Dipole oscillator strength distributions (DOSDs) have been constructed for ground state ethane, propane, n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, and n-octane. Each DOSD is constructed by using available experimental and theoretical photoabsorption cross sections and by constraining the resulting dipole oscillator strength data to satisfy the Thomas–Reiche–Kuhn sum rule and molar refractivity constraints. The latter were obtained using available experimental refractive index measurements of relevant dilute gases. The recommended DOSDs, and the values of integrated "band" oscillator strengths and the dipole oscillator strength sums Sk and Lk (for a variety of k values) obtained from them, are reported. The discussion includes an analysis of the accuracy of the results and a comparison with available literature values, which are scarce, for the dipole properties of the alkanes.