Key Takeaways
- CCF and therms are the most common units on residential gas bills. 1 CCF is approximately the same as 1 therm.
- BTUs help measure the heating power of your appliances.
- MCF is used for larger-scale gas consumption. 1 MCF is equal to 10 CCF.
If you’ve ever looked at your gas bill and felt confused by the different units of measurement, you’re not alone! Natural gas is measured in a few common ways: CCF, MCF, BTU, and therms. Each one tells a slightly different story about how much gas you’re using and how much energy it provides. Let’s break them down in an easy-to-understand way!
CCF (Hundred Cubic Feet)
What it is: CCF stands for “hundred cubic feet” and measures the volume of natural gas. One CCF equals 100 cubic feet of gas.
Why it matters: This is one of the most common units you’ll see on your gas bill. If your bill says you used 10 CCF, that means you consumed 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas in that billing period.
Therms
What it is: A therm is a unit of heat energy equal to 100,000 BTUs. It’s a practical way to measure the energy content of natural gas.
Why it matters: Many residential gas bills use therms to calculate charges. If your bill says you used 50 therms, that means you consumed 5,000,000 BTUs worth of energy.
MCF (Thousand Cubic Feet)
What it is: MCF stands for “thousand cubic feet” and represents a larger volume of gas. One MCF equals 1,000 cubic feet (or 10 CCF).
Why it matters: MCF is typically used for commercial or industrial gas usage. However, if you have a larger home with high gas consumption, you might see MCF used instead of CCF.
BTU (British Thermal Unit)
What it is: A BTU measures the energy content of natural gas—essentially, how much heat it can produce. One BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Why it matters: BTUs help describe the heating power of appliances like furnaces, water heaters, and stoves. For example, a furnace might be rated at 80,000 BTUs per hour, meaning it produces that much heat when running at full capacity.
How These Units Relate to Your Home
- What you’ll see on your bill: Most residential gas bills use CCF or therms to track usage.
- Typical household usage: An average home might use 50–100 therms per month in the winter for heating, cooking, and hot water.
- Quick conversions:
1 CCF ≈ 1 therm
1 therm = 100,000 BTU
1 MCF = 10 CCF ≈ 10 therms
Understanding these units can help you better track your gas usage and manage your energy costs. The more you know, the easier it is to make informed decisions about your home’s energy efficiency!
About the Author
David has been an integral part of some of the biggest utility sites on the internet, including InMyArea.com, HighSpeedInternet.com, BroadbandNow.com, and U.S. News. He brings over 15 years of experience writing about, compiling and analyzing utility data.