What Is Home Heating Oil?
Home heating oil in Ireland is kerosene, commonly called 28-second oil or kero. It has a lighter viscosity than diesel and burns cleanly in purpose-built domestic boilers and range cookers. It is the primary space-heating fuel for rural homes, farmhouses, and any property not connected to the Ervia natural gas network.
Kerosene is stored on-site in plastic or steel oil tanks, typically between 1,000 and 2,500 litres in capacity. A delivery truck tops up the tank as required, usually every six to twelve weeks during the heating season. Because you take possession of the fuel at point of delivery rather than consuming it at a forecourt pump, the price dynamics are somewhat different from road fuel.
How Home Heating Oil Pricing Works
Unlike petrol or diesel, where you pay the displayed pump price per litre, home heating oil is sold in bulk with tiered pricing. The delivered price per litre decreases as the volume of your order increases. This creates a meaningful financial incentive to order larger volumes when your circumstances allow.
Volume tiers
Most oil merchants in Ireland operate price tiers broadly similar to the following:
- Up to 500 litres: The highest price per litre. Suited to topping up a nearly full tank or a small emergency delivery.
- 500 to 900 litres: A mid-range price. Represents a typical half-tank or top-up order.
- 900 litres and above: The most favourable price per litre. If your tank can take a full load, this is almost always the most cost-efficient option.
Exact tier thresholds and price differentials vary between merchants and by region. The FuelWatch community reports prices for specific delivery sizes so you can compare like for like.
Do not wait until your tank is nearly empty to order. A panic top-up of 200 to 300 litres costs considerably more per litre than a planned full-tank delivery. Order when you have a low but non-critical level so you can request a full load and take advantage of the lower per-litre price.
Seasonal Price Patterns
Home heating oil prices in Ireland are driven by global crude oil and gas oil markets and therefore move in response to international events. However, there is a consistent domestic seasonal pattern layered on top of that: demand from households rises sharply from September onwards as temperatures drop, and merchants occasionally pass on a small supply-pressure premium during peak season. Conversely, May through August is historically the lower-demand window.
If your tank still has a reasonable reserve heading into spring, topping it up in late April or May rather than waiting until autumn can result in a lower delivered price per litre. The seasonal variation is not guaranteed, and global market movements can override it, but the pattern is well established over the long run.
Watching prices across depots
Unlike petrol, where neighbouring forecourts might be within a kilometre, oil-merchant depots serving a given townland may be fewer and more spread out. Checking two or three depots before placing your order, rather than defaulting to whoever delivered last time, is one of the most reliable ways to save money on kerosene. FuelWatch's Home Oil map makes that comparison straightforward.
The FuelWatch Home Oil Layer
FuelWatch introduced a dedicated Home Oil layer alongside the Car Fuel map. This is separate from petrol and diesel stations: the Home Oil layer shows oil-merchant depot locations across Ireland, with community-reported kerosene prices.
To use it, open the FuelWatch app or web app at app.fuelwatch.ie and tap the Home Oil pill at the top of the map. The layer switches immediately and shows depot pins in the Home Oil colour. Tap any pin to see the most recently reported price, the volume tier it relates to, and how recently the price was submitted.
How prices get onto the map
Prices on the Home Oil layer are crowd-sourced. When a householder, farmer, or business owner receives a kerosene delivery, they can open FuelWatch, find the depot, and report the price they paid (including the volume size). That report is reviewed by the FuelWatch integrity system and, if it passes, updates the depot's displayed price.
This means coverage deepens over time as more users report deliveries. Depots in areas with more FuelWatch users will have more frequent updates. If you receive a delivery from a depot that is not yet on the map, you can add it through the app.
Practical Tips for Buying Heating Oil
- Compare at least two or three depots before confirming an order. FuelWatch makes this quick by showing depot pins on the map with recent prices.
- Order the largest volume your tank can take. The per-litre saving between a 500-litre and a 900-litre delivery is often several cent, which adds up to tens of euros on a single fill.
- Plan your orders seasonally. Consider buying in spring or early summer if your tank level permits, rather than waiting until demand peaks in October.
- Check your tank gauge before calling. Knowing your current level in litres lets you give the merchant an accurate fill size and confirms you are in the most favourable price tier.
- Note the price per litre, not just the total. When comparing quotes, always convert to price per litre for a fair comparison regardless of delivery size.
- Keep a record of recent deliveries. Knowing what you paid last time, and when, gives you a useful baseline when prices shift up or down in the market.
Kerosene Versus Other Heating Fuels
It is worth being clear about what kerosene is and is not, because confusion between heating fuels can lead to costly or even dangerous mistakes.
- Kerosene vs. green diesel: Green diesel (marked gas oil) is a heavier agricultural fuel and is not suitable for domestic boilers or ranges. Using it can damage the boiler heat exchanger, cause flue-gas issues, and void warranties. See our green diesel page for who it is intended for.
- Kerosene vs. LPG: Liquefied petroleum gas is a different technology altogether, requiring specialist appliances and a pressurised storage vessel. Many rural homes use both in different parts of the property (for example, an oil boiler for central heating and an LPG hob in the kitchen).
- Kerosene vs. natural gas: If your home is connected to the Ervia (Gas Networks Ireland) pipeline, you use natural gas rather than oil. Kerosene applies only to off-grid properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is home heating oil in Ireland?
Home heating oil in Ireland is kerosene, also called 28-second oil or kero. It is the primary heating fuel for homes not connected to the natural gas network, particularly in rural areas. It is stored in an on-site oil tank and burned in a boiler or range.
How does delivery-size pricing work for heating oil?
Oil merchants price kerosene per litre with tiered rates: the more you order, the lower the price per litre. A 500-litre top-up almost always costs more per litre than a 900-litre or 1,000-litre fill. Ordering a full tank when your level allows it is usually the most cost-efficient approach.
How does FuelWatch show home heating oil prices?
FuelWatch has a dedicated Home Oil map layer. Open the app or web app and tap the Home Oil pill to switch to depot pins across Ireland. Tap any pin to see community-reported kerosene prices and when they were last updated.
Is kerosene the same as green diesel for home heating?
No. Kerosene (28-second oil) is the correct fuel for domestic boilers and ranges. Green diesel has a heavier viscosity and is not suitable for domestic heating appliances. Using the wrong fuel can damage your boiler.
When is the best time to buy heating oil in Ireland?
Prices in Ireland tend to track crude oil markets and are generally lower in late spring and summer when household demand is at its lowest. Ordering in May or June, when your tank still has some reserve, rather than waiting until October when demand peaks, can result in a lower price per litre. Market conditions can alter this pattern in any given year.
Check current Home Oil depot prices on the FuelWatch map