For a typical three-bedroom home, 500 litres of heating oil usually lasts 2 to 3 months in winter and up to 6 to 9 months (or longer) in warmer seasons.

To buy heating oil in bulk please find it here: Domestic Heating Oil

For smaller supplies we sell prefill cans here on our website (cheapest place) or Ebay & Amazon

Because heating oil demand varies heavily with usage, the breakdown generally follows these patterns:

Season & Usage Timeline

Peak Winter (Heavy Usage): 1 to 2 months. If the boiler runs heavily for 6–10 hours per day to keep up with freezing outdoor temperatures, consumption spikes to 8–15 litres per day.
Autumn / Spring (Moderate Usage): 2 to 4 months. Running the heating for a few hours in the morning and evening plus daily hot water typically consumes about 4–6 litres per day.
Summer (Hot Water Only): 6 to 12 months. If the boiler is only firing up for domestic hot water (1–2 hours per day), daily consumption drops to 1–2 litres.

Key Factors That Influence Burn Rate for How long will 500 litres of heating oil last?

Factor	High Consumption	Low Consumption
Boiler Burn Rate	A standard oil boiler burns 1.5 to 3 litres per hour of active firing. Continuous burner time directly impacts lifespan.
Home Insulation	Single glazing, uninsulated lofts, or draughty walls cause the boiler to cycle on more frequently.	Modern double glazing and cavity wall insulation reduce required run time.
Thermostat Setting	Keeping indoor temperature above 21°C (70°F).	Dropping the thermostat by just 1°C can reduce oil usage by up to 8–10%.
Boiler Efficiency	Older, unserviced boilers waste fuel through poor combustion.	Modern condensing boilers turn significantly more fuel into usable heat.