Heating a home will cost about $1,030 this winter, and far more on oil
That is the NEADA projection for winter 2026 to 2027, up $82 or 8.7 percent. The Northeast average is $1,449. Heating oil prices were $5.40 to $5.90 a gallon on September 21, 2026, and oil heated homes are projected to pay 31.3 percent more than last winter. Electric heat is up 9 percent, propane 8.7 percent and natural gas 5.8 percent.
Winter heating cost by fuel
| All fuels, US average | $1,030 for the season, up $82 from last winter. NEADA counts mid November to mid March. |
|---|---|
| Northeast average | $1,449. |
| Natural gas | Up 5.8 percent. NEADA put last winter's gas heated home at $704, so our math gives about $745 this winter. |
| Electric heat | Up 9.0 percent. Up 35.7 percent since the winter of 2021 to 2022. |
| Propane | Up 8.7 percent. Still 14.7 percent below the winter of 2021 to 2022. |
| Heating oil | Up 31.3 percent. Up 62.1 percent since the winter of 2021 to 2022. One report on the NEADA numbers notes many oil heated homes already paid more than $2,000 a season. |
Heating oil prices right now
| Retail price per gallon | $5.40 to $5.90 for a 150 gallon order, with an average of $5.54, on September 21, 2026. Up 50 cents in one week. |
|---|---|
| A 150 gallon delivery | About $810 at $5.40. |
| Futures price | About $5.06 to $5.20 per gallon in mid September 2026, near a record and about 120 percent above a year earlier. |
| What is in a gallon | HeatFleet, citing EIA shares: crude oil is 53 percent of the price, about $2.93. Refining is 15 percent. Distribution and marketing are 32 percent. |
| Supplies | EIA data for the week ended September 11 showed distillate stocks, which include heating oil and diesel, 13 percent below the five year average. |
Propane, gas and electric prices
| Propane | $2.67 per gallon was the last EIA national average, in March 2026. A 500 gallon tank fill is about $1,070. See our propane page for prices by state. |
|---|---|
| Electricity | In EIA's 2025 to 2026 outlook, power averaged about 24 cents per kWh in the Northeast, 16 cents in the Midwest and 15 cents in the South. |
| Natural gas | The cheapest heating fuel in most regions and the most common. NEADA says more than 275 gas and electric utilities have raised rates or asked to since 2025. |
| Who uses what | Heating oil now heats about 4 percent of US homes, and about three quarters of them are in the Northeast. |
What pushes your bill up
| Your fuel | This winter the fuel matters more than anything. Oil is up 31 percent. Gas is up 6. |
|---|---|
| Your region | The Northeast is coldest, has the dearest power and burns the most oil. |
| The weather | NEADA's forecast assumes a warmer than normal El Nino winter. A cold one would push every number on this page higher. |
| Your house | Attic insulation, air leaks and the age of the furnace or boiler decide how many gallons or therms you burn. |
| How you buy | Oil and propane bought one delivery at a time in January cost more than fuel locked in before the season. |
Why oil is the outlier this winter
Heating oil is a close cousin of diesel. Both are distillates, made from the same cut of crude oil. Since late February 2026 the war with Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. NEADA says crude was about $72 a barrel before the conflict and then rose toward $100. AAA's national average for diesel passed $6 a gallon for the first time on September 11, 2026, against about $3.70 a year earlier. Heating oil followed it up.
Gas and electric bills move slowly, because utilities change rates through regulators. Oil moves the day the market moves. That is why NEADA has gas up 5.8 percent and oil up 31.3 percent in the same winter.
What an oil heated home can do now
First, fill early. HeatFleet showed prices up 50 cents in a single week in mid September. Second, ask your dealer about a price cap plan, which sets a ceiling but lets you pay less if prices fall. Third, get the burner serviced, at $75 to $200, so it burns clean. Fourth, price attic insulation at $1,700 to $2,500. It is the cheapest way to burn fewer gallons.
If you cannot pay the bill
LIHEAP is the federal program that helps with heating bills, and it is run by each state. NEADA says about one in six US households is behind on utility bills. Apply early in the season, because funds run out. Your state's LIHEAP office or 211 can start the application. Many oil dealers and utilities also offer budget plans that spread the cost over 10 to 12 months.
When this page updates
EIA publishes its Winter Fuels Outlook each October and restarts its weekly survey of heating oil and propane prices by state at the same time. We will update the numbers here when those land.
How to judge the price you were quoted
- Check the posted price the same day. Oil prices move daily. Compare two or three dealers for your ZIP code before you order.
- Ask about fees. Delivery minimums, small order charges and emergency fees are separate from the price per gallon.
- On a fixed price plan, ask what happens if prices fall. A cap lets you benefit. A fixed price does not.
- On a gas or electric bill, find the supply rate. In states with energy choice you can shop the supply part.
- Compare cost per unit of heat, not per gallon. A gallon of oil holds more heat than a gallon of propane.
Ways to pay less
- Fill oil and propane tanks before the cold. Prices rise with demand.
- Seal and insulate. One 2026 guide quotes the Department of Energy estimate of 15 to 25 percent savings from insulation plus air sealing.
- Get the system tuned. $75 to $200, and a clean burner uses less fuel.
- Apply for LIHEAP early. Money is handed out until it runs out.
- Turn the thermostat down at night. It costs nothing.
What will my oil or propane cost this winter?
Pick the gallons and type the price per gallon you were quoted. The total updates as you change them.
The default is the average retail heating oil price on September 21, 2026, $5.54. For propane, type 2.67 or your dealer's price. Gallons per winter vary a lot by house. Use your own delivery slips if you have them. This is an estimate, not a quote.
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Book a free 15 minute callNo pitch deck. We run your audit live on the call.Common questions
How much will it cost to heat my home this winter?
About $1,030 on average for winter 2026 to 2027, according to NEADA, up 8.7 percent. The Northeast average is $1,449. Oil heated homes will pay the most.
What is the price of heating oil right now?
$5.40 to $5.90 per gallon for a 150 gallon order on September 21, 2026, with an average of $5.54.
Why are heating oil prices so high?
Heating oil follows crude oil and diesel. The war with Iran pushed crude from about $72 toward $100 a barrel, and diesel passed $6 a gallon for the first time in September 2026.
What is the cheapest way to heat a house?
Natural gas is the cheapest common heating fuel in most regions this winter. NEADA projects gas bills up 5.8 percent against 31.3 percent for oil.
Is there help paying heating bills?
Yes. LIHEAP is a federal program run by each state. Apply early through your state LIHEAP office or by calling 211.