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Heat Pump Payback Calculator

Estimate how many years until a heat pump pays for itself, versus your current heating system, whatever the fuel. Works for electric resistance, natural gas, oil, or propane by comparing the cost per unit of delivered heat, then shows your payback and lifetime savings.

$
$
$/kWh
yr

Payback period

10.0 yr

Lifetime savings (15 yr): $6,000
Annual savings
$1,200/yr
Heat pump heating cost
$600/yr

Compares cost per unit of delivered heat across fuels. Estimates only: actual savings depend on climate, insulation, real efficiency, and rebates (enter the net cost after any rebate). Confirm sizing with a Manual J load calculation.

Frequently asked questions

A heat pump moves heat rather than creating it, so it delivers 2–4 units of heat per unit of electricity (a seasonal COP of about 2.5–4.0). If it heats for less per year than your current system, those annual savings repay the installed cost over time. Payback is the net install cost divided by the annual savings.

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WattSimple. (2026, June 26). Heat Pump Payback Calculator. https://wattsimple.com/calculators/heat-pump-payback

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Sources & standards

This tool's methodology and data follow US standards and authoritative public datasets: