Kerosene vs heating oil
Kerosene costs more per gallon and holds slightly less heat, but it does not gel in the cold. Per unit of heat it matches this week’s heating oil average ($6.23) only at $6.08 a gallon or less.
Heating oil price: EIA weekly U.S. residential average, October 26, 2026. EIA does not publish a weekly residential kerosene price.
Side by side
| No. 2 heating oil | Kerosene (K-1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat per gallon | 138,500 Btu | 135,000 Btu |
| Cold behavior | Can thicken (gel) in an outdoor tank in hard frost | Stays liquid far below zero |
| Typical use | Basement or indoor tanks, boilers and furnaces | Outdoor tanks, blended into oil in deep cold, portable and direct-vent heaters |
| Weekly price data | EIA, 21 states | None from EIA; ask local dealers |
Blending in cold snaps
Dealers in cold states often deliver a blend of heating oil and kerosene to outdoor tanks in mid-winter so the fuel keeps flowing. A blend costs more than straight oil and carries a little less heat per gallon. If your tank is in a heated basement, you rarely need it.
Comparing quotes
To compare a kerosene quote with heating oil, multiply the kerosene price by 1.026: that is its price per heating-oil-equivalent gallon, assuming the same burner efficiency (85%). Or put both prices in the fuel cost comparison calculator.