How much electricity does a heat pump use per year?

A typical 3-ton (36,000 BTU) heat pump with COP 3.0 heating and 18 SEER cooling, running 7 hours/day heating for 5 months and 6 hours/day cooling for 4 months, uses approximately 3,400 kWh per year. Total cost at $0.15/kWh is about $510/year for both heating and cooling combined.

Does a heat pump save money over a gas furnace?

In most US climates, a modern heat pump with COP 2.5-3.5 is cheaper to operate than a gas furnace at current gas prices, especially when you account for also eliminating a separate AC. The savings depend heavily on your local electricity vs gas price ratio and your climate zone.

Heat Pump Calculator

Calculate heat pump electricity cost for heating and cooling, and see how much you save vs your old gas furnace.

Heating mode

Heating capacity?

BTU/hr

COP / HSPF÷3.412?

Heating hours/day?

hrs/day

Heating season?

months/yr

Cooling mode

Cooling capacity?

BTU/hr

SEER rating?

Cooling hours/day?

hrs/day

Cooling season?

months/yr

Electricity rate?

$/kWh

Old heating system?

Old system efficiency?

Heat pump annual operating cost

$698/year • 4,653 kWh

Heating cost$554/yr

Cooling cost$144/yr

vs old systemCost +$257/yr

Solar to offset~9 panels

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter heating capacity and COP

Find your heat pump's heating capacity in BTU/hr on the spec sheet or nameplate. The COP (Coefficient of Performance) is the key heating efficiency metric. COP = heat delivered ÷ electricity consumed. A COP of 3.0 means you get 3 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity. Convert HSPF to COP by dividing: HSPF 10 → COP 2.93. Cold-climate heat pumps advertise COP at multiple temperatures; use the seasonal average for accuracy.

Enter cooling capacity and SEER

Heat pumps do double duty — heating in winter, cooling in summer. Enter your cooling BTU/hr and SEER rating for the cooling season calculation. Cooling BTU/hr is usually listed prominently on the unit. Modern heat pumps: 16-22 SEER.

Compare against your old system

Expand "Old system comparison" to enter your previous heating system type and efficiency. The calculator estimates your old annual heating cost and shows how much you save (or spend) by switching to a heat pump. This comparison is most valuable for homeowners replacing gas, oil, or electric-resistance heat.

The Formula

Heating electricity draw (W) = Heating BTU/hr ÷ 3.412 ÷ COP Heating kWh/year = (Watts ÷ 1000) × hrs/day × 30 days × heating months Cooling electricity draw (W) = Cooling BTU/hr ÷ SEER Cooling kWh/year = (Watts ÷ 1000) × hrs/day × 30 days × cooling months Annual cost = (Heating kWh + Cooling kWh) × electricity rate

The 3.412 factor converts BTU/hr to watts (1W = 3.412 BTU/hr). Dividing by COP accounts for the electrical efficiency of the heat pump. A COP of 3 means you need one-third the electrical power to deliver a given amount of heat compared to electric resistance (COP = 1).

Old system cost is estimated from annual heat demand (BTU), divided by efficiency (AFUE), multiplied by the fuel cost per BTU for the selected fuel type.

Example

Average home switching from 80% gas furnace — Charlotte, NC

A Charlotte homeowner replaces an 80% AFUE gas furnace + 13 SEER central AC with a single 36,000 BTU heat pump (COP 3.0 heating, 18 SEER cooling). They run heating 7 hrs/day for 5 months and cooling 6 hrs/day for 4 months.

Heating capacity36,000 BTU/hr

Heating COP3.0

Cooling SEER18

Electricity rate$0.13/kWh

Result

Heating kWh/year2,208 kWh

Cooling kWh/year1,200 kWh

Annual electricity cost$443/yr

Old system (gas + AC)~$860/yr

Annual savings~$417/yr

Replacing an aging gas furnace and AC with a modern heat pump saves this homeowner over $400 per year. With typical installation costs of $4,000-8,000 after rebates, the financial payback is 10-20 years — though federal tax credits (up to $2,000 for heat pumps) and utility rebates can significantly improve this.

FAQ

Are heat pumps efficient in cold climates? ▼

Modern cold-climate heat pumps work efficiently down to -13°F (-25°C), achieving COP of 1.5-2.0 at very low temperatures. This is still more efficient than electric resistance heat (COP = 1). Brands like Mitsubishi Hyper Heat, Bosch, and Daikin Altherma are specifically designed for cold climates. The key metric to check is the manufacturer's rated heating capacity and COP at 5°F and 17°F, not just at 47°F (which is the milder standard test condition).

What is the difference between COP and HSPF? ▼

COP (Coefficient of Performance) is the instantaneous efficiency ratio: heat output ÷ electricity input. HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) measures efficiency over a whole heating season under standard DOE conditions, expressed in BTU/Wh. To convert HSPF to approximate COP: COP ≈ HSPF ÷ 3.412. HSPF 10 = COP 2.93, HSPF 12 = COP 3.52. Minimum HSPF for new heat pumps in northern US regions: 8.8 (as of 2023).

Should I use solar to power a heat pump? ▼

Solar and heat pumps are an excellent pairing — the IRA's 30% federal tax credit covers both, and pairing them can eliminate both your heating/cooling and electricity costs simultaneously. The challenge is timing: heat pumps run most heavily in winter when solar production is lowest. A larger solar system (sized for annual production, not peak demand) combined with net metering allows you to "bank" summer solar credit for winter heat pump use. Use our Solar Panel Calculator to size a system that covers your total annual consumption including heat pump loads.

What federal incentives are available for heat pumps in 2026? ▼

The Inflation Reduction Act provides a 30% tax credit (up to $2,000/year) for qualifying heat pumps through the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C). Qualifying units must meet minimum efficiency standards. The HEEHRA program also provides rebates of up to $8,000 for low-to-moderate income households. Many utilities offer additional rebates of $500-1,500. Check energystar.gov and your utility's rebate page for current offers.