Compare Heating Operating Costs
Our calculator offers a transparent comparison of annual operating costs for different heating systems, with a focus on heat pumps and conventional gas or oil boilers.
By entering a small set of parameters, the tool calculates and contrasts the expected energy-related running costs under defined assumptions. This allows users to better understand how energy prices, system efficiency and consumption levels influence overall heating costs.
Important: The calculator considers operating costs only. Investment costs, installation, building renovations and potential subsidies are not included, as these vary significantly between buildings and systems.
The calculator is designed to be flexible
All default values are based on typical, reasonable assumptions and serve as a starting point for the calculation. Please note that the default energy prices used reflect current, favorable pricing for new customers and are automatically updated weekly based on data from the DIE ZEIT Energy Monitor. Every parameter can be adjusted individually to reflect specific buildings, energy prices or usage patterns.
The default efficiency for the air/water heat pump is based on the average value from the Fraunhofer ISE field test; the default efficiency for a ground source system is set at 4.3. The photovoltaic (PV) share is set to 0 by default; users with a PV system should enter their own expected self-consumption share. Without additional optimization measures, a typical PV share for heat pump operation is around 20%.
While results depend on the chosen assumptions, typical real-world cases show clear operating cost advantages for heat pumps, which tend to grow with higher efficiency and the use of self-generated electricity.
For a detailed classification of these costs, including illustrative examples and long-term scenarios, please refer to our dedicated article.
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Last update of the electricity and gas costs: 22.01.2026