hvac · 600W typical
Running a gas furnace (electric blower) costs about $14.85/month.
That's the typical gas furnace (electric blower) at 600W, run 10 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
A gas furnace (electric blower) draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 5.0 effective hours at 600W across your 10-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same gas furnace (electric blower) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
cold snap
$14.85
per month
blower running repeatedly during 20°F weather
typical winter
$7.43
per month
blower cycles during morning and evening peaks
shoulder season
$2.97
per month
occasional cycles on cold mornings
Where you live
$26.91 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $37.08 | $451.14 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $28.26 | $343.83 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $27.72 | $337.26 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $25.83 | $314.27 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $25.11 | $305.51 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $22.14 | $269.37 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $21.87 | $266.09 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $20.07 | $244.19 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $19.89 | $242.00 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $19.35 | $235.43 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $17.37 | $211.33 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $17.19 | $209.14 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $16.56 | $201.48 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $16.29 | $198.20 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $16.02 | $194.91 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $15.66 | $190.53 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $15.48 | $188.34 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $15.21 | $185.05 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $14.94 | $181.77 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $14.67 | $178.48 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $14.22 | $173.01 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $14.13 | $171.92 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $14.04 | $170.82 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $13.86 | $168.63 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $13.68 | $166.44 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $13.68 | $166.44 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $13.59 | $165.35 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $13.32 | $162.06 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $13.32 | $162.06 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $13.23 | $160.96 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $13.23 | $160.96 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $13.14 | $159.87 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $12.78 | $155.49 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $12.69 | $154.39 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $12.51 | $152.21 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $12.24 | $148.92 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $12.06 | $146.73 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $11.97 | $145.64 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $11.88 | $144.54 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $11.79 | $143.45 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $11.79 | $143.45 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $11.43 | $139.07 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $11.16 | $135.78 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $10.98 | $133.59 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $10.89 | $132.50 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $10.89 | $132.50 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $10.71 | $130.31 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $10.44 | $127.02 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $10.35 | $125.93 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $10.26 | $124.83 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $10.17 | $123.74 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $271.01/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
300W
$7.43 per month
$90.34 per year
Typical
600W
$14.85 per month
$180.68 per year
High draw
1200W
$29.70 per month
$361.35 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
The blower motor is the electric load; combustion burns gas. Nov-Mar dominant.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Set blower fan to AUTO not ON
Saves 300-600 kWh/year of fan runtime
- 2
Replace filter every 60-90 days during heating season
Clogged filters force 5-10% more blower wattage
- 3
Seal return-side duct leaks — any leak pulls unconditioned air
Typical duct system loses 20-30% of capacity
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Infinity 98 59MN7 | 480W |
| Trane | S9V2 (95% AFUE) | 550W |
| Lennox | SLP98V (98.7% AFUE) | 500W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13