Heating your home is expensive. Heating accounts for almost a third of your utility bill. That's more energy and money than any other system, like cooling or water heating.
The most used fuel for heating is natural gas provided by a utility company, aka utility gas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 47.1% of occupied dwellings surveyed use utility gas to heat their homes. Other common heating fuels used in the United States include natural gas, bottled or tank gas, electricity, fuel oil, wood or pellets, coal, and solar.
But are you using the most common heating fuel where you live? And how do prices stack up from state to state?
This article explores the nation's heating numbers by state, including each state's primary heating fuel, fuel prices, and monthly heating bill costs. We also speak to industry experts for advice on how to save money on your heating bill.
Heat Map: Visualizing State-by-State Comparison
Gas as a main heating source
More than half of the United States (30 states and 52% of households) use some form of gas as a primary fuel source for heating. However, due to health and environmental concerns, some cities and states have placed restrictions on the use of gas in new construction. Experts agree that the number is likely to grow even though 22 states have taken preemptive measures against gas prohibition.
Currently, the five states with the highest monthly gas heating bills include Missouri ($192.98), Oklahoma ($176.27), Kansas ($165.08), Delaware ($162.85), and Maryland ($157.66).
Conversely, the five states with the lowest monthly gas heating bills include Montana ($60.19), New Mexico ($70.37), Idaho ($83.72), Ohio ($90.46), and South Dakota ($94.30).
Interestingly, the five most expensive states for gas heat also have some of the warmest winter temperatures. Yet, Montana and Idaho were two of the ten coldest states in 2023 yet had the lowest heating bills. Therefore, it stands to reason that average temperatures have little to do with the cost of heating with gas.
Related: A Visual Cost Comparison of Heating Options for Your Home
Electricity as a main heating source
The next most widely used heating source in the U.S. is electricity. Electricity is used as a main heating source in 18 states.
The states with the highest monthly electric heating bills where electric is the main source are Hawaii ($332.12), Georgia ($121.13), West Virginia ($120.74), Virginia ($119.42), and Arizona ($118.09).
On the other end of the spectrum, the states with the lowest monthly electric heating bills are Louisiana ($89.08), Washington ($96.25), Arkansas ($96.41), Tennessee ($98.05), and Kentucky ($100.39).
Hawaii has a higher electric heating bill than any other state, along with California and Massachusetts. However, only 28.3% of Californians opt for it as a main heating source, and only 17.2% of residents in Massachusetts. Electric is cheaper in Hawaii than gas, which is not the case in either California or Massachusetts.
Fuel oil as a main heating source
There are two main types of heating oil–gas oil and kerosene. However, each type has different grades for various types of heating systems.
Residents in four states use oil as a primary heating source, and they're all located in New England. New Hampshire residents pay an average of $227.40 per month to heat with fuel oil. In Vermont, heating with fuel oil costs $224.40 per month. Residents of Connecticut pay $202.40 per month. In Maine, the monthly cost of heating with fuel oil is about $201.60.
Fuel Price Comparison Across the States
Swipe through the maps above
As you can see from the maps, Hawaii is the most expensive state for both gas and electric heating. And, Delaware is the most costly state for fuel oil.
On the other hand, Montana residents enjoy the lowest gas heating cost. Louisiana residents pay the least for electric heating, and Nebraska boasts the lowest cost to heat a home using fuel oil.
Are Heating Fuel Prices Trending Up or Down?
Some homeowners keep close tabs on the cost of their utilities. Others don't notice changes until there's a significant jump in their monthly bill. But the truth is fuel costs fluctuate constantly. This GIF illustrates the change in monthly costs of main utilities used for heating in each state over one year.
In 2024, homeowners in 21 states may see a reduction in their monthly heating bills, with Connecticut having the most significant cost decrease of $45.54. The table below shows 14 states that will see a reduction in cost that exceeds $10 or more.
The remaining states could see an increase in their monthly heating bills, with DC homeowners facing an additional $23.46 per month compared to last year. Illustrated in the table below, the states that face an increase of $10 or more include Nevada, Oregon, Maryland, Oklahoma, New York, and Michigan.
Expert Tips for Cutting Your Heating Bill This Winter
Despite the rising costs of heating a home, there are a few things you can do to save. And they don't all have to be as expensive as installing a more energy-efficient heating unit, replacing windows, or adding insulation. Here are a few easy and affordable ways to cut your heating bill this winter.
Draftproof the floor
Glenn Gault, CEO at Gault Heating & Cooling suggests sealing cracks between hardwood floorboards with caulking or weatherstripping. "Or just place rugs and carpets strategically to create a barrier between the cold floor and the room," he says. "Sealing drafts in the floor and placing rugs strategically can help you reduce heating bills by up to 10%."
Seal outlets on exterior walls
Gault also says that drafts enter homes through unsealed electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls. "These drafts can add up to 10% to your bills," he says. He recommends installing foam outlet sealers behind the outlet covers.
Keep furnace filters clean and changed
According to Christine Ciavardini, client relationship manager at MD Energy Advisors, clean filters improve the efficiency of your furnace and the amount of energy it uses.
Attend to your water heater
Both experts agree that your water heater can save or cost you money. "To reduce heat loss and energy consumption, wrap your tank with a water heater insulation jacket rated R-8 or higher," says Gault. "This is a cheap DIY project that can cut your heating bills by 7-16%." And Ciavardini advises homeowners turn down the hot water temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. "Every 10-degree reduction in temperature can save up to 5% on gas water heating costs," she says.
Install caulk or weatherstripping
“A simple way homeowners can reduce their heating bills during the colder months can be by sealing any drafts around windows and doors with caulking to keep the warm air in," says Peter Duncanson, VP of training and development at ServiceMaster Restore. For just a few dollars, you can install weatherstripping that'll keep your heating dollars working for you, not against you.
Use the warmth of the sun
"Open blinds and curtains during the daytime to let sunlight naturally warm the home," says Duncanson. "And close them at night to retain heat." Using the sun's energy reduces the amount of gas needed to keep your home warm and costs you nothing.
Reverse the ceiling fans
If you have reversible ceiling fans, Ciavardini reminds you to reverse the blades so they turn clockwise when the temperatures change to push warm air down from the ceiling.
Monitor your thermostat
According to Energy.gov, the smaller the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your heating bill will be. For optimal efficiency, they recommend keeping it between 68 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and lower while sleeping or away from home. "I always suggest keeping the thermostat around 67-68 in the Southeast," says Tim David, CEO at Airlucent, an HVAC professional with 30 years of experience.
Methodology
Data for this report include the most common fuel used for heating in each state according to the latest Census findings and the latest gas, electricity, and fuel prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Using this data, Fixr analysts calculated the monthly heating bill for the most commonly used fuel in each state. To do this, they multiplied the price data from the EIA by the average daily furnace usage (electric, gas, or oil) to get a daily cost, which they multiplied by 30 days to estimate the monthly cost. These results are illustrated in the 3D map.
The series of maps that follows shows the 2024 price comparison of each fuel type by state.
For the GIF visualization, they repeated the above calculations for 2023 to determine the price difference between 2023 and 2024 for each state’s main fuel.
Carol J Alexander is a home remodeling industry expert for Fixr.com. For more than 15 years as a journalist and content marketer, her in-depth research, interviewing skills, and technical insight have ensured she provides the most accurate and current information on a given topic. Before joining the Fixr team, her personal clients included leaders in the building materials market like Behr Paint Company, CertainTeed, and Chicago Faucet, and national publications like This Old House and Real Homes.