Yearly cost to heat 1,800 sq ft, by fuel
A moderate climate and average insulation, so the house needs about 54.0 million BTU of heat a year. The prices are examples, the calculator's starting values, not a quote for your area: electricity $0.17 a kWh, natural gas $1.45 a therm, propane $2.80 a gallon, heating oil $3.90 a gallon, firewood $300 a cord and pellets $350 a ton. Type your own prices into the calculator above and every figure updates.
| Heating | Example price | Cost a year | Per million BTU of heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas furnace | $1.45 a therm | $824 | $15.26 |
| Wood stove | $300 a cord | $964 | $17.86 |
| Heat pump | $0.17 a kWh | $1,076 | $19.93 |
| Pellet stove | $350 a ton | $1,441 | $26.68 |
| Propane furnace | $2.80 a gallon | $1,739 | $32.21 |
| Heating oil furnace | $3.90 a gallon | $1,789 | $33.13 |
| Electric baseboard or furnace | $0.17 a kWh | $2,691 | $49.82 |
The gas and propane furnaces are 95% efficient, the oil furnace 85%, the wood stove 70%, the pellet stove 80% and the heat pump delivers 2.5 units of heat for each unit of electricity (COP 2.5). Fuel only: equipment, installation and upkeep are not counted.
By climate
The same 1,800 sq ft house with average insulation, at the same example prices. Pick the row that matches your winters. The heat pump column keeps a COP of 2.5 in every row; in cold winters many average nearer 2.0, which puts the Cold row at about $2,018 and the Very cold row at about $2,691 instead. The wood and pellet columns assume one stove heats the whole house, which it seldom does in practice.
| Climate | Million BTU a year | Gas | Heat pump | Propane | Oil | Electric | Wood | Pellets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild (15 kBTU per sq ft) | 27.0 | $412 | $538 | $870 | $894 | $1,345 | $482 | $720 |
| Moderate (30 kBTU per sq ft) | 54.0 | $824 | $1,076 | $1,739 | $1,789 | $2,691 | $964 | $1,441 |
| Cold (45 kBTU per sq ft) | 81.0 | $1,236 | $1,614 | $2,609 | $2,683 | $4,036 | $1,446 | $2,161 |
| Very cold (60 kBTU per sq ft) | 108.0 | $1,648 | $2,152 | $3,479 | $3,578 | $5,381 | $1,929 | $2,881 |
By insulation
A moderate climate. A drafty house needs about a quarter more heat than an average one, and a tight one about a fifth less.
| Insulation | Million BTU a year | Gas | Heat pump | Propane | Oil | Electric | Wood | Pellets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Well insulated | 43.2 | $659 | $861 | $1,392 | $1,431 | $2,152 | $771 | $1,152 |
| Average | 54.0 | $824 | $1,076 | $1,739 | $1,789 | $2,691 | $964 | $1,441 |
| Poor or drafty | 67.5 | $1,030 | $1,345 | $2,174 | $2,236 | $3,363 | $1,205 | $1,801 |
What a change in price does
A house of 1,800 sq ft is the calculator's own starting point, so the form above opens on these numbers. Raise electricity by 5 cents to $0.22 a kWh and the heat pump goes from $1,076 to $1,393 a year, and electric baseboards from $2,691 to $3,482.
Raise gas by 50 cents to $1.95 a therm and the gas furnace goes from $824 to $1,108. This is why the order of the table can flip between two towns: always compare with the prices on your own bills.
These are planning estimates. The heat a house needs is a rule-of-thumb figure per square foot for the climate, so trust the comparison between fuels more than the exact dollars, and check last winter's bills if you have them.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Heating Cost Comparison Calculator: edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to heat a 1,800 square foot house?
In a moderate climate with average insulation, about $824 a year with natural gas at $1.45 a therm, $1,076 with a heat pump at $0.17 a kWh, $1,739 with propane at $2.80 a gallon and $2,691 with electric baseboards. These are example prices; use your own.
What is the average heating cost for an 1,800 sq ft house?
There is no single average, because it depends on the fuel. At the example prices in a moderate climate it runs from about $824 a year (natural gas furnace) to $2,691 (electric baseboards).
How much does it cost to heat 1,800 sq ft in a cold climate?
About $1,236 a year with gas, $1,614 with a heat pump and $2,609 with propane, at the same example prices.
Related sizes and guides
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.