Compare Gas Tariffs in Germany 2026
Built for expats and newcomers
As of July 2026, households in Germany pay an average of 11.1 cents per kWh according to BDEW (14 July 2026). New-customer tariffs start at roughly 9 cents in many regions, and default supply (Grundversorgung) is almost always more expensive. Here is how to find the right tariff without falling for the bonus trap.
New to fixed tariffs? Our guide explains what a gas price guarantee (Preisgarantie) really locks in, and which costs can still rise.
meinetarife24 Editorial Team
Our independent editorial team carefully reviews all information and regularly updates the content.
Key Takeaways
- Current price (July 2026): BDEW puts the household average at 11.1 ct/kWh (14 July 2026). New-customer tariffs start around 9 ct, and Finanztip lists 12-month price guarantees from about 10.5 ct. Default supply almost always costs more.
- Switching takes about 3 minutes: Meter number and annual usage are enough. Your new provider cancels the old contract.
- Watch out for Sofortbonus, Pakettarif, prepayment: They look cheap in year one and get expensive or risky later.
- Your gas supply will not stop: if your provider fails, the local default supplier immediately takes over via the replacement supply rules (§ 38 EnWG).
- No Schufa required: Newcomers without a German credit history can still sign up for gas.
Gas prices in Germany — what the July 2026 market looks like
The German gas market shows a clear gap this summer between what new customers pay and what runs through existing contracts. BDEW (the German energy industry association) puts the household average at 11.1 ct/kWh (14 July 2026). Verivox listed new-customer tariffs from roughly 9 ct/kWh on 16 July 2026, and Finanztip quoted 10.53 ct/kWh on 7 July 2026 as the best rate with a 12-month price guarantee. That gap is exactly where your saving potential sits.
Whether you want classic natural gas (Erdgas) or a tariff with a biogas share, the price depends on your federal state, network area, and contract model. In larger cities the new-customer rate often sits slightly below the national average; rural network areas sometimes sit a touch higher. A postal-code comparison only shows tariffs that are actually available at your address, including regional utilities where they are part of the network.
Taxes, levies, and grid fees make up a substantial part of the gas price, and switching does not change them. New since 2026: the CO₂ price under the German fuel emissions trading act (BEHG) is auctioned for the first time, inside a legal corridor of 55 to 65 euros per tonne. For natural gas that works out to roughly 1.1 to 1.4 cents per kWh baked into every tariff. Switching only affects the energy portion — but that share is large enough to add up to a three-digit euro difference per year.
Why comparing now makes sense
- · Summer is the off-season. The calmest time to switch is before the next heating period starts.
- · There is enough time before winter to handle cancellation periods without pressure.
- · If you are stuck in default supply, you can cancel with a two-week notice almost any time.
German terms on your gas bill
So you know what you are clicking on the provider portal.
Glossary
Worked example: gas costs for a four-person household
How your annual bill is built up (July 2026 reference values, rounded)
Initial Situation
A typical single-family home with gas heating and hot water uses around 18,000 kWh per year according to Heizspiegel. Worked example: default supply with a 13.5 ct/kWh working price and a 18.90 EUR monthly basic fee.
Calculation
18,000 kWh × 0.13518.90 EUR × 1218,000 × 0.10 + 12 × 12Result
A worked example with rounded July-2026 market values (BDEW, Verivox, Finanztip) — not a guaranteed saving. Your real difference depends on region, provider, and bonus model.
Bonuses usually apply only in year one. Starting month 13, the regular price kicks in. Plan another comparison before your minimum term ends.
Trap tariffs: package, prepayment, bonus trick
Three contract structures look cheap in the comparison tool but often cost more than expected. Minimum-usage clauses work the same way: fall short of the agreed volume and you still pay the full amount. Filter these models out once you know what they are.
Package tariff (Pakettarif)
You prepay a fixed kWh quantity. Use less and you do not get money back. Use more and the extra is billed at default-supply rates.
Prepayment (Vorkasse)
You pay the full year up front. If the provider goes bankrupt, your prepayment is part of the insolvency estate. Monthly billing is the safer model.
Welcome-bonus trap
A high first-year bonus pulls the effective cost down. From month 13 the regular working price applies. Check the price after bonus — that is the honest comparison value.
