How the math works
The calculator works out how much heat your home uses, then what it costs to make that heat each way.
Energy per unit: 100,000 Btu per therm of gas, 91,452 Btu per gallon of propane, 138,500 Btu per gallon of heating oil, 3,412 Btu per kWh.
What this leaves out
- Cooling. A heat pump replaces your air conditioner too, often with a more efficient one. Summer savings are not counted.
- Water heating and cooking. If gas only heats your home, dropping it could also end a monthly gas service fee.
- Special rates. Some utilities sell cheaper winter power to heat pump owners. Enter that rate if you have it.
By state
Every state and DC has its own page with this calculator set to its prices, its rank among the 51, and how it compares with its neighbors.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Questions
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a gas furnace?
It depends on how your electricity price compares with your gas price. At the U.S. averages (18.3¢/kWh and $1.70/therm), our calculator shows roughly a tie: $643 a year for gas against $616 for the heat pump. Where electricity costs more than about 19.1¢/kWh, gas usually stays cheaper to run.
What about propane or heating oil?
Heat pumps beat both by a wide margin at current prices. For an average home, propane costs about $1,042 a year and heating oil about $1,575, against about $616 for a heat pump, using EIA's forecast prices for winter 2026–27.
Is there still a federal heat pump tax credit?
No. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C), which paid up to $2,000 for heat pumps, ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. Some states still offer rebates, including through the federally funded HEAR program, so check your state energy office and enter what you qualify for.
What is COP?
Coefficient of performance: units of heat delivered for each unit of electricity used. A COP of 3 means 3 kWh of heat for 1 kWh of electricity. It drops in very cold weather, so the calculator uses a lower seasonal average for cold states.
Sources
Electricity: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (July 2026 data). Natural gas: BLS U.S. city average, September 2026. Propane and heating oil: EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook winter forecast, October 2026. Tax credit status: Public Law 119-21.