Water Heater comparison
Gas vs Electric Water Heater: Which Should You Buy?
By the WhatSize editorial team 5 min read Standards-reviewed
The fuel your water heater uses affects how fast it reheats, what it costs to run, and how hard it is to install. A gas water heater burns natural gas or propane and reheats quickly, giving it a higher First Hour Rating (FHR). An electric unit uses heating elements — simpler and more efficient per unit of energy, but slower to recover and usually more expensive to operate.
Tank size still depends on your household and peak demand (use the water heater calculator), but fuel type decides recovery speed and running cost. If you're also weighing storage vs on-demand, see our tank vs tankless comparison.
Gas vs Electric: Side-by-Side
| Factor | Gas | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery / FHR | Faster (higher FHR) | Slower |
| Efficiency (UEF) | 0.60-0.70 | 0.90-0.95 |
| Operating cost | Lower where gas is cheap | Higher (unless heat pump) |
| Upfront price | $400-$900 | $400-$800 |
| Installation | Needs gas line + venting | Simpler, no venting |
| Works during a power outage | Often yes (standing pilot) | No |
| Best for | Large households, cold climates | Homes without gas, small households |
When to choose Gas
- You already have a natural gas line (or use propane)
- Your household is large or has high simultaneous hot-water demand
- You live in a cold climate where incoming water is cold and fast recovery matters
- Natural gas is cheaper than electricity in your area
- You want hot water to keep working during power outages
When to choose Electric
- Your home has no gas line, or adding one is costly
- You want a simpler, cheaper installation with no venting or combustion
- Your household is small to medium with modest demand
- You're considering a heat-pump (hybrid) electric model, which can be cheaper to run than gas
- You prefer higher efficiency and no combustion byproducts indoors
Frequently asked questions
Is gas or electric cheaper to run?
It depends on local utility rates, but a standard gas tank is usually cheaper to operate than a standard electric tank because gas costs less per unit of heat. The exception is a heat-pump (hybrid) electric water heater, which is 2-3x more efficient than a standard electric tank and can beat gas on operating cost.
Does an electric water heater take longer to heat?
Yes. Electric units have a lower recovery rate and First Hour Rating than gas, so they refill with hot water more slowly after heavy use. For a large family with back-to-back showers, that means choosing a bigger tank or a heat-pump model to keep up.
Can I switch from electric to gas?
It's possible but not trivial. You'd need a gas line run to the unit and proper venting for combustion gases, which usually requires a plumber and sometimes a permit. If you don't already have gas service, an electric or heat-pump model is far simpler to install.
All Water Heater sizing guides
More water heater sizing guides
- What Size Water Heater for a 1-2 Person Household?
- What Size Water Heater for a 3-4 Person Household?
- What Size Water Heater for a Family of 5?
- Tank vs Tankless Water Heater: Which Size Is Right?
- What Size Water Heater for Electric vs Gas Homes?
- Water Heater FHR Chart: First Hour Rating by Household Size
- Tankless Water Heater GPM Chart by Household Size
- Water Heater UEF Rating Explained: Energy Factor vs FHR Chart
- What Size Water Heater for a 2-Bathroom House?
- 40 vs 50 Gallon Water Heater: Which Size Do You Need?
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