A heat pump's electricity use depends on how much heating and cooling your house needs and how efficiently the heat pump delivers it. Climate drives the first; the HSPF2 and SEER2 ratings drive the second. What you pay is that electricity use times your rate.
For a 2,000 sq ft home with average insulation, the calculator estimates about 12,375 kWh a year in a mixed climate, an average of about 1,031 kWh a month: 7,112 for heating and 5,263 for cooling. That ranges from about 9,989 kWh a year in a very hot climate to 23,075 in a very cold one.
At 18 cents per kWh that mixed-climate home costs about $2,228 a year to run, an average of $186 a month.
Heat Pump Running Cost Calculator
Yearly and monthly heating + cooling cost, on the shared heat-loss model.
Electricity use by climate zone
The default home, a heat pump rated 8.2 HSPF2 and 17.1 SEER2, with lower assumed seasonal efficiency in cold zones (6.5 and 5.0):
| Climate zone | Heating | Cooling | Total per year | Average per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very cold | 20,736 kWh | 2,339 kWh | 23,075 kWh | 1,923 kWh |
| Cold | 12,960 kWh | 3,509 kWh | 16,469 kWh | 1,372 kWh |
| Mixed | 7,112 kWh | 5,263 kWh | 12,375 kWh | 1,031 kWh |
| Hot | 3,951 kWh | 7,310 kWh | 11,261 kWh | 938 kWh |
| Very hot | 632 kWh | 9,357 kWh | 9,989 kWh | 832 kWh |
Monthly use isn't even: it peaks in the coldest and hottest months and falls in spring and fall.
How the numbers are worked out
- Heating kWh = the home's yearly heat loss ÷ (HSPF2 × 1,000). The heat loss comes from the same model as our furnace size calculator.
- Cooling kWh = the yearly cooling load ÷ (SEER2 × 1,000).
HSPF2 is rated for a moderate climate, which is why the calculator assumes lower seasonal efficiency in cold zones; a cold-climate model holds up better there. See heat pumps in cold weather.
What it costs to run
At 18 cents per kWh, the mixed-climate home's 12,375 kWh cost about $2,228 a year, an average of $186 a month.
Rates vary widely by state. The same mixed-climate home costs about $1,530 a year at North Dakota's 12.36 cents per kWh, about $2,251 at the U.S. average of 18.19 cents for January to July 2026, and about $5,727 at Hawaii's 46.28 cents, the lowest and highest state averages (EIA). Every state's rate is in our kWh cost calculator.
Against gas, propane and oil
Cost per million BTU of heat delivered:
| Heat source | Assumption | Cost per million BTU |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump, mixed zone | HSPF2 8.2, 18 cents per kWh | $21.95 |
| Heat pump, very cold zone | HSPF2 5.0 | $36.00 |
| Gas furnace, 95% | $1.35 per therm (assumed) | $14.21 |
| Propane furnace, 95% | Example: $3.00 per gallon | $34.53 |
| Oil furnace, 85% | Example: $4.00 per gallon | $33.98 |
At these prices a heat pump costs less to heat with than propane or oil, but more than natural gas. HSPF2 8.2 is a seasonal COP of about 2.4; at the U.S. average rate, it takes a COP of about 3.75 to match a 95% gas furnace. See gas vs. electric heating cost and furnace vs. heat pump.
What changes the usage
- Insulation and air sealing. In the calculator, moving from average to good insulation cuts the heating load by about 30%.
- Ratings. A higher HSPF2 and SEER2 use less electricity for the same heat and cooling. ENERGY STAR requires at least 7.8 HSPF2 and 15.2 SEER2 for split heat pumps.
- Backup heat. Electric resistance strips deliver one unit of heat per unit of electricity, against about 2.4 for this heat pump over a season (8.2 HSPF2 ÷ 3.412), so a system that leans on them in cold weather uses much more.
- Thermostat habits. Modest, steady setbacks work better than deep ones, which can trigger the backup strips.
- Clean filters and coils. The DOE says clean filters can lower an air conditioner's energy use by 5 to 15%, and the same airflow penalty applies to a heat pump.
Frequently asked questions
How many kWh does a heat pump use per month?
About 1,031 kWh a month on average for a 2,000 sq ft home in a mixed climate, more in winter and summer and less in between.
How many kWh does a heat pump use per year?
About 12,375 kWh in a mixed climate for the default home, from about 9,989 in a very hot climate to 23,075 in a very cold one.
Does a heat pump use more electricity than an air conditioner?
For cooling, about the same as an air conditioner of the same SEER2. It uses more electricity overall because it also heats, replacing a gas or oil furnace's fuel.
Why is my heat pump using so much electricity in winter?
Colder air lowers its efficiency, and the backup strips may be running. Check the thermostat settings and whether the backup heat comes on often.
How much does a heat pump cost to run per month?
About $186 a month on average for a 2,000 sq ft home with average insulation in a mixed climate at 18 cents per kWh, more in winter and summer and less in between.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas?
At $1.35 per therm and 18 cents per kWh, usually not for heating. It is cheaper than propane or oil at typical prices.
Does a heat pump cost more for heating or cooling?
In cold and mixed climates, heating; in hot climates, cooling.
Sources & References
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