Live Direct Debit rates for UK average since 1 October 2026. Oil and LPG prices aren't regulated, so check your supplier's latest quote.
Oil boilers
Heating oil (kerosene) contains about 10.35 kWh per litre. A typical home needs about 8,075 kWh of heat a year. With an 85%-efficient condensing oil boiler, that's about 918 litres a year.
Oil prices move a lot. BoilerJuice's Great Britain average was 120.13p a litre on 22 September 2026 for a 1,000-litre order, roughly double a year earlier.
| Oil price per litre | Cost per kWh of heat | Typical home per year |
|---|---|---|
| 80p | 9.1p | £734 |
| 100p | 11.4p | £918 |
| 120p | 13.6p | £1,101 |
| 140p | 15.9p | £1,285 |
LPG boilers
LPG contains about 7 kWh per litre, so a typical home needs about 1,357 litres a year. LPG prices depend heavily on your supplier and contract, so plug in the price on your latest bill:
| LPG price per litre | Cost per kWh of heat | Typical home per year |
|---|---|---|
| 50p | 8.4p | £679 |
| 60p | 10.1p | £814 |
| 70p | 11.8p | £950 |
| 80p | 13.4p | £1,086 |
How that compares
- Mains gas boiler: about £865 a year including the standing charge.
- Heat pump: about £759 a year in electricity, at today's price.
With oil at around 120p a litre, a heat pump is likely to be much cheaper to run than an oil boiler for most off-grid homes.
The bigger grant for off-grid homes
From 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, homes replacing an oil or LPG boiler can get £9,000 towards a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, instead of the usual £7,500. See how the scheme works.
Tips if you're staying with oil
- Order in summer, when prices are often lower, and compare several suppliers.
- Join a local heating oil buying club to get a bulk discount.
- Have the boiler serviced every year. Oil boilers lose efficiency faster than gas ones when neglected.
Sources: Selectra (BoilerJuice and Consumer Council prices), UK Calculator, GOV.UK, Energy Systems Catapult (Electrification of Heat), Octopus Energy tariff data.