Heating Fuel Comparison
Natural gas, propane, heating oil, electric resistance and a heat pump, side by side in the units on your bill. Energy only: multiply each row by your own rate to compare.
A real person answers. Free estimate, no obligation.
Data: EIA fuel heat contents (therm, propane, No. 2 heating oil, kWh); DOE AFUE and heat pump efficiency guidance; Daymet (NASA/ORNL) January lows 2015 to 2024 · Updated September 2026
How the fuels are compared
Start with the heat the house needs
Every fuel delivers the same thing: BTU into the house. This tool estimates the annual heating load from floor area, insulation and your climate’s heating degree days, then asks how many units of each fuel it takes to deliver it at a typical efficiency.
Efficiency is the conversion
A condensing gas or propane furnace turns about 95% of the fuel into heat, an oil system about 85%, electric resistance 100%. A heat pump moves heat instead of making it, so it delivers 2 to 3 units of heat per unit of electricity over a season, less in the coldest climates.
Then your own bill does the rest
Utilities and delivery companies bill in therms, gallons and kWh. Multiply each row by the rate on your own bill and the fuels line up. Rates change by season and by region, which is why this tool stays in energy units.
Common questions
An average-insulation 2,000 sq ft home in a cold-winter climate runs about 650 to 800 therms a season, depending on the furnace efficiency. A mild climate needs a third of that; a drafty home needs half again more.
Roughly 500 to 700 gallons for an average 2,000 sq ft home in New England, more in a drafty older house. Oil carries 138,500 BTU per gallon, so each gallon delivers about 118,000 BTU through an 85% AFUE system.
In energy terms, yes: a heat pump delivers two to three units of heat per unit of electricity, while a furnace delivers less than one unit per unit of gas. Whether that wins on your bill depends on your local gas and electric rates, which is why this tool leaves that multiplication to you.
A measure of how much heating a climate needs. Each day’s degree days are the gap between 65°F and the day’s average temperature. Boston sees about 5,500 a year, Atlanta about 2,800, Minneapolis about 8,000.
Multiply the gas or propane row by 1.19 (95 divided by 80). An older oil system at 78% AFUE runs about 9% more gallons than the 85% figure shown.
Get an exact answer from a local pro
Free to call — get connected with a local pro in your area.
Keep going
disclaimer: 781 Heating is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service providers. All contractors/providers are independent and 781 Heating does not warrant or guarantee any work performed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to verify that the hired contractor furnishes the necessary license and insurance required for the work being performed. All persons depicted in a photo or video are actors or models and not contractors listed on 781 Heating.
Same-day and 24/7 emergency services are subject to provider participation, location, technician availability, and demand. Availability is not guaranteed and may vary by market and appointment capacity.
We use cookies and session-based analytics, including session replays (with form inputs masked), to improve this site. See our Privacy Policy.
About · Contact · Privacy · Terms · Disclosure · Sitemap
© 2026 781 Heating. All rights reserved.