These home heating cost figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Home Heating Cost Statistics
The main findings are:
- U.S. households spent an average of $519 on space heating in 2020, and space heating represented 42% of residential-sector energy consumption (United States households).
- New Hampshire households spent an average of $981 on space heating (2020).
- Natural gas was the main space-heating fuel in 47% of U.S. homes in 2024 (United States homes).
- Households using fuel oil or kerosene as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $1,164 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was fuel oil or kerosene).
- Louisiana households spent an average of $244 on space heating (2020).
- Electricity was the main space-heating fuel in 42% of U.S. homes in 2024 (United States homes).
- Households using propane as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $1,010 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was propane).
- In the Midwest, 70% of households used natural gas as their primary heating fuel (2020; Midwest households).
- The share of U.S. homes reporting natural gas as their main heating fuel declined from 49% in 2010 to 47% in 2024 (2010-2024; United States homes).
- Households using natural gas as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $519 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was natural gas).
- Michigan households used an average of 72.7 million British thermal units of natural gas for space heating (2020; Michigan households using natural gas for space heating).
- The share of U.S. homes using electricity as their main space-heating fuel increased from 39% to 43% over the five years before the 2024 Winter Fuels Outlook comparison (Approximately 2019-2024; United States homes).
- Households using electricity as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $396 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was electricity).
- Kansas households used an average of 50.9 million British thermal units of natural gas for space heating (2020; Kansas households using natural gas for space heating).
- In 2024, 59.873 million U.S. households used natural gas as their primary heating fuel, while 56.515 million used electricity (United States households).
Contents
- Key Home Heating Cost Statistics
- How much U.S. households spent on space heating in 2020
- Heating cost differences by fuel and location
- Household heating fuel adoption and recent change
- What the statistics measure and where they are limited
How much U.S. households spent on space heating in 2020
- U.S. households spent an average of $519 on space heating in 2020, and space heating represented 42% of residential-sector energy consumption (United States households). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- Households using fuel oil or kerosene as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $1,164 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was fuel oil or kerosene). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- Households using propane as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $1,010 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was propane). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- Households using natural gas as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $519 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was natural gas). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- Households using electricity as their primary space-heating fuel spent an average of $396 on space heating (2020; United States households whose primary space-heating fuel was electricity). (Space heating consumed the most…)
2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) estimate; average is not a bill prediction for an individual home.
RECS average for households in this fuel category; it is not a national average across all homes.
RECS average for this fuel category; home size, weather, equipment, and usage differ across households.
RECS average for this fuel category; it measures estimated space-heating expenditure, not all natural-gas spending in the home.
RECS average for this fuel category; it is the space-heating portion, not the household’s total electric bill.
Heating cost differences by fuel and location
- New Hampshire households spent an average of $981 on space heating (2020). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- Louisiana households spent an average of $244 on space heating (2020). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- In the Midwest, 70% of households used natural gas as their primary heating fuel (2020; Midwest households). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- Michigan households used an average of 72.7 million British thermal units of natural gas for space heating (2020; Michigan households using natural gas for space heating). (Space heating consumed the most…)
- Kansas households used an average of 50.9 million British thermal units of natural gas for space heating (2020; Kansas households using natural gas for space heating). (Space heating consumed the most…)
State average from RECS; the source notes fuel mix and climate affect expenditure.
State average from RECS; it should not be interpreted as a quote for a specific dwelling.
RECS regional share of primary heating fuel; it does not include secondary heating equipment.
RECS average consumption estimate; it is not an expenditure and does not apply to all Michigan homes.
RECS average consumption estimate; it is not an expenditure and does not apply to all Kansas homes.
Household heating fuel adoption and recent change
- Natural gas was the main space-heating fuel in 47% of U.S. homes in 2024 (United States homes). (Electricity use is becoming more…)
- Electricity was the main space-heating fuel in 42% of U.S. homes in 2024 (United States homes). (Electricity use is becoming more…)
- The share of U.S. homes reporting natural gas as their main heating fuel declined from 49% in 2010 to 47% in 2024 (2010-2024; United States homes). (Electricity use is becoming more…)
- The share of U.S. homes using electricity as their main space-heating fuel increased from 39% to 43% over the five years before the 2024 Winter Fuels Outlook comparison (Approximately 2019-2024; United States homes). (Winter Fuels Outlook)
- In 2024, 59.873 million U.S. households used natural gas as their primary heating fuel, while 56.515 million used electricity (United States households). (Winter Fuels Outlook)
Annual American Community Survey estimate of reported main heating fuel; it is not a measure of heating cost.
Annual American Community Survey estimate of reported main heating fuel; it is not a measure of electricity consumption or cost.
Comparison of ACS annual estimates; the figures describe reported primary fuel, not a causal technology shift or cost trend.
EIA reports this as an ACS-based comparison in the 2024 Winter Fuels Outlook; the rounded five-year interval is as stated by EIA.
EIA table reports household counts as of October and labels them as thousand households; primary fuel counts are not total energy expenditures.