Yearly cost to heat 3,000 sq ft, by fuel
A moderate climate and average insulation, so the house needs about 90.0 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 | $1,374 | $15.26 |
| Wood stove | $300 a cord | $1,607 | $17.86 |
| Heat pump | $0.17 a kWh | $1,794 | $19.93 |
| Pellet stove | $350 a ton | $2,401 | $26.68 |
| Propane furnace | $2.80 a gallon | $2,899 | $32.21 |
| Heating oil furnace | $3.90 a gallon | $2,982 | $33.13 |
| Electric baseboard or furnace | $0.17 a kWh | $4,484 | $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 3,000 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 $3,363 and the Very cold row at about $4,484 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) | 45.0 | $687 | $897 | $1,450 | $1,491 | $2,242 | $804 | $1,200 |
| Moderate (30 kBTU per sq ft) | 90.0 | $1,374 | $1,794 | $2,899 | $2,982 | $4,484 | $1,607 | $2,401 |
| Cold (45 kBTU per sq ft) | 135.0 | $2,061 | $2,691 | $4,349 | $4,472 | $6,726 | $2,411 | $3,601 |
| Very cold (60 kBTU per sq ft) | 180.0 | $2,747 | $3,587 | $5,798 | $5,963 | $8,968 | $3,214 | $4,802 |
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 | 72.0 | $1,099 | $1,435 | $2,319 | $2,385 | $3,587 | $1,286 | $1,921 |
| Average | 90.0 | $1,374 | $1,794 | $2,899 | $2,982 | $4,484 | $1,607 | $2,401 |
| Poor or drafty | 112.5 | $1,717 | $2,242 | $3,624 | $3,727 | $5,605 | $2,009 | $3,001 |
In a big house, insulation is worth real money
At 3,000 sq ft the gap between a tight house and a drafty one is large. On gas in a moderate climate it is $1,099 a year well insulated against $1,717 drafty; on propane, $2,319 against $3,624; on heating oil, $2,385 against $3,727.
In a cold climate every figure is half as much again, so the same work saves more. Air sealing and attic insulation come first because they cost the least for what they save: see the attic insulation calculator for the material.
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 3,000 square foot house?
In a moderate climate with average insulation, about $1,374 a year with natural gas at $1.45 a therm, $1,794 with a heat pump at $0.17 a kWh, $2,899 with propane at $2.80 a gallon and $4,484 with electric baseboards. These are example prices; use your own.
How much does it cost to heat a large house in a cold climate?
For 3,000 sq ft in a cold climate, about $2,061 a year with gas, $2,691 with a heat pump and $4,472 with heating oil, at the example prices.
How much does insulation save on heating 3,000 sq ft?
On gas in a moderate climate, a well-insulated house costs about $1,099 a year against $1,717 for a drafty one.
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.