Heating
How much heating oil do you need per season?
Liters of heating oil per season and cost, estimated from home size and insulation level.
Quick answer
Heating oil is the fuel of homes beyond the gas grid, and its economics revolve around one seasonal number: litres per square metre. In a temperate climate, a poorly insulated pre-1990 house burns around 18 L/m² per season — 2,200 litres for a 120 m² home — while an average one needs about 12 L/m² and a well-renovated one as little as 7. Each litre delivers roughly 10 kWh of heat, so those differences are pure building physics: walls, windows and roof.
Liters per heating season
1,440 L
- Cost per season
- ,584.00
- Per month (6-month season)
- $264.00
Comparing fuels? Gas heating cost calculator
Rule-of-thumb seasonal consumption in a temperate climate: ~18 L/m² for poorly insulated homes, ~12 L/m² average, ~7 L/m² for well-insulated ones. Cold mountain climates can add 30-50%; mild coastal ones subtract as much. Heating oil delivers about 10 kWh per liter. Compare a couple of local suppliers before filling the tank — prices for the same delivery can differ 10-15%.
How it works
Because oil is bought in bulk deliveries rather than monthly bills, timing and tank strategy matter. Prices track crude oil with a seasonal bump: filling the tank in late spring or summer, when heating demand is dead, is consistently cheaper than ordering during the first cold snap along with everyone else. The calculator gives you the season’s litres — from there, compare at least two local suppliers per delivery (spreads of 10-15% for the identical product are normal) and never let the tank run near empty: sediment stirred up from the bottom is the classic cause of burner breakdowns in January.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters of heating oil does a house use per year?+
For a 120 m² home in a temperate climate: roughly 2,200 L per season if poorly insulated, 1,400 L if average, 800-900 L if well insulated. Mountain climates add 30-50%. Hot water from the same boiler adds another 150-250 L per year for a family. Your own delivery history divided by the years it covers is the most accurate number you’ll ever get.
When is heating oil cheapest?+
Statistically in late spring and summer (May to August), when demand collapses; prices then climb through autumn and peak during cold snaps, when suppliers are also slowest to deliver. Beyond seasonality, get quotes from 2-3 suppliers for every delivery and consider group purchases with neighbours — many suppliers discount larger combined deliveries to the same street.
How can I reduce heating oil consumption without renovating?+
The cheap wins, in rough order of payback: drop the thermostat by 1 °C (saves ~6-7%), heat rooms you actually use and close the rest, install a programmable or smart thermostat, fit reflector panels behind radiators on external walls, seal window and door drafts, and have the burner serviced yearly — a poorly tuned burner wastes 5-10%. Together these routinely trim 15-20% off a season.
Is it worth switching from oil to a heat pump or pellet boiler?+
Per kWh of heat, oil is usually the most expensive of the mainstream options — a heat pump typically cuts running costs by 50-60% and pellets by 30-40%. The catch is the upfront cost and suitability: heat pumps shine in insulated homes with low-temperature radiators or underfloor heating, less so in drafty old buildings. With many countries offering incentives for replacing oil boilers, getting a quote costs nothing and the payback is often under 10 years.
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