Heating oil tank chart — 275 vertical
The float gauge on top of your tank is an estimate at best. A wooden stick doesn't lie: dip it to the tank bottom through the fill or gauge opening, read the wet line in inches, and convert below. This chart covers the 275-gallon vertical oval tank (27″ wide × 44″ tall × 60″ long) — the most common home heating oil tank in the Northeast.
How to stick your tank
- Use a clean, dry wooden dowel or yardstick long enough to reach the bottom (44″+).
- Open the fill cap or gauge fitting; lower the stick straight down until it rests on the tank bottom.
- Lift it out and read the oil line in inches.
- Find the inches in the chart — that's your gallons on board.
A 275 “vertical” holds about 240 usable gallons in practice — fills stop short of the top, and the last couple of inches sit below the outlet.
| Inches | Gallons | Inches | Gallons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1″ | 2 | 23″ | 141 |
| 2″ | 5 | 24″ | 148 |
| 3″ | 9 | 25″ | 155 |
| 4″ | 14 | 26″ | 162 |
| 5″ | 19 | 27″ | 169 |
| 6″ | 25 | 28″ | 176 |
| 7″ | 31 | 29″ | 183 |
| 8″ | 37 | 30″ | 190 |
| 9″ | 43 | 31″ | 197 |
| 10″ | 50 | 32″ | 204 |
| 11″ | 57 | 33″ | 211 |
| 12″ | 64 | 34″ | 218 |
| 13″ | 71 | 35″ | 225 |
| 14″ | 78 | 36″ | 231 |
| 15″ | 85 | 37″ | 237 |
| 16″ | 92 | 38″ | 243 |
| 17″ | 99 | 39″ | 249 |
| 18″ | 106 | 40″ | 254 |
| 19″ | 113 | 41″ | 259 |
| 20″ | 120 | 42″ | 263 |
| 21″ | 127 | 43″ | 266 |
| 22″ | 134 | 44″ | 268 |
Source: Computed from nominal 275-V tank geometry (27″ × 44″ × 60″ oval cross-section, 231 in³/gal), rounded to the nearest gallon. Tanks vary by maker — cross-check your tank's data plate or your dealer's chart.
Reading the numbers
- Below 8″ (≈ 50 gal): schedule a delivery now — that's about a week of cold-snap heating for a typical home.
- Below 4″ (≈ 20 gal): you're flirting with a run-out; sludge near the bottom can clog the filter even before the tank is dry.
- Print this page — the URL rides along in the footer so the paper copy stays traceable.
How long will my oil last?
This calculator goes live with the heating-season release. The inputs below show what it will take.
Coming next
330-gallon vertical, 275/330 horizontal, and underground tank charts, plus a CSV download of every chart.
https://oilburnerhelp.com/tools/tank-chart/