Around £12,000 is a useful UK starting figure for a typical installed air source system, not a fixed quote. The property survey, included upgrades and grant eligibility decide your actual cost.
A useful benchmark, with limits
Energy Saving Trust gives around £12,000 as a typical cost for an air source heat pump installation. A 2026 government evaluation reported an average air source installation cost of £12,850 from MCS installer data collected across 2022 to 2025. These are different datasets, not rival prices. Neither tells you what your own home will cost.
For an eligible air-to-water installation with a £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, a £12,000 gross quote would leave £4,500 to pay. That is arithmetic, not a typical post-grant price or a promise of eligibility. Air-to-air systems have a different grant amount.
What makes one quote higher than another?
A heat loss survey may reveal radiator changes, a new cylinder, pipework alterations or electrical upgrades. Access to the outdoor unit, ground works, scaffolding, planning constraints and the route for refrigerant or water pipes can also affect labour. A low quote can look attractive because it omits work that another installer has included.
Ask each installer to price the same scope. A useful quote names the heat pump model and output, cylinder, emitters, controls, electrical work, removal of old equipment, commissioning, warranty and handover. It should show the gross price and grant separately.
Look beyond the purchase price
The running bill depends on seasonal efficiency and your tariff. Routine servicing, repair cover and warranty terms also matter. Replacing a gas boiler can save its standing charge only if you stop using gas entirely and close the supply. Solar panels or a time-of-use tariff may change the calculation, but the result needs your actual usage pattern.
Ask for an annual electricity estimate in kWh and the assumed heat demand, seasonal performance and tariff. Those numbers let you compare the quote with your own bills. Be sceptical of a cash saving that has no stated tariff or heating demand.
The decision in one page
Compare at least three survey-led quotes if practical. Check whether grant approval is pending, who bears the cost of changes after survey, and what triggers stage payments. Keep the original design and final commissioning records. They are valuable if you later need support or want to check that the system performs as promised.
A note about the numbers
Prices, grants and tariffs can change. The dated figures above come from the linked sources and are examples unless explicitly described as a published average. Your installer should assess your property before giving a final design or quotation.