Heat Pump vs Furnace Calculator
Compare the yearly heating cost of an electric heat pump against a gas furnace from your heat demand, COP, efficiency and fuel rates. Calculates in your browser.
Cheaper option
-
Show the math
A heat pump's COP multiplies electricity into heat; a furnace burns gas at its efficiency:
heat pump $ = (demand ÷ COP) × elec rate
furnace $ = (demand ÷ eff ÷ 29.3) × gas rate
1 therm ≈ 29.3 kWh of heat. A COP of 3 means 3 kWh of heat per kWh of electricity. All math runs in your browser.
What this does
A heat pump vs furnace calculator compares the yearly heating cost of an electric heat pump against a gas furnace from your heat demand, COP, efficiency, and fuel rates.
How to use it
- Enter your annual heat demand.
- Enter the heat pump COP.
- Enter the furnace efficiency.
- Enter electricity and gas rates.
How it works
COP is the heat delivered per unit of electricity — a COP of 3 gives 3 kWh of heat per kWh of power. The cheaper option depends on local rates.
heat pump = (demand ÷ COP) × elec rate; furnace = (demand ÷ eff) × gas rate
Understanding your result
The cheaper option hinges on your local electricity and gas rates together with the heat pumps COP, the heat delivered per unit of power. A high COP and cheap electricity favour the heat pump, but COP falls in very cold weather, so plug in your actual rates and a realistic cold-climate COP rather than the headline figure before deciding.
Example
At a COP of 3, a heat pump often beats a gas furnace where electricity is cheap.
Sources & methodology
Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, a heat pump or a furnace?
It depends on local rates. A heat pump cost is (demand \u00f7 COP) \u00d7 electricity rate; a furnace is (demand \u00f7 efficiency) in therms \u00d7 gas rate. The tool picks the cheaper.
What is COP?
Coefficient of performance \u2014 the heat delivered per unit of electricity. A COP of 3 means 3 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of power.
Is my data stored?
No. Everything is calculated locally in your browser.
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