Guide · Costs
Heat pump cost per kW in the UK
A quick way to check whether a quote is fair before you compare installers.
A UK air source heat pump costs roughly £1,100–£1,500 per kW of output installed in 2026, so an 8 kW system typically lands between £8,800 and £12,000 before the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (GOV.UK, 2026). Ground source works out higher at £2,000–£2,800 per kW because of the borehole or trench groundworks.
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Why £/kW is the fastest quote check
Heat pump quotes vary because the heat pump itself is only part of the job. Cylinder, pipework, radiator upgrades, electrical work and scaffolding all move the total. Dividing the quote by the output rating gives you one comparable number across installers.
If a quote comes in far below £1,000 per kW, check what has been left out — most commonly the hot water cylinder or radiator upgrades. Far above £1,600 per kW usually means significant remedial work, a difficult install position, or a premium package.
Typical £/kW by system type
- Air source, straightforward retrofit: £1,100–£1,400 per kW.
- Air source, needs cylinder plus several radiators: £1,400–£1,700 per kW.
- Ground source, horizontal trenches: £2,000–£2,400 per kW.
- Ground source, vertical borehole: £2,400–£2,800 per kW.
- Hybrid (heat pump kept alongside the existing boiler): £900–£1,200 per kW.
Work out the kW you actually need first
Sizing comes from a room-by-room heat loss calculation, not from floor area rules of thumb. As a rough sense check, a well-insulated 3-bed semi usually lands at 6–8 kW, and a 4-bed detached at 9–12 kW.
An oversized unit cycles on and off, which lowers efficiency and raises bills. Any installer quoting a size without a heat loss survey is guessing — that is a reason to walk away.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is a heat pump per kW in the UK?
- Around £1,100–£1,500 per kW installed for air source, and £2,000–£2,800 per kW for ground source, based on typical UK 2026 installer quotes.
- Does the £7,500 grant come off the per-kW price?
- Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is applied by your MCS-certified installer as a discount, so an 8 kW system quoted at £11,000 leaves you paying about £3,500.
- Is a bigger heat pump always more expensive?
- Not proportionally. Labour, cylinder and pipework costs stay similar, so £/kW usually falls as output rises.
- 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.
- MCS Certified — Installer certification scheme required for grant eligibility.
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