How much does it cost to run a heat pump?
EIA data · June 2026About $97.62 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
532.3 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 1,500–7,000 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
50% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A heat pump is #3 of 88 on this site by annual cost, so it is probably not the only thing worth checking. See what a heat pump costs beside everything else you run.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a heat pump so differently.
How many watts a heat pump uses
An air-source heat pump sized for a typical US home draws roughly 3,000–4,000 W while its compressor runs, similar to a central air conditioner because it is the same machine running in reverse. The top of the range covers larger systems; backup resistance heat is a separate load and is not included here.
- Low
- 1,500 W
- Typical
- 3,500 W
- High
- 7,000 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 3,500 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $3,367 |
| California | 34.74 | $2,219 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $1,891 |
| New York | 29.49 | $1,884 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $1,226 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $1,018 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $965 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $854 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $846 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $837 |
Worth knowing
- A heat pump moves heat rather than generating it, which is why it delivers two to four units of heat per unit of electricity — something no resistance heater can do.
- The number that wrecks the arithmetic is backup heat. When the outdoor temperature drops far enough, resistance strips of 10,000–20,000 W engage and the running cost jumps several-fold for as long as they are on.
- Efficiency falls as it gets colder outside, so the same thermostat setting costs more in January than in October even before backup heat engages.
Other appliances
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Window air conditioner
- Dehumidifier
- Ceiling fan
- Electric blanket
- Electric baseboard heater
- Portable air conditioner
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.