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Free heating cost calculator

Is heating with a heat pump or air conditioner cheaper than gas?

Compare gas, electricity, wood and pellets by converting everything to the same value: the effective cost per usable kWh of heat.

Start calculating See how it works

Heating cost calculator

Start with electricity and gas. Add wood, pellets or COP details only when you need them.

Heat pump / air conditioner

Best for comparing AC or heat pump heating with gas.

Use the total price you actually pay per kWh.
Seasonal efficiency. Higher means cheaper heat.
Advanced: use outdoor temperature / estimated COP
Use this only for realistic heating-season temperatures. For seasonal comparison, SCOP is usually better.

Gas boiler

Compare your gas price and boiler efficiency.

Use your real gas price, including taxes and delivery costs if you want a realistic comparison.
A modern condensing boiler is often around 90–98%.
Advanced: gas energy content
Default for metric: 9.76 kWh per m³.

Wood / pellets

Optional. Useful for comparing firewood, logs or pellets.

Reset

One fair comparison

Gas, electricity and wood are all converted to the same unit: cost per usable kWh of heat.

Simple first, advanced when needed

Most visitors only need electricity price, gas price, SCOP and boiler efficiency. COP, defrost and wood details are still available.

Indicative, not advice

Real-world costs can vary because of home insulation, system settings, weather, energy contracts and heating habits.

FAQ

Quick answers for the most common heating cost questions.

Is heating with a heat pump or air conditioner cheaper than gas?

Often it can be, especially when the heat pump or air conditioner has a good SCOP and electricity is not too expensive compared with gas. The result depends on your own prices and efficiency values.

What does this calculator compare?

It converts electricity, gas and wood or pellets into the same value: the effective cost per usable kWh of heat.

Should I use SCOP or COP?

Use SCOP for a seasonal comparison. Use COP only when you want to estimate performance at a specific outdoor temperature during the heating season.

Why is outdoor temperature limited for COP?

COP is useful for heating conditions. Very warm outdoor temperatures, such as summer temperatures, do not make sense for a heating cost comparison.