Cost to run

How much does a heat pump cost to run for cooling?

In cooling mode a heat pump works like a central air conditioner: compressor wattage and runtime drive the bill. This page models cooling only, not winter heating performance.

Content reviewed 2026-07-15 · Rates published 2026-09-24 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-07-ytd

Using the typical summer assumptions below, electricity costs about $2.47 per day of use and $74.20 for 30 days of use at the Texas average rate. Adjust the calculator for your equipment and schedule.

Example costs using the Texas state-average rate

These are generated examples for a consistent location. Enter your own ZIP and usage below for a more relevant state-average estimate.

Scenario	Assumption	kWh/month	Cost/day of use	Monthly range	Cost at 365 days/year
Shoulder season	4 hours a day of light cooling 3500 W × 4 h/day × 0.45 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s)	189.00	$1.01	$20.11–$44.87	$369.30
Typical summer	8 hours a day of regular cooling 3500 W × 8 h/day × 0.55 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s)	462.00	$2.47	$49.15–$109.69	$902.73
Peak heat	12 hours a day with sustained compressor load 3500 W × 12 h/day × 0.8 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s)	1008.00	$5.40	$107.23–$239.33	$1,969.60

Wattage, runtime and duty cycle below are illustrative assumptions, not measurements of a particular model. Annual figures assume use on all 365 days; monthly figures use each scenario's stated number of days.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-07-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.

Calculate your own usage

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ApplianceHow manyHours used per day (optional)

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Rated watts (from the appliance label)Duty cycle (0–1; share of time drawing full power)Days per month

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Cooling mode is the simpler half

During summer a heat pump moves indoor heat outdoors exactly as an air conditioner does, so the same wattage-times-runtime logic applies. Heating season is harder to model because capacity and efficiency shift with outdoor temperature and backup resistance heat may engage.

Variable-speed systems blur rated watts

Many modern heat pumps modulate compressor speed to match the load instead of cycling fully on and off. Their average draw during mild weather can be a small fraction of nameplate watts, which you can represent here with a lower duty-cycle value.

Boundaries of this heat pump estimate

This page prices cooling electricity only. It does not model winter heating cost, balance-point behavior, auxiliary strip heat, or seasonal efficiency ratings, and it cannot compare specific models. Use it to budget summer months, not the whole year.

Frequently asked questions

Why model heating and cooling separately?

Cooling load is fairly steady per hour of runtime, while heating draw changes with outdoor temperature and may include electric backup heat. One combined number would hide that difference.

Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a regular AC?

In cooling mode, efficiency between a comparable heat pump and central AC is similar. The operating difference shows up in winter, when the heat pump replaces a furnace or resistance heat.

What duty cycle fits a variable-speed heat pump?

If the system runs long, quiet cycles at partial speed, try a lower duty cycle such as 0.4 to 0.5 against nameplate watts, or better, enter a measured average wattage.

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