containers at least 25 feet from any open flame or spark source. In an attached garage, this often means the opposite corner from your water heater. A detached structure with no heating appliances eliminates this problem entirely.

Ventilation

Gasoline vapor accumulates at floor level. Storage spaces need cross-ventilation at floor level — a gap under a door, a vent near the floor — to allow vapor to dissipate rather than build up. A sealed, unventilated room is a significantly higher fire risk than a well-ventilated one.

Temperature Limits

Do not store fuel near a heat source or in a location that reaches extreme temperatures. Hot cars, direct sunlight on a metal container, and poorly ventilated spaces in summer all increase vapor pressure inside containers and accelerate fuel degradation.

Upright Storage

Store all cans upright. Horizontal storage puts the lid and cap seals in continuous contact with liquid fuel, accelerating gasket degradation and increasing the risk of leaks. Concrete floors are preferred over wooden shelving — wood absorbs spilled fuel and can become a secondary fire hazard.

Container Condition

Inspect containers before each rotation. Look for:

Cracks, dents, or deformation
Worn or cracked lid gaskets
Damaged spout threads or valve mechanisms
Discoloration or cloudiness (indicating contamination)

Replace any container showing seal degradation before filling. A compromised container is worse than no container — it gives false confidence while allowing steady contamination and vapor loss.

Fuel Rotation: The FIFO System

Stored fuel is not a set-and-forget investment. Even the best stabilizer only slows degradation. A consistent rotation system is what keeps a fuel reserve functional over years of ownership.

FIFO — first in, first out — is the correct approach. The oldest fuel in your stockpile goes into your vehicle’s tank first, where it burns harmlessly. The empty containers get refilled with fresh stabilized fuel and move to the back of the rotation.

Setting Up the System

Step 1: Label every container. Use a paint marker directly on the can — masking tape fails in humidity and temperature swings. Write the fill date, fuel type (E10 or E0), and stabilizer used. “10/2025 E10 STA-BIL” tells you everything at a glance.

Step 2: Arrange containers with oldest at the front. Physical arrangement enforces FIFO without requiring you to remember which can is oldest.

Step 3: Every 6 months, pour the front-row containers into your vehicle’s gas tank. Your car handles slightly aged treated gasoline without issue. A 5-gallon can poured into a half-full 15-gallon car tank dilutes to roughly 25% stored fuel — no meaningful effect on engine performance.

Step 4: Refill empty containers with fresh fuel, add stabilizer immediately, label, and move to the back.

Step 5: Set a calendar reminder. April and October align with time changes and seasonal generator testing — if you are already testing your generator twice a year, add fuel rotation to the same visit.

A 25-gallon stockpile in five 5-gallon cans, rotated every 6 months at $3.00 per gallon, costs roughly $75 to $100 per rotation. The fuel goes into your vehicle anyway — you are not discarding it. The net cost of maintaining a 7 to 10-day generator supply at constant readiness is the minor inconvenience of a twice-yearly 15-minute task.

Longer Rotation Intervals

If you use ethanol-free gasoline with PRI-G in sealed steel jerry cans, a 12-month rotation interval is defensible. The combination of E0’s inherent stability, PRI-G’s antioxidant chemistry, and a Wavian’s near-airtight seal extends the reliable storage window well beyond what E10 in plastic achieves.

For most preppers using standard E10 in HDPE cans: stick with 6 months. The variables — temperature swings, minor seal imperfections, container age — compound over longer intervals in ways that are difficult to predict or control.

State Regulations on Fuel Storage Quantities

NFPA 30 (Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code) is the national standard that governs fuel storage. Most local fire codes adopt NFPA 30 directly or with local modifications. Understanding these limits keeps you on the right side of fire code and insurance requirements.

NFPA 30 Residential Limits

Total residential storage: 25 gallons in approved containers
Attached garage or carport: Many jurisdictions limit this to 10 gallons
Detached structure: Typically the full 25 to 30 gallons depending on local adoption
Container requirement: Only UL-listed, FM-approved, or UN/DOT-certified containers count as “approved containers”

These limits apply per structure, not per property in most jurisdictions. A detached storage shed carries its own allotment separate from your attached garage.

Why These Limits Matter

Fire marshals can and do inspect residential properties following fires or complaints. A violation of storage limits can result in:

Fines and required removal of non-compliant storage
Denial of homeowner’s insurance claims if a fire occurs while in violation
Liability exposure if a fire spreads to neighboring property

The 25-gallon NFPA 30 limit also happens to align well with practical emergency preparedness — five 5-gallon cans provides a 7 to 10-day generator supply for most mid-size units, covering the vast majority of emergency outage scenarios.

