Heating oil is used for space and water heating
Heating oil and diesel fuel are closely related petroleum products called distillates. Heating oil is sold mainly for use in boilers and furnaces (for space heating) and in water heaters.
Most U.S. heating oil consumers are in the Northeast
Most U.S. residential sector and commercial sector heating oil consumption occurs in the New England and the Central Atlantic regions (PDF) of the country. In 2012, New York became the first state to require ultra-low sulfur heating oil (ULSHO)—heating oil to have a sulfur content of 15 parts per million or less. Delaware and New Jersey transitioned to ULSHO in 2016, and all six New England states transitioned to ULSHO on July 1, 2018.
Biomass-based heating oil is available in some states
Nearly all of the heating oil consumed in the United States is produced from crude oil. However, some heating oil suppliers offer heating oil blends of petroleum distillate and biofuels to consumers. This blended heating oil is generally 5% biofuel by volume.
Last reviewed: October 19, 2023.