What Heating with a Heat Pump Costs in a Season: Range for a 120 m² House (2026)
Updated: 2026-10-01 · ~2 min read
The three numbers you must know
| Number | Typical values (120 m² house) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal heat demand | ~8,000–18,000 kWh (very tight house ~8k; poorly insulated ~18k) | tighter envelope = less electricity the pump burns — insulation is "half the investment" |
| SCOP (seasonal efficiency) | 3.0–4.5 (typically ~3.5 for an ASHP in a temperate climate) | kWh of electricity = kWh of heat ÷ SCOP |
| Tariff price per kWh | varies by country; in Central Europe roughly €0.20–0.45/kWh for households in 2026 (dynamic/off-peak windows lower) | tariff + buffer = the real savings lever |
Example: well-insulated 120 m² house
- Demand: 12,000 kWh heat/season; SCOP 3.5 → ~3,400 kWh electricity/season.
- At €0.35/kWh (flat tariff) → ~€1,200/season.
- The same energy on gas (boiler η≈90%): ~13,300 kWh of gas ≈ 1,330 m³. At typical EU household gas prices (~€0.08–0.12/kWh), that's roughly €1,100–1,600 — so the gap depends on your market: where electricity is relatively cheap (e.g. PL, CZ), the heat pump wins clearly; where the electricity premium is high (e.g. DE, UK, NL), the gap narrows to near-parity or can even favor gas.
- Add off-peak/dynamic tariff + a buffer tank → typically −10–30% on the bill → ~€850–1,100/season in the example.
Poorly insulated house (the realistic scenario)
- Demand: 18,000 kWh; SCOP 3.3 → ~5,450 kWh electricity; at €0.35/kWh → ~€1,900/season.
- Gas for the same heat: ~2,000 m³ ≈ €1,600–2,400 depending on market.
- Lesson: the savings still exist but are smaller — which is why the "insulation pool" (windows, walls, heat-recovery ventilation) is often worth more than the choice of pump itself.
What NOT to include in a first estimate
- Domestic hot water (DHW): typically 1,000–2,000 kWh/season — add it to the demand if the heat pump also heats DHW.
- Summer cooling: an ASHP with cooling burns electricity in summer — extra cost (though summer tariffs are sometimes lower).
Checklist before you commit to a number
- Energy audit of the building (U-values, ventilation) — the real base for demand.
- SCOP for YOUR climate class and your water temperature (see COP/SCOP guide).
- Tariff structure: do you have (or plan) a 200–500 L buffer that lets you shift heating to cheap hours? (see dynamic tariff guide).
Affiliate slot: heat pumps / buffer tanks — to be wired via a marketplace after publisher registration.
Sources
- Typical seasonal heat demand for 100–150 m² single-family houses (industry data, indicative); as of October 1, 2026.
- EU household electricity and gas price ranges (varies by country; indicative 2026 levels); as of October 1, 2026.