What to look out for when comparing
Editorial notes based on the most common reader questions
Default supply (Grundversorgung) is usually the most expensive option
If you do not choose a provider after moving in, you are automatically supplied by your local default provider at the standard rate. Verbraucherzentrale data shows these rates almost always sit above the cheapest market offers. Switching is free and takes a few minutes online.
A welcome bonus is not the same as a cheap tariff
Most providers advertise a Sofortbonus or Neukundenbonus that lowers your first-year bill. Starting month 13, the regular working price kicks in and can sit much higher. Always check the price after bonus and set a reminder before the minimum contract ends.
Package tariffs can backfire if your usage changes
A Pakettarif sells you a fixed kWh quantity up front. Use less, you do not get money back. Use more, and the extra kWh are charged at default-supply rates. For households with seasonal swings, this is risky.
Avoid prepayment tariffs
Tariffs with full-year prepayment look cheap on paper. If the provider goes bankrupt, your prepayment becomes part of the insolvency estate and you may lose it. Monthly billing with normal installments is the safer choice, and the small discount rarely justifies the risk.
Price guarantees give peace of mind
A Preisgarantie locks in the price for a defined period. Check whether the guarantee covers only the working price or also the basic fee, and whether taxes and levies are excluded. Full price guarantees are the most robust.
Provider went bankrupt? Here is what protects you
Many people remember the provider failures of the energy crisis and worry about picking a cheap, unknown supplier. The reassuring part: your gas keeps flowing without you doing anything. The local default supplier immediately takes over through the replacement supply (Ersatzversorgung) under § 38 EnWG.
The replacement supply runs for a maximum of three months. If you do nothing in that window, you slide into regular default supply under § 36 EnWG, which usually costs more than a tariff you pick yourself. So after a provider failure, compare and switch promptly. One thing stays critical: prepaid amounts become part of the insolvency estate and are often partly or fully lost. That is the main reason we advise against prepayment tariffs.
Your first gas tariff as a newcomer
When you move in, you land in default supply almost automatically. This is built into German law: until you actively choose a provider, the local default supplier bills you at the standard rate. Convenient, but typically the most expensive option.
First steps without a German credit history
- · No Schufa needed for basic gas supply.
- · Pick a tariff with a moderate bonus and monthly billing.
- · Meter number is on the previous bill or on the meter in the basement.
- · Annual usage for a 70 m² flat lands around 10,000 kWh per Heizspiegel benchmarks.
Tenant vs. owner
- · Own meter and own contract? You pick the provider.
- · Heating included in Nebenkosten? The landlord holds the contract — you cannot switch directly.
- · No landlord approval needed for switching the billing provider, only for the physical connection.
- · Your annual statement shows whether gas runs centrally or per flat.
Before you start
What is being compared here?
This comparison shows gas tariffs from providers in the CHECK24 network. For every offer you see the basic fee, working price per kWh, contract term, bonuses, and — when applicable — a price guarantee. Tariff data comes in real time from CHECK24; we do not calculate prices ourselves.
This comparison is suitable for:
- Private households with gas heating or a gas stove
- Tenants and owners with their own gas meter
- Anyone stuck in default supply
- Households interested in tariffs with a biogas share
This comparison is NOT suitable for:
- Large commercial customers with custom contracts
- Households on district heating instead of their own gas meter
- Residents of buildings where heating is billed via Nebenkosten
- Anyone exclusively searching for small regional Stadtwerke outside the CHECK24 network
Important note
Not every German gas provider is in the CHECK24 network. Some small regional utilities are missing. For very rural addresses, also consider a direct quote from the local Stadtwerk.
Data Source & Transparency
The tariff data on this page is provided in real-time by CHECK24. We do not alter prices, rankings, or how results are displayed.
Our role:
We provide editorial explanations and decision-making guidance. The actual tariff calculation and mediation is done by our partners.
What we do not cover:
Not all providers in the market are included in this comparison. Regional providers or specialized tariffs may be missing.
Compare gas tariffs now
Enter your postal code and annual usage — results in seconds.
How to interpret the results
How to read the results
- 1The annual price shown is based on your entered usage. Your real bill changes when your actual usage shifts.
- 2Look at both the basic fee (fixed monthly amount) and the working price (per kWh). A low working price does not help if the basic fee eats it back up.
- 3Bonuses usually apply only in year one. The price after bonus is the honest yearly comparison value.
