Is kerosene the same as jet fuel?

Jet A and Jet A-1 aviation turbine fuel are forms of kerosene — the same distillate fraction of crude oil in the 150–250°C boiling range, but processed to very precise specifications: low freeze point (Jet A-1: max −47°C), specific flash point, tight energy density range, low sulphur, controlled aromatics, and approved additives. Commercial aviation kerosene (Jet A-1) is the dominant form used globally. UK home heating oil (C2 kerosene) is a lower-specification, less-refined product from the same distillate fraction, without the strict aviation quality controls.

What is the difference between kerosene and diesel?

Kerosene and diesel are both petroleum distillates but from different fractions of the distillation column. Key differences: Kerosene boils at ~150–250°C; diesel (gasoil) boils at ~200–360°C. Kerosene is lighter (density ~0.78–0.82 kg/l) than diesel (~0.82–0.86 kg/l). Kerosene has slightly lower energy density per litre than diesel. Diesel has higher cetane rating for better compression ignition, while kerosene lacks sufficient lubricity and cetane for direct use in modern diesel engines without additives. In the UK, kerosene (heating oil) is much cheaper than road diesel due to zero excise duty on domestic heating use — but it is illegal to use it as road fuel.

Kerosene

Q: What is kerosene used for?

Kerosene has several major uses: (1) Aviation jet fuel — Jet A and Jet A-1 kerosene are the standard aviation turbine fuels used in virtually all commercial aircraft worldwide; (2) Home heating oil — in the UK and Ireland, kerosene (28-second oil / C2) is the primary domestic heating fuel for ~1.5 million homes without gas grid access; (3) Cooking fuel — kerosene stoves are a primary cooking fuel in parts of South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa; (4) Illumination — kerosene lamps remain in use in areas without reliable electricity; (5) Industrial solvent and cleaning agent — degreasing and cleaning applications.

The versatile middle petroleum distillate — aviation jet fuel, home heating oil, and cooking fuel — sitting between naphtha and diesel in the refinery distillation column.

Definition

Kerosene (also spelled kerosine; known as paraffin in the UK in domestic use) is a petroleum distillate with a boiling range of approximately 150–250°C (302–482°F), produced from crude oil between naphtha and diesel/gasoil in the atmospheric distillation column. It is a clear to pale yellow liquid with a characteristic petroleum odour.

Kerosene sits between lighter naphtha and heavier diesel in the refinery slate. See our naphtha glossary entry for the lighter fraction and our gasoil / diesel glossary entry for the heavier fraction. For the complete refinery product slate, see our refinery glossary entry.

Kerosene grades and uses

Grade	Specification	Primary use	Key market
Jet A-1	Flash point ≥38°C; freeze point ≤−47°C; strict quality controls	Commercial aviation turbine fuel (global standard)	All international airports worldwide
Jet A	Similar to Jet A-1 but freeze point ≤−40°C	Commercial aviation (primarily US domestic)	US aviation market
JP-8	Military aviation specification; Jet A-1 + corrosion inhibitor + thermal stability additive	NATO military aircraft fuel	NATO military operations
C2 / 28-second oil	Lower specification; approved for domestic boilers	UK home heating oil; Aga/range cookers	UK, Ireland, rural Europe
1-K kerosene	Low sulphur; ASTM D-3699	Portable heaters, kerosene lamps, cooking stoves	US, Japan, developing markets
Water-white kerosene	Highly refined; low aromatics	Wick lamps, portable stoves	Consumer retail

Kerosene as aviation fuel: the jet fuel market

Aviation accounts for the majority of global kerosene demand — Jet A-1 is the world's single most important kerosene product. Key characteristics:

Global scale: Aviation consumes approximately 6–7 million barrels per day of jet fuel, representing ~6–7% of total global oil demand
Price: Jet fuel is priced off the gasoil/kerosene crack spread. Jet fuel trades at a premium to gasoil of approximately $5–15/barrel in normal markets, reflecting its stricter specification
SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel): The aviation industry is under growing regulatory pressure to blend SAF — either HEFA (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids from biomass) or synthetic e-fuels — into Jet A-1. EU mandates require 2% SAF by 2025, 6% by 2030, rising to 70% by 2050
Hedging: Airlines typically hedge 30–60% of their jet fuel exposure using gasoil futures as a proxy hedge. For jet fuel price context, see our jet fuel prices 2026.

