Free heating oil tool
A typical oil-heated home using about 1,700 litres a year spends roughly £1,249.50 at an example price of 70p per litre. That averages £104.13 a month, but closer to £208.25 in each winter month when most of the oil is burned. Enter your own price and litres in the calculator for your figure.
Take a household burning 1,700 litres a year, a common figure for a three or four bedroom rural home. Using an example price of 70p per litre, the annual fuel cost is 1,700 multiplied by 70p, divided by 100, then multiplied by 1.05 for VAT, which comes to £1,249.50.
Averaged evenly that is £104.13 a month, but heating is not spread evenly. Using an illustrative model where about 50% of oil is burned across the three winter months, each winter month costs closer to £208.25. Through a 92% condensing boiler the delivered heat costs about 7.7p per kWh. Swap in your own price and litres above for a figure that matches what you actually pay.
At an example price of 70p per litre inc 5% VAT. Winter month uses an illustrative 50% winter share.
| Litres per year | Cost per year | Per winter month |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000L | £735.00 | £122.50 |
| 1,500L | £1,102.50 | £183.75 |
| 1,700L | £1,249.50 | £208.25 |
| 2,000L | £1,470.00 | £245.00 |
| 2,500L | £1,837.50 | £306.25 |
| 3,000L | £2,205.00 | £367.50 |
annual_cost = annual_litres x ppl / 100 x (1 + vat_domestic) per_month = annual_cost / 12 winter_month = annual_cost x seasonal_share.winter / 3 cost_per_kwh = (ppl_inc_vat / 100) / (kwh_per_litre x boiler_efficiency) vat_domestic = 0.05 seasonal_share.winter= 0.5 (illustrative model, see sources) kwh_per_litre = 10.35 kWh/L boiler_efficiency = 0.92 condensing / 0.78 older Worked (1700 L at an example 70p): annual_cost = 1700 x 70 / 100 x 1.05 = £1,249.50 winter_month = £1,249.50 x 0.5 / 3 = £208.25
| Figure | Value | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| vat domestic | 0.05 ratio | VAT Act 1994 Schedule 7A Group 1, domestic fuel reduced rate | 2026-07-28 |
| kerosene kwh per litre | 10.35 kWh/L | UK Government GHG conversion factors 2025, burning oil (net CV) | 2026-07-28 |
| boiler efficiency condensing | 0.92 ratio | SEDBUK band A typical seasonal efficiency, OFTEC technical guidance | 2026-07-28 |
| boiler efficiency noncondensing | 0.78 ratio | SEDBUK band D-E typical seasonal efficiency for pre-2005 pressure jet boilers | 2026-07-28 |
| seasonal share | see page | Illustrative seasonal model. No authoritative UK source publishes a domestic kerosene seasonal split; this model is stated as illustrative on every page that uses it. | 2026-07-28 |
How much oil you actually burn. Floor area, insulation, thermostat setting and how many people are home all move your annual litres. This tool takes your usage as the input, so the accuracy of the result depends on knowing roughly how much you buy in a year.
The price you pay. The pence per litre figure is the biggest lever. A swing of 10p per litre changes a 1,700 litre year by roughly £178.50, whatever your starting price.
The seasonal split is illustrative. No authoritative UK source publishes a domestic kerosene seasonal breakdown, so the winter figure uses a model we state openly. Your own split depends on your climate and habits.
Boiler condition. A well serviced condensing boiler wastes less heat than a neglected older one. Efficiency does not change the fuel price, but it changes how many litres you need for the same warmth, and therefore your annual bill.
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