After the £7,500 grant, average installed cost drops to £500–£6,500. Check yours → Learn more

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What kind of property is it?

Bungalow owners — UK 2026

Air source heat pumps for a bungalow

Typical heat pump size: 5–9 kW. Installed cost before grant: £9,000–£12,500. After £7,500 BUS grant in England & Wales, most homeowners pay significantly less.

Methodology

  • Sourced From 420+ Real Installer Quotes
  • Updated Quarterly — Last Refresh Q1 2026
  • Cross-Checked With Energy Saving Trust Data
  • Methodology Public — See /methodology
  • No Installer Kickbacks Influence Numbers
  • Region-Adjusted (London, North, Scotland)

Estimates only. Actual cost depends on property condition, accessibility, region, and installer. ASHPCost.co.uk does not perform installations.

What to expect for a bungalow

A bungalow in the UK typically needs a 5–9 kW air source heat pump, depending on insulation level, glazing, and floor area. The MCS-certified installer's heat-loss survey calculates the exact kW needed — sizing too small leaves you cold, sizing too large causes short-cycling and inflated bills.

The cost range above (£9,000–£12,500) covers the heat pump itself, hot water cylinder, control gear, install labour, electrical connection, MCS commissioning and BUS application. It does NOT include underfloor heating retrofits, which most properties don't need — radiator upgrades (where required) ARE included.

For a bungalow, the most common "hidden cost" is replacing 2–4 radiators with larger ones to handle the lower water temperature (45–55°C vs a boiler's 70–80°C). A good installer prices this in upfront; a cheap one quietly omits it and discovers the issue mid-install.

Is your home ready?

6 signs an air source heat pump fits your home

Modern heat pumps suit far more UK homes than older models did. A short MCS survey confirms the fit — no commitment to install.

Good fit

Old gas/oil/LPG boiler

Replacing a 12+ year old boiler is the natural switch point. The £7,500 grant changes the maths — heat pump may cost less than a like-for-like boiler swap.

Good fit

Reasonable insulation

EPC C or D, loft insulated, cavity walls filled if applicable. Doesn't need to be perfect — modern heat pumps handle EPC D fine.

Good fit

Outdoor space at side or rear

Need ~1 m² for the outdoor unit, ideally not facing the front of the house. Permitted development covers most installs without planning permission.

Strong fit

Off mains gas

Oil, LPG and electric heating run far more expensively than gas. Heat pump payback in these homes can be 4–7 years vs 10–14 years for gas swaps.

Possible — needs survey

Listed building / conservation area

Possible, but you'll likely need planning consent. Allow extra time and budget for a sympathetic install — siting and acoustic enclosures matter.

Possible — needs survey

Microbore pipework / single-pane

Heat pumps run cooler water through radiators than boilers. Microbore pipework, very small radiators, or single-glazed windows may need attention first.

Not sure?An MCS-certified installer's heat loss survey takes ~60 minutes and tells you whether the fit is straightforward, needs a few upgrades first, or isn't the right choice. Most surveys are free and there's no obligation.

Real UK cost data — Q1 2026

What heat pumps actually cost UK homeowners

Numbers below are derived from real installer quotes (n=420+) collected across England, Scotland and Wales between October 2025 and March 2026. Updated quarterly.

£0

average installed cost before grant for a typical UK home

£0

average net cost after the £7,500 BUS grant in England & Wales

0 yrs

median payback period vs. an oil boiler at current 2026 prices

£0/yr

average annual running-cost saving switching from oil heating

How it works

Three steps to a clear answer

No obligation, no pushy follow-ups, no fees from us — ever.

1

Tell us about your home

Property type, bedrooms, current heating fuel, postcode. We use these to estimate the right heat pump size (kW) and a realistic installed cost range based on quotes we've seen for similar UK properties.

2

See your cost band

We show: typical installed cost before grant, the BUS grant amount you may qualify for, your estimated annual running cost vs your current fuel, and a rough payback timeline.

3

Refine with real quotes

Estimate is a starting point — only a survey gives you a real number. We'll connect you with installers willing to provide free written quotes if you want hard pricing for your property.

Common questions

Air source heat pump FAQs

Installed costs typically run £8,000 to £14,000 before grant for a normal home. Detached or larger properties can reach £16,000. After the £7,500 BUS grant in England & Wales, most homeowners pay £500–£8,500. Scotland's Home Energy Scotland scheme offers up to £15,000 in combined grant + interest-free loan, often making the heat pump cheaper than a like-for-like boiler replacement.

Verify any installer's MCS certification at mcscertified.com.

Ready to take a look?

Get matched with MCS-certified installers in your area

The £7,500 BUS grant runs to 2028 — there's no rush, but waiting another year on an old gas, oil or LPG boiler costs you running-cost savings every month. A free survey tells you whether the fit is straightforward, with zero commitment.

Calculate my cost →BUS scheme on GOV.UK ↗

Educational content — not a substitute for an MCS-certified survey.

Authoritative sources cited

Statistics and figures on this site are derived from these sources unless otherwise stated. Errors? We correct promptly — see our corrections policy.

Continue your research

More UK heat pump resources

Sister sites we operate, each focused on a different decision step.

ukheatpumpquotes.co.uk

Get accurate quotes for your property

Free MCS-certified quotes

busgrant.uk

How the £7,500 BUS grant works

Grant eligibility & process

heatpumpvsboiler.uk

Total cost: heat pump vs replacing your boiler

10-year ownership comparison