In Pennsylvania, the three common ways to heat a home are heating oil, propane, and natural gas, and the right choice depends on what is available at your address, what equipment you have, and how the fuels compare on an equal-heat basis. Natural gas is usually the cheapest to burn where a gas line already reaches the street, but many homes do not have that option. Heating oil delivers the most heat per gallon of the three and lets you shop competing dealers for price, while propane offers flexibility for homes off the gas main but often costs more per unit of heat. Here is how they stack up.
Compare on heat, not just on price per gallon
The most common mistake is comparing fuels by their sticker price per gallon. That is misleading because a gallon of one fuel does not carry the same energy as a gallon of another. The honest way to compare is by heat output, measured in BTUs.
- Heating oil carries roughly 138,500 BTU per gallon.
- Propane carries roughly 91,500 BTU per gallon.
That is a large difference. A gallon of heating oil delivers meaningfully more heat than a gallon of propane, so propane has to be priced well below oil per gallon just to break even on actual warmth delivered. Natural gas is sold by the therm or hundred cubic feet rather than the gallon, but the same principle applies: always compare on cost per unit of heat, not cost per unit of volume, or you will draw the wrong conclusion.
Natural gas: cheapest where you can get it
Where a natural gas main runs down your street and your home is connected, gas is typically the least expensive fuel to burn and the most hands-off, since it arrives by pipeline and you never schedule a delivery. The catch is availability. Large parts of Pennsylvania, especially older and more rural neighborhoods, simply do not have gas service at the curb, and extending a main to a home that lacks one can be very expensive. Natural gas is a strong choice, but only if the infrastructure already reaches you.
Heating oil: high heat output and real price choice
Heating oil is a mainstay across the region for good reasons. It packs the most BTUs per gallon of the three fuels, so it heats a home efficiently, and modern oil equipment burns cleanly and reliably. Just as important is the control it gives you. Oil is a competitive, deregulated market with many independent dealers, which means you can shop around, compare prices, and switch suppliers whenever you like.
You are never locked into a single utility. If you do not like your price, you can call another dealer. That freedom to choose is a genuine advantage that piped fuels do not offer, and it is why many Pennsylvania homeowners stay with oil even where other options exist. Serving Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia, we make that choice easy with straightforward pricing and delivery.
Propane: flexible, but usually pricier per BTU
Propane fills an important niche. For homes beyond the reach of a natural gas main, it offers a piped-gas experience from an onsite tank and powers furnaces, water heaters, stoves, and more. It is versatile and clean-burning. The tradeoff is cost. Because each gallon carries fewer BTUs than heating oil, and because propane pricing often runs higher per unit of heat, many homeowners find propane more expensive to run than oil once you compare on equal heat. It is a fine solution where oil or gas is impractical, but it rarely wins on pure operating cost.
Equipment matters too
Fuel choice is not just about the fuel. Each option needs its own equipment: an oil furnace or boiler and a storage tank for oil, gas-fired equipment and a meter for natural gas, and a propane tank with compatible appliances for propane. Switching fuels usually means replacing heating equipment, which is a significant expense. That is why most homeowners weigh their options hardest when a system is due for replacement, rather than switching on a whim.
Frequently asked questions
Which fuel is cheapest in Pennsylvania?
Where it is available, natural gas is usually cheapest to burn. Where it is not, heating oil and propane compete, and oil often wins on cost per unit of heat because it carries more BTUs per gallon.
Why does heat output matter more than price per gallon?
Because a gallon of oil (about 138,500 BTU) delivers far more heat than a gallon of propane (about 91,500 BTU). Comparing sticker prices per gallon without accounting for BTUs gives a false picture.
What is the main advantage of heating oil?
High heat output plus real choice. You can shop competing independent dealers and switch anytime, so you are never captive to one utility’s price.
Can I switch from one fuel to another?
Yes, but it usually means new heating equipment and possibly a new tank or meter, which is a real cost. Most people evaluate this when their system is due for replacement.
Talk it through with people who know oil
If heating oil is your fuel, or you are weighing your options in our area, we are happy to help you think it through. Call us at (215) 874-0093 and we will give you straight answers and a fair price on delivery.