What Does It Cost To Heat a Home in the Winter?
There’s nothing quite like a cozy winter day curled up at home. In cold weather, a toasty night in with a good book or movie can feel heavenly. However, keeping your house heated in freezing outside temperatures can be a costly expense.
To keep your home running smoothly in the winter, Pam Knox, director of the UGA Weather Network at the University of Georgia, advises homeowners to regularly maintain their home heating systems. A home warranty plan can offer peace of mind by helping homeowners repair or replace furnaces that break down due to normal wear and tear.
The research team at This Old House analyzed natural gas data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explore the cost of winter gas bills by state. Unsurprisingly, chillier regions like the Midwest and Northeast showed higher natural gas consumption. The price of natural gas also played a big role in total heating bills, with western and northeastern states touting higher costs.
Read on to learn more about the cost of winter heating throughout the U.S.
Key Findings
- The average U.S. household is expected to spend $602 on natural gas this winter, up $8 from $594 in the winter of 2023–2024.
- Natural gas prices this winter are expected to drop, but consumption is expected to rise.
- The most expensive gas bill is in Alaska ($1,066).
- The lowest winter gas bills are in warm southern states like Florida ($276), where residents use less gas, and in Midwestern states like South Dakota ($361), where gas is cheaper.
Will Heating Be More Expensive in 2025?
As the year comes to an end and temperatures start to drop, preparing for the upcoming season is top of mind for homeowners. Budgeting for winter expenses—including the cost of heating your home—is an important part of that preparation. Natural gas prices are typically lower in the winter than in the summer months, but consumption is usually higher. The price of residential natural gas fluctuates based on weather, markets, and predicted supply and demand, advises Victor Gensini, associate professor at Northern Illinois University.
The average cost of natural gas is expected to fall during the 2024–2025 winter season compared to the 2023–2024 season. “Natural gas prices are expected to rise modestly over the next year, but this is uncertain,” says Dylan Brewer, assistant professor at Georgia Tech. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) annual Winter Fuel Outlook, the average price per MCF (thousand cubic feet) of natural gas in the winter of 2023–2024 was $12.95. In the 2024–2025 winter season, the price is projected to drop to $12.47.
Gas usage is expected to go up this year, raising the average bill despite lower costs. In the winter between 2023 and 2024, the average U.S. household consumed 46 MCF of natural gas for an average bill of $594. This coming winter, the average household is projected to use 48 MCF for an average bill of $602. The table below shows natural gas consumption by region.
Where you live in the U.S. will have a major impact on your gas usage as well. Winters are much colder or warmer depending on location, and natural gas consumption varies accordingly.
For instance, the Midwest consumes the most natural gas, with an average consumption of 54 MCF during the 2023–2024 winter season. The Northeast is a close second, consuming about 52 MCF during the same period.
Consumption isn’t the only variable at play in your utility bills. Natural gas costs also vary across the country. Prices are particularly high in the West, with an average cost of $15.54 per MCF last year. The Midwest had the lowest natural gas costs in 2023–2024, at $9.83 per MCF, so despite high consumption, the average bill in the region was only $529.
Meanwhile, the Northeast faces the highest bills, combining high costs and usage. With a price of $14.54 per MCF in the winter of 2023–2024, the average gas bill was $763.
Coming into the 2024–2025 winter season, both the Northeast and Midwest regions are projected to see higher heating bills, while the South and West are projected to have lower costs.
However, winter weather can be volatile, leading to unpredictable extreme events. Ryan L. Sriver, professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, warns that these extreme outbreaks “can have major impacts on homes and energy infrastructure, especially in areas that are not prepared for extreme cold temperatures.”
What Is the Cost of Winter Gas Bills by State?
To estimate the average winter gas bill by state, we found the average winter price of gas for each state and then multiplied it based on the corresponding region’s gas consumption. Figures are from October 2023 to March 2024. For details on our calculations, please see our methodology.
The highest gas bills can be found in Alaska and states in the Northeast. While natural gas in Alaska is on the less expensive end (averaging $10.98 during the winter months), the average household consumes 97 MCF from November through March. This results in a total bill of $1,066.
The cheapest bills can be found in Florida and Louisiana, where warm temperatures mean lower consumption, and the Dakotas, which have some of the lowest average prices for gas. Households in Florida only consume 13 MCF during the winter and are estimated to pay only $276.
Are Gas Bills Getting More Expensive?
The price of natural gas for the winter season is expected to fall slightly compared to last year. That said, prices have been trending upward overall.
In 2022, the yearly average for natural gas was $14.75 per MCF. In 2023, it rose to $15.23—the most expensive natural gas has ever been. Over the last five years, natural gas prices have risen by 45%, up from $10.51 in 2019.
Use the chart below to see how natural gas prices have changed in the United States, then use the drop-down menu to see how prices in your state compare.
How To Prepare Your Home for Winter
Though heating your home in the winter can be expensive, the right preparations can help to reduce your overall costs. Follow these winterization and energy-efficiency tips to keep your bills manageable:
- Seal your doors and windows: Drafty homes lead to expensive heating bills, so make sure your doors and windows are sealed properly before the winter. “Sealing air leaks around doors, windows, and other drafty spots is a well-proven strategy,” says Stefano Schiavon, professor at UC Berkeley. “Weatherstripping and caulking are quick, affordable solutions to keep warmth inside.” While it’s a more expensive project upfront, installing energy-efficient windows can lead to less energy loss and reduced heating bills.
- Switch the direction of your ceiling fans: Ceiling fans aren’t just for keeping cool. Most allow you to switch the rotation direction from counter-clockwise to clockwise, which helps to move warm air from near the ceiling down into your living space.
- Inspect your furnace: Pam Knox, director of the UGA Weather Network at the University of Georgia, says, “Homeowners can prepare by making sure that their furnaces are in top working condition by getting inspections and changing air filters.” Check with your utility company to see if they offer a free audit of residential energy systems.
- Dress warmly indoors: With the right pair of wool socks and a cozy sweater, you may be comfortable indoors even at lower temps. That way, you don’t have to rely on heating as much and can reduce your bill.
If you live in an older home, don’t forget to check the insulation and ensure your heating system is up to date, as well.
Expert Tips and Insights
Methodology
To estimate winter gas bills by state, the This Old House research team analyzed data from the Energy Information Administration. We used the total amount of natural gas delivered to residential customers and the total number of natural gas residential customers to calculate the average consumption during the winter months (November, December, January, February, and March). We then used historic monthly residential natural gas prices to calculate the total winter bill. We calculated bills for the winter of 2023–2024.
For the following states and months, select data points were missing. For these states, we used corresponding data points from the 2022–2023 winter season and adjusted by the yearly change in consumption using the EIA’s regional Winter Fuel Outlook.
- California: January 2024 consumption and price
- Florida: March 2024 consumption
- Maine: November 2023 consumption and price, January 2024 price
- New Mexico: March 2024 consumption and price
- Tennessee: November 2023–March 2024 consumption and price
- West Virginia: December–March 2024 consumption and price
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