How long does 1,000 litres of heating oil last?

The answer in numbers

Ofgem, the energy regulator, publishes typical yearly energy use for low, medium and high use homes. From 1 July 2026 the gas figures are 6,000, 9,500 and 14,000 kWh a year (down from 7,500, 11,500 and 17,000). A house needs the same heat whichever fuel supplies it, so these make a fair yardstick for an oil-heated home, assuming a boiler about as efficient as a typical gas one.

How much energy is in a litre of kerosene

The UK government's 2026 conversion factors put burning oil, the official name for heating kerosene, at 10.29 kWh per litre on a gross calorific value basis.

To turn a yearly energy figure into litres, divide by 10.3. For Ofgem's typical home, 9,500 kWh divided by 10.3 is about 920 litres a year.

Why your boiler matters

Not all of that energy reaches your radiators: some is lost up the flue. The Energy Saving Trust says modern condensing boilers waste less because they capture and reuse heat from the flue gases, and that an oil boiler fitted after 2007 is likely to be a condensing one. UKIFDA, the fuel distributors' association, puts condensing boilers at up to 97% efficient against 60 to 70% for an older boiler.

In practice, an older boiler at around 65% needs about half as much oil again as one at 97% to give the same warmth. If yours is old, expect the shorter end of the ranges above. An annual service by an OFTEC-registered technician keeps any boiler running as efficiently as it can.

House size, insulation and weather

• Size and insulation: more rooms, more outside walls, thin loft insulation and single glazing all mean more heat lost and more oil burned.
• Weather: a boiler fires more often in cold spells, so a hard winter uses noticeably more than a mild one.
• Season: most oil goes between autumn and spring, so a tank filled in October empties much faster than one filled in May.
• Hot water and cooking: if oil also heats your water or runs a range cooker, you use some all year round.
• Thermostat: UKIFDA says turning room temperatures down by 1°C can save up to 10% of a year's fuel.

Work out your own figure

Your own history beats any average. Each time oil is delivered, note the date, the gauge reading and the litres that went in. Litres delivered divided by the months until the next fill gives your real use, and you will see how much faster it goes in winter. A remote tank monitor can do the tracking for you (see how to check your oil level). A sudden jump in use is worth investigating, as it can be the first sign of a leak or theft.

Treat every figure here as a guide, not a promise: two similar houses can use very different amounts. At today's typical price, 1,000 litres costs about £1,198 including VAT. When you are planning the next fill, compare prices for your postcode.