Gas Prices Germany 2026: current tariffs, forecast and savings
On 13 May 2026, new customers pay around 9.98 ct/kWh for gas (Verivox consumer price index). The household average sits at 11.06 ct/kWh (Verivox May 2026, consistent with BDEW January 2026 at 11.10 ct), basic supply (Grundversorgung) at ~13.6 ct/kWh. Switching out of basic supply typically saves €200 to €500 per year depending on consumption and region (Verbraucherzentrale consumer protection guidance).
Key Takeaways
- New customer rate, 13 May 2026: ~9.98 ct/kWh (Verivox consumer price index).
- Household average 11.10 ct/kWh, basic supply 13.6 ct/kWh (BDEW Gas Price Analysis January 2026).
- CO₂ price 2026: €55 per tonne under BEHG Annex 1, adding ~1.1 ct/kWh to the gas price.
- Gas storage levy (Gasspeicherumlage) abolished 1 January 2026, ~€69 gross/year saved per 20,000 kWh household.
- Switching from basic supply to a special contract typically saves €200 to €500 per year at 20,000 kWh consumption (Verbraucherzentrale).
Compare gas tariffs for 2026
11.10 ct
per kWh (household avg)
Source: BDEW Gas Price Analysis Jan 2026
-38%
vs. 2022 peak
Peak Sept 2022 ~19.5 ct (BDEW)
~€2,220
annual cost (20,000 kWh)
Working price only, excl. base fee
2026 gas price by tariff type
The market splits into four main tariff types. If you are still on basic supply (Grundversorgung), switching makes the biggest difference. Industry pays significantly less because it can access spot prices and avoids consumer-side levies.
| Tariff type | Price per kWh | 20,000 kWh / year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New customer contract (Sondervertrag) | ~9.98 ct/kWh | ~€1,996 | Verivox, 13 May 2026 |
| Household average | 11.10 ct/kWh | ~€2,220 | BDEW Gas Price Analysis Jan 2026 |
| Basic supply (Grundversorgung) | ~13.6 ct/kWh | ~€2,720 | BDEW Jan 2026 |
| Industry (for comparison) | ~5.32 ct/kWh | – | BDEW Jan 2026 |
Note: figures show the working price only. The annual base fee (Grundgebühr) typically adds €80 to €150 depending on the provider.
What does gas heating cost per month by apartment size?
Apartment size drives consumption more than tariff choice does. A 50 m² flat in central Berlin burns less than a single-family home in rural Bavaria, even at identical pricing.
| Apartment size | Annual consumption | Monthly cost (avg 11.06 ct/kWh) | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~50 m² flat | ~5,000 kWh | ~€46 | ~€553 |
| ~100 m² flat | ~12,000 kWh | ~€111 | ~€1,327 |
| ~150 m² flat / family | ~20,000 kWh | ~€184 | ~€2,212 |
| Single-family home | ~25,000-30,000 kWh | ~€230-276 | ~€2,765-3,318 |
Working price only, at the household average from Verivox + BDEW (May 2026). Add €80-150/year base fee depending on provider. Real bills shift with insulation, hot water use and how cold the winter actually is.
Price history 2021 to 2026
After the 2022 shock, the German gas market has gradually normalized. Storage levels at record highs, completed shift away from Russian pipeline gas and the end of the storage levy have stabilized end-customer prices.
| Year | Avg. gas price (household) | Trend | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6.8 ct/kWh | → | before energy crisis |
| 2022 | 19.5 ct/kWh | ↑ | Ukraine war, spot market peak |
| 2023 | 15.2 ct/kWh | ↓ | storage filled, EU regulation |
| 2024 | 12.8 ct/kWh | ↓ | market normalizing |
| 2025 | 11.5 ct/kWh | ↓ | storage levy still active (final 0.289 ct/kWh) |
| 2026 | ~11.1 ct/kWh | → | BDEW Jan 2026 |
Data source: BDEW Gas Price Analyses 2021 to 2026, household customers including taxes and levies.
