How much does an air source heat pump cost?
The most reliable UK figure comes from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme itself, because every installer has to report the full quote. These are 2026 figures.
| Source | What it measures | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ofgem, Boiler Upgrade Scheme annual report 2025 to 2026 | Average installer quote for an air source heat pump, before the grant | £13,441 |
| Ofgem, same report | Most common quote range | £10,001 to £12,500 |
| Energy Saving Trust, September 2026 | Typical installation cost | About £12,000 |
| Checkatrade, May 2026 | Air to water heat pump, supplied and fitted | About £15,000 on average |
| Checkatrade, May 2026 | Air to air heat pump, 5kW, supplied and fitted | About £3,000 (£2,000 to £4,000) |
Checkatrade splits the air to water price into about £5,000 to £9,000 for the equipment and £6,000 to £11,000 for installation. The equipment figure covers the full kit, not just the outdoor unit. On its own, a Grant Aerona heat pump costs £2,405.99 to £5,300 at PlumbXtra, depending on size.
Enter your installer's quote and where you live. We will show the grant and what you pay.
Method: Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant values from GOV.UK and Ofgem's property owner guidance (V5.1). The £9,000 oil and LPG rate runs until 31 March 2027. Scotland figures are from Home Energy Scotland. The default quote is Ofgem's average for 2025 to 2026.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant explained
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, run by Ofgem, pays towards replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler in England and Wales. You get one grant per property.
| System | Grant |
|---|---|
| Air source (air to water) heat pump | £7,500 |
| Air source or ground source heat pump, off the gas grid, replacing oil or LPG | £9,000 until 31 March 2027 |
| Ground source or water source heat pump | £7,500 |
| Air to air heat pump | £2,500 |
| Biomass boiler, rural and off the gas grid | £5,000 |
Who qualifies
- You own the property, as a homeowner, landlord or business owner, and you are replacing oil, gas, LPG or electric heating.
- An MCS certified installer fits the heat pump and applies for the grant for you.
- You become the legal owner of the heat pump once it is fitted.
- The system is up to 45kWth, or 70kWth for two or more heat pumps together.
Most new builds, social housing and homes that have already had government money for a heat pump do not qualify. Hybrid systems, such as a heat pump working alongside a gas boiler, are not eligible, and you cannot claim to replace an existing low carbon system. Since April 2026 you no longer need a valid EPC, though your installer must send other evidence instead.
How the grant is paid
Your installer applies on the Ofgem website and must take the full grant off your quote and invoice up front. Ofgem then emails you to confirm, and you must reply within 14 days; only you can give that consent. The government's Warm Homes Plan funds the scheme each year out to 2029/30.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover Scotland. There, the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan offers up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, plus a £1,500 uplift for rural and island homes, and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. Funding is first come, first served. The Northern Ireland Boiler Replacement Scheme is closed.
Extra costs to budget for
A heat pump runs at a lower water temperature than a boiler, so some homes need upgrades to stay warm. Your installer's heat loss survey will show what yours needs.
| Extra | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Larger radiators, about 10 radiators | £2,000 to £5,000 |
| New heating pipework, such as replacing microbore | About £2,000 |
| Cavity wall insulation | £500 to £3,000 |
| Loft insulation, blanket roll | £500 to £2,000 |
| Annual service | £150 to £300 a year |
Source: Checkatrade, May 2026. A heat pump also needs a hot water cylinder, ideally inside the house (Energy Saving Trust), so if you have a combi boiler now, plan space for one. If you need bigger radiators, a Type 22 double panel radiator gives much more heat than a Type 11 single panel of the same size; our panel radiator guide compares the outputs.
Running costs compared with a gas boiler
A heat pump gives out about three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses (Energy Saving Trust). Electricity costs more than three times as much per kWh as gas, though, so on a standard tariff the running costs end up close. The Energy Saving Trust says heat pumps can cost slightly more to run than a new gas or oil boiler on standard tariffs, and less than a gas boiler on a time of use tariff.
Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, average direct debit rates: electricity 26.32p per kWh, gas 7.97p per kWh. If you cap off your gas supply after the switch, you also stop paying the gas standing charge of 29.68p a day, about £108 a year.
Use the gas figure from your annual statement. Ofgem's typical household uses 12,000kWh of gas a year.
Method: the heat your home needs is the gas used multiplied by the boiler efficiency. The heat pump's electricity is that heat divided by the SCOP. Prices default to the Ofgem price cap for October to December 2026. The electricity standing charge applies either way, so it is left out. This is an estimate; your installer's design will give a SCOP for your home.
What size heat pump do I need?
An MCS installer works out the size from a room by room heat loss calculation, so do not pick a size from floor area alone. As a guide, Checkatrade says a well insulated three bedroom home might need 5kW, or about 7.5kW if it is poorly insulated. Bigger, older or draughtier homes need more. These are the Grant units we sell, with prices at the time of review, including VAT:
| Model | Output | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Aerona 290 (R290 refrigerant) | 4kW, 6.5kW, 9kW, 12kW, 15.5kW | From £2,820 |
| Grant Aerona³ R32 6kW | 6kW | £2,405.99 |
| Grant Aerona R32 10kW | 10kW | £3,682.81 |
| Grant Aerona³ R32 13kW | 13kW | £3,967.00 |
| Grant Aerona R32 17kW | 17kW | £5,300.00 |
Three we recommend most often
Grant Aerona³ R32 6kWSuits smaller or well insulated homes, subject to your installer's heat loss calculation. Inverter driven, R32 refrigerant.£2,405.99View heat pump
Grant Aerona R32 10kWFor larger or less well insulated homes. Inverter driven, R32 refrigerant.£3,682.81View heat pump
Grant Aerona 290Uses R290 natural refrigerant. Five sizes from 4kW to 15.5kW.From £2,820View heat pumpGrant gives a guarantee of up to 7 years on Aerona³ R32 heat pumps fitted and registered by a Grant G1 installer, subject to terms. Delivery is calculated at checkout.
Do I need planning permission?
In England, most air source heat pumps are permitted development, so you do not need to apply for planning permission. The unit must meet the MCS 020(a) noise standard and stay within the size and number limits: up to 1.5 cubic metres, and up to two units on a detached house or one on other houses. Since May 2025 the old rule keeping units at least 1 metre from the boundary no longer applies. You do need permission for a listed building, a pitched roof, or a flat roof within 1 metre of its edge. Rules differ in Wales and Scotland, so check with your installer or local council.
VAT is 0% on an installed heat pump in Great Britain until 31 March 2027, then goes up to 5% (HMRC). This applies when the heat pump is installed as part of the job, not to a unit you buy on its own.
Common questions
Is there a £7,500 heat pump grant in 2026?
Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump in England and Wales, or £9,000 for off-grid homes replacing oil or LPG until 31 March 2027. Your MCS installer applies and takes it off your bill.
How much does an air source heat pump cost after the grant?
Based on Ofgem's average quote of £13,441, a typical home pays about £5,941 after the £7,500 grant. Quotes vary with the size of the heat pump and whether you need new radiators, pipework or a cylinder.
Can I get the grant if I buy the heat pump myself?
The grant is claimed by the MCS certified installer who fits and commissions the system, and the rules do not cover equipment you buy yourself. Many installers supply their own kit, so speak to your installer before you buy to check they will fit and claim for a unit you supply.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a gas boiler?
On a standard tariff it is usually about the same, or slightly more (Energy Saving Trust). It can be cheaper on a time of use tariff, if your home is well insulated, or if you cap off the gas supply and stop paying the gas standing charge. Use the running cost calculator above with your own figures.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump?
Not always. A heat pump heats the water to a lower temperature than a boiler, so some rooms may need larger radiators. Your installer's heat loss survey will show which rooms need an upgrade.
Do you install heat pumps?
No. PlumbXtra supplies heating products for delivery; we do not install. Our heat pumps are sold to installers and to customers whose MCS installer will fit them.
Pricing a heat pump job?
Call our team on 01282 429061, Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm. Tell us the size and the parts you need, and we will price the full list for you.
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