Heating Oil Usage Calculator
Estimate how many gallons of heating oil your home uses per day, per month and over the winter, and how long a tank will last.
Heating oil in Connecticut, winter (Oct–Mar)
439 gallons per winter
About $2,675 at $6.094/gal
- Per day (average)
- 2.4 gal
- Per month (average)
- 73 gal
- Coldest month (Jan)
- 100 gal
- Gallons per degree day
- 0.087
How long will a 275-gallon tank last?
A 275-gallon tank holds about 250 usable gallons. At the average winter rate it lasts about 104 days; in the coldest month about 78 days.
Monthly cost
- Oct$204
- Nov$359
- Dec$519
- Jan$609
- Feb$526
- Mar$458
Assumptions
- Home: 2,000 sq ft, average insulation.
- Weather: 5,047 heating degree days for Connecticut (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, winter (Oct–Mar)).
- Useful heat needed: 50 million BTU.
- Heating oil: $6.094/gal (EIA Connecticut average, week of Oct 12, 2026).
- Propane: $4.233/gal (EIA Connecticut average, week of Oct 12, 2026).
- Natural gas: $2.25/therm (EIA Connecticut, latest month (May 2026)).
- Electricity: $0.282/kWh (EIA Connecticut 12-month average to Jul 2026).
Estimates only, based on average prices and typical weather. Your actual cost depends on your home, equipment, usage and local supplier. Not financial or engineering advice.
How many gallons of heating oil per day?
Oil use follows the weather. Each heating degree day (a day one degree below 65°F) needs a fixed amount of heat, so a home burns the most oil in the coldest months. The calculator spreads your winter total across months using each state's normal monthly degree days, then divides by days for the daily rate.
How long will a 275-gallon tank last?
2,000 sq ft home, average insulation, 83% efficient furnace, normal weather. About 250 usable gallons.
| Connecticut | 439 | 2.4 | 104 | 78 |
| Massachusetts | 453 | 2.5 | 100 | 76 |
| Maine | 561 | 3.1 | 81 | 62 |
| New Hampshire | 531 | 2.9 | 86 | 66 |
| Rhode Island | 423 | 2.3 | 108 | 80 |
| Vermont | 549 | 3.0 | 83 | 63 |
| New York | 450 | 2.5 | 101 | 76 |
| Pennsylvania | 426 | 2.3 | 107 | 80 |
| New Jersey | 394 | 2.2 | 116 | 85 |
| Delaware | 346 | 1.9 | 132 | 95 |
| Maryland | 350 | 1.9 | 130 | 93 |
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of heating oil per day does a house use?
On average over a winter, our estimate for a 2,000 sq ft home with average insulation is about 2.4 gallons a day in Connecticut and 3.1 in Maine, and more on the coldest days. Enter your state and home size above for your number.
How long does a 275-gallon heating oil tank last?
A 275-gallon tank holds about 250 usable gallons. The table below shows how many days that lasts at the average winter rate and in the coldest month for 11 Northeast states.
How do I use last winter's usage?
Open "Use my own numbers" and enter the gallons you burned last winter and your furnace efficiency. The calculator then scales this winter's estimate to your home instead of using the size estimate.
Why does usage change from year to year?
Heating oil use follows heating degree days: colder winters need more fuel. We use 30-year normal weather, so an unusually cold or mild winter will differ from the estimate.