We prepared Pt catalysts supported on various metal oxides, viz., ZrO 2 , CeO 2 , TiO 2 , yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), SiO 2 , SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 , and c-Al 2 O 3 , using an incipient wetness method and applied them to propane combustion. In the cases of ZrO 2 -, CeO 2 -, and TiO 2 -supported Pt catalysts, supports with different surface areas were also used. The Pt dispersion in Pt catalysts supported on metal oxides increased with increasing surface area of the support for the same metal oxide. Pt catalysts on supports with lower surface areas (ZrO 2 , CeO 2 , and TiO 2 ) showed higher catalytic activities for propane combustion than did Pt catalysts on supports with higher surface areas. The catalytic activity decreased in the following order: Pt/ZrO 2 (2) [ Pt/CeO 2 (9) [ Pt/TiO 2 (1) = Pt/SiO 2 (350) [ Pt/ZrO 2 (18) = Pt/YSZ [ Pt/ TiO 2 (330) [ Pt/SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 (350) [ Pt/ZrO 2 (73) [ Pt/c-Al 2 O 3 (180) [ Pt/CeO 2 (160). The catalytic activity is inversely proportional to the amount of O 2 chemisorbed up to the reaction temperature. It can be concluded that metallic Pt is essential for propane combustion and is maintained for the Pt catalysts with large Pt metal particles, which can be prepared by using a support with a low surface area.