Oil Tank Removal Cost by Tank Size
Short answer: We found no Pennsylvania source we could confirm that publishes prices by gallon size. A Lehigh Valley oil company quotes $500–$1,500 above-ground and $1,000–$3,000+ underground1, and a PA contractor reports averages of $1,100 above-ground and $1,900 underground2. Ask your contractor to itemize how your tank's size and access affect the quote. Every figure below links to its source, and your contractor's itemized quote is what counts.
Published prices by size
| Tank | Setting | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any | Above-ground, Lehigh Valley oil company | $500–$1,500 | 1 |
| Any | Underground, Lehigh Valley oil company | $1,000–$3,000+ | 1 |
| Any | PA averages: above-ground / underground | $1,100 / $1,900 | 2 |
Ranges come from different publishers and years, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
Why size isn't the whole story
Disposal fees and access affect price1. If soil sampling finds contamination, cleanup becomes a separate and usually much larger project; see leaking oil tank help.
How to tell your tank's size
Check for a capacity plate or ask your oil supplier. Delivery records showing the largest fills are a useful clue. A basement tank you can see is usually easier to price than a buried one; for buried tanks, a sweep confirms location first.
If a buried tank leaked
PA DEP's reimbursement program may repay up to $4,000 of eligible cleanup costs after a $1,000 deductible, for buried home heating oil tanks of 3,000 gallons or less3. See PA cleanup reimbursement.
Related
Lehigh Valley towns with the most oil-heated homes
Municipalities we cover where at least 30% of occupied homes are heated mainly by fuel oil or kerosene, estimated by the Census4:
| Town | Fuel-oil share | Homes (± margin of error) |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Mount Bethel Township | 55.9% | 1,475 ± 243 |
| Lower Mount Bethel Township | 53.5% | 634 ± 117 |
| Washington Township (Northampton) | 53.2% | 1,030 ± 207 |
| Lehigh Township | 47.0% | 2,021 ± 304 |
| Lower Milford Township | 42.4% | 616 ± 132 |
| Plainfield Township | 41.6% | 1,045 ± 282 |
| Coopersburg | 40.3% | 442 ± 96 |
| Wind Gap | 39.9% | 603 ± 142 |
| Bushkill Township | 39.5% | 1,255 ± 210 |
| Pen Argyl | 39.2% | 545 ± 184 |
| Washington Township (Lehigh) | 37.5% | 1,020 ± 207 |
| North Whitehall Township | 33.6% | 2,017 ± 298 |
| Lynn Township | 32.3% | 551 ± 135 |
| Moore Township | 32.2% | 1,113 ± 208 |
| Bangor | 31.7% | 630 ± 197 |
| Williams Township | 31.2% | 818 ± 215 |
| Nazareth | 30.3% | 908 ± 208 |
For comparison: Allentown 14.1%, Easton 8.6%4. These are 5-year survey estimates; small towns have wide margins of error.
FAQ
Does PA DEP require me to remove my home heating oil tank?
No. Pennsylvania's storage tank law doesn't regulate most home heating oil tanks used on the premises: tanks storing heating oil for use where it is stored are excluded, and DEP lists home heating oil tanks as not regulated5,6. Local rules, lenders and buyers may still require action, such as a permit, testing or removal before a sale.
How much does it cost to remove a 275-gallon basement oil tank?
A Lehigh Valley oil company publishes $500–$1,500 for above-ground tanks1, and a PA contractor reports an average of $1,1002.
How much does it cost to remove a 1,000-gallon buried tank?
We found no confirmed source that prices 1,000-gallon tanks specifically. A Lehigh Valley oil company publishes $1,000–$3,000+ for underground removal1. Ask for an itemized quote for your tank; contamination cleanup is extra.
Get a free quote
Tell us where the tank is (basement, side yard, buried, or unknown) and whether you're buying, selling, or refinancing. Allentown Tanks will connect you with a qualified local tank contractor. (215) 434-1322 · Request a quote
Sources
- Harned Durham Energy, heating oil tank removal cost
- Curren Environmental, PA oil tank removal cost
- PA DEP, Apply for Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year Table B25040 House Heating Fuel, county subdivision geography (table-based summary file)
- Act 32 §103 (UST definition excludes heating oil for consumptive use)
- PA DEP Storage Tank Data ("Home heating oil tanks are not regulated")
- 25 Pa. Code §245.1 definitions
- PA DEP Installer/Inspector Certification (certified company list)
- 68 Pa.C.S. §7303 seller disclosure
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B4-1.4-08 Environmental Hazards Appraisal Requirements
- Kash Mortgage Group, PA buyer guide
- Flagstone, Philadelphia oil tank guide
- PA DEP Storage Tanks Financial Assistance (Underground Heating Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement Program)
- USTIF Heating Oil Tank Program (voluntary, tanks of 3,000 gallons or more)
Sources accessed 2026-10-25 by TANKER Traffic.