- 4Biogas tariffs often cost only a few percent more than pure Erdgas tariffs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Looking only at the bonus — month 13 becomes expensive.
- Ignoring the price guarantee — without it, the provider can raise prices mid-term.
- Skipping the cancellation period — long minimum terms block your next switch.
- Underestimating winter usage — cold seasons push consumption up quickly.
What happens after the bonus period?
Many gas tariffs are cheap in year one because of bonuses. From year two the regular price applies. Set a calendar reminder before your minimum term ends so you can compare again.
Additional tips
- Compare in spring before the next heating season starts.
- Use the filter to exclude package tariffs, prepayment models, and minimum usage clauses.
- Check the duration of any price guarantee — 12 months is shorter than many people expect.
Common questions
What newcomers and long-term renters ask most often.
How much does gas cost in Germany in July 2026?
According to BDEW, households pay around 11.1 cents per kWh on average as of 14 July 2026. New-customer tariffs start at roughly 9 cents in many regions (Verivox, 16 July 2026), and Finanztip lists tariffs with a 12-month price guarantee from about 10.5 cents. Default supply rates usually sit well above these values.
Do I need a Schufa credit check to sign up for gas?
No. Gas supply is considered a basic need in Germany, so newcomers without a German credit history can sign up. Some providers run a Schufa check when granting very large bonuses. If you have no German credit file yet, choose a tariff with a moderate bonus and monthly billing.
I just moved into a flat with gas heating. What do I do now?
Check your rental contract first to see whether heating is included in your Nebenkosten (utility costs). If it is, your landlord handles the gas contract. If you pay gas directly, you need your meter number (on the meter in the basement or hallway), your new address, and a rough yearly usage estimate. You can then pick a provider or stay with the local default supplier — the latter is usually more expensive.
Will my gas supply be interrupted when I switch or if my provider fails?
No. When you switch, the physical pipeline stays the same and only the billing partner changes. If your provider fails, the local default supplier immediately steps in with the Ersatzversorgung (replacement supply, § 38 EnWG). It runs for a maximum of three months; after that you slide into regular default supply under § 36 EnWG unless you pick a new tariff.
What is the difference between natural gas (Erdgas) and biogas?
Erdgas is a fossil fuel from underground deposits. Biogas comes from organic residues like maize or biowaste. Biogas has a better CO₂ profile but is not automatically climate-neutral — methane emissions still occur. Tariffs with a biogas share usually cost only a few percent more than pure Erdgas tariffs. A reputable provider lists the exact biogas share in the tariff sheet.
When can I cancel my gas contract early?
The Sonderkündigungsrecht (special cancellation right) applies when your provider raises prices or changes contract terms. You usually have four to six weeks to cancel in writing, even if your minimum contract has not ended yet. A move outside your provider's supply area also triggers this right.
Can I switch gas providers as a tenant?
Yes — if you have your own gas contract and gas is not part of your Nebenkosten. You do not need landlord approval to switch the billing provider. The physical connection stays the same. If your building uses central heating run by the landlord, the landlord holds the contract and you cannot switch directly.
How do I spot a reputable gas provider?
Check four things: a complete Impressum with a German address, a transparent price structure without prepayment or forced package tariffs, clearly stated cancellation periods, and a customer service you can actually reach. Recent customer reviews and the provider's track record with past price increases help too. A high welcome bonus alone says nothing about reliability.
Related guides
- · Save on Gas & Cut Your Heating Bill — step-by-step ways to lower what you pay each year.
- · Turkish version: Save on Gas & Cut Your Heating Bill for Turkish-speaking readers.
Legal notice
Disclosure: This page contains advertising. meinetarife24.de participates in the CHECK24.net partner programme. Embedded iframe widgets may earn us a commission when a contract or lead is generated through them. This does not influence the tariffs displayed.
No legal or financial advice: Content on this page is for information only and does not replace individual advice from a Verbraucherzentrale, energy adviser, or lawyer.
Data source: Tariff data comes in real time from the CHECK24 network. Average gas-price values are based on publicly communicated data from BDEW (14 July 2026), Verivox (16 July 2026), and Finanztip (7 July 2026).
Last updated: 17 July 2026 · All information without warranty · Source for market averages: BDEW, Bundesnetzagentur, Verivox, Finanztip, Heizspiegel.