Heating Cost Calculator

The formula for heating costs is simple: annual cost = annual consumption × price per unit. 15,000 kWh of gas at €0.12/kWh results in €1,800 per year – or €150 per month. The harder part is knowing your own consumption and the right price. Consumption is shown on your meter or your supplier’s latest annual statement, and the price is in your current tariff.

CO₂ levy since 2021: Fossil fuels such as natural gas and heating oil have been subject to a national CO₂ levy since 2021. In 2026 the certificates are auctioned within a statutory price corridor of €55 to €65 per tonne of CO₂ (Section 10(2) BEHG). For natural gas that adds around 1.1–1.3 cents/kWh, for heating oil around 15–17 cents per litre. This levy is already included in most current supplier prices – check your tariff contract. For 2027 the law does not yet set a fixed price (Section 10(3) BEHG); a federal government draft bill would extend the €55–65 corridor, but it has not been passed (as of 11 October 2026).

Energy consumption and building standard: A building’s energy demand depends heavily on its insulation quality. An unrenovated older building can consume 200–300 kWh/m² per year, while a home at the Efficiency House 55 level needs only around 55 kWh/m². For 150 m² of living space, that is the difference between 30,000–45,000 kWh and 8,250 kWh. Insulation measures (roof, façade, basement) typically reduce consumption by 20–40% – with correspondingly lower heating costs.

Don’t forget additional costs: Our calculator shows the pure consumption costs. On top of that come the supplier’s base fee (€50–200/year), heating system maintenance (gas: €150–300/year, oil: €200–400/year), chimney sweep fees (€50–150/year) and any reserves for replacing the heating system. Total costs are therefore typically 15–25% higher than the pure energy costs.

If you rent your home, you usually pay heating costs through the service charge settlement – and that is governed by the German Heating Costs Ordinance (Heizkostenverordnung, HeizkostenV). It requires consumption-based billing for central heating systems: under Section 7(1) HeizkostenV, at least 50% and at most 70% of the costs must be allocated according to the users’ metered heat consumption. The remaining costs are allocated by living or usable floor space, or by enclosed building volume. The same range applies to hot water under Section 8 HeizkostenV.

Deduction rights for faulty bills: If the landlord does not bill based on consumption as the ordinance requires, tenants may reduce their share by 15% under Section 12(1) HeizkostenV. An additional 3% deduction each applies if no remotely readable metering devices are installed or if the monthly consumption information required by Section 6a HeizkostenV is missing. The authoritative text is published on gesetze-im-internet.de.

What this calculator covers: This calculator determines your heating system’s consumption costs from usage and energy price – the base that is allocated by consumption in the settlement. Use the result together with your service charge statement to check whether your bill applies the allocation formula correctly.