Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Washington?
West · Mixed (e.g. Mid-Atlantic, Pacific NW, lower Midwest) · EIA residential fuel prices
For a reference 2,000 sq ft home in Washington (assumed seasonal COP 2.8, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $543/year to run versus about $594/year for natural gas — so a heat pump is cheaper to run than a gas furnace by about $51/yr. It is cheaper than propane ($1,253/yr), cheaper than heating oil ($1,577/yr), and far cheaper than electric resistance ($1,519/yr). The cheapest option here is heat pump. These are estimates — verify with an HVAC pro.
Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential). Data as of June 2026.
Washington residential fuel prices
| Fuel | Residential price | Source / period |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (residential) | 14.40¢/kWh | EIA, March 2026 |
| Natural gas (residential) | $1.567/therm (US avg) | EIA, March 2026 |
| Heating oil (residential) | $5.156/gal | EIA, West Coast (PADD 5) |
| Propane (residential) | $2.929/gal | EIA, West Coast (PADD 5) |
Source: EIA (electricity, natural gas, heating oil & propane). Data as of June 2026.
EIA did not publish a March 2026 residential natural-gas price for Washington; the U.S. average of $16.25/Mcf is used and flagged. Heating oil and propane are EIA residential prices for West Coast (PADD 5) (Week ending 2026-03-30) — EIA does not publish these per individual state.
Annual heating cost in Washington — every system compared
Reference: a 2,000 sq ft home in a mixed (e.g. mid-atlantic, pacific nw, lower midwest), roughly 36 MMBTU/year of useful heat. Energy cost only (no equipment, install or maintenance):
| Heating system | Annual energy cost | Annual use |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump | $543/yr | 3,768 kWh |
| Natural gas furnace (95% AFUE) | $594/yr | 379 therms |
| Propane furnace (92% AFUE) | $1,253/yr | 428 gal |
| Electric resistance (baseboard, COP 1.0) | $1,519/yr | 10,551 kWh |
| Heating oil (85% AFUE) | $1,577/yr | 306 gal |
Source: EIA fuel prices + ENERGY STAR energy conversions. Data as of June 2026.
Cheapest to run in this reference case: Heat pump. Run your own home size, COP and prices.
Heat pump vs each fuel in Washington
| Comparison | Heat pump | Other system | Heat-pump result |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs natural gas (95% AFUE) | $543 | $594 | Saves $51/yr |
| vs propane (92% AFUE) | $543 | $1,253 | Saves $710/yr |
| vs heating oil (85% AFUE) | $543 | $1,577 | Saves $1,034/yr |
| vs electric resistance (COP 1.0) | $543 | $1,519 | Saves $977/yr |
How Washington compares with similar states
The five states with the closest electricity price to Washington, and how heat-pump-vs-gas savings look there:
| State | Electricity ¢/kWh | Heat-pump vs gas (ref. home) |
|---|---|---|
| Washington (this state) | 14.40¢ | Saves $51/yr |
| South Dakota | 14.29¢ | $338/yr more |
| Nevada | 14.17¢ | $45/yr more |
| Louisiana | 14.16¢ | Saves $56/yr |
| New Mexico | 14.81¢ | $24/yr more |
| Florida | 14.86¢ | Saves $46/yr |
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas in Washington?
Yes, in this reference case. For a 2,000 sq ft home in Washington (assumed seasonal COP 2.8, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $543/year vs about $594/year for gas - a saving of roughly $51/year. Your result depends on your home, equipment and the actual winter.
What does it cost to heat a home in Washington?
Using EIA March 2026 prices and a 2,000 sq ft home in a mixed (e.g. mid-atlantic, pacific nw, lower midwest) (about 36 MMBTU/yr), estimated annual energy cost is about: heat pump $543, natural gas $594, propane $1,253, heating oil $1,577, electric resistance $1,519. The cheapest here is heat pump.
Is a heat pump cheaper than propane or heating oil in Washington?
In this reference case, vs propane a heat pump saves about $710/year, and vs heating oil it saves about $1,034/year. Heat pumps usually beat both delivered fuels comfortably because they deliver far more heat per unit of energy.
How does Washington rank for heat-pump savings?
On heat-pump savings vs a gas furnace (reference 2,000 sq ft home), Washington ranks #12 of 51 states (1 = saves the most). This reflects Washington's mix of 14.40¢/kWh electricity and US-average gas.
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Sources & accuracy
Electricity: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential) (March 2026); natural gas: EIA residential price (March 2026); heating oil & propane: EIA Heating Oil and Propane Update (West Coast (PADD 5), Week ending 2026-03-30); energy constants: ENERGY STAR Thermal Energy Conversions. All U.S. public domain. These are statewide/regional averages and the comparison is an estimate, not a quote or engineering analysis. Actual savings depend on your home, climate, equipment and rates. Verify with an HVAC professional. See methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-29