How to Split Utilities With Roommates: 5 Fair Methods

Rent is the big number, but utilities can quietly become a source of roommate tension. Who left the AC running all day? Why is the electricity bill $50 higher this month? Is it fair that you pay equally when your roommate takes 30-minute showers?

Here are five fair methods to split utilities with roommates, from simplest to most precise.

Method 1: Equal Split (The Classic)

How it works: Add up all utilities, divide by the number of roommates.

Formula: Each person pays = Total utilities ÷ Number of roommates

Example:

• Electricity: $120
• Gas: $40
• Water: $30
• Internet: $60
• Total: $250 ÷ 3 roommates = $83.33 each

Pros

• Dead simple
• No tracking or calculations needed
• No arguments about who used what

Cons

• Doesn't account for different usage levels
• Can feel unfair if one roommate uses significantly more

When to use it

Equal splitting works best when:

• Roommates have similar lifestyles and schedules
• No one has unusually high usage (space heaters, mining rigs, long showers)
• You prioritize simplicity over precision
• Bills are relatively low so differences are minor

Method 2: Split by Bedroom (The Room-Based Approach)

How it works: Divide utilities based on the number of rooms, adjusting for couples.

Formula:

• Each single roommate = 1 share
• Each couple = 1.5 shares
• Total shares = sum of all shares
• Each person pays = (Their shares ÷ Total shares) × Total utilities

Example: 2 singles + 1 couple

• Singles: 1 + 1 = 2 shares
• Couple: 1.5 shares
• Total: 3.5 shares
• Bill: $350

Single roommate A: (1 ÷ 3.5) × $350 = $100 Single roommate B: (1 ÷ 3.5) × $350 = $100 Couple: (1.5 ÷ 3.5) × $350 = $150

Pros

• Simple to calculate
• Accounts for couples using more resources
• Fair for most standard situations

Cons

• Doesn't account for individual usage differences
• Couples might feel slightly overcharged if they're low-usage

When to use it

Room-based splitting works well when:

• You have couples and singles living together
• Rooms are similar in size and equipment
• You want something fairer than equal but simpler than per-person

Method 3: Per-Person Split

How it works: Divide utilities by the number of people, regardless of rooms.

Formula: Each person pays = Total utilities ÷ Number of people

Example: 4 people (including a couple)

• Total utilities: $400
• Per person: $400 ÷ 4 = $100 each
• Couple pays: $200 combined
• Each single pays: $100

Pros

• Reflects actual usage most accurately
• Automatically fair for couples
• Easy to understand

Cons

• Couples pay more (which they should, but some resist)
• Still doesn't account for individual usage patterns

When to use it

Per-person splitting is ideal when:

• You want the fairest basic approach
• Everyone agrees that more people = more usage
• Couples accept paying proportionally more

Method 4: Usage-Based Split

How it works: Track or estimate who uses what, and split accordingly.

This is the most precise method but requires more effort.

Common Usage-Based Adjustments

Electricity:

• Room with window AC unit: +$30-50/month
• Room with space heater: +$20-40/month
• Work-from-home roommate: +15-20% of electric bill
• Gaming PC or mining rig: +$30-100/month

Water/Gas:

• Long showers (15+ min): +$10-20/month
• Frequent baths: +$10-15/month
• Roommate who cooks daily: +$10-15/month gas

Internet:

• Everyone uses roughly equally, so split evenly

Example: Adjusting for AC Units

Base electric bill: $150

• Room A has window AC: +$40
• Room B has no AC: +$0
• Room C has no AC: +$0

Adjusted split:

• Room A: ($150 × 1/3) + $40 = $90
• Room B: ($150 × 1/3) = $50
• Room C: ($150 × 1/3) = $50 + $10 bump to cover Room A's extra = $55

(In practice, most roommates just estimate a flat monthly premium rather than tracking precisely.)

Pros

• Most accurate reflection of actual usage
• Fair for high and low users
• Encourages conservation

Cons

• Requires tracking or estimating usage
• Can lead to arguments about what counts
• More complex to manage monthly

When to use it

Usage-based splitting makes sense when:

• One roommate has noticeably higher consumption
• Bills are high enough that differences matter ($50+/month)
• Everyone agrees on how to estimate usage

Method 5: The Hybrid Approach

How it works: Combine methods based on what makes sense for each utility.

Most roommates end up doing a version of this naturally.

