Thermostat Savings Calculator
See how much you save by adjusting your thermostat. The DOE estimates 1% savings per degree for every 8-hour setback. Enter your bill, setback, and hours to see your annual and 10-year savings.
Lowering the thermostat in winter or raising it in summer both save money.
Your average monthly heating or cooling bill (whichever season you selected).
How many degrees you adjust the thermostat. The DOE recommends 7-10 degrees for maximum savings.
How many hours per day the thermostat is set back. Overnight + work hours = ~16 hours.
How many months per year you actively heat or cool. Northern climates: 7-8 months heating; southern: 6-8 months cooling.
💵 Annual Savings
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You save — per month
Monthly Savings
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during heating/cooling season
% Savings
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of seasonal bill
10-Year Savings
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cumulative
💡 What this means
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🌡️ Save even more with a smart thermostat
🔌 See top-rated smart thermostats on Amazon →📝 How to use this thermostat savings calculator
- Choose your season — heating (winter) or cooling (summer). The savings formula works the same way for both.
- Enter your monthly bill — the amount you spend on heating or cooling during the season you selected.
- Set your setback degrees — how many degrees you adjust the thermostat. The DOE recommends 7-10 degrees for maximum savings.
- Enter hours per day — how long the thermostat stays at the setback temperature. Overnight + work hours = ~16 hours.
- Enter months per year — how many months your heating or cooling system runs. This annualizes your savings.
- Click Calculate — see your monthly, annual, and 10-year savings, plus what percentage of your bill you save.
📌 5 tips to maximize your thermostat savings
- ✓ Set back 7-10 degrees for 8 hours. The DOE says this can save up to 10% on heating and cooling annually. Overnight (sleeping under blankets) and work hours (no one home) are the easiest windows.
- ✓ Use a programmable or smart thermostat. Manual adjustments are forgotten 40% of the time. A $100 programmable thermostat pays for itself in 6-12 months and saves 10-23% annually per EPA estimates.
- ✓ Don't overshoot the setback. Setting back 15+ degrees can cause your HVAC to work so hard recovering that some savings are lost. 7-10 degrees is the sweet spot for most homes.
- ✓ Seal leaks first, then optimize the thermostat. Weather-stripping doors and windows costs $20-50 and can reduce heating/cooling loss by 10-20%, amplifying your thermostat savings.
- ✓ Cool to 78°F in summer, heat to 68°F in winter. These are the DOE-recommended set points when you are home and awake. Each degree closer to outdoor temperature saves about 1% per 8 hours.
Disclaimer: This calculator uses the U.S. Department of Energy's rule of thumb: ~1% energy savings per degree of thermostat setback for an 8-hour period. Actual savings vary based on climate, insulation, HVAC efficiency, home size, energy rates, and the specific setback pattern. Results are estimates for educational and planning purposes only.
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