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October 27, 2025
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The biggest factor in determining heating oil prices is the cost of crude oil—the raw material used to produce fuel oil. If you see crude oil prices going up, expect heating oil delivery costs to follow. But that’s just the starting point.
Long Island’s oil prices are subject to various factors that affect the global oil market as well as local demand and supply. Weather conditions also play a crucial role in determining the prices of oil in Long Island. When those February storms hit and everyone’s cranking up their heat, demand spikes fast. Winter months on Long Island mean higher demand for heating oil—and that usually leads to higher oil prices. The highest price spikes tend to happen between December and February when more people are ordering heating oil.
Here’s something most Long Island homeowners learn the hard way: timing matters more than you think. Historically, heating oil prices are lower in September and October before demand peaks in January. If you can, buy early. The cheapest month to buy home heating oil on Long Island is usually during the summer months, specifically July and August.
The pattern is pretty consistent year after year. Summer months see the lowest prices because nobody’s thinking about heating oil when it’s 85 degrees outside. But come October, prices start climbing as homeowners realize winter’s coming. In fact, in December 2022, fuel oil prices hit $5.001 per gallon, the highest peak recorded that year (source: NYSERDA). That’s not a typo—prices can get that extreme during peak demand.
Demand for heating oil is a significant factor that affects pricing. Typically, this demand rises during the winter months, leading to higher prices. The smart move? If you’re looking to save money, consider buying home heating oil during the off-season, like in the summer months, when demand is lower. Your wallet will thank you when your neighbors are paying winter premiums.
Weather forecasts play a bigger role than you might expect. Weather Forecasts: Believe it or not, even the weatherman may play a role in heating oil prices. Particularly cold winters with prolonged periods of frigid temperatures could lead to increased demand and potentially higher prices. Conversely, milder winters may contribute to lower overall heating oil costs.
Let’s talk real numbers. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as of January 13, 2025, the New York residential heating oil price was $4.037 per gallon, which was 3.25% higher than the previous week. But prices vary significantly based on quantity and location within Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Average Oil Price For 50 Gallons: $3.669 Average Oil Price For 100 Gallons: $2.949 Average Oil Price For 150 Gallons: $2.899 Average Oil Price For 200 Gallons: $2.859 Notice the pattern? The more you buy, the less you pay per gallon. It is also worth noting that consumers can save money by purchasing heating oil in bulk. Home heating oil companies offer discounts for larger quantities, such as 250 gallons or more.
Since the beginning of 2025, heating oil prices have increased by 6.15%, reaching an average of $2.45 per gallon (U.S. Energy Information Administration). That is due to rising global consumption and a decline in distillate inventories. The trend suggests continued upward pressure, but The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that global consumption of liquid fuels will rise by 1.1 million barrels per day in 2024 and 1.6 million barrels per day in 2025. However, a milder-than-expected winter in the Northeast could keep prices from skyrocketing too fast.
COD (cash on delivery) pricing offers another way to save. Customers who choose COD oil delivery can save up to $0.90 per gallon compared to full-service oil delivery. That’s real money—on a 200-gallon delivery, you’re looking at $180 in savings just by paying cash on delivery instead of signing up for a full-service contract.
This decision affects your heating costs more than most homeowners realize. While automatic delivery is more convenient than will-call, it is much more expensive. The average homeowner pays 40-50 cents per gallon more to be on automatic delivery. This equates to $300-500 more per year for the average home in the Northeast.
But convenience has its value. The main advantage of automatic delivery lies in its convenience and reassurance. Homeowners can enjoy continuous heating without needing to track oil levels or remember to schedule refills. This service is particularly valuable during the frigid winter months when maintaining a steady fuel supply is crucial to prevent unexpected outages.
Let’s be honest about what happens when you miscalculate. That said, those savings can be wiped away if you run out of oil when you’re away from home. Frozen pipes can lead to a catastrophe that costs tens of thousands to repair. Emergency deliveries aren’t just expensive—they might not be available when you need them most.
Running out of heating oil during Long Island’s frigid winters can be an emergency. We offer emergency delivery services for just this situation. Emergency oil delivery provides same-day or next-day delivery for customers who have run out or are about to run out of heating oil. Emergency rates may be higher than normal delivery fees, and that’s due to providing you with priority service, dispatching trucks immediately to restore your heat as soon as possible.
The math is sobering. The amount of oil you’ll use in a year depends on a variety of factors, including the size of your home, the number of occupants, your thermostat settings, and the efficiency of your heating system. On average, a Long Island homeowner will use around 700-900 gallons of heating oil per year. If you’re paying emergency rates on even half that amount, you’ve just blown your entire year’s potential savings.
Running out of heating oil represents the primary risk of on-demand delivery, especially when tank monitoring lapses, consumption estimates prove inaccurate, or delivery delays occur during peak demand periods. Emergency deliveries cost significantly more and may not be available immediately during storms or supply shortages. Smart will-call customers develop systems—checking tanks weekly, ordering at 25-30% capacity, and never waiting until the last minute during cold spells.
Your lifestyle and risk tolerance should drive this decision. Automatic delivery is ideal for those with busy or unpredictable schedules, such as frequent travelers, as it removes the need to monitor oil levels. Will-call delivery, however, suits homeowners who are consistently available to check their tank and prefer hands-on management, allowing them to capitalize on favorable pricing when possible.
Automatic delivery is ideal for those with busy lifestyles, such as frequent travelers, as it ensures that oil levels are managed without their input. Will-call is better suited for homeowners who have the time to monitor their oil levels regularly and prefer to control their usage, capitalizing on favorable prices when they arise. But there’s a middle ground worth considering.
Fortunately, these are no longer your only two options. There is now a third option, which brings the cost-savings of being a will-call customer together with the peace of mind of automatic delivery: a Smart Oil Gauge. The Smart Oil Gauge provides the peace of mind of automatic home heating oil delivery and enables homeowners to realize the tremendous savings of being a will-call customer.
Consider your track record honestly. Are you the type who remembers to check the tank regularly, or do you get busy and forget until you’re shivering? Will-call will save you hundreds of dollars per year, and thousands over the long-term. If your oil tank is in a convenient location, however, will-call may be the way to go. You’ll have total flexibility when it comes to choosing a supplier. And you can shop around for the best price for heating oil whenever you are low. But only if you can commit to the monitoring responsibility.
For many Long Island families, the sweet spot is automatic delivery with a reputable local company that doesn’t lock you into inflated pricing. Additionally, most automatic delivery plans come with a price cap, allowing customers to pay a stable rate even if oil prices increase. If prices drop below the cap, customers still enjoy the reduced rate, creating a win-win situation.
Understanding fuel oil prices isn’t about predicting the market perfectly—it’s about making informed decisions that fit your budget and lifestyle. The key takeaways: buy during summer months when possible, understand the real cost difference between delivery options, and never let your tank run dangerously low during winter months.
A little research and planning go a long way in keeping your home warm and cozy throughout the winter, without breaking the bank. Whether you choose automatic delivery for peace of mind or will-call for maximum savings, the most important thing is working with a reliable company that’s been serving Long Island homeowners through multiple heating seasons.
For over 40 years, we at OK Petroleum Distribution have helped Nassau and Suffolk County families navigate these decisions with transparent pricing, flexible delivery options, and the reliability that comes from never running out of fuel—even during the toughest winters Long Island has seen.
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