Water Heater Calculator
Compare gas tank vs. tankless vs. electric vs. heat pump water heaters. See lifetime cost with live energy prices and federal tax credits.
Your Inputs
Prices auto-filled from EIA data when you enter a state. Override to use your actual utility rates.
Results
For a 3-person household · 16.3 MMBTU/yr hot water demand
Standard 40-50 gal natural gas tank
Hybrid heat pump (ENERGY STAR, UEF ≥ 3.5)
On-demand gas water heater (condensing)
Standard 50-gal electric resistance tank
Point-of-use or whole-home electric tankless
A Gas Tank saves $13237 over its lifetime vs. the most expensive option.
Annual Operating Cost
| Metric | You | US Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Tank | $280/yr | $350–$500/yr |
| Heat Pump Water Heater | $218/yr | $150–$250/yr |
| Gas Tankless | $206/yr | $300–$400/yr |
| Electric Tank | $822/yr | $450–$550/yr |
Methodology: Uses DOE Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) test procedure with 16.3 MMBTU annual hot water demand scaled for 3 people.
Tax Credit: Heat pump water heaters qualify for 30% federal tax credit (Section 25C, up to $2,000/yr).
Recommended Next Steps
Get personalized energy recommendations
Tell us about your home and goals — we’ll connect you with the right information and local resources.
Recommended Products
Sense Home Energy Monitor
Track your home energy usage in real-time. Sense uses machine learning to identify individual devices and find savings opportunities.
Get Sense MonitorUSAPOWR may earn a commission on purchases. Prices and availability may vary.
Emporia Vue Energy Monitor
Affordable whole-home energy monitoring with circuit-level tracking. See exactly where your electricity goes.
Shop Emporia VueUSAPOWR may earn a commission. Requires compatible electrical panel.