Gas vs Electric Heating Cost in Arkansas
In Arkansas, a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation costs an estimated $1,086.89 a year to heat with a 92% gas furnace, $2,257.86 with electric resistance heat and $728.34 with a heat pump. At these prices a heat pump is the cheapest of the three, $358.55 a year under gas.
State data
What Arkansas pays
- Electricity
- 14.3¢/kWhEIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.6.A · EIA, July 2026 (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Natural gas
- $1.86/thermEIA, residential natural gas price ($/Mcf ÷ 10.37) · EIA 2025 annual average (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Heating degree-days
- 3,200 °F-days (base 65 °F)NOAA CPC, 1991–2020 normals
- Climate zone
- 3 (IECC 2021)DOE/PNNL · heat pump seasonal COP used: 3.1
Arkansas pays 14.3¢/kWh for electricity, 22% below the US average of 18.3¢/kWh and the 9th-lowest of the 51 rates on this site. Arkansas pays $1.86/therm for natural gas, which puts furnace heat at $20.22 per MMBtu. Arkansas is in IECC climate zone 3, with 3,200 heating degree-days a year; the heat pump line uses a seasonal COP of 3.1.
Prices are statewide averages. Type the rate and gas price from your own bill into the calculator above to replace them.
Gas vs electric heat
B04Scenario A
Sets the electricity rate. Pick US average if you're not sure.
From EIA for Arkansas. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 14.3¢/kWh · Arkansas · EIA, July 2026 · gas $1.86/therm (EIA 2025 annual) · 3,200 heating degree-days · climate zone 3 (data as of 2026-09-28) ·
On the furnace label: 0.80 older, 0.90–0.98 condensing.
Gas furnace costs less per year by
Electric resistance: $2,257.86 a year · Gas furnace: $1,086.89 a year, for 53.8 MMBtu of heat.
- Yearly heating load
- 53.8 MMBtu
- Electric resistance, $ per MMBtu
- $42.00
- Gas furnace, $ per MMBtu
- $20.22
- Electric resistance, per year
- $2,257.86
- Gas furnace, per year
- $1,086.89
- Difference per year (Gas furnace − Electric resistance)
- −$1,170.97
- Seasonal heat pump COP used
- 3.1
- Prices used
- electricity 14.3¢/kWh · gas $1.86/therm · propane $2.60/gal · oil $3.60/gal
- Heat pump, per year (for reference)
- $728.34
Cost by month, in season only
The yearly cost spread across the months using a typical heating degree-day pattern from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Months outside the season show $0.
Estimate. Formula and sources are under “How it works”. Change any input; the result updates as you type.
2026 note: The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended for installations after Dec 31, 2025. Our numbers use 2026 rules. State rebates, HEAR/HOMES programs and utility programs may still apply.
Worked example
Worked example: 2,000 sq ft in Arkansas
A 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation in Arkansas needs about 53.8 MMBtu of heat a year (3,200 heating degree-days). At $1.86/therm in a 92% furnace, gas delivers that heat at $20.22 per MMBtu; resistance heat at 14.3¢/kWh costs $42.00, and a heat pump at seasonal COP 3.1 (zone 3) costs $13.55. The year comes to $1,086.89 on gas, $2,257.86 on resistance heat and $728.34 on a heat pump. At seasonal COP 3.1, the heat pump turns 14.3¢/kWh electricity into heat that costs less than $1.86/therm gas.
Load = sq ft × 0.35 × heating degree-days × 24 ÷ 1,000,000. Gas $/MMBtu = $/therm ÷ 0.1 ÷ 0.92. Resistance $/MMBtu = $/kWh × 293.07. Heat pump = resistance ÷ COP.
Questions
FAQ
Which is cheaper in Arkansas, gas or electric heat?
Electric resistance heat is the most expensive of the three in Arkansas: $2,257.86 a year for the 2,000 sq ft example, $1,170.97 more than gas. Between gas ($1,086.89) and a heat pump ($728.34), the heat pump comes out $358.55 a year ahead on running cost; purchase and installation are not counted (see the payback calculator). These are estimates at 14.3¢/kWh and $1.86/therm; your bill's prices can change the answer.
How much gas does a furnace use in Arkansas?
About 584 therms a year for a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation and a 92% furnace, at Arkansas's 3,200 heating degree-days. That averages 49 therms a month over 12 months, but almost all of it is burned in the heating months. At $1.86/therm, the year costs an estimated $1,086.89.
Electric furnace vs gas furnace cost in Arkansas?
An electric furnace is resistance heat: every kWh gives 3,412 BTU. At 14.3¢/kWh, that heat costs $42.00 per MMBtu in Arkansas, against $20.22 from a 92% gas furnace at $1.86/therm, 2.1 times as much. For the 2,000 sq ft example that's $2,257.86 a year against $1,086.89.
Bordering states
Nearby states
Same calculator, same house, each state's own prices and winter:
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