How much does a heat pump cost in the UK?

An air source heat pump typically costs between £8,000 and £14,000 fully installed in the UK. After the government's £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, most homeowners pay somewhere between £500 and £6,500 — often comparable to the cost of a new gas boiler.

That's the headline. But the real answer depends on your home, and the upfront price is only half the story — running costs and the grant matter just as much. Here's the full picture for 2026.

What's the typical cost?

For most UK homes, a fully installed air source heat pump lands in the £8,000 to £14,000 range before any grant. Where you fall within that depends mainly on the size of your home, the heat pump you need and whether any radiators or pipework need upgrading.

After the £7,500 grant, the amount you actually pay typically drops to between £500 and £6,500. For many homes, that brings a heat pump close to the price of replacing a gas boiler like-for-like — with far lower carbon and, for off-gas homes, often lower running costs too.

What you're paying for

A heat pump installation isn't a single product — it's a system, designed around your home. A typical price includes:

• The heat pump unit — usually £3,000 to £7,000, depending on size and brand.

• Installation — around £2,000 to £4,000 for a standard job, covering the labour to fit and commission the system.

• A hot water cylinder — roughly £500 to £1,500, to store your hot water.

• Any upgrades your home needs — occasionally a few larger radiators or some pipework, so the system runs efficiently at lower temperatures.

The last point is why two homes can get different prices. A proper heat-loss survey is what turns a rough figure into a real one — which is why an instant estimate gives you a ballpark in minutes, and a full quote follows only after a survey.

The £7,500 grant (and £9,000 for off-gas homes)

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump for homes in England and Wales. There's no income test and no separate insulation requirement — it's open to most homeowners replacing a fossil-fuel boiler.

From 21 July 2026, that grant rises to £9,000 for homes off the mains gas grid that are replacing an oil or LPG boiler — a temporary uplift running to 31 March 2027. If you heat with oil, our guide to replacing an oil boiler with a heat pump is worth a read.

The grant is paid to your installer and comes straight off your quote, so you never handle it yourself. With the Ample Heat Pump Plan, we apply for it on your behalf — one less form to fill in. You can check the detail on heat pump grant eligibility.

What about running costs?

A heat pump's efficiency is what makes the running costs work. Because it delivers around three units of heat for every unit of electricity, it does more with less. For homes coming off oil or LPG, running costs are often comparable or lower from day one — and lower still on a heat-pump electricity tariff.

If you're on mains gas, running costs depend on the price gap between gas and electricity and how well your system is designed. A well-sized heat pump in a home that holds its heat is where the savings show up.

Is a heat pump worth the cost?

That depends on what you're weighing up. Against a like-for-like boiler replacement, a heat pump costs more before the grant and often lands close to it after. What you get for the difference is far lower carbon, a system that also cools in some setups, and — for off-gas homes especially — running costs that can beat what you're paying now.

It helps to understand how heat pumps work before you decide, so the numbers sit in context.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a heat pump cost after the grant? Most homeowners pay between £500 and £6,500 after the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, depending on their home and the system it needs.

Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas boiler? A heat pump usually costs more upfront than a gas boiler, but after the grant the gap narrows — and running costs can be lower, especially for homes replacing oil or LPG.

Does the grant cover the whole cost? Not usually. The £7,500 grant (or £9,000 for eligible off-gas homes from 21 July 2026) covers a large share, and you pay the balance.

How do I get an accurate price? An instant estimate gives you a ballpark in minutes with no survey. An exact price comes in your quote, after a full heat-loss survey of your home.

Are there ongoing costs beyond electricity? Heat pumps need an annual service, much like a boiler. With the Heat Pump Plan, servicing and support are built in, so it's covered.

Get your estimate

The quickest way to answer "how much would it cost me" is to see a figure for your own home.