Home heating costs by state
U.S. average this week (Oct 26, 2026): heating oil $6.23/gal (+73.3% y/y), propane $2.73/gal (+12.2% y/y). Natural gas averaged $14.85/Mcf last winter and electricity 17.7¢/kWh.
Cheapest way to heat a home in the U.S.
cost of the same amount of heat| Heat source | Price used | Per million BTU of heat | Per winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas cheapest | $14.85/Mcf · winter 2025–26 avg. | $15.91 | $795 |
| Heat pump | 17.7¢/kWh ÷ COP 2.5 | $20.77 | $1,038 |
| Propane | $2.73/gal · Oct 26, 2026 | $33.15 | $1,658 |
| Electric resistance | 17.7¢/kWh · winter 2025–26 avg. | $51.92 | $2,596 |
| Heating oil | $6.23/gal · Oct 26, 2026 | $52.95 | $2,647 |
How we compare: fuel price ÷ (energy content × efficiency). Assumptions — heating oil 138,500 BTU/gal at 85%, propane 91,500 BTU/gal at 90%, natural gas 1,037,000 BTU per Mcf at 90%, electric resistance 100%, heat pump seasonal COP 2.5 (lower in very cold weather). Gas and electricity use last winter's average price; oil and propane the latest weekly survey. Delivery fees, tank rental and fixed charges vary and are not included.
Heat pump or gas? State by state
running cost this winterA heat pump is clearly cheaper to run in 7 states, about the same in 9, and gas (or oil/propane) is cheaper in 34.
Each state compares the running cost of a heat pump (seasonal COP 2.5) with a 90% gas furnace, at the state's average winter prices. The label is the heat pump's cost difference: −35% means it is 35% cheaper to run than gas. States without gas data are compared with the cheaper of heating oil and propane. Equipment and installation costs are not included.
All states
| Alabama | — | $3.63 | $17.32 | 16.3¢ | Natural gas $18.56 |
| Alaska | — | — | $13.02 | 26.0¢ | Natural gas $13.95 |
| Arizona | — | — | $18.49 | 15.7¢ | Heat pump $18.38 |
| Arkansas | — | $2.48 | $21.60 | 12.9¢ | Heat pump $15.08 |
| California | — | — | $22.42 | 31.8¢ | Natural gas $24.02 |
| Colorado | — | $2.37 | $10.91 | 16.4¢ | Natural gas $11.69 |
| Connecticut | $6.15 | $4.32 | $17.49 | 28.3¢ | Natural gas $18.74 |
| Delaware | $6.43 | $3.81 | $17.07 | 17.3¢ | Natural gas $18.29 |
| District of Columbia | — | — | $16.33 | 23.9¢ | Natural gas $17.49 |
| Florida | — | $4.97 | $23.27 | 15.6¢ | Heat pump $18.27 |
| Georgia | — | $3.28 | $16.83 | 14.3¢ | Heat pump $16.80 |
| Hawaii | — | — | $55.95 | 41.4¢ | Heat pump $48.50 |
| Idaho | — | $2.69 | $7.14 | 12.4¢ | Natural gas $7.65 |
| Illinois | — | $1.95 | $10.64 | 17.7¢ | Natural gas $11.40 |
| Indiana | $6.50 | $2.62 | $11.05 | 16.6¢ | Natural gas $11.84 |
| Iowa | $5.89 | $1.75 | $10.20 | 13.0¢ | Natural gas $10.93 |
| Kansas | — | $2.10 | $13.89 | 14.8¢ | Natural gas $14.89 |
| Kentucky | $5.87 | $2.84 | $14.57 | 13.9¢ | Natural gas $15.61 |
