Winter heating cost 2026–27
From November through March, the average home heating with natural gas should spend about $640 (−9% from last winter), and a home heating with electricity about $1,196 (+4%). Heating oil bills are set to jump 21%.
Winter bill by heating fuel
Average household spending on its main heating fuel, November to March, base-case forecast. Monthly figure is the winter total ÷ 5 (our calculation).
By region
| Region | Natural gas | Electricity | Propane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $879 −14% | $1,637 −3% | $1,687 −15% |
| Midwest | $613 −10% | $1,380 +3% | $1,305 −4% |
| South | $511 −15% | $1,079 +3% | $1,164 0% |
| West | $590 +7% | $1,151 +9% | - |
| U.S. average | $640 −9% | $1,196 +4% | $1,246 −3% |
EIA does not forecast propane for the West or heating oil by region. Heating oil, U.S. average: $2,115 (+21%).
Month by month
| Fuel | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $111 | $140 | $146 | $128 | $116 | $640 |
| Electricity | $213 | $253 | $270 | $230 | $230 | $1,196 |
| Propane | $201 | $274 | $302 | $251 | $218 | $1,246 |
| Heating oil | $360 | $465 | $509 | $420 | $361 | $2,115 |
U.S. averages. Months may not add exactly to the winter total because of rounding in EIA's tables.
How Americans heat their homes
Natural gas is the main heating fuel in about 45% of U.S. households and electricity in about 43%, followed by propane (5%) and heating oil (3%), based on EIA's household counts for 2026 (our calculation). Electric heat is most common in the South; heating oil is mostly a Northeast fuel.
Ways to lower your heating bill
- Lower the thermostat while you sleep or are away. A programmable or smart thermostat does it for you, so you do not have to remember.
- If you buy heating oil or propane, ask your supplier about a fixed-price or pre-buy plan before prices peak in winter.
- Check your utility's budget billing, which spreads winter bills across the year so January doesn't hit all at once.
- See how heating fits your total costs in the average utility bill guide or compare electric rates in the electricity cost by state table.
Common questions
How much does it cost to heat a house this winter?
It depends on your fuel. EIA expects the average home heating with natural gas to spend about $640 from November through March (−9% from last winter), $1,196 with electricity (+4%), $1,246 with propane (−3%) and $2,115 with heating oil (+21%).
How much is the average heating bill per month?
About $128 a month for natural gas and $239 for electricity, averaged over November to March (our calculation from EIA's forecast). Jan is usually the most expensive month.
Which heating fuel is cheapest?
Natural gas homes have the lowest average winter bill in EIA's forecast, $640. EIA warns that switching fuels will not necessarily lower your bill, because homes using each fuel differ in size, climate and equipment.
Why is heating oil so expensive this winter?
EIA expects heating oil prices about 34% higher than last winter, at $5.26 a gallon on average, because global distillate production has dropped and U.S. stocks are low. About 3% of U.S. homes heat with oil, mostly in the Northeast.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Winter Fuels Outlook 2026–27 (Short-Term Energy Outlook supplement), published Oct 6, 2026. Base-case forecast of average household expenditures for the main heating fuel, November through March, nominal dollars. Includes all uses of that fuel in the home (for example gas water heating and cooking), and for electricity all winter use except air conditioning. Percent change is versus the previous winter. Propane U.S. average is a household-weighted average of the Northeast, Midwest and South; heating oil is shown as a U.S. average only. Next update: Nov 10, 2026. Household shares and monthly averages are our calculation.