Recommended Hybrid Split

Example: 3 roommates (1 couple + 1 single)

Electricity ($120): Per person

• Couple: $80 (2/3)
• Single: $40 (1/3)

Gas ($45): Per person

• Couple: $30
• Single: $15

Internet ($60): Equal split by room

• Couple: $30
• Single: $30

Water ($30): Per person

• Couple: $20
• Single: $10

Streaming ($30 Netflix + HBO): Only couple uses HBO

• Netflix: $15 each household ($30 ÷ 2)
• HBO: $15 couple only
• Couple: $30, Single: $15

Monthly totals:

• Couple: $80 + $30 + $30 + $20 + $30 = $190
• Single: $40 + $15 + $30 + $10 + $15 = $110

Apps and Tools for Splitting Utilities

Tracking and splitting utilities manually is tedious. Here are tools that help:

Splitwise

• Track shared expenses and IOUs
• Send reminders for payments
• Calculate complex splits automatically
• Free tier available

Venmo/PayPal/Zelle

• Easy payment splitting
• Request money from multiple people at once
• Keep records of payments

Utility Company Features

• Some providers let you add roommates to view bills
• Auto-pay can be split with one person paying and others reimbursing

Shared Spreadsheet

• Google Sheets template for monthly tracking
• Everyone can see what's owed
• Creates a record over time

Setting Up Your Utility Split

Step 1: Decide on a Method

Have a conversation before the first bill arrives. Agree on:

• Which method you'll use (per-person, equal, hybrid)
• How you'll handle anomalies (e.g., one month with unusually high AC usage)
• When and how bills get paid

Step 2: Designate a Bill Manager

One person should:

• Collect bills as they arrive
• Calculate each person's share
• Send payment requests
• Track who's paid

Rotate this role quarterly if it feels burdensome.

Step 3: Set a Payment Deadline

Pick a consistent date each month:

• 5 days after the bill arrives
• 1st of the month
• Same day as rent

Consistency prevents "I forgot" excuses.

Step 4: Document the Agreement

Include utility arrangements in your roommate agreement:

• Method for splitting
• Due dates
• What happens if someone doesn't pay
• How to handle disputes

Common Utility Disputes and How to Handle Them

"The Bill Is Higher Than Usual"

Before assuming someone's at fault:

1. Check if the rate changed
2. Look at weather (heating/cooling usage)
3. Review if anything new was added (space heater, aquarium)

If someone's usage clearly spiked, have them cover the difference.

"I'm Never Home, Why Should I Pay Equally?"

Common response: "You still benefit from having the apartment available whenever you want it. But if you're gone for 2+ weeks, we can reduce your share for that period."

Some roommates prorate for extended absences (vacation, work travel). Others don't. Decide upfront.

"Your AC/Heater Uses More Than Mine"

If one room has personal heating/cooling:

• Estimate the extra cost (usually $30-60/month)
• That person pays a flat premium on electricity
• Everyone else splits the base amount equally

"You Take Long Showers"

Water is hard to track individually. Options:

• Ask them to shower faster (awkward but direct)
• Estimate the extra cost and add $10-15 to their share
• Accept it as the cost of cohabitation

FAQ

Should utilities be split the same way as rent?

Not necessarily. Rent depends on room size and amenities. Utilities depend on usage, which correlates more with the number of people than room size. Per-person splitting is usually fairest for utilities.

What if one roommate refuses to pay their share?

Document what they owe. If they consistently don't pay:

1. Have a direct conversation
2. Propose they put their share in a joint fund upfront
3. Include late fees in your roommate agreement
4. As a last resort, this may be grounds for asking them to leave

How do we handle summer AC / winter heating spikes?

Options:

• Average the annual cost and pay the same amount monthly (smooths out spikes)
• Pay actual amounts monthly and accept the variation
• Whoever uses room AC/heaters pays the premium for those months

What about utilities that are included in rent?

If utilities are bundled with rent, there's nothing to split—just focus on rent. Enjoy the simplicity!

The Bottom Line

For most roommate situations, per-person splitting with hybrid adjustments is the fairest approach:

• Base utilities split by the number of people
• Premium utilities (streaming, personal AC) split by who uses them
• Use Splitwise or a simple spreadsheet to track

Set up your system before the first bill arrives, document it in your roommate agreement, and revisit if circumstances change.

Already got your rent split figured out? If not, try our free calculator to make sure you're paying fair rent too.