What makes up the 2026 gas price
Of every cent you pay per kWh, less than half goes to your supplier. Network operators, taxes and levies take the rest. The exact split shifts each year, and the CO₂ surcharge takes a growing share.
~45%
Procurement & sales
~23%
Network & metering fees
~32%
Taxes, levies, CO₂
In ct/kWh (Finanztip component baseline, May 2026): ~5.0 ct procurement + 2.84 ct network fees + 1.40 ct CO2 (BEHG Annex 1 with UBA factor 0.201 kg/kWh) + 0.55 ct gas tax, with 19% VAT on top. The result lands near 11 ct/kWh, consistent with BDEW Jan 2026 (11.10 ct) and Verivox May 2026 (11.06 ct).
Sources: BDEW Gas Price Analysis January 2026, Finanztip component breakdown 5/2026, Bundesnetzagentur network fee monitoring, UBA emission factor.
What changes for you in 2026
Gas storage levy abolished
The storage levy (Gasspeicherumlage), last charged at 0.289 ct/kWh (Jul-Dec 2025), was eliminated on 1 January 2026 after Bundestag and Bundesrat approval in November 2025. At 20,000 kWh, that saves about €69 gross per year. Source: Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency).
CO₂ price rises to €55/tonne
Under BEHG Annex 1, you now pay €55 per tonne of CO₂ in 2026, €10 more than in 2025. Using the UBA (Federal Environment Agency) emission factor of 0.201 kg CO₂/kWh, that adds ~1.1 ct/kWh, or about €220 per year at 20,000 kWh.
2026 forecast and outlook for 2027
The Bundesnetzagentur describes the German gas market as well-supplied for winter 2026/27. Storage targets under EU Regulation 2022/1032 are being met. What that means for your bill comes down to three factors:
- TTF spot price: Mostly €30-40/MWh since early 2026, with a brief spike to roughly €50/MWh during the Iran/Hormuz tensions in early March (Euronews, BDEW). By May 2026 the market normalized again. If geopolitics stays quiet, end-customer prices hold near current levels.
- Network fees: Adjusted annually by transmission and distribution operators. Several have announced moderate 2026 increases due to declining gas volumes.
- CO₂ price: Under the BEHG schedule, rises to €65 per tonne in 2027, roughly 1.3 ct/kWh, about 0.2 ct/kWh more than 2026.
We update this page at least four times a year, aligned with BDEW and BNetzA reports. Current status: May 14, 2026.
Regional differences in 2026
The national average hides some big gaps between regions. If you live in an area with limited provider competition, you tend to pay more than someone in a high-competition urban region.
Bavaria
slightly above average due to higher network fees
North Rhine-Westphalia
close to national average, strong provider competition
Berlin
slightly below average, dense supply network
Saxony / Thuringia
often higher, fewer providers per region
Across federal states, new-customer rates currently span roughly 7.23 to 9.51 ct/kWh (Check24 regional snapshot, May 2026). For your exact postal code (PLZ), the comparison tool above pulls live tariffs.
Data: BNetzA Market Monitor Gas 2026, Check24 regional comparison May 2026.
How to save on gas costs in 2026
The biggest savings live in your tariff choice, not in tiny thermostat tweaks. Sure, every degree counts, but moving out of basic supply usually beats all the efficiency tips combined.
Switch out of basic supply
At 20,000 kWh, switching to a special contract typically saves €200 to €500 per year according to Verbraucherzentrale (consumer protection). Use the comparison tool above, enter your postal code and you are done.
Adjust your heating habits
One degree lower room temperature cuts heating costs by about 6% (source: Umweltbundesamt). Short bursts of full window opening beat tilted windows. Do not block radiators with furniture.
Bleed radiators, check the system
Gurgling radiators waste energy. Bleed them once a year, lower flow temperature, get a hydraulic balancing done. That costs €300 to €800 but pays back within two heating seasons on many older systems.
