Air Source Heat Pump Cost Calculator
ASHP-only installation pricing for UK homes in 2026. Includes brand-specific premiums for Mitsubishi, Daikin, Vaillant, Samsung, and Grant — plus the £7,500 BUS grant deduction.
Updated 27 May 2026
ASHP installed price · brand by brand
Mitsubishi, Vaillant, Daikin, Grant, Samsung, LG — real Q1 2026 UK quote averages with the £7,500 BUS grant.
Quick answer: An air source heat pump in the UK costs £10,000–£18,000 installed in 2026 depending on property size and brand. After the £7,500 BUS grant, the typical three-bedroom UK semi pays £4,500–£8,500 net. Mitsubishi Ecodan and Vaillant aroTHERM Plus sit at the premium end; Samsung and LG units are 10–20% cheaper.
Your installation
Average UK 3-bed semi: 95 m²
All are MCS-listed. Premium brands have 5–7 year warranties & better cold-weather SCOP.
Combi-boiler homes always need a new cylinder. Existing vented systems sometimes don't.
£7,500 BUS grant applied
Net installation cost
£6,400
after grant
Gross total
£13,900
Pump only
£11,600
Cylinder
£1,800
Prices use Q1 2026 MCS installer quote averages. Brand premiums verified across 40+ UK installer websites.
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What's in the price of an air source heat pump?
An installed air source heat pump quote typically breaks down like this:
| Item | Typical % of total | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor heat pump unit | 40% | £3,500–£7,500 |
| Hot water cylinder | 13% | £1,400–£2,400 |
| Pipework & refrigerant | 8% | £800–£1,500 |
| Controls & buffer tank | 6% | £500–£1,200 |
| Installation labour (3–4 days) | 22% | £2,500–£4,000 |
| MCS commissioning & BUS admin | 4% | £400–£700 |
| Installer margin & warranty | 7% | £800–£1,500 |
UK air source heat pump brands compared
All major brands sold in the UK are MCS-listed and BUS-eligible. The differences come down to warranty, cold-weather performance, and installer network density.
| Brand | SCOP | Warranty | Typical price (8 kW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Ecodan | 3.5–4.1 | 7 years | £14,500 |
| Vaillant aroTHERM Plus | 3.4–4.0 | 7 years | £14,000 |
| Daikin Altherma 3 | 3.3–3.8 | 5 years | £13,500 |
| Grant Aerona³ | 3.2–3.7 | 7 years (R290) | £12,800 |
| Samsung EHS | 3.1–3.6 | 5 years | £12,200 |
| LG Therma V | 3.0–3.5 | 5 years | £12,000 |
How to compare ASHP quotes
Always get 3 quotes and compare these specific line items:
- Pump brand & model number — not "8 kW heat pump" but "Mitsubishi PUZ-WM85VAA"
- Hot water cylinder spec — capacity (litres), coil area (m²), brand
- Radiator scope — exact list of rooms with upgrade type
- Warranty — what's covered and for how long
- What's excluded — DNO upgrades, scaffolding, planning fees
If quotes have wildly different totals, the answer is usually one of: different pump sizes, different radiator scopes, or different cylinder capacities. Force apples-to-apples and the spread typically narrows to ±10%.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air source heat pump cost in the UK in 2026?
£10,000–£18,000 installed depending on property size and brand. After the £7,500 BUS grant, most three-bedroom homes pay £4,500–£8,500 net. Mitsubishi Ecodan typically commands a 10–15% premium over Samsung.
Which brand of air source heat pump is best?
For UK conditions, Mitsubishi Ecodan and Vaillant aroTHERM Plus lead on reliability and SCOP. Daikin Altherma is the best all-rounder. Samsung and Grant offer budget options. Always prioritise installer skill over brand — a great brand installed poorly performs worse than a budget brand installed well.
How much does Mitsubishi Ecodan cost installed?
A Mitsubishi Ecodan typically costs £13,500–£18,500 installed in the UK for a 6–11 kW unit. After the £7,500 BUS grant, that's £6,000–£11,000 net. The premium over Samsung or LG is 10–15%, justified by the 7-year warranty and better cold-weather performance.
Do all air source heat pumps qualify for the BUS grant?
Only those listed on the MCS Installer Database and installed by an MCS-certified company. All major brands sold by reputable UK installers qualify — Mitsubishi, Daikin, Vaillant, Samsung, LG, Grant, Worcester Bosch. Check the MCS database before ordering.
What's the difference between R290 and R32 refrigerant?
R290 (propane) has a global warming potential (GWP) of 3 vs R32's 675. R290 also allows higher flow temperatures (60–75°C) without efficiency loss, making it better for older homes with smaller radiators. Most new UK ASHP launches in 2025–2026 are R290 — Mitsubishi Ecodan R290, Vaillant aroTHERM Plus, Daikin Altherma 3 H HT.
Can I install an ASHP myself to save money?
No. F-Gas regulations require certified handlers for refrigerant work, and the £7,500 BUS grant requires MCS-certified installation. Self-install also voids manufacturer warranties. The grant alone saves more than any DIY labour cost would.