Heating Oil Prices July 2026: 77p/Litre as the Summer Floor Takes Shape

TL;DR — UK Heating Oil Price, July 2026

UK heating oil enters July 2026 at 77p per litre, after a June that averaged 83p — down 20% on May's 104p and 42% below the April peak of 132p. Northern Ireland was the cheapest region across June at 79p/L, with England at 81p/L, Wales at 84p/L, and Scotland at 91p/L — and quotes entering July are running several pence below those June averages in every region. The fall slowed sharply in the last week of June, which points to a summer floor forming around current levels. With demand at its seasonal low and autumn price rises the historical norm, this is the strongest buying window the market has offered since early winter.

Price Snapshot by Region — June into July 2026

For today's exact price by postcode, see live heating oil prices.

Reading the table: figures are June 2026 month averages (1 June to 1 July) from 500-litre quotes across our supplier network — the same month-window basis as our previous monthly reports. Because prices fell all month, quotes entering July are typically coming in below these averages (around 77p/L UK-wide). Scotland remains the most expensive region but recorded the biggest monthly fall.

What Moved the Price This Month

June delivered a second full month of falling prices, and the steepest yet: a month average of 83p against May's 104p, with the daily price sliding from 95p on 1 June to 77p on 1 July. Three factors drove it:

A historic crude oil slide. Brent crude fell by nearly $45 a barrel between the first and second quarters of 2026 — its largest quarterly decline since the 2008 financial crisis — and shed roughly a quarter of its value across June alone, settling around $72–73 a barrel by 1 July. Progress in US–Iran talks in Doha eased fears of disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, unwinding the risk premium that had inflated prices through the spring. Kerosene followed crude down with its usual two-to-three-week lag, which is why UK heating oil kept falling through June even on days when crude steadied.

Seasonal demand at its floor. July is the quietest month of the heating oil year. Suppliers compete hardest for the limited summer volume, which compresses margins on top of the falling wholesale price — our quote data shows the cheapest suppliers going as low as 64p/L in competitive postcodes.

A steady pound. GBP/USD held in the 1.32–1.33 range through late June — not a major driver this month, but enough to let the full crude decline pass through to sterling-priced kerosene rather than being eaten by currency weakness.

The weekly trend shows the fall decelerating into the month end:

That final flat week is the most important signal in the table: after twelve weeks of near-continuous decline, the market has stopped falling. Floors form quietly like this.

How July Compares to Recent Months

Prices are now back within touching distance of the winter baseline (63–66p) that preceded the March–April spike — the spike itself has fully unwound. What remains is the normal summer-versus-winter question: prices this low, this deep into the low-demand season, have historically not lasted beyond September. See our June price report for how the correction began.

What Order Size Makes Sense in July 2026

At the entering-July price of 77p/L, a 500-litre order costs around £387 and a 1,000-litre order around £772 — roughly £550 cheaper than the same 1,000 litres would have cost at April's peak. Larger orders still carry a modest per-litre discount: across June, 900-litre quotes averaged around 2–3p/L less than 500-litre quotes.

If your tank is a standard 1,000–1,200L domestic tank, the maths now favours filling it rather than topping up: buying your winter oil at summer-floor prices removes your exposure to the autumn rise entirely, and the price risk of waiting is asymmetric — perhaps a penny or two of further downside against a typical 10–20p seasonal upside from September. If cash flow is the constraint, a 500L order at £387 still locks in most of the benefit.

For specific costs at your postcode, see the 500-litre cost guide or use the oil usage calculator to estimate your annual consumption.

Supplier Spread Still Matters

Cheap markets make comparison feel optional. The data says otherwise. Across June into early July:

• The cheapest supplier quotes came in at 64p/L in competitive postcodes
• The most expensive reached over 145p/L in remote rural areas
• Within the same postcode, the median gap between cheapest and dearest quote on a 500L order was £58, and the top tenth of postcodes showed gaps above £135

Northern Ireland continues to show the tightest spreads thanks to its dense, competitive supplier market; remote rural Scotland shows the widest. Even at a market floor, ordering without comparing typically costs you the price of a decent weekly shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average UK heating oil price in July 2026?

Heating oil enters July 2026 at approximately 77p per litre, after a June that averaged 83p across the month — down 20% on May's 104p and 42% below April's peak, based on aggregated 500-litre quotes from our supplier network. The month opened at 95p and fell almost continuously. Prices range from around 64p/L at the cheapest suppliers in competitive areas to over 145p/L in remote rural locations.

Which UK region has the cheapest heating oil in July 2026?

Northern Ireland was the cheapest region across June at approximately 79p per litre, a couple of pence below the England average and 12p below Scotland — and quotes entering July are coming in below the June averages in every region. The pattern is stable month to month: Northern Ireland's concentrated, competitive supplier market and short delivery distances keep it the UK's cheapest region, while Highland and Island delivery costs keep Scotland the most expensive.

Is July a good time to buy heating oil?

Yes — and arguably the best month so far this year. Prices are at their lowest since early winter, the late-June flattening suggests the floor is in or near, and the traditional summer buying window starts closing as demand returns from September. The downside risk of buying now is a penny or two; the upside risk of waiting into autumn is historically 10–20p per litre.

How much does 500 litres of heating oil cost in July 2026?

At the entering-July price of 77p/L, 500 litres costs approximately £387 delivered UK-wide. On June's month averages by region: Northern Ireland ~£394, England ~£404, Wales ~£421, Scotland ~£456 — with quotes entering July typically coming in below these figures, and the cheapest suppliers in competitive postcodes £30–£60 below again. Always compare for your postcode.

Will heating oil prices keep falling through summer 2026?

Momentum says no: weekly falls of 5–8% through early June shrank to a flat final week. Brent crude has steadied around $72–73 a barrel after its historic second-quarter slide, and without a fresh downward catalyst — a further crude leg down or renewed sterling strength — kerosene has little room left to fall. The likelier path is a flat July–August followed by the usual seasonal climb from September.

How much can I save by comparing heating oil suppliers?

Across June 2026, the same 500-litre order in the same postcode showed a median gap of £58 between cheapest and most expensive supplier — and over £135 in the top tenth of postcodes. Across the whole network, quotes ranged from 64p to over 145p per litre. Even among large national suppliers, per-litre prices routinely differ by 5–15p for the same delivery. Comparing quotes before every order is the single highest-impact action a heating oil buyer can take.

Data source: Aggregated anonymised quotes from OilCompare's UK supplier network, 1 June–1 July 2026.