Natural gas heats more American homes than any other source

May 21–26, 2026 · n = 1,000 · MoE ±3.1%Source report ↗

Core finding

No other heat source comes close to natural gas: 36% of Americans name a natural gas furnace as their home's main source of heat, according to a May 2026 Verasight survey.

Electric resistance heating and air-source heat pumps tie for a distant second, each named by 17%. Boilers account for 8%, delivered fuels such as oil or propane 5%, something else 4%, and a ground-source or geothermal heat pump 1%, while 11% are not sure.

Topline distribution

Natural gas heats more American homes than any other source.

In your home, what type of heating system is used as your main source of heat?

Natural gas furnace
36.4%
Electric resistance
17.3%
Heat pump (air source)
16.5%
Not sure / I don't know
11.1%
Boiler
7.9%
Delivered fuels (e.g., oil or propane)
5.3%
Other
4.1%
Other heat pump (e.g., ground source or geothermal)
1.4%

n = 1,000 · May 21–26, 2026 · MoE ±3.1%

ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUS adults age 18+
Field datesMay 21–26, 2026
Base (unweighted)1,000
Margin of error±3.1%
ModuleVerasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2026-052
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    In your home, what type of heating system is used as your main source of heat?

    reports.verasight.io/r/aapor-2026

Cite this question

Verasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2026-052, fielded May 21-26, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.