Guide · Costs
Ground source heat pump cost in the UK
Why GSHP installs run £18k–£35k, how the ground loop drives the price, and when the higher upfront pays back versus an air source unit.
A UK ground source heat pump costs £18,000–£35,000 fully installed in 2026, ground loop included. The £7,500 BUS grant takes the net cost to roughly £10,500–£27,500. The ground loop alone accounts for £5,000–£15,000 depending on whether you use a trench or borehole array.
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Where the money goes
A typical £24,000 GSHP install breaks down as: heat pump unit £6,000–£8,500, ground loop and groundworks £8,000–£12,000, buffer tank and cylinder £1,500–£2,200, internal pipework and manifolds £2,500–£3,500, controls and commissioning £1,000–£1,500.
Trench vs borehole — what to choose
- Horizontal slinky trench (£5k–£10k): cheaper but needs ~250 m² of garden for a typical 4-bed home and disrupts landscaping for a season.
- Vertical borehole (£8k–£15k+): drilled 60–120m deep, footprint of a few m², ideal for smaller plots or built-up sites. Borehole performance is more consistent year-round.
GSHP vs ASHP payback
A GSHP typically costs £10,000 more than an ASHP after grants but saves £200–£400/year on electricity due to a higher SCOP (typically 4.2–4.8 versus 3.5–4.2 for ASHP). Payback is 12–20 years — sensible for owner-occupiers staying long-term, less so for short holds.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a ground source heat pump cost?
- Ground source heat pumps cost £18,000–£35,000 installed in the UK in 2026, including the ground loop. The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant takes the net cost to roughly £10,500–£27,500.
- How much does the ground loop add?
- A slinky trench loop adds £5,000–£10,000 and needs roughly 2.5× the heated floor area in garden. Vertical boreholes cost £8,000–£15,000+ but only need 4–6 m² of ground.
- Is a GSHP worth the extra cost over an ASHP?
- For homes with land and a long-term horizon: yes. GSHPs run at SCOP 4.2–4.8 versus 3.5–4.2 for ASHPs, so running costs are 15–25% lower. Payback over ASHP is typically 12–20 years.
- Energy Saving Trust — Heat pump efficiency, running cost and SCOP benchmarks (UK).
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme — GOV.UK — Official guidance on the £7,500 BUS grant in England and Wales.
- Nesta — How to Heat 28 Million UK Homes — Independent research on heat pump deployment and running costs.
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