How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in the UK in 2026?
Quick answer
Real heat pump prices in the UK for 2026, by property size and after the \u00a37,500 grant, plus what they cost to run.
- 1. Price by property size?
- The size of heat pump you need scales with the property, so the cost does too. These are 2026 guide ranges for a fully-installed air source system, showing both the list price and what you actually pay after the £7,500 g
- 2. What’s in the price?
- 🔧 The unit itself — £4,000–£8,000 for the outdoor heat pump. 👷 Installation labour — £2,500–£4,500 for a 2–5 day install by an MCS-certified fitter.
- 3. What does it cost to run?
- At a typical 2026 UK electricity rate of about 24p/kWh , an efficient air source heat pump (SCOP 3.5–4.5) works out to roughly £6–£14 per day for space and hot water heating in winter. Compare that to a gas boiler at abo
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The honest answer — by property size, after the £7,500 grant, and what it costs to run.
For a typical 3-bed home, a fully-installed air source heat pump costs £7,000–£12,000 before the grant. With the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme discount applied to your quote, most homeowners pay £3,500–£8,500. It costs roughly £6–£14 a day to run at current (2026) electricity prices — comparable to or slightly less than a gas boiler on a well-insulated home.
1. Price by property size
The size of heat pump you need scales with the property, so the cost does too. These are 2026 guide ranges for a fully-installed air source system, showing both the list price and what you actually pay after the £7,500 grant.
| Property | Unit size | Before grant | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bed flat / small house | 6–8 kW | £6,000 – £9,000 | £2,500 – £5,500 |
| 3-bed semi / detached | 8–11 kW | £7,000 – £12,000 | £3,500 – £8,500 |
| 4-bed detached | 11–14 kW | £9,000 – £15,000 | £5,500 – £10,500 |
| 5-bed + larger homes | 14–16 kW | £11,000 – £18,000 | £7,500 – £13,500 |
2. What’s in the price
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- 🔧 The unit itself — £4,000–£8,000 for the outdoor heat pump.
- 👷 Installation labour — £2,500–£4,500 for a 2–5 day install by an MCS-certified fitter.
- 🛢️ Hot water cylinder — £1,000–£2,500, the upgrade most people need.
- 🔥 Radiator upgrades — £800–£3,000 if your existing radiators are too small for low-flow heating.
- 🔌 Electrics & commissioning — usually bundled into the labour quote.
Hidden extras for the cylinder and radiators are the most common surprise on a quote. Always ask for them itemised in writing before you agree.
3. What does it cost to run?
At a typical 2026 UK electricity rate of about 24p/kWh, an efficient air source heat pump (SCOP 3.5–4.5) works out to roughly £6–£14 per day for space and hot water heating in winter. Compare that to a gas boiler at about 7p/kWh: a heat pump uses far more electricity in unit terms, but each unit delivers 3.5–4.5× more heat, so the bills tend to come out close — and often lower.
3-bed home, winter, annualized
Heat pump (SCOP 4)
~£800 – £1,100/yr
Gas boiler
~£800 – £1,250/yr
Check your eligibility
Do you qualify for the £7,500 grant?
Answer 3 quick questions, then get quotes with the grant already deducted.
Answer all 3 questions to see your result.
4. Is a heat pump right for you?
Worth it if…
Your home is reasonably insulated, you plan to stay 10+ years, and you can make use of the £7,500 grant. Running costs typically pay back the after-grant price in 7–10 years.
Not yet if…
Your home is very draughty (you’ll spend heavily on upgrades first), you plan to sell within a few years, or your EPC has outstanding insulation recommendations that currently block the grant.
5. Verdict
The headline £7,000–£12,000 price is scarier than the reality. After the £7,500 grant, a 3-bed air source heat pump typically costs £3,500–£8,500 fully installed — and roughly matches a gas boiler to run. The deciding factors are your insulation, how long you’ll stay, and getting a written quote that itemises the cylinder and radiators.
More on heat pumps
Heat pump cost FAQs
FAQ
Heat pump cost frequently asked questions
- How much does a heat pump cost in the UK in 2026?
- For a typical 3-bed home, a fully-installed air source heat pump costs £7,000–£12,000 before the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. After the grant comes off the quote, most homeowners pay £3,500–£8,500.
- How much does a heat pump cost for a 3-bed house?
- A 3-bed property typically needs an 8–12kW air source heat pump. You'll pay £7,000–£12,000 fully installed before the £7,500 grant, landing at £3,500–£8,500 after the grant — depending on cylinder and radiator upgrades.
- What does the £7,500 grant cover?
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 straight to your MCS-certified installer, which comes directly off your quote. It can cover the heat pump unit, installation, and associated work like a new hot water cylinder or upgraded radiators.
- Do heat pumps cost more to run than gas boilers?
- At current UK energy prices, an efficient heat pump (SCOP 3.5–4.5) is broadly comparable to or slightly cheaper than a gas boiler to run — often £100–£300 less per year on a well-insulated home. If a heat pump is poorly installed or the home is draughty, it can cost more.
- Can I get finance for a heat pump?
- Yes. Many MCS installers offer 0% interest-free heat pump finance spread over 2–5 years, and there are UK finance schemes that let you spread the cost after the grant. Ask your installer for finance options when you get your quote.
- Are heat pumps worth the cost?
- For a reasonably insulated home you'll heat for 10+ years, yes — the £3,500–£8,500 cost after grant typically pays back in lower running costs over 7–10 years, and the system lasts 15–20 years. For a draughty home you plan to sell soon, the payback is slower.
Sources & cited data
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme — GOV.UK / Energy Security & Net Zero — https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
- Heat pump running costs — Energy Saving Trust — https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/air-source-heat-pumps/
Prices and running costs are 2026 guide figures based on Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant amounts and typical UK energy prices. Confirm the final number with a written, site-specific quote.