How much does an air source heat pump cost in the UK?
An air source heat pump costs £7,000 to £20,000 in the UK, typically around £13,000 before the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. After the grant, a typical install works out at roughly £1,500 to £5,500. Prices reviewed June 2026.
An air source heat pump, often shortened to ASHP, is priced by the size of unit your home needs and by any changes to radiators or the hot water cylinder. The government grant takes a large chunk off the price for most homes.
Air source heat pump cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your air source heat pump in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
To price the whole job, use the solar panel cost calculator.
Air source heat pump cost breakdown
Typical air source heat pump costs, by option:
| Home size | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Small home / flat (5-8 kW) | £7,000 to £10,000 |
| Typical 3 bed (8-12 kW) | £9,000 to £13,000 |
| Large home (12 kW+) | £12,000 to £20,000 |
| + Radiator upgrades / new cylinder | add £1,500 to £4,000 |
What's included in the price?
Typical air source heat pump prices include:
- The heat pump unit and hot water cylinder
- Installation, pipework and controls
- Commissioning and certification
- System design and heat loss survey
What changes the price?
The things that move air source heat pump prices most:
The size of unit, set by your home's heat loss
Whether radiators need upsizing for the lower flow temperature
A new hot water cylinder if you do not have one
How easy the outdoor unit and pipe runs are to fit
How the price is built up
The price starts with the heat pump itself, sized to your home's heat loss, which is usually between £3,000 and £7,000 for the unit alone. On top of that you are paying for the install: labour, a hot water cylinder if you do not already have one, any radiators that need upsizing to run at lower flow temperatures, pipework and the electrical work to feed the unit. A straightforward swap on a well-insulated home with suitable radiators sits near the bottom of the band at around £7,000, while a larger or harder-to-heat property needing several new radiators, a cylinder and tricky pipe runs pushes towards £20,000 before the grant is applied. Roughly half the cost is the hardware (the heat pump unit, cylinder and any new radiators) and half is labour, which runs to two to four days of skilled work for a two-person team plus design and commissioning.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: the £7,500 grant is taken straight off the invoice by your MCS-certified installer, so a typical £13,000 job becomes about £5,500 out of pocket.
- Get at least three quotes from MCS-certified installers, as design assumptions and radiator counts vary widely and so does the final figure.
- Ask whether your existing radiators can run at a lower flow temperature before agreeing to replace them all; often only a few of the larger rooms actually need upsizing.
- Insulate first if your loft or walls are poor, as a lower heat loss figure means a smaller, cheaper unit and fewer radiator changes.
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, an air source heat pump typically costs around £17,000 before grant, about 30% above the UK average of £13,000. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £12,000.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £7,000 | £13,000 | £20,000 |
| London | £9,100 | £17,000 | £26,000 |
| South East / South West | £8,000 | £15,000 | £23,000 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £6,400 | £12,000 | £18,500 |
Guide prices before grant, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Air source heat pump cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £6,000 | £11,000 | £17,000 |
| Birmingham | £6,900 | £12,500 | £19,500 |
| Bristol | £7,700 | £14,500 | £22,000 |
| Cardiff | £6,600 | £12,000 | £19,000 |
| Edinburgh | £6,900 | £12,500 | £19,500 |
| Glasgow | £6,300 | £11,500 | £18,000 |
| Leeds | £6,500 | £12,000 | £18,500 |
| Liverpool | £6,400 | £12,000 | £18,500 |
| London | £9,100 | £17,000 | £26,000 |
| Manchester | £6,700 | £12,500 | £19,000 |
| Newcastle | £6,300 | £11,500 | £18,000 |
| Sheffield | £6,400 | £12,000 | £18,500 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for air source heat pump, not quotes.
Fairly consistent nationally. Labour is higher in London and the South East.
Common questions
How much is an air source heat pump after the grant?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of £7,500 in England and Wales comes off the price, so a typical install of £9,000 to £13,000 before the grant works out around £1,500 to £5,500 after it.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump?
