Planning a new central heating installation? Brace yourself.
The costs can be a total shock to the system. The price of fitting a brand new central heating system in the UK is on average between £3,500 and £8,000 in 2025. But…
Hold on a minute. That’s just the baseline.
Depending on the size of your home, type of heating system, and complexity of the installation, you can easily end up spending £25,000 or more. Want to know the real drivers of installation costs?
This article is going to take you through everything you need to know about central heating installation costs so you can budget properly and avoid nasty surprises.
What you’ll discover:
- What Are Real-World Central Heating Installation Costs?
- What Affects Your Final Price Tag
- Gas vs Electric vs Heat Pump Installation Costs
- Why Property Size Changes Everything
- Smart Installation Tips To Save You Money
What Are Real-World Central Heating Installation Costs?
Let’s cut straight to the chase.
For a typical 3-bedroom house, you should expect to pay between £3,500 and £7,000 for a full central heating installation. This price includes your boiler, radiators, pipework and heating controls.
But here’s what most other cost guides conveniently leave out…
The Central Heating Installation Cost is going to vary wildly depending on your exact situation. A simple boiler replacement is going to be as cheap as £3,000. A full system upgrade for a large family home can be £15,000+.
Here’s a breakdown of central heating installation costs by property size:
- 1-bedroom bungalow: £2,000 – £2,600
- 2-bedroom house: £4,500 – £5,200
- 3-bedroom house: £5,400 – £7,900
- 4-bedroom house: £6,000 – £9,000+
The most recent statistics show that around 4.5 million energy efficiency measures were installed in UK properties between 2013 and 2024. That’s a lot of boilers and radiators.
What Really Affects Your Final Price Tag
Your central heating installation cost isn’t simply the boiler price.
Multiple factors are going to drastically affect your final price. This is what’s going to make your quote suddenly spiral through the roof.
Here’s what really pushes your costs up:
Boiler Type Makes A Huge Difference
If you think all boilers are created equal, think again. Combi boilers are the cheapest at £600-£4,000. System boilers are more expensive, and regular boilers require more parts like hot water cylinders.
Which is the most popular boiler type?
Gas combi boilers are the most common central heating type in the UK. They’re efficient and don’t require storage tanks, making them ideal for smaller homes.
Pipework Can Be A Rip Off
Existing pipework that’s old, corroded or damaged will cost you an extra £800-£1,650 depending on your property size. Small houses (100m²) need around £790 worth of pipework. Medium houses (150m²) cost £1,650.
Labour Costs Vary By Location
Heating engineers charge between £200-£500 per day for labour. Urban areas are generally more expensive than rural areas. A straightforward boiler swap takes 4-6 hours. Full system changes take 1-5 days.
That’s a huge difference in labour costs right there.
Radiators Add Up
It costs £180-£400 to supply and install each radiator. A standard 3-bedroom house needs around 8-10 radiators, so that’s between £1,440 and £4,000 just on radiators.
Gas vs Electric vs Heat Pump Costs
The type of heating system you choose makes a big difference to both installation costs and running costs.
Here’s the real price comparison:
Gas Central Heating
Installation cost: £3,500-£8,000
Running cost: 7.42p per kWh
Gas is by far the most common choice for a reason. It’s not that much more expensive to install than electric and really cheap to run. The biggest problem with it is…
You need to be connected to the mains gas supply to be able to run a gas central heating system. If you’re not on mains gas, you can’t have a gas central heating system.
Electric Central Heating
Installation cost: £2,500-£6,500
Running cost: 28.62p per kWh
Electric central heating systems are a lot simpler to install (no gas lines or flues required). But the energy is nearly 4 times more expensive than gas per kWh to run.
Ideal for small properties or homes not connected to mains gas. Killer on large family homes.
Heat Pumps
Installation cost: £8,000-£15,000 (Air source)
Effective cost after grants: £500-£7,500
Heat pumps have high upfront costs, but efficiency is brilliant. They are about 3 times more efficient than old-school boilers, which means lower running costs.
The game-changing part?
Government grants and incentives can slash the installation cost by up to £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Why Property Size Changes Everything
It should come as no surprise that the size of your property is the biggest factor when it comes to installation costs. It’s not just more radiators to buy…
Small properties (1-2 bedrooms) will need less radiators and less pipework. You might get away with a complete installation for as little as £2,500-£4,500.
Medium properties (3 bedrooms) are the sweet spot for installation. Expect the price to be in the range of £5,400-£7,000 for most installations.
Large properties (4+ bedrooms) need more powerful boilers, more radiators and more complex pipework. Costs will easily top £8,000.
But here’s the interesting part…
The latest government data shows that the median Energy Performance Certificate score for new dwellings is 84 (band B), whilst older homes score 67-68 (band D).
Brand new homes will need less work when the central heating is installed.
Smart Installation Tips To Save You Money
Want to save money on your central heating installation? Here’s how the smart homeowners do it.
Timing Your Installation Perfectly
Install central heating in summer. Demand is lower, so you’ll pay less for labour and get faster service. Plus, you won’t be freezing while it’s being installed.
Get Multiple Quotes
You should always get at least 3 quotes from certified heating engineers before starting any work. The price difference for identical work can be in the thousands.
Don’t Forget About Government Grants
Heat pump installations are eligible for generous government grants. Up to £7,500 is available for installation costs through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Reuse Your Existing Pipework
If your existing pipework is in good condition, reusing it can save you £800-£1,650. Don’t replace it unless it’s absolutely necessary.
The Right Boiler Size Matters
Oversized boilers are a waste of money both on the purchase price and on running costs. Have a heating engineer do a proper heating calculation to size your system correctly.
Wrapping It All Together
Central heating installation costs can vary wildly, but at least now you know what to expect. Budget £3,500-£8,000 for the vast majority of installations, with a chance of saving through government grants and smart timing.
Remember these key takeaways:
- Property size is the biggest cost factor
- Gas systems have the best balance of installation and running costs
- Heat pumps are eligible for huge government grants
- Summer installations save money and hassle
- Get at least 3 quotes to save thousands
The most important thing is to get quotes from certified professionals who fully understand your specific requirements. Don’t let the sticker shock scare you off from improving your home’s heating efficiency.
The right central heating system will last 10-15 years and can cut your energy bills by up to 30%. That makes it one of the smartest investments you can make for your home.
