Natural gas bill calculator
Estimate your monthly natural gas bill from usage in therms or CCF, and compare heating costs between gas, electric and heat pump systems.
Estimated gas bill
Estimated monthly bill
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- Usage
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- Usage charge
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- Service charge
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- Taxes and fees (~8%)
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- Total monthly bill
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- Annual estimate
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- Daily average
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Seasonal comparison
Same rate and service charge, different monthly usage.
- Winter bill
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- Summer bill
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- Difference
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Heating cost comparison
Based on your entered usage above.
| System | Monthly cost | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnace | - | - |
| Electric furnace | - | - |
| Heat pump | - | - |
Gas furnace: 95% efficiency. Electric furnace: 100% efficiency at $0.16/kWh. Heat pump: coefficient of performance 3.0 at $0.16/kWh. One therm equals 29.3 kWh.
Average gas rates by region
| Region | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Northeast | $1.50 to $2.00/therm |
| Southeast | $0.80 to $1.20/therm |
| Midwest | $0.70 to $1.00/therm |
| Southwest | $0.80 to $1.10/therm |
| West Coast | $1.20 to $1.80/therm |
| US average | About $1.00/therm |
How it works
Natural gas is billed by the therm, a unit of heat energy. Your meter measures volume in CCF (hundred cubic feet), which your utility converts to therms based on the gas's heat content that month. Multiply your usage in therms by your rate, add the fixed service charge and taxes, and you have your estimated bill.
- Enter your usage
In therms, or switch to CCF if that is what your meter shows.
- Enter your rate
Check a recent bill, or fill in a regional average to start.
- Read the estimate
See the monthly bill, annual projection and heating comparison.
Typical US gas usage
- Summer, no heating: 10 to 20 therms a month
- Spring and fall: 20 to 40 therms a month
- Winter, with heating: 80 to 150 or more therms a month
- Average US household: about 50 therms a month
- Water heater alone: about 15 to 20 therms a month
Ways to save on your gas bill
Lowering your thermostat by 1 degree Fahrenheit saves about 3% on heating costs. A programmable thermostat that reduces heat while you sleep or are away compounds that saving automatically. Sealing air leaks around windows and doors, adding insulation, and having your furnace serviced annually all reduce the therms you burn each winter.
What your real bill adds
Your actual bill usually includes more than gas usage alone: delivery charges, customer fees, state taxes, and sometimes a separate gas cost adjustment tied to wholesale prices. Rates can change monthly. Budget billing, which averages your payment across the year, can smooth out seasonal spikes if your utility offers it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my natural gas bill from my meter reading?
Your gas meter reads in CCF (hundred cubic feet). Multiply CCF by your utility's heat content factor, typically around 1.02 to 1.05, to get therms. Then multiply therms by your rate per therm. Enter CCF or therms directly in the calculator along with your rate, and it computes the estimated bill with taxes included.
What is the average natural gas bill per month in the US?
The average US household spends about $100 to $150 a month on natural gas, but usage varies widely by season. A summer bill for water heating alone may be $20 to $40, while a cold-climate winter month of heavy furnace use can exceed $200. The US average rate is roughly $1.00 to $1.50 per therm depending on region.
What is the difference between therms and CCF on a gas bill?
CCF stands for hundred cubic feet, a volume measurement from your meter. Therms are an energy unit based on heat content. Your utility multiplies CCF by a monthly heat content factor to convert to therms. One CCF is approximately 1.037 therms for most US natural gas supplies, though the exact factor varies by region and month.
How much natural gas does a furnace use per month?
A typical home furnace uses 80 to 150 therms a month during peak winter heating in cold climates. A high-efficiency, 95% AFUE furnace uses less gas for the same heat output than an older 80% AFUE model. The heating cost comparison table on this page compares your gas heating cost against an electric furnace and a heat pump.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a gas furnace?
It depends on local electricity and gas rates. A heat pump has a coefficient of performance of about 3.0, meaning it delivers three units of heat per unit of electricity consumed. At typical national average rates, a heat pump is often cheaper to run than a gas furnace once its lower efficiency loss is considered. The heating cost comparison table runs this math with your actual inputs and marks the cheapest option.