How Much Heating Oil is in My Tank

Winter Drink

How much heating oil is in my tank?

If you’re a will-call heating oil consumer, it’s an answer you need to know!  The helpful charts below will help get the answers you need!

The most common oil tank holds 275 gallons of heating oil. With this in mind, use the gauge on your tank and the chart below to estimate how many gallons of heating oil is in your tank.

Tank Gauge Reading Gallons Remaining Approximate
Full 275
7/8 241
3/4 206
5/8 172
1/2 138
3/8 103
1/4 69
7/8 34

What if your oil tank gauge is broken?

Can you still tell how much heating oil you have if your oil tank gauge isn’t working?  Yes, you can still get an accurate reading of your heating oil level by “sticking” your tank to measure the depth of the oil in your tank.

How to stick your oil tank to measure your heating oil level:

  1. This method will only work on tanks with a vertical fill pipe. (See image)
    Filling Heating Oil Tank

    Tank with vertical fill pipe

  2. Remove the cap from your fill pipe.
  3. Use a long, clean measuring stick or dowel that is as long as your tank is deep + the length of your fill pipe + another 12″.
    (You do not want the stick to fall into your tank!)
  4. Lower the stick into your tank until it gently touches the bottom.
  5. Remove the stick from the tank and measure how many inches up the stick the oil reached.
  6. Use the chart below to convert the depth of your oil into gallons.
  7. After determining how much oil you have, visit How Long Will My Heating Oil Last.
  8. If you need an oil delivery, please call (410) 876-6800 or contact us online.

The majority of aboveground oil tanks in MD and PA are 275 gallons and measure 60″ long x 27″ wide x 44″ deep. If your tank measures differently, please call us at (410) 876-6800. We will be happy to help you identify the size of your heating oil tank.

275 gallon (44″ depth) 550 gallon (49″ depth)
Oil depth Gallons Remaining Gallons Remaining
1″ 3 3
2″ 8 7
3″ 15 14
4″ 23 21
5″ 32 23
6″ 42 28
7″ 53 48
8″ 63 58
9″ 74 69
10″ 86 81
11″ 98 92
12″ 110 104
13″ 122 117
14″ 135 129
15″ 148 143
16″ 160 156
17″ 172 169
18″ 184 183
19″ 196 197
20″ 207 211
21″ 217 225
22″ 228 239
23″ 246 254
24″ 255 268
25″ 264 283
26″ 270 297
27″ 275 312
28″ 326
29″ 340
30″ 354
31″ 368
32″ 382
33″ 395
34″ 408
35″ 422
36″ 434
37″ 447
38″ 459
39″ 470
40″ 482
41″ 493
42″ 503
43″ 513
44″ 522
45″ 530
46″ 537
47″ 544
48″ 548
49″ 550