Heating cost comparison
This heating cost comparison shows what the same heat costs per year with gas, oil, pellets, a heat pump or electric heating: enter the heat demand, adjust prices and efficiencies and read off the cheapest option.
Source: Wikipedia – Jahresarbeitszahl (Wärmepumpe: Nutzwärme ÷ eingesetzter Strom). Updated: .
How it is calculated
At 15,000 kWh of heat demand, a heat pump with a seasonal COP of 3.5 and 0.28 per kWh of electricity costs about 1,350 a year, pellets about 1,535, gas about 1,887 and electric heating about 5,250. The calculator works it out with your prices.
How it is calculated
- Energy used: heat demand divided by efficiency. A 95 % gas boiler needs 15,789 kWh of gas for 15,000 kWh of heat.
- Heat pump: heat demand divided by the seasonal COP, so 4,286 kWh of electricity at 3.5.
- Cost: energy used times price per kWh plus fixed costs for servicing and standing charges.
What you should adjust
The price per kWh depends on your tariff: convert oil and pellets from litres or tonnes to kWh (about 10 kWh per litre of heating oil, 4.8 kWh per kg of pellets). Heat pumps often have their own cheaper electricity tariff. The seasonal COP varies a lot with insulation, flow temperature and installation.
What is not included
Purchase cost, grants, carbon prices and service contracts in detail. To compare the investment, use a payback calculator as well.
Related: heating and cooling power for rooms, firewood and appliance power costs.
Frequently asked questions
Which heating is cheapest?
It depends on your prices. With the example values the heat pump comes first, pellets and gas follow and electric heating is the most expensive. Enter your own tariffs.
How do I calculate heating costs?
Divide the heat demand by the efficiency, multiply by the price per kWh and add the fixed costs. For a heat pump divide by the seasonal COP.
What is the seasonal COP?
It tells how many kWh of heat a heat pump delivers per kWh of electricity over a year. At 3.5, 1 kWh of electricity gives 3.5 kWh of heat.
How much heat does my home need?
It is often on the energy certificate or can be derived from past use: gas in kWh times the boiler efficiency.
Are the prices in the calculator current?
No, they are example values. Energy prices change constantly; enter your current prices from your contract or quote.
Sources and legal basis
- Wikipedia – Jahresarbeitszahl (Wärmepumpe: Nutzwärme ÷ eingesetzter Strom)
- Wikipedia – Nutzungsgrad (Jahresnutzungsgrad von Heizkesseln)
- Wikipedia – Coefficient of performance (Heat pump efficiency)
As of: · Editorial policy
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