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      Severe winters · Mild summers

      Best heat pumps for Missoula, MT

      Missoula averages 6.7 nights a year at or below 0°F, so pick a cold-climate certified model and check its output at 5°F.

      A typical heat pump costs about $1,672 a year to heat a house here and $59 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $989 for the same heat.

      Cheapest to run in Missoula

      Ranked by yearly electricity cost in this climate, so the balance of heating and cooling efficiency is the one that matters here. Cold-climate certified models only.

      Running cost calculator for Missoula

      Pre-filled with Missoula's climate and Montana prices. Pick a model, tell it what you heat with today, and add your quote.

      Heat pump $1,148/yrCosts more by $298/yrSee details ↓
      1. Where you live
      Adjust heating and cooling hours

      Filled in from your city's climate. Change them if you run the system much more or less than usual.

      2. The heat pump pick a model or type its ratings
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,148
      Current system, per year
      $850
      Costs more per year
      $298
      Payback
      No payback
      Net after 10 years
      -$11,980

      Cooling $33Heating $1,114Electricity used: 8,240 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $236

      Estimates use the unit's rated SEER2 and HSPF2, full-load hours derived from NOAA 1991-2020 degree days, average residential electricity prices from the U.S. EIA (12 months to July 2026) and fuel prices from EIA (2025 for natural gas, week of 2026-10-05 for propane and heating oil). Very cold days that need backup heat are not modelled. Federal minimum for comparison: 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2.

      More for Missoula

      Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $358/yr
      ModelSEER2HSPF2Per year
      MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W27.514.5$358
      Goodman MSH123G26MCAA27.514.5$358
      Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP131.513.7$377
      Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS129.412.9$400
      Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH130.512.7$406

      All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

      Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $716/yr
      ModelSEER2HSPF2Per year
      SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG27.514.5$716
      MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X22.313.5$773
      Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK21.213.5$774
      Comfort-Aire A-VHP24SA-121.013.5$775
      Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O22.313.3$784

      All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

      Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $1,267/yr
      ModelSEER2HSPF2Per year
      TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL29.712.2$1,267
      LG KUSXA361A23.510.5$1,475
      Trane 5TWV0X36A121.010.5$1,481
      Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A20.510.5$1,482
      Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A20.010.4$1,497

      All 3-ton central heat pumps

      Heat pump vs. gas, propane and oilgas is cheaper to run

      Yearly cost to heat a typical house (36,000 BTU/h of heat, 3,000 full-load hours) at Montana prices.

      • Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$989/yr
      • Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$1,175/yr
      • Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$1,672/yr
      • Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$2,379/yr
      • Electric baseboard or furnace$4,409/yr
      • Heating oil, 85% AFUE$5,481/yr

      Electricity and natural gas: Montana residential averages from the U.S. EIA; propane and heating oil: latest EIA weekly prices.

      Month by monthpeak $280 in December

      Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 13.9¢/kWh.

      MonthHeating DDCooling DDCost
      January1,2460$277
      February1,0090$225
      March8570$191
      April6240$139
      May3753$84
      June18528$46
      July39146$37
      August47115$33
      September24015$56
      October6490$144
      November9830$219
      December1,2600$280
      What size heat pump for a Missoula home?5 ton for 2,000 sq ft
      • 1,000 sq ft house2.5 ton · heating load 30,000 BTU/h
      • 1,500 sq ft house4 ton · heating load 45,000 BTU/h
      • 2,000 sq ft house5 ton · heating load 60,000 BTU/h
      • 2,500 sq ft house5+ ton · heating load 75,000 BTU/h

      Average insulation, 8 ft ceilings. Size calculator for your own home

      Questions4
      Do heat pumps work in Missoula winters?
      Missoula averages 6.7 nights a year at or below 0°F, so pick a cold-climate certified model and check its output at 5°F. The average winter low is 19°F, and the heating season adds up to 7,514 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
      How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Missoula?
      A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $1,672 of electricity a year for heating and $59 for cooling in Missoula, at the Montana average of 13.9¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
      Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Missoula?
      Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $1,672 a year with a typical heat pump versus $989 with a 95% gas furnace (Montana averages: 13.9¢/kWh, $0.87/therm). A high-HSPF2 model narrows the gap, and a heat pump also replaces the air conditioner. Against propane, oil or electric heat it is usually far cheaper.
      What size heat pump do I need for a 2,000 sq ft house in Missoula?
      With average insulation, roughly a 5-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 27,600 BTU/h and the heating load 60,000 BTU/h. Use the size calculator for your own house, and ask installers for a Manual J calculation.

      Nearby cities

      Climate: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station MISSOULA INTL AP (7 km away).