How do I compare the cost of heating fuels?
When choosing heating fuels or heating systems, consumers may want to compare the cost of different heating fuels and energy sources. Because heating fuels are measured and sold in different units, such as gallons of oil and propane, cubic feet or therms of natural gas, and kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity, comparing the price of fuels in dissimilar units is not meaningful.
A more useful comparison is the price or cost of fuels based on the heat content of the fuels, such as dollars per million British thermal units (Btu) of heat content. The formula for this calculation is:
[ (Fuel price per unit) divided by (fuel heat content per unit) ] multiplied by 1,000,000.
However, there are other factors and issues related to the selection of a heating fuel or heating system to consider:
- Efficiency of the appliances that convert fuels and electricity to useful heat
- Costs of heating system installation (including available tax credits, rebates, and other financial incentives), operation, and maintenance
- Availability of fuels, especially during the heating season
- Environmental issues associated with the production, transportation, and consumption of fuels
The U.S. Department of Energy has educational information on heating systems for consumers.
Learn more:
Heat contents of various fuels and electricity
What is the outlook for home heating fuel prices this winter?
What are the greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions factors for fuels and electricity?
Energy Units and Calculators
Energy Saver 101 Infographic: Home Heating
Other FAQs about Conversion & Equivalents
- How do I convert between short tons and metric tons?
- What are the units of measure for natural gas?
- How do I convert natural gas prices in dollars per cubic feet to dollars per British thermal unit or therm?
- How do I compare the cost of heating fuels?
- How do I convert data in one unit of measure to a different unit of measure?
- How many gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are made from one barrel of oil?
- What is the efficiency of different types of power plants?
- What are the greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions factors for fuels and electricity?