Kerosene as home heating oil

In the UK, Ireland, and parts of rural Europe, kerosene is the primary heating fuel for homes off the gas grid. Key characteristics of the UK market:

Approximately 1.5 million UK households use oil-fired central heating, concentrated in rural areas of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and English rural counties
UK kerosene for domestic heating (C2 / 28-second oil) carries 5% VAT and no excise duty — making it significantly cheaper per litre than road diesel
Prices are highly seasonal, typically 5–15p/l cheaper in summer than winter. See our home heating oil price guide.
UK autumn 2026 prices: approximately 55–70p/litre (500-litre order); bulk pricing ~52–65p/litre

Kerosene as cooking fuel in developing markets

In Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan), and parts of Southeast Asia, kerosene has historically been a primary cooking and lighting fuel for households without reliable electricity or LPG access. This use is declining as:

LPG becomes more widely available and affordable (see our LPG glossary entry)
Grid electricity expands in rural areas
Indoor air pollution from kerosene cooking — a significant health hazard — drives policy to promote cleaner alternatives
Indonesia completed a transition from kerosene to LPG for cooking between 2007 and 2012 through a government programme that distributed free 3 kg LPG cylinders and stoves to low-income households

Frequently asked questions

What is kerosene used for? Kerosene's main uses are: aviation jet fuel (Jet A-1 — the global standard for commercial aircraft); home heating oil (UK C2 kerosene for oil-fired boilers); cooking fuel (kerosene stoves in parts of Asia and Africa); illumination (kerosene lamps in off-grid areas); and industrial solvents/cleaning agents. Aviation consumes the majority of global kerosene output (~6–7 mb/d).: Kerosene's main uses are: aviation jet fuel (Jet A-1 — the global standard for commercial aircraft); home heating oil (UK C2 kerosene for oil-fired boilers); cooking fuel (kerosene stoves in parts of Asia and Africa); illumination (kerosene lamps in off-grid areas); and industrial solvents/cleaning agents. Aviation consumes the majority of global kerosene output (~6–7 mb/d).
Is kerosene the same as jet fuel? Jet A-1 aviation turbine fuel is a form of kerosene — same distillate fraction, but processed to very precise specifications (low freeze point ≤−47°C, specific flash point, tight energy density, approved additives). UK domestic heating oil (C2 kerosene) is the same base fraction but with lower specification. Jet fuel requires strict quality certification; heating kerosene does not.: Jet A-1 aviation turbine fuel is a form of kerosene — same distillate fraction, but processed to very precise specifications (low freeze point ≤−47°C, specific flash point, tight energy density, approved additives). UK domestic heating oil (C2 kerosene) is the same base fraction but with lower specification. Jet fuel requires strict quality certification; heating kerosene does not.
What is the difference between kerosene and diesel? Kerosene (boils ~150–250°C, density ~0.80 kg/l) is lighter than diesel/gasoil (boils ~200–360°C, density ~0.84 kg/l). Diesel has higher energy density per litre and better cetane rating for compression ignition engines. Kerosene lacks the lubricity needed for modern diesel fuel injection systems. In the UK, home heating kerosene is much cheaper than road diesel due to zero excise duty — but using it as road fuel is illegal (the red/green dye test detects it).: Kerosene (boils ~150–250°C, density ~0.80 kg/l) is lighter than diesel/gasoil (boils ~200–360°C, density ~0.84 kg/l). Diesel has higher energy density per litre and better cetane rating for compression ignition engines. Kerosene lacks the lubricity needed for modern diesel fuel injection systems. In the UK, home heating kerosene is much cheaper than road diesel due to zero excise duty — but using it as road fuel is illegal (the red/green dye test detects it).

Kerosene uses: from jet fuel to home heating

What is kerosene used for in practice? The two largest applications are aviation fuel and domestic heating. As jet fuel (Jet A-1), kerosene powers virtually all commercial aircraft worldwide — the IEA's oil and fuel technology pages track global jet fuel demand as part of the broader oil product slate. As kerosene for home heating, it is the primary fuel for roughly 1.5 million off-grid homes in the UK and Ireland, where mains gas connections are unavailable. The UK government's fuels guidance covers domestic heating oil specifications, and the U.S. EIA heating oil explainer provides context on kerosene heating in the northeastern United States.

Kerosene uses also extend to cooking fuel in parts of South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, industrial solvent applications, and illumination in areas without reliable electricity. The fuel's versatility — bridging aviation, heating and household cooking — makes it one of the most widely consumed petroleum products globally. For a comparison with the heavier distillate fraction, see the diesel glossary entry, and for the lighter fraction see the naphtha glossary entry.