Heating Cost Calculator

The same winter of heat, priced three ways: heating oil, propane and an electric heat pump.

Area for fuel prices

Heating oil, $ per gallonPropane, $ per gallon

EIA averages for the U.S.: heating oil Oct 19, 2026, propane Oct 19, 2026. Taxes excluded. Edit them to match a quote.

Your electricity rate, $ per kWh0.18 is only a starting value, not a measured average. Enter the rate from your electric bill, delivery charges included.

How much heat does your home use? I know my fuel use Estimate from home size

Fuel you use nowGallons per winter

Efficiency assumptions

Oil furnace or boiler, %Propane furnace or boiler, %Heat pump, seasonal COP

Heat content used: heating oil 138,500 Btu per gallon, propane 91,452 Btu per gallon, electricity 3,412 Btu per kWh. If you enter fuel use, the efficiency of that fuel’s system is also used to work out the heat your home needed.

Estimated cost for one winter
System	Uses	Cost
Heating oil	800 gal	$4,952.00
Propane	1,144 gal	$3,076.90
Heat pump	11,041 kWh	$1,987.39

How the estimate works

First the calculator works out how much heat your home needed: from the fuel you burned and how efficient your system is, or from your floor area and the heat-per-square-foot figure you set. Then it prices that same heat three ways. Fuel prices are the latest EIA weekly averages for the area you pick, before taxes; the electricity rate is yours to enter.

It leaves out equipment and installation costs, service plans, backup heat a heat pump may need in very cold weather, and tank rental. Treat the result as a comparison of running costs, not a quote.