Calculate heating cost per degree from a total heating cost and temperature rise, or find the total cost or temperature increase, in °C or °F.
Cost Per Degree of Heating Formula
The basic cost per degree of heating formula divides the total heating cost by the temperature increase.
- CPD = cost per degree of heating
- C = total cost spent on heating
- ΔT = change in temperature
- ΔTC = temperature change in degrees Celsius
- ΔTF = temperature change in degrees Fahrenheit
Select the value to solve for. Enter total heating cost and temperature increase for cost per degree; cost per degree and temperature increase for total heating cost; or total cost and cost per degree for temperature increase. The rate and temperature units are converted consistently.
Temperature change is a difference, not an outdoor or indoor temperature reading by itself. For example, raising a space from 60°F to 68°F is a change of 8°F.
Cost Per Degree Heating Reference Values
Compare cost ratios only for comparable setups and durations. The qualitative categories below do not establish universal price thresholds or diagnose heating efficiency. Actual heating cost depends on energy prices, insulation, heating equipment, building size, weather conditions, and duration.
| Cost per degree result | General interpretation | Possible meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Lower cost to raise the temperature | Lower ratio relative to a comparable setup and duration; efficiency cannot be inferred from this ratio alone |
| Moderate | Middle ratio within the comparable costs being reviewed | An intermediate cost ratio; no universal normal heating cost is defined |
| High | Higher cost to raise the temperature | Higher ratio relative to a comparable setup and duration; investigate conditions before drawing conclusions |
| Temperature change | Equivalent change | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| 1°C | 1.8°F | Small thermostat adjustment |
| 5°C | 9°F | Noticeable room temperature increase |
| 10°C | 18°F | Large heating change, often over a longer heating period |
Example Cost Per Degree of Heating Calculations
Example 1: Find cost per degree
You spent $48 on heating and the temperature increased by 6°C.
The cost per degree of heating is $8 per °C.
Example 2: Find total heating cost
Your cost per degree is $7.50 per °C and the temperature change is 4°C.
The total heating cost is $30.
Cost Per Degree of Heating FAQ
What does cost per degree of heating mean?
Cost per degree of heating means how much money is spent for each degree of temperature increase. For example, if you spend $20 to raise the temperature by 5 degrees, the cost per degree is $4 per degree.
Should I use Celsius or Fahrenheit?
Use the same temperature scale you used to measure the temperature change. If your temperature change is measured in Fahrenheit, use Fahrenheit. If it is measured in Celsius, use Celsius. A change of 1°C is equal to a change of 1.8°F. Cost per degree converts inversely: $1 per °C equals $0.555556 per °F, while $1 per °F equals $1.80 per °C. Temperature differences do not use a 32-degree offset.
Why is the temperature change used instead of the final temperature?
This ratio uses the temperature increase rather than the final temperature. Raising a room from 60°F to 70°F is a 10°F change; from 68°F to 70°F is a 2°F change. Applying the same cost per degree and comparable setup and duration gives a smaller estimated cost for the smaller increase. This arithmetic does not independently forecast a heating bill.
