Heat Pump vs Gas Cost Calculator
Compare annual space-heating energy cost using heat demand, seasonal COP, boiler efficiency and local prices.
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How to choose the inputs
The heat input is heat delivered to the home, not fuel purchased. Use a seasonal performance value with a clearly defined measurement boundary. A single laboratory COP is not a prediction for the whole heating season. Gas energy and boiler efficiency must use a consistent calorific-value basis.
Formula and measurement boundary
Three worked scenarios
These are fixed hypothetical examples, not live tariffs or verified product data. They use EUR and kilometres where applicable and do not change with the form settings. Only the table input changes.
Unchanged inputs
- Annual useful heat demand: 12,000 kWh
- Electricity price: 0.25 EUR/kWh
- Gas price: 0.08 EUR/kWh
- Boiler efficiency: 90 %
| Seasonal COP | Estimated result |
|---|---|
| 2 | €433.33 gas saving/year |
| 3 | €66.67 heat-pump saving/year |
| 4 | €316.67 heat-pump saving/year |
Gas costs about €1,066.67/year in all three scenarios; the heat pump costs €1,500, €1,000 or €750. With these tariffs the energy-cost break-even COP is 2.8125 (0.25 × 0.90 / 0.08).
What this result does not establish
- Installation, servicing, finance and fixed supplier charges are excluded.
- Auxiliary heaters and pumps must be included in the seasonal input or counted separately.
- This is not heat-pump sizing, radiator design or a property-specific recommendation.
Compare the price of useful heat, not the price of purchased energy
The following are additional hypothetical decision examples. Separately discussed fees, reserve allowances or running costs are not automatically added to the form result.
At an illustrative electricity tariff of €0.25/kWh and seasonal performance factor of 3, useful heat costs €0.0833/kWh. Gas at €0.08/kWh in a boiler with 90% seasonal efficiency costs €0.0889/kWh of useful heat. The heat pump’s break-even seasonal factor is 0.25 × 0.90 ÷ 0.08 = 2.8125. A lower seasonal result reverses this particular energy-cost comparison.
For 15,000 kWh of annual useful heat, those inputs produce €1,250 electricity versus €1,333 gas: only about €83 difference. A small energy advantage can disappear when standing charges, maintenance or backup heat are added. A point COP from a product sheet is not a seasonal factor for an entire building.
If estimating useful heat from a gas bill, subtract gas used for cooking and account for boiler efficiency; do not equate purchased gas kWh directly with delivered heat. Record whether hot water and electric resistance backup are included in the heat-pump measurement. Building heat loss and radiator temperatures need a separate design assessment. This calculator compares running energy costs, not suitability or installation payback.
Sources and their scope
- European Commission: heat pumps — Technology background; not the seasonal efficiency of your installation.
These reference pages were accessed on 21 September 2026. The equations and examples are the site’s own model; these sources do not certify its defaults or results.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use cubic metres for the gas price?
No. Use the supplier conversion to obtain a price per kWh on the same energy basis as the efficiency.
Does useful heat include hot water?
Only if you include it in the input and use a seasonal performance value covering that service.
Read the model and verification limits