hvac · 2500W typical
Running a heat pump (air-source) costs about $81.68/month.
That's the typical heat pump (air-source) at 2500W, run 12 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 heat pump (air-source) draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 6.6 effective hours at 2500W across your 12-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same heat pump (air-source) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
winter heating
$81.68
per month
primary heat source on a cold day
summer cooling
$54.45
per month
cooling load during warm months
shoulder season
$27.23
per month
spring/fall conditioning
Where you live
$148.01 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¢ | $203.94 | $2,481.27 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $155.43 | $1,891.07 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $152.46 | $1,854.93 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $142.07 | $1,728.46 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $138.11 | $1,680.28 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $121.77 | $1,481.54 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $120.29 | $1,463.47 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $110.39 | $1,343.02 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $109.40 | $1,330.97 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $106.43 | $1,294.84 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $95.54 | $1,162.34 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $94.55 | $1,150.30 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $91.08 | $1,108.14 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $89.60 | $1,090.07 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $88.11 | $1,072.01 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $86.13 | $1,047.92 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $85.14 | $1,035.87 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $83.65 | $1,017.80 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $82.17 | $999.74 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $80.69 | $981.67 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $78.21 | $951.56 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $77.72 | $945.53 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $77.22 | $939.51 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $76.23 | $927.46 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $75.24 | $915.42 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $75.24 | $915.42 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $74.74 | $909.40 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $73.26 | $891.33 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $73.26 | $891.33 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $72.77 | $885.31 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $72.77 | $885.31 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $72.27 | $879.29 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $70.29 | $855.19 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $69.79 | $849.17 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $68.81 | $837.13 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $67.32 | $819.06 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $66.33 | $807.02 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $65.84 | $800.99 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $65.34 | $794.97 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $64.85 | $788.95 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $64.85 | $788.95 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $62.86 | $764.86 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $61.38 | $746.79 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $60.39 | $734.75 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $59.89 | $728.72 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $59.89 | $728.72 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $58.91 | $716.68 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $57.42 | $698.61 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $56.93 | $692.59 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $56.43 | $686.57 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $55.94 | $680.54 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $993.71/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
2500W
$81.68 per month
$993.71 per year
Typical
2500W
$81.68 per month
$993.71 per year
High draw
5000W
$163.35 per month
$1,987.43 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Dual-purpose heating and cooling; peak kWh in January-February and July-August.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Set thermostat to 'heat pump' mode — not 'emergency heat' — except in true cold snaps
Aux strip heat is 2-3x more expensive to run
- 2
Keep outdoor unit clear of debris and 18+ inches of snow
Blocked airflow forces defrost cycles that waste 15-20% energy
- 3
Replace filters every 60-90 days
Maintains as-designed heat transfer; dirty filters cut output 10%
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Infinity 24VNA6 (3-ton) | 2400W |
| Trane | XV19 (3-ton) | 2600W |
| Mitsubishi | SVZ-KP30NA Hyper-Heat (2.5-ton) | 2300W |
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