House heating cost calculator
Enter the floor area and insulation standard. We compare five ways of heating using open formulas and show every assumption.
Example: 120 m² house, insulated
Cheapest: eco-pea coal, about 4,160 PLN a year
- Heat demand
- 15,600 kWh/yr
- of which hot water
- 3,600 kWh
- Spread
- 12,064 PLN
- Eco-pea coalsolid fuel: about 4,160 PLN a yearapprox. 2.6 t a year
- Heat pumpelectricity: about 4,635 PLN a yearapprox. 4,457 kWh of electricity a year
- Natural gasgas: about 5,091 PLN a yearapprox. 16,421 kWh of gas a year
- Pelletssolid fuel: about 8,727 PLN a yearapprox. 3.7 t a year
- Direct electricelectricity: about 16,224 PLN a yearapprox. 15,600 kWh of electricity a year
Assumptions and formula
| Heating | Calorific value | Efficiency | Energy price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco-pea coal | 7.5 kWh/kg | 0.80 | 1,600 PLN/t |
| Heat pump | counted in kWh | SCOP 3.5 | 1.04 PLN/kWh |
| Natural gas | counted in kWh | 0.95 | 0.31 PLN/kWh |
| Pellets | 4.9 kWh/kg | 0.85 | 2,330 PLN/t |
| Direct electric | counted in kWh | 1.00 | 1.04 PLN/kWh |
An estimate for a typical heating season. Fixed charges and the device itself are not included. Full methodology
How electricity, gas, pellet and coal prices have changed, month by month. Price history
Ready-made calculations
How to use the calculator
- Drag the slider handle, or click the large number above it and type the heated floor area.
- Press the key with your insulation standard. The number on each key is the heat demand in kWh/m² a year.
- Decide whether to include hot water and enter the number of people.
- Check the energy and fuel prices. If you have a bill, enter your own.
- Click Calculate cost. After that the result updates with every change.
Where the result comes from
First we estimate how much heat the house needs in a year: floor area times the rate for the insulation standard, plus about 900 kWh per person if you include hot water. A 120 m² house insulated after 2000 with four people needs about 15,600 kWh of heat.
Then, for each heat source, we divide that demand by the efficiency of the device and multiply it by the price of energy. A heat pump with SCOP 3.5 uses about 4,457 kWh of electricity, a gas boiler about 16,421 kWh of gas.
What the calculator leaves out
The result does not include fixed charges on your bill, the purchase and installation of the device or servicing. It also does not know your ventilation, windows or habits. Use it to compare heat sources under the same assumptions, not as a forecast of your bill.
Frequently asked questions
Which way of heating a house is the cheapest?
With the default prices in the calculator, coal and a heat pump usually come out cheapest for an insulated house, and direct electric heating the most expensive. The order changes with prices, so enter the prices from your own bill.
How do I know the insulation standard of my house?
The best source is the energy performance certificate. Without it, use the year of construction and the state of insulation: a house built before 1990 without added insulation is usually about 200 kWh/m²·yr, a house insulated after 2000 about 100 kWh/m²·yr.
Does the electricity price include distribution?
Yes. Electricity and gas prices are gross amounts per kWh including variable distribution charges. Fixed charges are not included.
Why is the result different from my bill?
The calculator uses an average heat demand and a typical heating season. Real consumption depends on the weather, the temperature you keep, ventilation and the efficiency of your system. If you know your consumption from bills, compare it with the kWh value shown with the result.