# Oil vs. Propane ... which is cheaper?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-vs-propane-which-is-cheaper/157466
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 25, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-vs-propane-which-is-cheaper/157466 "2003-02-25T19:59:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-vs-propane-which-is-cheaper/157466/1 "2003-02-25T19:59:33Z")
The prices for heating oil and propane being equal (they currently are in my area of NYS–about $1.45 per gallon on avg.), which is cheaper for home use on an annual basis?
I’m building a superinsulated house that will have hydronic radiant floor heat (so no forced-air furnaces … we’re talking a boiler or a water heater). Oil has more BTUs per gallon … but do the heating units consume that as efficiently as propane units? Will I end up using more gallons of oil in the winter or more gallons of propane?
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-vs-propane-which-is-cheaper/157466/2 "2003-02-25T20:08:40Z")
I can’t answer your questions, but I can say this: We lived in a house w/ radiant heat for 8 years. The boiler was heated by natural gas. It was awesome; it was very efficient, very comfortable, and very quite. Plus no filters to change.
How I miss radiant heat… ☹
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-vs-propane-which-is-cheaper/157466/3 "2003-02-25T21:03:06Z")
Tough to say…they’re both influened by world oil prices.
Though Marketplace (on NPR) yesterday reported that propane went up 38% just yesterday. Stand back!
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### Author:  [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-vs-propane-which-is-cheaper/157466/4 "2003-02-25T21:38:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Tough to say…they’re both influened by world oil prices.
no no no – both prices BEING EQUAL (which they currently are)
I’m interested strictly in a gallon-use comparison of the EQUIPMENT, since price differences between the two fuels are currently negligible in my region.
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### Author:  [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-vs-propane-which-is-cheaper/157466/5 "2003-02-25T21:55:47Z")
From [this site](http://www.hartandiliff.com/questions_hotwater.html):
> [@](#):
>
> The ability of various fuels to make hot water is rated based on recovery rate. Recovery rate tells us how much hot water can be made in one hour. For example, if a hot water heater can raise the temperature of 10 gallons of water from 50° F to 140° F in one hour, the recovery rate is 10 gallons per hour. Because of higher flame temperatures, oil fired hot water making systems have the highest recovery rate of any fuel. The average **recovery rates** of the various fuels are as follows:
>
> - Electric - 20 gallons per hour
> - Natural gas or propane - 40 gallons per hour
> - Oil - 120 gallons per hour
>
> Therefore, oil makes six times as much hot water as electric and three times as much hot water as natural gas or propane. The accompanying chart summarizes these recovery rates.