Installation typically accounts for £4,000–£7,000 of a £12,000 heat pump project; the rest is hardware. Knowing what's in that labour line lets you spot under-priced quotes that will cut corners on commissioning.
Survey and design (£250–£600)
A proper Heat Geek-style or MCS-compliant heat loss calculation, room by room. Skipping this is the #1 cause of underperforming heat pumps.
Labour and fitting (£3,500–£5,500)
Outdoor unit mounting, indoor cylinder install, pipework, radiator changes, system flush and balancing. 3–5 working days for a typical install.
Cylinder and controls (£1,500–£2,500)
A heat-pump-rated cylinder (200–250L), weather compensation controls and a system flush kit. Don't reuse old combi-boiler cylinders; they're not rated for the lower flow temps.
Commissioning and certification (£300–£500)
MCS commissioning paperwork, BUS grant submission and handover. Required for the grant; and for any future warranty claim.
See what installers in your area would actually charge.
Get matched quotesFrequently asked questions
Why are heat pump installs more expensive than boilers?+
Heat pumps need balanced flow temperatures, often-larger emitters and a full heat-loss design. A combi boiler tolerates rough sizing because it can run hot water at 75°C; heat pumps can't.
Can I keep my existing radiators?+
Often yes if they were oversized originally. A heat loss survey will flag the 1–4 rooms typically needing upgrades.