What’s the Complete Heat Pump Cost UK in 2025?

The demand for heat pumps in the UK is on a continuous uptick, largely driven by the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). Planning an upgrade yourself? Decide quicker by knowing the costs. Here, we give you not just the up-to-date heat pump costs in the UK but also helpful details for your next purchase.

Two of the most common types of heat pump systems in the UK are the air-source and ground-source pumps.

The Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) is the most cost-friendly between the two—ranging from £6,000 to £15,000—primarily due to its straightforward installation. What it does is extract heat from the outside to warm the house and supply hot water.

While it can be a problem for the air-to-air ASHP when the outside air is cool, air-to-water ASHP such as EcoFlow’s PowerHeat can rise up to the challenge through its advanced inverter technology that is specifically built to stand cold climates, with the capability of automatically regulating heat supply.

In contrast, Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) can range from £18,000 to £35,000 due to their tedious installation. But its heat source is more stable, unlike with ASHP.

With the grant money of up to £7,500 under the government’s BUS, however, expect a significantly lower cost. This incentive is designed to make the overall heat pump cost in the UK more manageable, but you should still look out for other out-of-pocket expenses, such as property upgrades relative to the chosen heat pump system.

Heat pumps differ in their source of heat, required space, and installation process, inversely affecting their costs. Advantages aside, knowing which one your budget can work with can help with the decision-making.

Without a need to dig (just a matter of choosing where to put the unit) results in costs as low as £6,000. Its portability and easy maintenance make it a popular choice among homeowners, especially among individuals and families living in apartments, flats, and terraced houses.

It could go up to about £15,000, but it is already dependent on the brand, unit size, and complexity of installation relative to the property.

Drilling deep boreholes, excavating wide trenches, laying down pipes—it’s no wonder a heat pump installation of this kind leads to a price tag of £18,000 to £35,000. Not to mention how a homeowner must have adequate land to even consider GSHP.

Unlike ASHP, though, GSHP tends to be more consistent in such a way that while ASHP is dependent on the unreliable outdoor air, GSHP relies on underground temperature, which is as stable as it can get, regardless of the season.

Not quite ready for a full transition? A hybrid system might be for you: It lets the heat pump do the heavy lifting most of the year, with the old boiler kicking in only on the coldest of days. Think of the costs of your current boiler, added to the costs of ASHP.

There is also the water source heat pump (WSHP), but it is only an option for homes near a large body of water.

The BUS grant of up to £7,500 is given only per property; a move by the government to encourage UK homeowners to switch to the more eco-friendly heat pumps versus the old boilers.

Your heat pump installer will apply for a grant voucher on your behalf. The approval process typically takes just a few days, and once you have the voucher, it will be valid for a specific period during which the installation must be completed. The grant amount is then deducted directly from your final invoice, lowering the average cost of heat pump systems significantly.

The UK government has set the following criteria for eligible BUS applicants:

• The property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation
• You must be replacing an existing fossil fuel system (like gas, oil, or LPG)
• Your chosen installer must be MCS-certified

It is not just the heat pump installation that you have to prepare for financially; you must also take into account the readiness of your house for your chosen heat pump system.

The first thing you have to check is its insulation and airtightness. Is it good enough to retain heat effectively? Not scrimping on this aspect will save you money in the long run.

Note also that a heat pump utilises cooler water than a boiler, which means your standard radiators might not transfer enough heat to keep the room warm. By upgrading to larger radiators, you increase the total surface area, allowing more of that gentle, low-temperature heat to radiate into your home effectively.

Another potential cost: permits. But this is only if your house is in a listed building or a conservation area where external changes are restricted.

So you did the math of pre-heat pump installation. Now, for a clearer picture of the average cost of a heat pump, factor in the financial requirements of having one installed at home—from the system price per se to the cost of maintaining it.

Heat pump cost in the UK covers several elements: the unit itself, the labour fees of the installer, any groundwork such as for GSHPs, and the testing and calibration of the heat pump.

This is not all, though. A homeowner must also be ready to shell out cash for any necessary electrical system and radiator upgrades to match the requirements of your new heat pump.

How much a heat pump costs to run depends on two key things: the price you pay for electricity, and your system's efficiency, which is measured by its immediate output (Coefficient of Performance or COP) and its yearly average (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance or SCOP).

You can slash your heating bills by using a smart tariff to run the pump mostly at night when electricity is cheapest. This strategy is so effective because of the system's high efficiency rating. For example, an SCOP of 4.0 means that for every one unit of discounted electricity you buy, the heat pump gives you four units of warmth, dramatically multiplying your savings.

With its cost, a heat pump is an investment you want to maintain regularly to get the most out of your money. When done right, an ASHP can last for 15 to 20 years, while a GSHP can last for even longer since it is protected from other elements that can naturally degrade the system.

An annual maintenance service is a good start, which usually costs between £150 to £300. The service includes checking refrigerant levels, cleaning filters and coils, and ensuring all electrical components are working correctly, slowing down their natural degradation.

With the continued implementation of the BUS, the UK government has set its eyes on amping up the number of heat pump installations to 600,000 per year by 2028.
Strong government support, combined with competitive supplier offers, is driving the heat pump cost in the UK down, with some options now priced similarly to a new gas boiler.

To tackle running expenses, energy companies are introducing specialised electricity tariffs that offer reduced rates for heat pump usage, directly lowering day-to-day costs. The industry is also innovating rapidly, developing smaller, hybrid, and high-temperature heat pumps to make the technology viable for a wider variety of UK homes. And to ensure the workforce can meet this demand, the government is actively funding thousands of training places to upskill a new generation of heat pump installers.

If you have the capacity for a total upgrade aside from getting a new heat pump, look into a home battery, which you can use to run your heat pump more sustainably—financially and environmentally. Upfront costs may be high, but this investment makes way for lower running costs in the long run.

Take, for instance, EcoFlow’s home battery solutions: With one at your disposal, you can store cheap off-peak grid electricity or your own free solar energy, then use it to run your heating system later. Modern, efficient air-to-water units like the EcoFlow PowerHeat are designed to integrate seamlessly into such smart energy ecosystems, giving you ultimate control over your energy consumption and battery storage for a truly sustainable home.

Exclusive of the £7,500 BUS grant, heat pump costs in the UK can start at £6,000 to £15,000 for an air source heat pump, and £18,000 to £35,000 for a ground source heat pump.

More accessible heat pumps will become available, with more certified installers who will improve service availability and reduce wait times.

The best heat pump depends on your property and needs. But an air source heat pump is regarded for being the most practical and cost-effective choice.

Yes. With high efficiency, low running costs, and a £7,500 government grant, a heat pump is an excellent long-term investment that reduces your carbon footprint and energy bills.