Heating costs in Washington
The cheapest way to heat a home in Washington at today's average prices is heat pump ($16.30 per million BTU of heat), then natural gas ($17.93). A heat pump costs 9.1% less to run than a gas furnace.
Natural gas $16.73/Mcf winter 2025–26 avg. · Jul 2026: $25.72
Electricity 14.6¢/kWh August 2026 · +7.2% y/y
Cheapest way to heat a home in Washington cost of the same amount of heat
Heat source Price used Per million BTU of heat Per winter
Heat pump cheapest 13.9¢/kWh ÷ COP 2.5
$16.30 $815 Natural gas $16.73/Mcf · winter 2025–26 avg.
$17.93 $896 Electric resistance 13.9¢/kWh · winter 2025–26 avg.
$40.74 $2,037
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.
Natural gas price in Washington $10 $14 $18 $22 $26 2024 2025 2026 July 2023: $22.67 per thousand cubic feet August 2023: $22.20 per thousand cubic feet September 2023: $19.02 per thousand cubic feet October 2023: $16.87 per thousand cubic feet November 2023: $15.22 per thousand cubic feet December 2023: $15.50 per thousand cubic feet January 2024: $11.57 per thousand cubic feet February 2024: $11.75 per thousand cubic feet March 2024: $11.91 per thousand cubic feet April 2024: $12.29 per thousand cubic feet May 2024: $13.79 per thousand cubic feet June 2024: $17.70 per thousand cubic feet July 2024: $17.09 per thousand cubic feet August 2024: $19.41 per thousand cubic feet September 2024: $16.78 per thousand cubic feet October 2024: $13.12 per thousand cubic feet November 2024: $12.41 per thousand cubic feet December 2024: $11.89 per thousand cubic feet January 2025: $15.71 per thousand cubic feet February 2025: $16.82 per thousand cubic feet March 2025: $17.55 per thousand cubic feet April 2025: $18.43 per thousand cubic feet May 2025: $19.80 per thousand cubic feet June 2025: $22.11 per thousand cubic feet July 2025: $25.71 per thousand cubic feet August 2025: $25.05 per thousand cubic feet September 2025: $23.40 per thousand cubic feet October 2025: $18.72 per thousand cubic feet November 2025: $16.72 per thousand cubic feet December 2025: $15.51 per thousand cubic feet January 2026: $17.38 per thousand cubic feet February 2026: $17.32 per thousand cubic feet April 2026: $18.70 per thousand cubic feet May 2026: $20.41 per thousand cubic feet June 2026: $21.34 per thousand cubic feet July 2026: $25.72 per thousand cubic feet $10 $14 $18 $22 $26 2024 2025 2026 July 2023: $22.67 per thousand cubic feet August 2023: $22.20 per thousand cubic feet September 2023: $19.02 per thousand cubic feet October 2023: $16.87 per thousand cubic feet November 2023: $15.22 per thousand cubic feet December 2023: $15.50 per thousand cubic feet January 2024: $11.57 per thousand cubic feet February 2024: $11.75 per thousand cubic feet March 2024: $11.91 per thousand cubic feet April 2024: $12.29 per thousand cubic feet May 2024: $13.79 per thousand cubic feet June 2024: $17.70 per thousand cubic feet July 2024: $17.09 per thousand cubic feet August 2024: $19.41 per thousand cubic feet September 2024: $16.78 per thousand cubic feet October 2024: $13.12 per thousand cubic feet November 2024: $12.41 per thousand cubic feet December 2024: $11.89 per thousand cubic feet January 2025: $15.71 per thousand cubic feet February 2025: $16.82 per thousand cubic feet March 2025: $17.55 per thousand cubic feet April 2025: $18.43 per thousand cubic feet May 2025: $19.80 per thousand cubic feet June 2025: $22.11 per thousand cubic feet July 2025: $25.71 per thousand cubic feet August 2025: $25.05 per thousand cubic feet September 2025: $23.40 per thousand cubic feet October 2025: $18.72 per thousand cubic feet November 2025: $16.72 per thousand cubic feet December 2025: $15.51 per thousand cubic feet January 2026: $17.38 per thousand cubic feet February 2026: $17.32 per thousand cubic feet April 2026: $18.70 per thousand cubic feet May 2026: $20.41 per thousand cubic feet June 2026: $21.34 per thousand cubic feet July 2026: $25.72 per thousand cubic feet Monthly · summer prices per Mcf run higher because fixed charges are spread over less gas Average price paid by homes, including delivery charges. Source: EIA Natural Gas Monthly.
Questions Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Washington? Yes, at average prices: a heat pump (seasonal COP 2.5) delivers heat for $16.30 per million BTU, 9.1% less than a 90% gas furnace at $17.93.
What is the cheapest way to heat a home in Washington? At current average prices: heat pump $16.30, natural gas $17.93, electric resistance $40.74 per million BTU of delivered heat (cheapest first).