Home Heating Cost Calculator
Pick your state, home size and fuel to estimate this winter's heating bill and compare it with the other ways to heat the same home.
Heating oil in Connecticut, winter (Oct–Mar)
$2,675 per winter
About $446 per month · 439 gallons
Cheapest here: Cold-climate heat pump at $1,356, about $1,319 less than heating oil.
Cost by fuel
| Cold-climate heat pump | $1,356 | 4,809 kWh · $0.282/kWh · seasonal COP 3.1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $1,421 | 631 therms · $2.25/therm · AFUE 0.8 | |
| Heating oil (selected) | $2,675 | 439 gallons · $6.094/gal · AFUE 0.83 | |
| Propane | $2,920 | 690 gallons · $4.233/gal · AFUE 0.8 | |
| Electric baseboard | $4,171 | 14,791 kWh · $0.282/kWh · 100% |
Monthly cost (Heating oil)
- Oct$204
- Nov$359
- Dec$519
- Jan$609
- Feb$526
- Mar$458
Assumptions
- Home: 2,000 sq ft, average insulation.
- Weather: 5,047 heating degree days for Connecticut (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, winter (Oct–Mar)).
- Useful heat needed: 50 million BTU.
- Heating oil: $6.094/gal (EIA Connecticut average, week of Oct 12, 2026).
- Propane: $4.233/gal (EIA Connecticut average, week of Oct 12, 2026).
- Natural gas: $2.25/therm (EIA Connecticut, latest month (May 2026)).
- Electricity: $0.282/kWh (EIA Connecticut 12-month average to Jul 2026).
Estimates only, based on average prices and typical weather. Your actual cost depends on your home, equipment, usage and local supplier. Not financial or engineering advice.
How this calculator works
We estimate the heat your home needs as square feet × a heat-loss factor for your insulation × the heating degree days in your state (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). We divide by the energy in the fuel and your equipment's efficiency, then multiply by the price. Heat pumps are calculated temperature by temperature, because their efficiency drops as it gets colder. Read the full methodology.
Typical heating costs by state
Estimated winter (Oct–Mar) cost for a 2,000 sq ft home with average insulation. Heat pump is a cold-climate unit. Click a heading to sort.
| Alabama | $1,306 | $1,181 | $625 | $1,181 | $326 |
| Arizona | $969 | $654 | $482 | $823 | $213 |
| Arkansas | $1,651 | $1,005 | $1,009 | $1,220 | $352 |
| California | $1,113 | $751 | $552 | $2,024 | $519 |
| Colorado | $2,957 | $1,712 | $868 | $2,686 | $897 |
| Connecticut | $2,675 | $2,920 | $1,421 | $4,171 | $1,356 |
| Delaware | $2,180 | $2,025 | $1,130 | $2,092 | $634 |
| District of Columbia | $2,179 | $1,969 | $1,042 | $2,854 | $868 |
| Florida | $286 | $367 | $158 | $250 | $62 |
| Georgia | $1,315 | $1,091 | $866 | $1,126 | $310 |
| Idaho | $2,919 | $1,962 | $631 | $2,030 | $664 |
| Illinois | $2,724 | $1,389 | $986 | $2,969 | $1,020 |
| Indiana | $2,584 | $1,679 | $966 | $2,468 | $818 |
| Iowa | $2,950 | $1,362 | $1,104 | $2,465 | $900 |
| Kansas | $2,234 | $1,207 | $1,023 | $1,938 | $617 |
| Kentucky | $2,012 | $1,506 | $1,135 | $1,619 | $497 |
| Louisiana | $858 | $645 | $488 | $615 | $162 |
| Maine | $3,346 | $3,115 | $2,110 | $5,531 | $2,024 |
| Maryland | $2,186 | $2,124 | $942 | $2,630 | $800 |
| Massachusetts | $2,769 | $2,490 | $1,720 | $4,636 | $1,524 |
| Michigan | $2,889 | $1,855 | $958 | $3,492 | $1,203 |
| Minnesota | $3,581 | $1,918 | $1,099 | $3,399 | $1,373 |
| Mississippi | $1,199 | $941 | $626 | $983 | $269 |
| Missouri | $2,296 | $1,309 | $1,224 | $1,832 | $590 |
| Montana | $3,290 | $1,803 | $769 | $2,516 | $889 |
| Nebraska | $2,609 | $1,287 | $1,105 | $2,072 | $720 |
| Nevada | $1,659 | $1,120 | $471 | $1,234 | $343 |
| New Hampshire | $3,201 | $3,181 | $1,640 | $4,787 | $1,692 |
| New Jersey | $2,485 | $2,466 | $877 | $3,130 | $979 |
| New Mexico | $2,045 | $1,539 | $537 | $1,711 | $499 |
| New York | $2,849 | $2,603 | $1,388 | $4,298 | $1,418 |
| North Carolina | $1,555 | $1,493 | $929 | $1,332 | $378 |
| North Dakota | $3,880 | $1,712 | $1,349 | $2,793 | $1,180 |
| Ohio | $2,607 | $1,775 | $1,273 | $2,663 | $877 |
| Oklahoma | $1,679 | $1,045 | $1,009 | $1,314 | $387 |
| Oregon | $2,113 | $1,427 | $913 | $1,807 | $517 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,559 | $2,135 | $1,176 | $2,975 | $957 |
| Rhode Island | $2,668 | $2,721 | $1,294 | $4,191 | $1,347 |
| South Carolina | $1,280 | $1,224 | $681 | $1,143 | $313 |
| South Dakota | $3,250 | $1,588 | $973 | $2,664 | $993 |
| Tennessee | $1,772 | $1,530 | $695 | $1,390 | $410 |
| Texas | $936 | $743 | $574 | $822 | $217 |
| Utah | $2,819 | $1,655 | $721 | $2,059 | $673 |
| Vermont | $3,313 | $3,185 | $1,708 | $4,420 | $1,611 |
| Virginia | $2,000 | $1,949 | $1,007 | $1,863 | $557 |
| Washington | $2,250 | $1,520 | $1,018 | $1,749 | $509 |
| West Virginia | $2,329 | $2,226 | $1,067 | $2,072 | $654 |
| Wisconsin | $3,114 | $1,626 | $1,021 | $3,463 | $1,280 |
| Wyoming | $3,319 | $1,940 | $1,285 | $2,578 | $910 |
Where a state has no EIA price for a fuel we use the regional or U.S. average. Linked amounts go to that state's EIA price page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to heat a house for a winter?
It depends on your state, home size, insulation and fuel. The table below shows our estimate for a 2,000 sq ft home with average insulation in every state; use the calculator for your own numbers.
Which fuel is cheapest for heating?
It varies by state and by the prices that week. The calculator compares heating oil, propane, natural gas, electric baseboard and a cold-climate heat pump for the same home and weather.
Where do the fuel prices come from?
Heating oil and propane use the latest EIA weekly residential price for your state, falling back to the regional or U.S. average where EIA has no state price. Natural gas and electricity use EIA 12-month average residential prices.
Can I use my own fuel price?
Yes. Open "Use my own numbers" and enter the price you pay. You can also enter last winter's usage to calibrate the estimate to your home.