Heating with heat pump
Updated August 2026 · EIA national average residential electricity rate (16.9¢/kWh) — your state's rate is on our state pages
Quick answer: heat pump delivers heat at $16.51 per million BTU (season-average COP ≈ 3.0 for a modern cold-climate air-source unit (2.0–4.0 depending on climate)) — #1 cheapest of 7 common options. A 2,000 sq ft home in a cold climate runs about $1,486/season.
Moves heat instead of making it, so one kWh delivers ~3 kWh of warmth. In most states it beats resistance heating 3-to-1 and competes with gas.
Pros
- • 3× the heat per kWh of electric resistance
- • Also your air conditioner in summer
- • Often the cheapest option in mild and moderate climates
Cons
- • Output and efficiency drop in extreme cold (backup heat kicks in)
- • Higher upfront cost than a furnace
Season cost by home size & climate
| Home size | Mild | Moderate | Cold | Very cold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $248 | $495 | $743 | $991 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $371 | $743 | $1,114 | $1,486 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $495 | $991 | $1,486 | $1,981 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $619 | $1,238 | $1,857 | $2,477 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $743 | $1,486 | $2,229 | $2,972 |
Compare against everything else
Estimated heating load: 81 million BTU/season — a rough figure; insulation and thermostat habits move it a lot.
Season cost by fuel (edit any price — it's your local number that matters)
≈ 7,913 kWhs · season-average COP ≈ 3.0 for a modern cold-climate air-source unit (2.0–4.0 depending on climate)
≈ 900 therms · 90% AFUE furnace (standard 80%, condensing up to 97%)
≈ 6.1 tons · 80% efficient pellet stove (75–85% typical)
≈ 5.3 cords · 70% efficient modern EPA wood stove (open fireplaces can be 10% or worse)
≈ 688 gallons · 85% AFUE oil furnace/boiler (older units 80%, new 87%+)
≈ 984 gallons · 90% AFUE propane furnace (condensing up to 97%)
≈ 23,740 kWhs · baseboards, electric furnace or space heaters — 100% efficient at the unit, but every BTU is made from scratch
Estimates: national-average prices (sources on each fuel page) and typical system efficiencies. Your utility bill has your real per-unit price — plug it in above for a number you can act on.
FAQ
How much does it cost to heat a home with heat pump?+
At the current average price ($0.17/kWh) and a typical system (season-average COP ≈ 3.0 for a modern cold-climate air-source unit (2.0–4.0 depending on climate)), heat pump delivers heat at $16.51 per million BTU — roughly $1,486 per season for a 2,000 sq ft home in a cold climate, less in milder ones.
Is heat pump cheap compared to other heating fuels?+
It ranks #1 of 7 common heating options by cost per delivered BTU at national-average prices. Moves heat instead of making it, so one kWh delivers ~3 kWh of warmth. In most states it beats resistance heating 3-to-1 and competes with gas.
What are the downsides of heating with heat pump?+
Output and efficiency drop in extreme cold (backup heat kicks in). Higher upfront cost than a furnace.
Curious what a single space heater costs? See the space heater running cost breakdown for all 51 states.