Gas vs Electric Heating Cost in Idaho
In Idaho, a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation costs an estimated $783.76 a year to heat with a 92% gas furnace, $3,921.02 with electric resistance heat and $1,568.41 with a heat pump. At these prices gas is the cheapest of the three, $784.65 a year under a heat pump.
State data
What Idaho pays
- Electricity
- 13.7¢/kWhEIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.6.A · EIA, July 2026 (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Natural gas
- $0.74/thermEIA, residential natural gas price ($/Mcf ÷ 10.37) · EIA 2025 annual average (data as of 2026-09-28)
- Heating degree-days
- 5,800 °F-days (base 65 °F)NOAA CPC, 1991–2020 normals
- Climate zone
- 5 (IECC 2021)DOE/PNNL · heat pump seasonal COP used: 2.5
Idaho pays 13.7¢/kWh for electricity, 25% below the US average of 18.3¢/kWh and the 6th-lowest of the 51 rates on this site. At $0.74/therm, Idaho is in the lowest gas band on this site ($1.10/therm or less): $8.04 per MMBtu of furnace heat. Idaho is in IECC climate zone 5, with 5,800 heating degree-days a year; the heat pump line uses a seasonal COP of 2.5.
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 Idaho. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 13.7¢/kWh · Idaho · EIA, July 2026 · gas $0.74/therm (EIA 2025 annual) · 5,800 heating degree-days · climate zone 5 (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: $3,921.02 a year · Gas furnace: $783.76 a year, for 97.4 MMBtu of heat.
- Yearly heating load
- 97.4 MMBtu
- Electric resistance, $ per MMBtu
- $40.24
- Gas furnace, $ per MMBtu
- $8.04
- Electric resistance, per year
- $3,921.02
- Gas furnace, per year
- $783.76
- Difference per year (Gas furnace − Electric resistance)
- −$3,137.26
- Seasonal heat pump COP used
- 2.5
- Prices used
- electricity 13.7¢/kWh · gas $0.74/therm · propane $2.30/gal · oil $3.60/gal
- Heat pump, per year (for reference)
- $1,568.41
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 Idaho
A 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation in Idaho needs about 97.4 MMBtu of heat a year (5,800 heating degree-days). At $0.74/therm in a 92% furnace, gas delivers that heat at $8.04 per MMBtu; resistance heat at 13.7¢/kWh costs $40.24, and a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.5 (zone 5) costs $16.10. The year comes to $783.76 on gas, $3,921.02 on resistance heat and $1,568.41 on a heat pump. At seasonal COP 2.5, the heat pump's heat still costs more than $0.74/therm gas in Idaho.
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 Idaho, gas or electric heat?
Electric resistance heat is the most expensive of the three in Idaho: $3,921.02 a year for the 2,000 sq ft example, $3,137.26 more than gas. Between gas ($783.76) and a heat pump ($1,568.41), gas comes out $784.65 a year ahead; a heat pump would match it at about 6.9¢/kWh. These are estimates at 13.7¢/kWh and $0.74/therm; your bill's prices can change the answer.
How much gas does a furnace use in Idaho?
About 1,059 therms a year for a 2,000 sq ft house with average insulation and a 92% furnace, at Idaho's 5,800 heating degree-days. That averages 88 therms a month over 12 months, but almost all of it is burned in the heating months. At $0.74/therm, the year costs an estimated $783.76.
Electric furnace vs gas furnace cost in Idaho?
An electric furnace is resistance heat: every kWh gives 3,412 BTU. At 13.7¢/kWh, that heat costs $40.24 per MMBtu in Idaho, against $8.04 from a 92% gas furnace at $0.74/therm, 5.0 times as much. For the 2,000 sq ft example that's $3,921.02 a year against $783.76.
Bordering states
Nearby states
Same calculator, same house, each state's own prices and winter:
Related