Enter how much heat you need in a season, your unit’s HSPF2 and your fuel prices. The calculator shows a yearly heating cost for a mini-split next to electric baseboard, propane, heating oil and natural gas. It runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Mini-split operating cost calculator

1. Heat you need and your unit

Heat needed per season (million Btu)

Example value. Use a load calculation or past fuel bills (gallons × Btu per gallon × furnace efficiency).

Mini-split HSPF2

From the spec sheet. Example: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 12k, Region V (colder climates) = 7.6; Region IV = 10.2.

2. Electricity

Your state (EIA residential average, July 2026)

Electricity rate ($ per kWh)

From your state; type over it with the rate on your bill.

3. Other fuels to compare (example prices: replace with yours)

Propane price ($ per gallon)

Propane appliance efficiency (%)

Heating oil price ($ per gallon)

Oil appliance efficiency (%)

Natural gas price ($ per therm)

Gas appliance efficiency (%)

Your estimate per heating season

Mini-split electricity (kWh)

Mini-split cost

Electric baseboard cost

3,412 Btu per kWh (EIA).

Propane cost

91,452 Btu per gallon (EIA).

Heating oil cost

138,500 Btu per gallon (EIA).

Natural gas cost

100,000 Btu per therm (EIA).

How this is calculated

Mini-split kWh = heat needed (Btu) ÷ HSPF2 ÷ 1,000. Other fuels: heat needed ÷ (Btu per unit × efficiency) × price. Conversion factors and state rates: U.S. EIA. HSPF2 is a seasonal rating under test conditions, so real costs vary with climate, installation and thermostat settings. Estimates only.

If you are human, leave this field blank.

How the math works

Mini-split kWh = heat needed (Btu) ÷ HSPF2 ÷ 1,000. HSPF2 is Btu of heat per watt-hour.
Baseboard kWh = heat needed ÷ 3,412 Btu per kWh (EIA).
Propane gallons = heat needed ÷ (91,452 Btu × appliance efficiency); heating oil uses 138,500 Btu per gallon; natural gas uses 100,000 Btu per therm (EIA).
State electricity rates are EIA residential averages for July 2026 (EIA Table 5.6.A). Use the rate on your bill if you know it.

Fuel prices and heat needed are example defaults; replace them with your own. HSPF2 is a seasonal rating under test conditions, so real costs vary with climate and installation. See the operating cost guide for a worked example.