Verify Locally

NFPA 30 is a model code, not federal law. Individual states, counties, and municipalities adopt it with modifications. Some jurisdictions are stricter; some are more permissive. California has additional regulations through CARB. Some municipalities require permits for storage above a certain threshold.

Contact your local fire marshal’s office before building a fuel stockpile above 10 gallons. The call takes 5 minutes and gives you clarity on the specific rules that apply to your address.

Building Your Fuel Storage System

A complete emergency fuel storage setup has four components working together:

Containers: Match container quality to your rotation discipline. If you will rotate every 6 months reliably, quality HDPE cans (Scepter MFC or No-Spill) perform well. If you cannot commit to 6-month rotation, invest in steel jerry cans (Wavian) that tolerate longer intervals.

Stabilizer: Add at the time of filling, every time. PRI-G for maximum long-term performance. STA-BIL for availability and convenience when you cannot plan ahead.

Rotation schedule: FIFO, every 6 months, calendar reminder. This single habit is worth more than any premium container or expensive stabilizer.

Storage location: Coolest available location, away from ignition sources, ventilated, cans upright on concrete.

These four elements compound. Premium containers extend the window that a good stabilizer can protect. Good stabilizer makes the rotation schedule forgiving. A cool storage location multiplies both. The weakest link — typically a compromised container or skipped rotation — undermines everything else.

For the container decision, the two most defensible choices are the Scepter MFC for the best HDPE option at a reasonable price point, or the Wavian NATO jerry can if you want steel-class storage life and the budget supports it. For rotation-heavy daily use, the No-Spill 1405 reduces spill risk at every fueling operation. For a trunk backup, the Midwest Can 1200 2-gallon covers the vehicle reserve use case without consuming significant cargo space.

Start with what you can afford today. A 25-gallon stockpile in budget cans with a strict 6-month rotation schedule outperforms an empty shelf waiting for premium containers. Upgrade your containers over time as budget allows, beginning with the cans that hold your longest-stored fuel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does gasoline last in a gas can?

Untreated E10 gasoline degrades in 30 to 60 days. In a quality sealed container treated with a fuel stabilizer, you can expect 12 to 24 months of reliable storage. Ethanol-free gasoline in a sealed steel jerry can treated with PRI-G can last 2 to 3 years. Container quality matters nearly as much as the stabilizer — a poor seal lets air and moisture in, which accelerates oxidation regardless of what you add to the fuel.

What size gas can should I get?

For most preppers, 5-gallon cans are the best balance of capacity and manageability — a full can weighs about 31 pounds, which most adults can carry safely. Two 5-gallon cans covers a 3-day outage for a mid-size generator running 8 hours per day. Five 5-gallon cans reaches the 25-gallon NFPA 30 residential storage limit and supports a 7 to 10-day supply. Use 1-gallon or 2-gallon cans only as vehicle emergency reserves or supplements, not as your primary storage.

What is the legal limit for storing gasoline at home?

NFPA 30 caps residential gasoline storage at 25 gallons in approved containers. Many jurisdictions impose a stricter 10-gallon limit for attached garages. Detached structures typically allow the full 25 to 30 gallons. Always verify with your local fire marshal — the limit varies by municipality and the consequences of non-compliance include insurance claim denial following a fire.

Are plastic gas cans safe for long-term storage?

HDPE plastic cans are safe if they are UL-listed or ASTM F852-compliant and stored properly. The risk is permeation — HDPE is slightly porous, and gasoline slowly evaporates through the walls over months. Cross-linked HDPE (Scepter MFC) is significantly less permeable than standard HDPE. For storage beyond 12 months, steel outperforms any plastic. For fuel rotated every 3 to 6 months, quality HDPE performs fine.

What does CARB-compliant mean for gas cans?

CARB-compliant gas cans meet California Air Resources Board evaporative emission standards by eliminating the separate vent hole present in older designs. This single-sealed-system design is better for fuel preservation than vented designs and is legal in all 50 states. If you are buying new containers, CARB-compliant is the correct choice regardless of your state.

Can I store gas cans in my garage?

An attached garage is acceptable with precautions: respect fire code limits (often 10 gallons for attached structures), keep cans away from water heaters and furnaces with open flames, ensure floor-level ventilation, and store cans upright on concrete. A detached structure is always safer. Never store gasoline inside your home, in a basement, or near any ignition source.