Home heating cost calculator
Compare what it costs to heat your home with a heat pump, natural gas, heating oil, propane or electric baseboard. The numbers use your city's climate and current local energy prices for 59 cities in Canada and the US.
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1 GJ ≈ 26.4 m³ of natural gas ≈ 9.48 therms. US gas bills in therms: $/therm × 9.48 = $/GJ.
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How this calculator works
We estimate how much heat your home needs each month from your city's average temperatures, home size and insulation. Then we price that heat for each system using its efficiency. A heat pump's efficiency drops as it gets colder, so we model it day by day across each month's temperature range, with electric backup on the coldest days. Full methodology and sources.
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump cheaper than gas?
It depends on local prices. Where electricity is cheap relative to gas (Quebec, Manitoba, BC, the Pacific Northwest), heat pumps usually win. Where gas is very cheap (Alberta, Saskatchewan, parts of the US Midwest), a high-efficiency gas furnace is often cheaper to run.
Do heat pumps work in Canadian winters?
Modern cold-climate heat pumps keep producing heat down to about −25°C to −30°C, though less efficiently as it gets colder. Our model includes that drop-off and switches to electric backup heat below the unit's limit.
What is the most expensive way to heat a home?
In fall 2026, heating oil and electric baseboard heat are the most expensive options in nearly every city we model.