Heat Pump Savings Calculator 2026

Compare annual heating cost: heat pump vs gas boiler vs electric resistance. Includes break‑even rates and practical guidance on SCOP and system temperature.

Last Updated: January 2026 | Reviewed by: VerCalc Energy Team

Break-even rule of thumb

If your heat pump has SCOP = 3.0, then each delivered kWh of heat costs roughly (electricity rate ÷ 3). Compare that to (gas rate ÷ boiler efficiency).

Inputs

This is heat delivered to the home (not purchased energy). If you only know fuel kWh, multiply by efficiency (gas) or by SCOP (heat pump).

Converted gas rate: $0.051/kWh

Use SCOP for bills. Underfloor heating is often higher than standard radiators.

Optional: helps estimate simple payback.

Results

Annual cost — Heat pump

$800

Annual cost — Gas

$835

Comparison

Electric resistance (1:1):$2,400
Savings vs gas:$35

Break-even insights

Break-even electricity rate:$0.17/kWh
SCOP needed to beat gas (given your rates):2.88
Simple payback (if savings > 0):173.0 yrs

Tip

If your home uses high supply temperatures (standard radiators), your real SCOP may be lower. For a sizing + SCOP sanity check, start with low-temperature emitters or consider system improvements.

Disclaimer: All calculators on this website are provided for informational and illustrative purposes only. Calculation results do not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Despite careful programming, we assume no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the results. For matters requiring professional advice, we recommend consulting with an appropriate specialist (tax advisor, lawyer, accountant).

Heat pump vs gas: the clean way to compare costs

The only fair comparison is cost per delivered kWh of heat. This calculator converts your energy rates into delivered-heat cost using SCOP (heat pump) and boiler efficiency (gas).

1) The core formulas (cost per delivered kWh of heat)

You can think of heating cost as $/kWh of heat delivered:

  • Heat pump: cost ≈ electricity rate ÷ SCOP
  • Gas boiler: cost ≈ gas rate ÷ efficiency
  • Electric resistance: cost ≈ electricity rate ÷ efficiency (≈ electricity rate)

2) Why SCOP depends on your home (not just the equipment)

SCOP depends heavily on supply temperature and controls. Underfloor heating or oversized radiators help keep temperatures low, which increases efficiency and lowers operating cost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Is SCOP the same as COP?

No. COP is a single test condition. SCOP is seasonal performance across many conditions and is much better for estimating annual bills.

Q:Does this include maintenance or fuel fixed charges?

No. This is a variable-energy cost comparison. Add fixed charges, maintenance, and capital costs for a full total-cost-of-ownership model.

Q:Why can a heat pump be cheaper even if electricity is more expensive than gas?

Because it delivers multiple kWh of heat per 1 kWh of electricity (SCOP > 1). The relevant metric is electricity rate divided by SCOP vs gas rate divided by efficiency.