Co and Ni as catalysts in $SnO_2$ sensors to improve the sensitivity for $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas were coated by a solution reduction method. $SnO_2$ thick films were prepared by a screen-printing method onto $Al_2O_3$ substrates with an electrode. The sensing characteristics were investigated by measuring the electrical resistance of each sensor in a chamber. The structural properties of $SnO_2$ with a rutile structure investigated by XRD showed a (110) dominant $SnO_2$ peak. The particle size of the $SnO_2$:Ni powders with Ni at 6 wt% was about 0.1 ${mu}m$. The $SnO_2$ particles were found to contain many pores according to a SEM analysis. The sensitivity of $SnO_2$-based sensors was measured for 5 ppm of $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas at room temperature by comparing the resistance in air to that in the target gases. The results showed that the best sensitivity of $SnO_2$:Ni and $SnO_2$:Co sensors for $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas at room temperature was observed in $SnO_2$:Ni sensors coated with 6 wt% Ni. The $SnO_2$:Ni gas sensors showed good selectivity to $CH_4$ gas. The response time and recovery time of the $SnO_2$:Ni gas sensors for the $CH_4$ and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gases were 20 seconds and 9 seconds, respectively.