The answer
What is a realistic heat-pump installation cost?
Home Energy Scotland currently gives illustrative typical installed costs of £3,700 for air-to-air, £13,000 for air-to-water and £34,000 for ground-source heat pumps. Its figures come from invoices submitted to the scheme between 2019 and 2025, with inflation adjustments to earlier years. They are useful starting points, not prices for your home: heat demand, radiators, hot water, pipework, electrics and access can change the final quote.
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What do the Scottish figures mean?
The three figures describe different heating systems. Air-to-air heats rooms through indoor units and does not normally supply radiators or domestic hot water. Air-to-water serves a wet heating system and generally needs a hot-water plan. Ground source adds ground collectors or boreholes, which is why its typical upfront cost is much higher.
Home Energy Scotland's published averages include both straightforward installations and homes needing extensive upgrades. They are before any individual funding decision. Its example of £5,500 after grant for air-to-water assumes the full £7,500 grant; it does not mean your household will necessarily qualify. Check the current funding rules and approval route separately.
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What are you actually paying for?
A heat pump is a new heating system, not a like-for-like boiler swap. A complete design starts with room-by-room heat loss and chooses a flow temperature. That determines whether existing radiators can stay, whether pipework needs alteration and how large the heat pump should be. The hot-water cylinder, controls and electrical supply may add substantial work.
Access and reinstatement matter too. An outdoor unit may need a base, drainage and a cable route; internal work may affect floors and decoration. Ask for those items to be included or clearly excluded rather than assuming they are in the headline price.
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How do you judge value?
The cheapest installation is not necessarily the lowest-cost system to own. Compare the forecast annual heat demand, seasonal performance assumption and electricity tariff alongside the full installation scope. A proposed saving against your current fuel bill is only as sound as those assumptions.
Funding can change the amount you pay, but eligibility and amounts change. Check the current Home Energy Scotland rules before making a grant-dependent commitment.
Where this guidance comes from
Check the original guidance.
These primary sources support the technical or scheme points above. Rules can change; follow the current source before making a commitment.
Apply this to your property
Find out what the work would involve at your home.
A free FLO survey checks heat loss, existing radiators, hot water and practical installation routes before FLO prices a system for your property.