Heating 2026: how much CO₂ price is in your bill?
Every October the same question comes up in our WhatsApp groups: "Heating is getting more expensive again, right?" German news says yes, because of the CO₂ price. But how much is that really for a normal flat?
So I made a small calculator. You only need one number: how much gas (in kWh) or heating oil (in litres) you used last year. It's on your Nebenkostenabrechnung or your gas bill.
🔥 CO₂ heating cost calculator 2026
On your bill it's called "Verbrauch" in kWh. Only m³ on the meter? Multiply m³ by about 10 to get kWh.
"Arbeitspreis" on your gas bill, with VAT (brutto). Leave empty if you don't know — you'll still see the CO₂ part.
What this calculator can and can't tell you
What it does: it multiplies your yearly use by the 2026 CO₂ price range (55–65 € per tonne, plus 19% VAT). It also shows how much of that is new compared to 2025 (fixed 55 € per tonne). If you add your own price, it shows your rough yearly heating cost and what heating 1 °C less could save (rule of thumb: about 6% per degree).
What it can't do: it doesn't know your supplier's other price changes, the grid fees, your Grundpreis, or this winter's weather. It doesn't know how much of the CO₂ cost your landlord must pay (see below). The result is an estimate, not a bill.
What is this CO₂ price?
Germany puts a price on every tonne of CO₂ that comes from burning gas and oil for heating and driving. Your supplier pays it and passes it on to you. In 2025 the price was fixed at 55 € per tonne. In 2026 it moves in a range between 55 and 65 €.
| CO₂ price | Gas (per kWh) | Heating oil (per litre) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 € / tonne | ≈ 1.31 ct | ≈ 17.5 ct |
| 65 € / tonne | ≈ 1.55 ct | ≈ 20.7 ct |
All with 19% VAT. Figures as reported by 42watt.de.
The bigger change comes later. From 2028 the EU plans to start a new trading system for heating and fuel, and then the market sets the price. Nobody knows yet how high it will go — forecasts are very different. So it's smart to learn the cheap savings now.
Tenant? You may not pay all of it
Since 2023, landlords in Germany must pay part of the CO₂ cost for heating. How big that part is depends on the building. A badly insulated building means the landlord pays more. In a very efficient building the tenant pays almost everything.
- Central heating through the landlord: the split should be done in your Nebenkostenabrechnung. Check that it's there.
- Your own gas contract (for example a gas boiler in the flat): you can ask the landlord to pay back his share. Do it in writing, and don't wait — there is a time limit (12 months after your supplier's bill).
Not sure? Your local Mieterverein can check your bill.
Cheap ways to pay less this winter
- 1 °C lower. About 6% less heating energy per degree. 21 °C → 20 °C in the living room is hard to notice.
- Know your radiator knob. On most radiators "3" means about 20 °C. "5" doesn't heat faster — it just keeps going hotter.
- Short, full airing. 5 minutes with the window wide open, heater down. A window tilted all day wastes the most. (More in our mould guide.)
- Close the gaps. A draught stopper under the door and sealing tape on old windows cost little.
- Night and away time. A programmable radiator thermostat turns the heat down when nobody is home, and up before you come back.
- Curtains at night. Close thick curtains after dark — but keep them off the radiator.
🛒 Small things that help
These links open the Amazon.de search, so you can compare prices and reviews yourself. Check that a thermostat fits your radiator valve before you buy.
Turns the heat down at night or when you're out.
Keeps the warm room warm.
For old windows where you feel cold air.
Thick curtains for the night.
Common questions
Where do I find my yearly use?
On your Nebenkostenabrechnung (heating part) or on the yearly bill from your gas supplier. Look for "Verbrauch" in kWh. With heating oil, it's the litres you bought for the year.
Will my monthly payment go up?
Maybe, but mostly because of your supplier's price, not the CO₂ part. If you used more than expected last year, the advance payment (Abschlag) may go up too. You can ask your supplier to set it a bit higher yourself, so there's no big back-payment later.
I have district heating (Fernwärme). Does this work?
Not really. District heating is priced differently, so this calculator is only for gas and heating oil.
Is the 6% rule exact?
No, it's a rule of thumb. It depends on the building and the weather. Use it as a rough idea.
If this helped, share it in your family or community WhatsApp group — most people have never looked at the CO₂ line on their bill.
Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Verkäufen.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. CO₂ figures from public reports as of October 2026 (e.g. 42watt.de). Prices can change.