Running low on sunflower oil? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.

About sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is a light, neutral-flavoured vegetable oil pressed from sunflower seeds. It has a high smoke point (around 230°C), making it well suited to frying, roasting, and baking. Its mild flavour means it does not interfere with the taste of other ingredients, making it a versatile all-purpose cooking oil.
Best substitute
Canola oil is the closest match to sunflower oil, sharing a similarly neutral flavour and a comparable high smoke point of around 200–230°C. It performs identically in baking, frying, and sautéing with no adjustments needed.
Alternative
Most commercial vegetable oils are blends of neutral oils (often including soybean or canola) with a flavour and smoke point nearly identical to sunflower oil. It is a seamless one-for-one replacement in virtually any application.
Alternative
Light (refined) olive oil has a neutral flavour and a smoke point of around 220°C, making it a reliable substitute for sunflower oil in most cooking contexts. Avoid extra virgin olive oil, as its strong flavour and lower smoke point make it unsuitable for high-heat frying or neutral-flavoured baking.
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | sunflower oil |
| Canada | sunflower oil |
| New Zealand | sunflower oil |
| United Kingdom | sunflower oil |
| United States | sunflower oil |
Alternative
Grapeseed oil is a light, clean-tasting oil with a high smoke point of around 215°C, making it an excellent substitute in both high-heat cooking and baking. It is slightly more expensive and less widely available than sunflower oil.
Alternative
Refined coconut oil (not virgin) has a neutral flavour and a smoke point of around 200°C, making it workable in baking and light frying. It is solid at room temperature, so it must be melted before measuring, and it can subtly alter texture in some baked goods.