Consider a heat pump
If you are facing a heating system replacement anyway, run the numbers on a heat pump. The BAFA grant can reach 70% of the investment cost in some cases (base grant + speed bonus + income bonus, conditions apply).
Looking for something else?
This page is the 2026 annual analysis with forecast, relief items and price history. Depending on your question, another article gets you there faster:
Gas comparison tool
Direct path to the comparison calculator. Enter postal code, pick offer.
Switch gas provider Germany
English-language switching guide for foreigners and expats.
Gas storage levy 2026
What changed and why the levy was abolished.
Heat pump vs gas 2026
Long-term cost comparison and switching considerations.
Compare gas Germany (free tool)
Free comparison in English with German providers.
Energy topics overview
Full topic hub: gas, electricity, solar, heat pumps.
Frequently asked questions about gas prices 2026
How much does gas cost in Germany in 2026?
On 13 May 2026, new customers pay about 9.98 ct/kWh for gas in Germany (Verivox consumer price index). The household average is around 11.06 ct/kWh, while basic supply (Grundversorgung) costs roughly 13.6 ct/kWh (BDEW Gas Price Analysis January 2026 + Verivox May 2026). At 20,000 kWh per year, that means about 1,996 EUR (new contract) to 2,720 EUR (basic supply).
Are German gas prices lower in 2026 than in 2025?
Slightly, despite a March 2026 spike. The household average sits around 11.06 ct/kWh in mid-May 2026 (Verivox), down from roughly 11.5 ct/kWh in 2025 (BDEW). Prices briefly jumped during the Iran/Hormuz tensions in early March 2026 — TTF spot rose about 25 percent in one day per Euronews, and new-customer rates moved up about 21 percent — before normalizing again by May. Compared to the 2022 peak of about 19.5 ct/kWh, prices are still around 43 percent lower.
What is included in the 2026 gas price?
According to BDEW Gas Price Analysis January 2026, the components break down as follows: about 45% procurement and sales, 23% network and metering fees, 32% taxes, levies and CO₂ surcharge. The state share covers CO₂ price (1.1 ct/kWh), energy tax, concession fee and VAT.
How does the CO₂ price affect gas in 2026?
Under BEHG Annex 1, the CO₂ price rises to €55 per tonne in 2026, €10 more than 2025. With the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) emission factor of 0.201 kg CO₂ per kWh, that adds about 1.1 ct/kWh. On 20,000 kWh annual consumption, that is roughly €220 per year.
Is there a gas storage levy in 2026?
No. The gas storage levy (Gasspeicherumlage), last charged at 0.289 ct/kWh (Jul-Dec 2025), was abolished on 1 January 2026 after the Bundestag voted on 6 November 2025 and the Bundesrat ratified on 21 November 2025. For a 20,000 kWh household, that saves about €69 gross per year.
What does 1 cubic metre of gas cost in 2026?
One cubic metre of natural gas (H-gas, gross calorific value) contains roughly 10 kWh. At an average mix price of around 11.5 ct/kWh, 1 m³ costs about 1.15 EUR. On a new customer contract (9.98 ct/kWh, Verivox May 2026) it drops to about 1.00 EUR; in basic supply (13.6 ct/kWh) it climbs to about 1.36 EUR.
What is the basic supply (Grundversorgung) gas price in 2026?
Basic supply tariffs average around 13.6 ct/kWh in 2026 (BDEW January 2026). At 20,000 kWh that means roughly €2,720 per year. Switching to a special contract (Sondervertrag) typically saves €600 to €1,000 per year at this consumption level (Verbraucherzentrale consumer guidance).
Is a price guarantee worth it in 2026?
A limited price guarantee (usually 12 months on the pure energy component) costs about 0.3 to 0.5 ct/kWh extra. With prices steady through 2026, the guarantee pays off mostly for higher consumption (older buildings, single-family homes). Important caveat: taxes, levies and network fees are usually NOT covered by the guarantee.
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission when you sign up through the comparison tool. You pay nothing extra. The tariff data comes from comparison partner CHECK24, not from checkalle.de itself.