Gas vs Electric Heating Cost in New York
In New York, a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation costs an estimated $1,707.39 a year to heat with a 92% gas furnace, $8,097.19 with electric resistance heat and $3,238.87 with a heat pump. Gas heat costs $18.48 per MMBtu here, against $35.05 from a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.5.
State data
What New York pays
- Electricity
- 29.9¢/kWhEIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.6.A · EIA, July 2026 (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Natural gas
- $1.70/thermEIA, residential natural gas price ($/Mcf ÷ 10.37) · EIA 2025 annual average (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Heating degree-days
- 5,500 °F-days (base 65 °F)NOAA CPC, 1991–2020 normals
- Climate zone
- 5 (IECC 2021)DOE/PNNL · heat pump seasonal COP used: 2.5
New York is in the over-20¢ band on this site: 29.9¢ a kWh, 63% above the US average of 18.3¢/kWh. Residential gas in New York is $1.70/therm, 15% above the US average of $1.48/therm. A winter of 5,500 heating degree-days means the 2,000 sq ft example in New York needs about 92.4 MMBtu of heat a year.
Prices are statewide averages. Type the rate and gas price from your own bill into the calculator above to replace them.
Gas vs electric heat
B04Scenario A
Sets the electricity rate. Pick US average if you're not sure.
From EIA for New York. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 29.9¢/kWh · New York · EIA, July 2026 · gas $1.70/therm (EIA 2025 annual) · 5,500 heating degree-days · climate zone 5 (data as of 2026-09-28) ·
On the furnace label: 0.80 older, 0.90–0.98 condensing.
Gas furnace costs less per year by
Electric resistance: $8,097.19 a year · Gas furnace: $1,707.39 a year, for 92.4 MMBtu of heat.
- Yearly heating load
- 92.4 MMBtu
- Electric resistance, $ per MMBtu
- $87.63
- Gas furnace, $ per MMBtu
- $18.48
- Electric resistance, per year
- $8,097.19
- Gas furnace, per year
- $1,707.39
- Difference per year (Gas furnace − Electric resistance)
- −$6,389.80
- Seasonal heat pump COP used
- 2.5
- Prices used
- electricity 29.9¢/kWh · gas $1.70/therm · propane $3.50/gal · oil $3.90/gal
- Heat pump, per year (for reference)
- $3,238.87
Cost by month, in season only
The yearly cost spread across the months using a typical heating degree-day pattern from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Months outside the season show $0.
Estimate. Formula and sources are under “How it works”. Change any input; the result updates as you type.
2026 note: The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended for installations after Dec 31, 2025. Our numbers use 2026 rules. State rebates, HEAR/HOMES programs and utility programs may still apply.
Worked example
Worked example: 2,000 sq ft in New York
A 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation in New York needs about 92.4 MMBtu of heat a year (5,500 heating degree-days). At $1.70/therm in a 92% furnace, gas delivers that heat at $18.48 per MMBtu; resistance heat at 29.9¢/kWh costs $87.63, and a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.5 (zone 5) costs $35.05. The year comes to $1,707.39 on gas, $8,097.19 on resistance heat and $3,238.87 on a heat pump. Gas is the cheapest to run here, by $1,531.48 a year over a heat pump.
Load = sq ft × 0.35 × heating degree-days × 24 ÷ 1,000,000. Gas $/MMBtu = $/therm ÷ 0.1 ÷ 0.92. Resistance $/MMBtu = $/kWh × 293.07. Heat pump = resistance ÷ COP.
Questions
FAQ
Which is cheaper in New York, gas or electric heat?
Electric resistance heat is the most expensive of the three in New York: $8,097.19 a year for the 2,000 sq ft example, $6,389.80 more than gas. Between gas ($1,707.39) and a heat pump ($3,238.87), gas is cheaper here: $18.48 per MMBtu of heat against $35.05 for a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.5. These are estimates at 29.9¢/kWh and $1.70/therm; your bill's prices can change the answer.
How much gas does a furnace use in New York?
About 1,004 therms a year for a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation and a 92% furnace, at New York's 5,500 heating degree-days. That averages 84 therms a month over 12 months, but almost all of it is burned in the heating months. At $1.70/therm, the year costs an estimated $1,707.39.
Electric furnace vs gas furnace cost in New York?
An electric furnace is resistance heat: every kWh gives 3,412 BTU. At 29.9¢/kWh, that heat costs $87.63 per MMBtu in New York, against $18.48 from a 92% gas furnace at $1.70/therm, 4.7 times as much. For the 2,000 sq ft example that's $8,097.19 a year against $1,707.39.
Bordering states
Nearby states
Same calculator, same house, each state's own prices and winter:
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