Heating costs in Germany: how your Heizkostenabrechnung is split

Heating is usually the biggest item in a German utility bill, and the hardest to read. It follows its own rules, the Heating Costs Ordinance (Heizkostenverordnung). Here is how the costs are split, what may be included and when you may cut your share.

By Phil Holthaus & Johann Slawski, founders of nebify — Nebenkostenabrechnungen checked by people and software.

Last updated October 14, 2026

Key facts at a glance

With central heating, 50 to 70 % of the costs are split by your consumption, the rest by floor area.
Units on a heat cost allocator are not kWh. They show your share compared with the other flats.
Missing readings may be estimated. If more than 25 % of the area is estimated, costs are split by area only.
Remote-readable meters mean monthly consumption information. From 2027 all meters must be remote-readable.
You may cut your share by 15 % or 3 % if your landlord breaks certain rules.

Radiator with thermostat valve and woollen socks in a living room

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Short answer

In Germany, the costs of a central heating system are split between 50 and 70 % by your recorded consumption and the rest by floor area. The split, the total costs, your consumption and the price per unit must all be shown in your Heizkostenabrechnung. If something is missing or estimated, ask why, and check whether you may cut your share.

How the costs are split

„Von den Kosten des Betriebs der zentralen Heizungsanlage sind mindestens 50 vom Hundert, höchstens 70 vom Hundert nach dem erfassten Wärmeverbrauch der Nutzer zu verteilen.“

In English: “Of the costs of operating the central heating system, at least 50 percent and at most 70 percent must be split according to the users' recorded heat consumption.”

§ 7 (1) sentence 1 HeizkostenV — our translation; only the German text is binding

Two parts of your heating costs

Consumption costs (Verbrauchskosten): 50 to 70 %, by your recorded consumption
Base costs (Grundkosten): 30 to 50 %, by floor area or heated area

In buildings that do not meet the 1994 insulation standard, are heated with oil or gas and have mostly insulated pipes, 70 % by consumption is mandatory. Your statement must show which split was used.

Units, kWh and estimated readings

Most flats have heat cost allocators on the radiators (Heizkostenverteiler). They count units, not energy. Your share is your units compared with all units in the building, multiplied by the consumption costs. A heat meter (Wärmezähler) measures real energy in kWh instead.

If a device failed or no reading was possible, the landlord may estimate your consumption from earlier years, comparable rooms or the building average (§ 9a HeizkostenV). If estimates cover more than 25 % of the total area, the whole building must be billed by area only.

→ ista bill explained in English → Techem bill explained in English

What may be included in heating costs

The Heating Costs Ordinance lists what belongs to the costs of operating the system (§ 7 (2) HeizkostenV), in short:

fuel and its delivery, and electricity used to produce heat,
operating electricity for pumps and controls,
operation, supervision and care of the system, regular safety checks and adjustment by a specialist,
cleaning of the system and the boiler room, emission measurements,
rent and use of the metering devices, including calibration,
the calculation and splitting of the costs by the metering company.

Repairs of the boiler, new parts and the landlord’s management work are never heating costs.

When you may cut your share

15 %: not by consumption
Heating is billed by area only although consumption should be recorded (§ 12 (1) sentence 1 HeizkostenV).
3 %: no monthly information
Your meters are remote-readable, but you do not get monthly consumption information (§ 6a and § 12 (1) sentence 3 HeizkostenV).
3 %: meters not remote-readable
From 2027, if the landlord has not installed remote-readable meters by the end of 2026 (§ 5 (2) and § 12 (1) sentence 2 HeizkostenV).
3 %: CO₂ split missing
Your landlord must show how the CO₂ costs are split. If not, you may cut your heating share (§ 7 (4) CO2KostAufG).

→ Calculator: how much you may cut (German)→ CO₂ costs on your heating bill

Heating bill too high, but you cannot see why?

Whether the split is right, an estimate is justified or the fuel price matches the invoices only shows when you compare the statement with the documents. We check your heating bill and explain the result in English.

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If you read German: our page Nebenkostenabrechnung prüfen lassen explains the same check in German.

FAQ: heating costs in Germany

How are heating costs split between tenants in Germany?

Between 50 and 70 % of the costs of a central heating system are split by recorded consumption, the rest by floor area (§ 7 (1) HeizkostenV). In older buildings with oil or gas heating and mostly insulated pipes, it must be 70 % by consumption.

What do the units on my heat cost allocator mean?

Units from a heat cost allocator (Heizkostenverteiler) are not kWh. They only show your share compared with the other flats. Your costs depend on everyone's units and the total costs of the building.

What if my reading was estimated?

If a reading is missing, the landlord may estimate it from earlier periods, comparable rooms or the building average (§ 9a HeizkostenV). If estimates cover more than 25 % of the total area, the costs must be split by area only.

When can I cut my heating costs?

By 15 % if heating is not billed by consumption although it should be. By 3 % if the monthly consumption information is missing despite remote-readable meters, if the meters should be remote-readable but are not, or if the CO₂ split is missing.

Why are my heating costs high although I heated less?

Prices, the weather and your neighbours' consumption also matter. A move in autumn or winter often leads to a back payment, because the advance payment is calculated for a whole year including summer.

Is your heating bill correct?

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Legal note: This guide gives general information and is not legal advice on your individual case. Whether an item in your statement is actually not allowed depends on your rental contract and the facts of your case. For legal questions, a tenants' association (Mieterverein) or a lawyer specialising in tenancy law (Fachanwalt für Mietrecht) can help you.

More guides in English

Sources: § 7 HeizkostenV · § 9a HeizkostenV · § 12 HeizkostenV · § 6a HeizkostenV · § 7 CO2KostAufG