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Thermostat Setback Savings Calculator (Winter Heating)

See how much you could save on your heating bill by turning the thermostat down at night or while you are away, using the 1% per degree rule.

Tool inputs stay in your browser · optional AI search sends your query

Good to know: Scope: a quick estimate of how much of your winter heating bill you could save by setting the thermostat lower for parts of the day (mornings and evenings, daytime while you are away, and night). Not included: summer air conditioning, the cost of a new thermostat, your local weather, insulation or fuel prices, and exact utility-bill math; it is a rule of thumb, not an energy audit. The rule: the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Thermostat Savings Worksheet says that for every degree a thermostat is set back for 8 hours, you save approximately 1% of your heating bill. Its method: for each period subtract the new temperature from your current temperature, add the degrees, divide by 100 and multiply by what you pay to heat your home for one season. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Saver page says you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7°F to 10°F for 8 hours a day, that savings are a larger percentage in milder climates, and that programmable thermostats are generally not recommended for heat pumps. Everything stays in this browser tab; nothing is sent or saved. Independent ToolsKo estimate. Sources reviewed November 12, 2026.

How to use it (step by step)

  1. 1Find what you pay to heat your home for one winter season: add up the gas, oil, propane or electric heating part of your bills (your utility may show a yearly total).
  2. 2Enter the temperature you usually keep, then the lower temperature you plan for mornings and evenings, for the daytime while you are away and for the night. Leave a period at your usual temperature if you do not change it.
  3. 3Read the estimated dollars and percent saved. Try a few settings; DOE’s example of 7°F to 10°F lower for 8 hours a day (for example while you sleep) saves up to about 10%.

Words to know

Setback
Turning the thermostat lower than usual for a while, for example at night or while nobody is home, then back up later.
Heating season
The months you run your heat, usually fall through spring. Use your heating cost for that whole time, not just one month.
Programmable or smart thermostat
A thermostat that changes the temperature on a schedule by itself, so you do not have to remember to turn it down and back up.
Heat pump
An electric system that moves heat into the house. DOE says setting it back can make it run inefficiently, so this rule of thumb may not fit.

Explore tools for Australia, the US & Europe →

Sources & methods

References checked November 11, 2026. Read each tool’s scope and assumptions before relying on its result.

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