Marine climate

Heat pump running costs in Washington

Residential electricity in Washington averages 14.63¢ per kWh — 19% below the national average. Here's what that means for heat pump operating costs, and which models are cheapest to run in Washington's climate.

Electricity price

14.63¢

#40 most expensive of 51

Typical 3-ton cost

$1,064

per year, median model

Most efficient

$695

same load, best model

Heating share

89%

of yearly energy use

Cheapest heat pumps to run in Washington

Ranked by estimated yearly cost if each model served the same 36,000 BTU/h (3-ton) load in Washington, so size doesn't distort the comparison. Because Washington's climate weights heating more heavily, HSPF2 (heating efficiency) matters most here. Choosing the most efficient model over the least efficient one in our database saves about $575 a year for the same load.

#	Model	Type	Size	HSPF2	SEER2	5°F kept	3-ton cost/yr
1	Fujitsu AOUH09KTAP1	Mini-split	1 ton	14	33.5	142%	$695
2	Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	Mini-split	1 ton	13.7	31.5	106%	$712
3	Bryant 37MARAQ09AA3	Mini-split	1 ton	13.9	19.6	78%	$738
4	Bryant 37MAHAQ09AA3	Mini-split	1 ton	13.8	20.6	99%	$738
5	Fujitsu AOUH15KTAP1	Mini-split	1 ton	13	28.7	106%	$753
6	Bryant 37MARAQ18AA3	Mini-split	1.5 tons	13.5	20	71%	$755
7	Senville SENA-24HF-OG	Mini-split	2 tons	13.5	19	83%	$760
8	Mitsubishi Electric SUZ-AA09NL***	Mini-split	1 ton	12.9	17.6	53%	$799
9	Senville SENA-09HF-OG	Mini-split	1 ton	12.5	21.4	96%	$802
10	Bryant 37MAHAQ18AA3	Mini-split	1.5 tons	12.4	18	90%	$824
11	Senville SENA-18HF-OG	Mini-split	1.5 tons	12.3	18	90%	$830
12	Senville SENA/09HF/OQ	Mini-split	1 ton	12	20.2	90%	$837

Heat pump vs. gas furnace in Washington

To heat the same home (1,700 full-load heating hours at 36,000 BTU/h) in Washington, a typical heat pump (HSPF2 9.5) would cost about $942 a year, an efficient one (HSPF2 10) about $895, versus $1,095 for a 95% gas furnace and $1,300 for an older 80% furnace, at Washington's average residential gas price of $17.62 per thousand cubic feet. In Washington, even a typical heat pump beats a high-efficiency gas furnace on heating cost, and an efficient model saves about $199 a year.

Typical heat pump$942

Efficient heat pump$895

95% gas furnace$1,095

80% gas furnace$1,300

Heating only; a heat pump also provides cooling, while a furnace needs a separate air conditioner. Gas prices: EIA, residential, annual average. Compare all states.

Assumptions for Washington

Residential electricity price	14.63¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Aug 2026, preliminary)
Climate group	Marine
Equivalent full-load heating hours	1,700 per year
Equivalent full-load cooling hours	350 per year

Use the calculator on any model page to replace these with your own electricity rate and usage.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Washington?

Using Washington's average residential electricity price of 14.63¢/kWh, a typical 3-ton, median-efficiency heat pump costs about $1,064 a year to run. The most efficient model in our database would cost about $695 for the same load.

Is electricity expensive in Washington?

Washington's residential rate of 14.63¢/kWh is 19% below the U.S. average of 18.16¢ and ranks #40 most expensive of 51 (EIA, August 2026).

Is heating or cooling the bigger cost in Washington?

With our climate assumptions for Washington (1,700 heating and 350 cooling hours), heating accounts for about 89% of a typical heat pump's yearly energy use.

Is a heat pump cheaper than gas heat in Washington?

For a typical home, heating with an efficient heat pump costs about $895 a year versus $1,095 with a 95% gas furnace at Washington's average prices. In Washington, even a typical heat pump beats a high-efficiency gas furnace on heating cost, and an efficient model saves about $199 a year.