The short answer
A typical air source heat pump costs £11,000 to £14,500 fitted in the UK before any grant. In England and Wales the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant usually brings the bill to £3,500 to £7,000. These are typical prices, checked October 2026. Your own price depends on the size of heat pump your house needs and how many radiators need changing.
Typical prices at a glance
| Item | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air source heat pump, fully fitted, before grant | £11,000 to £14,500 | Includes unit, cylinder, controls and labour in most quotes |
| After the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant | £3,500 to £7,000 | England and Wales only |
| With a Home Energy Scotland grant | often under £7,000 | Apply before work starts |
| Radiator upgrade, if needed | £300 to £600 each | Only rooms the survey flags |
| Hot water cylinder | usually included | Check the size and brand are named |
Ground source and hybrid systems are priced differently. See ground source installation and hybrid heat pumps for those.
What a full quote should include
A good heat pump quote is itemised. You should be able to see:
- The heat pump model and output in kW. kW is how much heat it can deliver on a cold day. The figure should come from a heat loss calculation, not a rule of thumb.
- The hot water cylinder. Make and size in litres.
- Controls. Thermostats or a smart controller.
- Radiator changes. Room by room, with sizes.
- Pipework. Any pipes that need upsizing to carry enough water.
- Electrical work. A dedicated supply from your consumer unit to the heat pump.
- Removal and disposal. The old boiler, and any old tanks or oil tank.
- Commissioning and MCS paperwork. Required for the grant and for the warranty.
- Grant deduction. Shown as a line, so you can see the price before and after.
If a quote is a single figure with no breakdown, ask for one. You cannot compare quotes otherwise.
What pushes the price up
Radiators
This is the biggest variable. A heat pump runs radiators at a lower water temperature than a boiler, so each radiator gives out less heat. Rooms with small radiators may need bigger ones. A well insulated house may need none; a draughty one may need several. Our guide to radiators for heat pumps explains how to tell.
Heat pump size
A bigger house, or one that loses heat quickly, needs a larger unit, which costs more. Oversizing is a common mistake that adds cost and can make the system run less efficiently. Read what size heat pump do I need for how sizing works.
Where things go
A short run between the outdoor unit and the cylinder keeps costs down. A unit at the far end of the garden, or a cylinder that has to go in a new spot, adds pipework and labour.
Pipe sizes
Older systems with narrow pipes, often 8mm or 10mm microbore, may struggle to move enough warm water. Replacing sections adds cost and disruption.
What brings the price down
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme. £7,500 off in England and Wales when you replace fossil fuel heating. Read the grant explained.
- Insulating first. Better loft and wall insulation can mean a smaller heat pump and fewer radiator changes. There is no insulation requirement for the grant, but it can lower the overall bill.
- A simple layout. A cylinder cupboard already in place and a clear wall outside for the unit.
- Comparing quotes. Three itemised quotes from MCS-certified installers show you what is fair.
How it compares with a new boiler
A new combi boiler usually costs £2,200 to £3,400 fitted (checked October 2026). Even after the grant, a heat pump typically costs more upfront. The case for a heat pump rests on the house suiting one, lower carbon heating, and running costs that depend on your tariff and how efficiently it runs. If your home is hard to heat and you need heat fast, a boiler may be the more sensible spend for now. Our boiler replacement section covers that side.
Before you compare prices, compare designs. Two quotes for the same house that differ by thousands often have different heat pump sizes or radiator lists. Ask each installer to explain theirs.
Getting an accurate price
No fair fixed price is possible without a survey. The installer needs to measure rooms, check walls and windows and work out the heat loss. Read how a heat pump survey works to know what a proper one includes. City Boiler connects you with independent MCS-certified installers who give a fixed, itemised price after surveying your home.
Common questions
How much does a heat pump cost to install in the UK?
A typical air source heat pump costs £11,000 to £14,500 fitted before any grant, checked October 2026. In England and Wales the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant usually brings that to £3,500 to £7,000.
Why do heat pump quotes vary so much?
Mostly because of radiators, pipework and the size of the unit. One house may need no new radiators while another needs five or six at £300 to £600 each. Comparing itemised quotes shows where the difference sits.
Is the hot water cylinder extra?
It is usually included in a full heat pump quote, because most systems need one. Check it is listed by name and size, and ask whether removing the old cylinder or tanks is included too.
Can I pay monthly?
Some installers offer finance, and in Scotland Home Energy Scotland offers an optional interest-free loan alongside its grant. Read any finance terms carefully and compare the total amount repayable with paying upfront.