Gas vs Electric Heating Cost in Washington
In Washington, a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation costs an estimated $1,490.09 a year to heat with a 92% gas furnace, $3,476.60 with electric resistance heat and $1,241.64 with a heat pump. Here the heat pump line comes in lowest: $15.40 per MMBtu of heat against $18.48 for gas.
State data
What Washington pays
- Electricity
- 14.7¢/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
- 4,800 °F-days (base 65 °F)NOAA CPC, 1991–2020 normals
- Climate zone
- 4 (IECC 2021)DOE/PNNL · heat pump seasonal COP used: 2.8
Washington's rate of 14.7¢/kWh is the 13th-lowest among the 50 states and DC; every electric option on this page is priced from it. Residential gas in Washington is $1.70/therm, 15% above the US average of $1.48/therm. A winter of 4,800 heating degree-days means the 2,000 sq ft example in Washington needs about 80.6 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 Washington. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 14.7¢/kWh · Washington · EIA, July 2026 · gas $1.70/therm (EIA 2025 annual) · 4,800 heating degree-days · climate zone 4 (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: $3,476.60 a year · Gas furnace: $1,490.09 a year, for 80.6 MMBtu of heat.
- Yearly heating load
- 80.6 MMBtu
- Electric resistance, $ per MMBtu
- $43.11
- Gas furnace, $ per MMBtu
- $18.48
- Electric resistance, per year
- $3,476.60
- Gas furnace, per year
- $1,490.09
- Difference per year (Gas furnace − Electric resistance)
- −$1,986.51
- Seasonal heat pump COP used
- 2.8
- Prices used
- electricity 14.7¢/kWh · gas $1.70/therm · propane $2.80/gal · oil $3.90/gal
- Heat pump, per year (for reference)
- $1,241.64
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 Washington
A 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation in Washington needs about 80.6 MMBtu of heat a year (4,800 heating degree-days). At $1.70/therm in a 92% furnace, gas delivers that heat at $18.48 per MMBtu; resistance heat at 14.7¢/kWh costs $43.11, and a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.8 (zone 4) costs $15.40. The year comes to $1,490.09 on gas, $3,476.60 on resistance heat and $1,241.64 on a heat pump. The heat pump is the cheapest to run here, by $248.45 a year over gas.
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 Washington, gas or electric heat?
Electric resistance heat is the most expensive of the three in Washington: $3,476.60 a year for the 2,000 sq ft example, $1,986.51 more than gas. Between gas ($1,490.09) and a heat pump ($1,241.64), the heat pump is cheaper here: its heat costs $15.40 per MMBtu, gas $18.48. These are estimates at 14.7¢/kWh and $1.70/therm; your bill's prices can change the answer.
How much gas does a furnace use in Washington?
About 877 therms a year for a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation and a 92% furnace, at Washington's 4,800 heating degree-days. That averages 73 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 $1,490.09.
Electric furnace vs gas furnace cost in Washington?
An electric furnace is resistance heat: every kWh gives 3,412 BTU. At 14.7¢/kWh, that heat costs $43.11 per MMBtu in Washington, against $18.48 from a 92% gas furnace at $1.70/therm, 2.3 times as much. For the 2,000 sq ft example that's $3,476.60 a year against $1,490.09.
Bordering states
Nearby states
Same calculator, same house, each state's own prices and winter:
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