🔥 Heating
How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a heat pump costs about $134 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.55
at 1,000–5,000 W
Per day
$4.39
8 hours/day
Per month
$134
730 kWh
Per year
$1,603
8,760 kWh
A heat pump moves heat instead of generating it, delivering two to four units of heat per unit of electricity. The compressor typically draws 1–5 kW, and total cost depends heavily on climate — cold snaps push it toward backup resistance strips.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.55
Per day
$4.39
Per month
$134
Per year
$1,603
Uses 730 kWh/month at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | $0.38 | $92.66 | $1,113 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.38 | $93.39 | $1,121 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.39 | $95.58 | $1,148 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.40 | $97.77 | $1,174 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.41 | $99.96 | $1,200 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.41 | $99.96 | $1,200 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.41 | $101 | $1,209 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.41 | $101 | $1,209 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.43 | $104 | $1,253 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.43 | $105 | $1,261 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.43 | $105 | $1,261 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.43 | $106 | $1,270 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.44 | $107 | $1,288 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.45 | $109 | $1,314 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.45 | $109 | $1,314 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.46 | $111 | $1,332 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.46 | $112 | $1,340 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.46 | $112 | $1,349 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.46 | $112 | $1,349 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.46 | $113 | $1,358 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.47 | $115 | $1,384 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.48 | $116 | $1,393 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.48 | $117 | $1,402 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.48 | $117 | $1,402 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.48 | $117 | $1,410 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.48 | $117 | $1,410 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.49 | $119 | $1,428 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.49 | $120 | $1,437 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.50 | $122 | $1,463 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.51 | $124 | $1,489 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.52 | $128 | $1,533 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.53 | $128 | $1,542 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.55 | $135 | $1,621 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.57 | $139 | $1,673 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.58 | $140 | $1,682 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.58 | $142 | $1,708 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.64 | $156 | $1,875 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.65 | $158 | $1,901 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.69 | $169 | $2,024 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.71 | $174 | $2,085 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.73 | $177 | $2,120 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.76 | $184 | $2,208 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.76 | $184 | $2,208 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.80 | $194 | $2,330 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.85 | $206 | $2,479 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.86 | $210 | $2,523 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.90 | $218 | $2,619 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.92 | $223 | $2,672 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.97 | $236 | $2,838 |
| California | 33.6 | $1.01 | $245 | $2,943 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $1.44 | $350 | $4,205 |
How to lower the cost
- Avoid big thermostat setbacks — recovery can trigger expensive auxiliary resistance heat.
- Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow, leaves, and shrubs; restricted airflow raises consumption.
- Replace filters monthly in heavy season — a clogged filter can add 5–15% to runtime.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a heat pump use?
A typical heat pump draws about 3,000 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 24 kWh per day, or 730 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a heat pump for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.55. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.38, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $1.44.
How much does a heat pump cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $134 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $92.66 in Louisiana up to $350 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a heat pump use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 82% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.