Guide · Costs
Heat pump running costs in the UK
What real households pay to run a heat pump in 2026, the SCOP maths, and when it beats gas.
A UK heat pump typically costs £850–£1,850 a year to run in 2026 at the Ofgem cap rate of ~27p/kWh. A well-insulated 3-bed semi with a SCOP of 4.5 averages around £1,100/year — broadly the same as a modern condensing gas boiler, and often less.
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The SCOP-based running cost formula
Annual heat demand (kWh) ÷ SCOP × electricity unit rate (£/kWh) = yearly running cost.
Example: a 3-bed semi with 12,000 kWh/year heat demand and a SCOP of 4.5 needs 2,667 kWh of electricity. At 27p/kWh that's £720 a year — plus standing charges on the same meter.
Real bills by property type
- 2-bed flat / small terrace: £550–£900/year.
- 3-bed semi (well-insulated): £900–£1,300/year.
- 4-bed detached: £1,300–£1,800/year.
- Solid-wall, poorly insulated: £1,500–£2,400/year — insulate first.
How to cut your bill 20–30%
- Run a lower flow temperature (35–45°C). Every 5°C drop adds ~10% to SCOP.
- Switch to a heat-pump-friendly tariff (Octopus Cosy, EDF Heat Pump) — off-peak slots cut unit rates to 13–18p/kWh.
- Upsize undersized radiators before blaming the heat pump.
- Run weather compensation, not on/off thermostat scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a heat pump cost to run per year?
- Annual running costs in the UK typically fall between £850 and £1,850. A well-insulated 3-bed semi with SCOP 4.5 averages around £1,100/year at 27p/kWh electricity.
- Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a gas boiler?
- In well-insulated homes with a SCOP above 3.5, a heat pump matches or undercuts a gas boiler. In leaky homes or with SCOP under 3, gas can still be cheaper to run despite the higher carbon cost.
- What's SCOP and why does it matter?
- Seasonal Coefficient of Performance — the average units of heat output per unit of electricity input across a year. A SCOP of 4 means 1 kWh of electricity becomes 4 kWh of heat. Higher SCOP = lower bills.
- Energy Saving Trust — Heat pump efficiency, running cost and SCOP benchmarks (UK).
- Ofgem — UK energy regulator — current electricity unit rates and standing charges.
- Nesta — How to Heat 28 Million UK Homes — Independent research on heat pump deployment and running costs.
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