Do heat pumps work in Oklahoma City winters?

Winters in Oklahoma City are moderate - about 15 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 29°F, and the heating season adds up to 3,615 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Oklahoma City?

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $791 of electricity a year for heating and $375 for cooling in Oklahoma City, at the Oklahoma average of 13.6¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Oklahoma City?

Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $791 a year with a typical heat pump versus $764 with a 95% gas furnace (Oklahoma averages: 13.6¢/kWh, $1.39/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 Oklahoma City?

With average insulation, roughly a 3.5-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 32,100 BTU/h and the heating load 38,000 BTU/h. Use the size calculator for your own house, and ask installers for a Manual J calculation.

Moderate winters · Hot summers

Best heat pumps for Oklahoma City, OK

Winters in Oklahoma City are moderate - about 15 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them.

A typical heat pump costs about $791 a year to heat a house here and $375 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $764 for the same heat.

This guide also covers Norman, which share Oklahoma City's weather station and climate data.

Nights at or below 0°F0.1 a year
Nights at or below 20°F15 a year
Days at or above 90°F73 a year
Average winter low29°F
Average summer high91°F
Electricity13.6¢ per kWh
Natural gas$1.39 per therm

Cheapest to run in Oklahoma City

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

Best 12,000 BTU mini-split

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1

12,000 BTU mini-split · AIRSTAGE H-Series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 31.5
HSPF2: 13.7
Per year here: $241

For one large room.

Full specs and running cost

Best 24,000 BTU mini-split

SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG

24,000 BTU mini-split · SHC Series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 27.5
HSPF2: 14.5
Per year here: $482

For open-plan floor or small home.

Full specs and running cost

Best 3-ton central heat pump

TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL

3 ton central · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 29.7
HSPF2: 12.2
Per year here: $798

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Oklahoma City

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

Heat pump $740/yrYou save $290/yrSee details ↓

1. Where you live

StateCityElectricity ¢ per kWh

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.

Cooling hours full-load hours per yearHeating hours full-load hours per year

2. The heat pump pick a model or type its ratings

Find a model (fills in the ratings below)

SEER2 cooling efficiencyHSPF2 heating efficiencyCooling capacity BTU/hHeating capacity BTU/h

3. What it replaces

Current heatingFurnace efficiency (AFUE %)Gas price, $/thermCurrent coolingOld AC rating SEER2 (10 ≈ 15+ years old)

4. Price replace the example with your quote

Installed price, $Rebates and incentives, $ utility, state

Heat pump, per year: $740
Current system, per year: $1,030
You save per year: $290
Payback: Over 30 years
Net after 10 years: -$6,097

Cooling $213Heating $527Electricity used: 5,427 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $190

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 Oklahoma City

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $241/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$241
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W	27.5	14.5	$241
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA	27.5	14.5	$241
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS1	29.4	12.9	$256
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$256

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $482/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$482
MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X	22.3	13.5	$542
Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O	22.3	13.3	$547
ComfortStar CHF3-24CD(O)	22.3	13.3	$547
Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK	21.2	13.5	$552

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $798/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$798
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$949
LG KUSXB361A	22.0	10.3	$981
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$981
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A	20.5	10.5	$989

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, 1,450 full-load hours) at Oklahoma prices.

Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$764/yr
Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$791/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$907/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$1,378/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$2,085/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$2,649/yr

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

Month by monthpeak $182 in January

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 13.6¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	832	0	$182
February	637	1	$139
March	437	9	$98
April	206	35	$52
May	50	151	$41
June	1	357	$72
July	0	518	$104
August	0	485	$98
September	20	251	$55
October	177	56	$50
November	478	4	$105
December	776	0	$170

What size heat pump for a Oklahoma City home?3.5 ton for 2,000 sq ft

1,000 sq ft house2 ton · heating load 19,000 BTU/h
1,500 sq ft house2.5 ton · heating load 28,500 BTU/h
2,000 sq ft house3.5 ton · heating load 38,000 BTU/h
2,500 sq ft house4 ton · heating load 47,500 BTU/h

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

Questions4

Do heat pumps work in Oklahoma City winters?: Winters in Oklahoma City are moderate - about 15 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 29°F, and the heating season adds up to 3,615 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Oklahoma City?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $791 of electricity a year for heating and $375 for cooling in Oklahoma City, at the Oklahoma average of 13.6¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Oklahoma City?: Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $791 a year with a typical heat pump versus $764 with a 95% gas furnace (Oklahoma averages: 13.6¢/kWh, $1.39/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 Oklahoma City?: With average insulation, roughly a 3.5-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 32,100 BTU/h and the heating load 38,000 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 OKLAHOMA CITY WILL ROGERS AP (12 km away).