Heat pump savings calculator
Compare what you pay to heat today with a heat pump delivering the same warmth — and find the electricity price where a heat pump stops winning.
Current heating
Heat pump
Your heating comparison
Cumulative net savings (15 years, 2%/yr price rise)
| Heat your home needs | — |
| Heat pump electricity | — |
| Emissions cut | — |
| — | |
Energy content: gas 29.3 kWh/therm, oil 40.6 kWh/gal, propane 26.8 kWh/gal. Emissions: gas 5.3 kg/therm, oil 10.2 kg/gal, propane 5.7 kg/gal, grid 0.37 kg/kWh. Estimates only.
How the heat pump comparison works
A furnace burns fuel to make heat; a heat pump moves heat from outdoor air (or the ground) into your home. Because moving heat takes less energy than making it, a heat pump delivers several units of heat for each unit of electricity — its coefficient of performance (COP).
The calculator first works out how much useful heat your home actually uses: fuel burned × the fuel's energy content × your current system's efficiency. It then asks how much electricity a heat pump needs to deliver that same heat at your climate's seasonal COP, and prices it at your electricity rate.
Worked example
700 therms of gas × 29.3 kWh × 85% efficiency ≈ 17,430 kWh of useful heat. A heat pump with a seasonal COP of 3.0 needs 17,430 ÷ 3.0 ≈ 5,810 kWh. At $0.17/kWh that's about $988 a year, versus 700 × $1.40 = $980 for gas — roughly a tie. Swap in heating oil at $3.80/gal, though, and the heat pump typically saves well over $1,000 a year.
The break-even electricity price
The single most useful number here. It's the electricity price at which a heat pump costs the same to run as your current system. If your rate (or your off-peak or solar-backed rate) is below it, the heat pump wins on running cost. Many utilities offer lower winter or heat-pump tariffs — check yours.
Picking a realistic COP
Cold-climate models keep working well below freezing, but efficiency drops as it gets colder. Seasonal averages of about 2.3–3.5 are typical, depending on climate, equipment and installation quality. Good sizing and duct design matter as much as the brand. See our heat pump guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas?
It depends on your gas and electricity prices and your climate. Use the break-even electricity price above: below it, the heat pump is cheaper to run.
Do heat pumps work in very cold weather?
Modern cold-climate heat pumps are designed to keep heating well below freezing, though efficiency falls as temperatures drop. Many homes in cold regions run on them year-round, sometimes with backup heat for the coldest days.
Where do I find my annual fuel use?
Your utility or fuel supplier statement usually lists annual usage. Subtract summer months (water heating and cooking only) to estimate the heating share.
What does AFUE mean?
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency — the share of fuel energy a furnace or boiler turns into heat for your home over a season. Older units are often 60–80%; modern condensing units 90–98%.