Sometimes. Heat pumps run at a lower flow temperature, so some radiators may need to be larger. A good installer checks this in the heat loss survey and includes any changes in the quote.
Is an air source heat pump cheaper to run than a gas boiler?
It can be, because a heat pump delivers around three units of heat per unit of electricity, but running cost depends on your tariff, insulation and how the system is set up. Model it for your home before switching.
Why do air source heat pump quotes vary so much?
Quotes for the same house can range from around £7,000 to £20,000 before the grant because the work behind them differs. The biggest swing comes from the heat loss survey: a higher figure means a larger, pricier unit and more radiator changes. Whether you need a new hot water cylinder, how many radiators must be upsized, the difficulty of pipe runs and the state of your consumer unit all move the total. Two installers can also make different design choices, so always compare what each quote actually includes, not just the headline price.
Does the location of the heat pump affect the installation cost?
Location affects the cost noticeably. The outdoor unit needs space with reasonable airflow and a sensible route for pipework back into the house. An easy position close to the cylinder keeps labour and materials low, near the bottom of the £7,000 to £20,000 band. Awkward access, a long pipe run across the property, the need for a condensate drain, or screening to satisfy planning or a neighbour all add cost. Wall-mounting on an upper floor or working in a tight side return also takes longer, which raises the labour element of the bill.
Is a new hot water cylinder always needed for an air source heat pump?
A new cylinder is usually needed if you are coming from a combi boiler. A combi heats water on demand, but a heat pump works best heating a stored tank, so most homes add a cylinder costing roughly £500 to £1,500 fitted. If you already have a vented or unvented cylinder it may still need replacing with a heat pump compatible one that has a larger coil. Homes that keep a suitable existing cylinder save that part of the cost and sit nearer the £7,000 end of the typical range.
What are the disadvantages of an air source heat pump?
Air source heat pumps have a higher upfront cost than a gas boiler, from £7,000 to £20,000 before any grant, and may need radiator or insulation upgrades to work well. The outdoor unit takes up space and makes a low hum, with most modern units rated around 37 to 42 decibels at a neighbour's window under the MCS 020 planning standard. Efficiency dips in very cold spells, so savings against gas depend on your tariff and how well the system is designed and fitted.
How much is an air source heat pump for a 4 bed house?
A 4 bed house usually needs a 10kW to 14kW air source heat pump, which typically costs around £13,000 to £16,000 before any grant, depending on your home's heat loss. Larger or less insulated homes can reach £20,000 if radiators need upsizing or a new hot water cylinder is fitted. The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, where you qualify, is deducted from these figures.
Can I install an air source heat pump myself?
No, not the full job. A heat pump handles refrigerant, so the work must be done by an F-Gas registered installer, and MCS certification is needed to claim the grant. Since roughly half the £7,000 to £20,000 cost is hardware and half is labour, going DIY would forfeit the grant and any warranty. You choose the system and prepare access; the install has to be done by a registered engineer.
Is an air source heat pump worth it?
It can be, but it is a long-term call. At £7,000 to £20,000 before the grant, the grant closes much of the gap to a boiler, and running savings depend on your home being well insulated and your tariff. It adds little direct resale value today, so the case rests on running cost and moving off gas rather than a quick payback. A well-insulated home makes it worth it soonest.
Check they are registered before they start
This is grant-relevant work, and certification is usually what decides whether you can claim anything. Checking takes about a minute and it is free.
- Find an MCS certified installer MCS · MCS certification is what makes a grant claim possible on this work, so check it before you sign anything
Official guidance and sources
The rules and schemes referenced on this page come from these official UK sources. The price figures are Costwise's own; see how we price.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: what you can get GOV.UK · A £7,500 grant is available towards an air source heat pump in England and Wales.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: installers Ofgem · The grant is claimed by an MCS-certified installer, not the homeowner.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics (DESNZ) GOV.UK · Real median air source heat pump installed cost: £13,021 in 2025/26, before the £7,500 grant (from actual scheme installations).
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.