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How the natural gas price has moved across key timeframes. Change is calculated from the opening price of each period to the current price.
Natural gas is the world's third-largest energy source after oil and coal, and the fastest-growing fossil fuel due to its relatively low carbon intensity. It is essential for electricity generation, heating, and industrial processes. Henry Hub in Louisiana is the pricing point for US natural gas futures traded on NYMEX. Global gas markets are increasingly interconnected through liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.
Natural gas was first used commercially in the early 19th century for street lighting. The construction of long-distance pipelines after World War II enabled widespread residential and industrial use across the US and Europe. The Henry Hub benchmark and NYMEX futures contract launched in 1990, establishing transparent price discovery. The US shale gas revolution, beginning around 2008 with hydraulic fracturing of formations like the Marcellus and Haynesville, transformed the US from a projected gas importer into the world's largest producer and a major LNG exporter.
Electricity generation is the largest use of natural gas, accounting for roughly 40% of US consumption. Gas-fired power plants are flexible and lower-emission than coal, making them a complement to intermittent renewables. Residential and commercial heating consumes about 30%. Industrial uses (~25%) include fertilizer production (natural gas is the primary feedstock for ammonia), petrochemicals, glass manufacturing, and food processing. Natural gas is also used as a transportation fuel (compressed natural gas, or CNG) and as LNG feedstock for export.
The United States produces approximately 100 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), making it the world's largest natural gas producer. Russia, Iran, Qatar, China, and Canada are other major producers. The Marcellus Shale (Appalachia), Permian Basin (Texas/New Mexico), and Haynesville Shale (Louisiana/Texas) are the most prolific US basins. Associated gas, produced alongside crude oil, contributes a significant share of US output. Qatar and Australia are the world's largest LNG exporters.
US natural gas prices are set on NYMEX at the Henry Hub delivery point in Louisiana, quoted in USD per million British thermal units (MMBtu). Key drivers include weather (heating demand in winter, cooling demand in summer), storage inventory levels (reported weekly by the EIA), production volumes, pipeline capacity constraints, LNG export demand, coal-to-gas switching economics in power generation, and associated gas output tied to oil drilling activity. Natural gas is one of the most weather-sensitive commodities traded.
Investors can trade NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas futures (10,000 MMBtu per contract), micro natural gas futures, natural gas ETFs (such as UNG, the United States Natural Gas Fund), or options on gas futures. Equities in gas-focused E&P companies (EQT Corp, Coterra Energy, Southwestern Energy) and LNG companies (Cheniere Energy) offer correlated exposure. As with oil ETFs, natural gas futures-based products are subject to significant contango drag and high volatility.
The chart above shows the natural gas price per mmbtu in US dollars. Use the timeframe buttons below the chart to switch between periods.
Intraday indicative prices are updated every 5 minutes during market hours.
Markets trade Monday–Friday. During weekends and public holidays the chart displays the most recent available closing price.
Henry Hub is a natural gas pipeline interconnection point in Erath, Louisiana, where nine interstate and four intrastate pipelines converge. Its central location and extensive pipeline connectivity make it an ideal delivery point for the NYMEX futures contract, which has been the primary US gas price benchmark since 1990.
Natural gas is the most weather-sensitive major commodity. Cold winter weather drives heating demand, while hot summers increase gas-fired electricity generation for air conditioning. Traders closely watch heating degree days (HDDs) and cooling degree days (CDDs) relative to seasonal norms. Unexpected cold snaps can cause dramatic price spikes, particularly when storage inventories are below average.
Pipeline gas is transported as a compressed gas through fixed pipeline networks. LNG (liquefied natural gas) is gas cooled to minus 162°C, converting it to a liquid that occupies 1/600th the volume, enabling transport by specialized tanker ships. LNG allows gas to be traded globally, connecting previously isolated regional markets. The US became a net LNG exporter in 2016 and is now one of the world's top exporters.
Natural gas emits roughly 50% less CO₂ than coal and 25% less than oil when burned for electricity, making it a lower-carbon alternative within fossil fuels. Proponents argue gas-fired generation can complement intermittent renewables while economies transition to fully decarbonized energy. Critics note that methane leaks during extraction and transport can offset these benefits, and that gas infrastructure locks in decades of fossil fuel dependency.
The prices displayed are for informational purposes only. Use of this page is at your own risk. We accept no liability for errors.
| Timeframe | High | Low | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | 3.49 usd | 2.78 usd | +1.77% |
| 3 Months | 7.45 usd | 2.78 usd | -23.81% |
| 1 Year | 7.45 usd | 2.62 usd | -22.41% |
| 5 Years | 7.45 usd | 1.86 usd | +20.11% |
| 10 Years | 7.45 usd | 1.86 usd | +20.11% |
