Cheapest Lancaster County Heating Oil Price History
Updated on February 18, 2026 at 01:00 PM
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 02/18/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/17/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/16/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/15/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/14/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/13/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/12/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/11/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/10/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/09/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/08/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/07/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/06/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/05/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/04/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/03/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/02/2026 | $3.590 |
| 02/01/2026 | $3.390 |
| 01/31/2026 | $3.390 |
| 01/30/2026 | $3.390 |
| 01/29/2026 | $3.390 |
| 01/28/2026 | $3.379 |
| 01/27/2026 | $3.190 |
| 01/26/2026 | $3.179 |
| 01/25/2026 | $3.099 |
| 01/24/2026 | $3.099 |
| 01/23/2026 | $3.099 |
| 01/22/2026 | $3.099 |
| 01/21/2026 | $2.999 |
| 01/20/2026 | $2.949 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Lancaster Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Lancaster, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Lancaster households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Lancaster County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Lancaster
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Lancaster. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dropped from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lancaster
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 198,296 to 282,182, a 42% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Lancaster
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Lancaster. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lancaster
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Lancaster are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 homes had active solar heating.
Lancaster County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Lancaster County homeowners purchased a total of 24 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Lancaster’s overall oil usage varies each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Lancaster was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Lancaster County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Lancaster County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Lancaster homeowners heating with oil, picking which of the 30 heating oil companies that serve Lancaster makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 126 “full-service” oil companies that serve Lancaster. Full service companies such as Aero Energy or Suburban Propane offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Lancaster cash heating oil companies serving Lancaster include Talley Petroleum Enterprises Inc and Peggy's Fuel Oil.
Lancaster Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Lancaster: 30 companies .
Average Number of Lancaster Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 22115
Lancaster Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Lancaster heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lancaster temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12% of Lancaster households depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.15% of Lancaster County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Lancaster County Households | Lancaster County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
526 Lancaster Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 507,486,888.761 gallons of heating oil delivered to Lancaster homes during this past winter, the Lancaster community looks to its 526 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Lancaster, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Lancaster and the surrounding region.
