What heating fuel costs this week

Propane and heating oil prices for every state EIA surveys, and the cheapest way to heat where you live.

Week of October 26, 2026. Next EIA update: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, after 1 p.m. ET.

Propane

$2.73

U.S. average per gallon

Week up+4.4¢Year up+30¢ (+12.2%)

Heating oil

$6.23

U.S. average per gallon

Week up+2.4¢Year up+$2.64 (+73.3%)

Your state

Choose a state to see its prices and cheapest heat

Heating oil and propane states

Cheapest heat in the U.S. this week

Natural gas $15.71 per million Btu

$14.65/Mcf · 90% efficient · U.S. residential, last winter · $669 for a typical winter
Heat pump $21.32 per million Btu

18.2¢/kWh · COP 2.5 · U.S. residential, year to date · $908 for a typical winter
Propane $35.12 per million Btu

$2.73/gal · 85% efficient · U.S. average · $1,496 for a typical winter
Heating oil $52.95 per million Btu

$6.23/gal · 85% efficient · U.S. average · $2,256 for a typical winter
Electric resistance $53.31 per million Btu

18.2¢/kWh · 100% efficient · U.S. residential, year to date · $2,272 for a typical winter

Prices by state

Heating oil price by state, week of October 26, 2026

This week

Heating oil is above its 10-season high for this week in 21 of 21 surveyed states.

Heating oil is +73.3% on a year ago; propane +12.2%. Propane is at a 10-season high for the week in 24 states.

Read this week’s report

Heating oil delivery, Arlington, Massachusetts

Propane delivery, Elliot Street, Brattleboro, Vermont, October 2025

When is propane usually cheapest?

In 10 of the last 10 heating seasons, October was the cheapest month for propane in the U.S.. The median season ran 9.3% above October by February.

base Oct 10/10
+1.7% Nov 0/10
+3.9% Dec 0/10
+7.3% Jan 0/10
+9.3% Feb 0/10
+9.0% Mar 0/10

Top: median price compared with October across the last 10 complete seasons. Bottom: in how many of those seasons that month had the lowest average price.

Propane by month, state by state · Heating oil

Calculators

Cost to fill a tank

A 500-gallon propane tank from 20% takes 300 gallons: $819 at the U.S. average. Your tank, your gauge, your price.

A winter’s heating bill

Every fuel, for your state and house size, from normal degree days.

Fuel oil truck, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1945

Propane vs heating oil

Per unit of heat, with a break-even price for your quote.

Average gas bill by state

U.S. average $85 a month, $1,023 a year.

Heat pump comparisons

Heat pump against gas, oil and propane in every state.

Questions

Farmhouse on Route 114, East Haven, Vermont, March

What is the average price of propane per gallon right now?

$2.730 a gallon for residential delivery, U.S. average for the week of October 26, 2026 (+4.4¢ on the week). State averages ran from $1.75 to $4.97.

How much is heating oil per gallon this week?

$6.233 a gallon, U.S. residential average, week of October 26, 2026. A year earlier it was $3.60.

Is propane or heating oil cheaper to heat with?

Per unit of heat this week, propane costs $35.12 and heating oil $52.95 per million Btu delivered (U.S. averages, same furnace efficiency). A gallon of oil holds about 51% more heat, so compare per Btu, not per gallon. See every state.

Why does my dealer charge more than the state average?

The EIA figure averages many dealers and delivery types. Small or will-call deliveries, leased tanks, remote addresses and credit-card payment often cost more; automatic delivery, cash and pre-buy plans less.

How often are these prices updated?

Weekly, from early October through March, after EIA publishes on Wednesday afternoon. Natural gas and electricity prices are monthly. Off-season, pages keep the final March figures.