| Louisiana | — | — | $18.77 | 12.9¢ | Heat pump $15.18 |
| Maine | $6.04 | $3.68 | $18.06 | 29.9¢ | Natural gas $19.35 |
| Maryland | $6.42 | $3.86 | $16.64 | 20.8¢ | Natural gas $17.82 |
| Massachusetts | $6.25 | $3.72 | $25.47 | 30.8¢ | Natural gas $27.29 |
| Michigan | $6.19 | $2.46 | $10.67 | 20.0¢ | Natural gas $11.44 |
| Minnesota | $5.95 | $2.05 | $10.77 | 15.3¢ | Natural gas $11.54 |
| Mississippi | — | $3.15 | $15.66 | 14.9¢ | Natural gas $16.78 |
| Missouri | — | $2.23 | $15.12 | 12.4¢ | Heat pump $14.57 |
| Montana | — | $2.18 | $8.78 | 13.0¢ | Natural gas $9.41 |
| Nebraska | $5.72 | $1.82 | $11.41 | 11.9¢ | Natural gas $12.23 |
| Nevada | — | — | $10.11 | 14.1¢ | Natural gas $10.83 |
| New Hampshire | $6.07 | $3.90 | $19.30 | 26.7¢ | Natural gas $20.68 |
| New Jersey | $6.38 | $4.10 | $14.28 | 23.1¢ | Natural gas $15.30 |
| New Mexico | — | — | $10.52 | 14.9¢ | Natural gas $11.27 |
| New York | $6.44 | $3.79 | $17.07 | 28.1¢ | Natural gas $18.29 |
| North Carolina | $5.84 | $3.64 | $18.44 | 14.5¢ | Heat pump $16.97 |
| North Dakota | — | $1.75 | $8.80 | 11.5¢ | Natural gas $9.43 |
| Ohio | $6.41 | $2.70 | $12.43 | 17.8¢ | Natural gas $13.32 |
| Oklahoma | — | $2.38 | $14.26 | 13.0¢ | Heat pump $15.20 |
| Oregon | — | — | $16.57 | 15.0¢ | Heat pump $17.55 |
| Pennsylvania | $6.05 | $3.21 | $14.92 | 20.3¢ | Natural gas $15.98 |
| Rhode Island | $6.40 | $4.12 | $22.24 | 30.3¢ | Natural gas $23.83 |
| South Carolina | — | — | $16.94 | 15.7¢ | Natural gas $18.15 |
| South Dakota | — | $1.95 | $9.79 | 13.4¢ | Natural gas $10.49 |
| Tennessee | — | $3.28 | $12.88 | 13.5¢ | Natural gas $13.80 |
| Texas | — | $3.18 | $20.97 | 15.8¢ | Heat pump $18.58 |
| Utah | — | $2.46 | $10.84 | 13.1¢ | Natural gas $11.62 |
| Vermont | $6.09 | $3.93 | $16.84 | 23.6¢ | Natural gas $18.04 |
| Virginia | $6.04 | $3.79 | $15.25 | 16.0¢ | Natural gas $16.34 |
| Washington | — | — | $16.73 | 13.9¢ | Heat pump $16.30 |
| West Virginia | — | — | — | 15.2¢ | Heat pump $17.77 |
| Wisconsin | $6.14 | $2.01 | $11.45 | 18.3¢ | Natural gas $12.27 |
| Wyoming | — | — | $10.96 | 13.2¢ | Natural gas $11.74 |
The EIA surveys heating oil in 22 states and propane in 38; “—” means the state is not in the survey. Weekly data October–March, published Wednesdays.
Questions
How much is heating oil right now?
The U.S. residential average was $6.23 per gallon on Oct 26, 2026 (+73.3% vs. a year earlier) in the EIA weekly survey.
How much is propane right now?
The U.S. residential average was $2.73 per gallon on Oct 26, 2026 (+12.2% vs. a year earlier).
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace?
At U.S. average prices a heat pump with a seasonal COP of 2.5 delivers heat for $20.77 per million BTU against $15.91 for a 90% gas furnace, $33.15 for propane and $52.95 for heating oil. It varies a lot by state — see the map.