Display omitted •An evaluation method for heating solutions in rural households was adopted.•Field case studies examining four possible clean heating solutions were conducted.•Techno-economic performances of four clean heating solutions were evaluated.•Biomass pellet boiler and air-to-air heat pump could be prioritized in rural areas. The combustion of raw coal leads to severe environmental pollution; however, many people in Northern rural China still use coal as a primary heat source. How to select clean heating technologies that can replace raw coal is essential, but still unclear; therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the existing heating systems to find out the answer. Herein, we selected four possible substitution solutions, including shaped coal heating boiler, biomass pellet heating boiler, low ambient temperature air-to-water heat pump, and low ambient temperature air-to-air heat pump, to conduct field tests and compare with raw coal as the baseline. We assessed the indoor air temperature, energy conservation effect, environmental impact, and economic impact of these solutions. Results indicated that biomass pellet for heating and low ambient temperature air-to-air heat pump possess the potential for dissemination. Herein, the biomass pellet heating boiler is the best solution in rural areas with rich biomass resources, while the low ambient temperature air-to-air heat pump is deemed suitable in rural areas that lack access to biomass or have flexible heating demands. This study evaluated the possible clean heating solutions in Northern rural China, which might be useful for other countries facing similar environmental problems.