Guide · Costs
Air-to-air heat pump cost
The cheapest heat pump to install, with two significant trade-offs.
Air-to-air heat pumps cost £2,000–£6,000 installed in the UK in 2026, depending on how many indoor units are fitted. They heat and cool the air directly, so there is no cylinder or wet pipework, and they provide no hot water. Since the April 2026 amendment to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, air-to-air units in homes qualify for a £2,500 grant rather than the £7,500 paid for air-to-water and ground source systems (GOV.UK, 2026).
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Typical installed prices
- Single-room split system: £2,000–£3,000.
- Two indoor units on one outdoor unit: £3,000–£4,200.
- Three to four indoor units (multi-split): £4,200–£6,000.
- Ducted system in a new build or loft conversion: £6,000+.
Where air-to-air makes sense
- Flats where no cylinder space or wet system exists.
- Home offices, garden rooms and loft conversions.
- Properties that want summer cooling as well as winter heating.
- Holiday lets with intermittent occupancy and fast warm-up needs.
What you give up
No hot water, so you keep an immersion, boiler or separate hot water heat pump. A smaller grant than a wet system, at £2,500 rather than £7,500. And air distribution can feel draughtier than radiant heat from radiators or floors.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an air-to-air heat pump cost in the UK?
- £2,000–£6,000 installed depending on the number of indoor units.
- Do air-to-air heat pumps get the £7,500 grant?
- No — they get £2,500. The £7,500 grant is limited to air-to-water, ground source and water source systems; air-to-air units in residential properties became eligible for £2,500 in April 2026.
- Can an air-to-air heat pump heat a whole house?
- Only with an indoor unit in each heated room or a ducted system, and you still need a separate hot water solution.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme — GOV.UK — Official guidance on the £7,500 BUS grant in England and Wales.
- Energy Saving Trust — Heat pump efficiency, running cost and SCOP benchmarks (UK).
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