Frequently Asked Questions
How much natural gas is consumed in the United States?
In 2016, the United States consumed about 27.49 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas. This was equivalent to about 28.43 quadrillion British thermal units and about 29% of total U.S. primary energy consumption in 2016.
U.S. natural gas consumption by major end uses, 2016 | ||
| End use | Amount (Tcf) | Share of total |
Electric power generation | 9.98 | 36% |
Industrial | 7.72 | 28% |
Residential | 4.39 | 16% |
Commercial | 3.13 | 11% |
Lease and plant fuel consumption | 1.56 | 6% |
Pipeline and distribution | 0.67 | 2% |
| Vehicle fuel | 0.04 | 0.1% |
Note: Preliminary data.
Learn more:
Natural gas consumption by end use
Definitions of natural gas end uses
Energy Explained: U.S. Energy Facts: Consumption and Production
Energy Explained: Use of Natural Gas
Last updated: May 11, 2017
Other FAQs about Natural Gas
- Does EIA have county-level energy production data?
- Does EIA have energy consumption and price data for cities, counties, or by zip code?
- Does EIA have maps or information on the location of U.S. natural gas and oil pipelines?
- Does EIA have projections for energy production, consumption, and prices for individual states?
- Does EIA publish shale gas and coalbed methane production and reserves data?
- How does EIA calculate the year-ago and five-year averages in the Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report?
- How many gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are made from one barrel of oil?
- How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatthour of electricity?
- How much does it cost to generate electricity with different types of power plants?
- Which states consume and produce the most natural gas?
- Why am I being charged more for propane than the price on EIA's website?
- How much natural gas does the United States have, and how long will it last?
- How much natural gas is consumed in the United States?
- How much of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are associated with electricity generation?
- How much shale gas is produced in the United States?
- What are Ccf, Mcf, Btu, and therms? How do I convert natural gas prices in dollars per Ccf or Mcf to dollars per Btu or therm?
- What are the major factors affecting natural gas prices?
- What can I expect to pay for heating this winter?
- What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?
- What is the average price of natural gas for U.S. electric power producers?
- What is the outlook for home heating fuel prices this winter?
- What is the volume of world natural gas reserves?
- What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?