HeatWise Home

Country Guide

United Kingdom Heat Pump and Home Energy Guide

Planning ranges, heating context, and source-backed grant guidance for United Kingdom.

Use cost calculatorEurope hub
Last reviewed: 2026-04-28Confidence: medium

Medium confidence

Energy prices, grant rules, and installation costs change frequently. The figures on this page are planning ranges, not quotes. Always confirm your current tariff, delivered fuel price, installer scope, and eligibility in the named references linked below.

United Kingdom summary

Gas boilers dominate in urban areas; oil, LPG, and direct electric remain common off-grid.

The UK has a mild but damp heating season, with local variation between coastal, urban, rural, and northern homes.

Heat pump suitability depends strongly on fabric condition, radiator output, electricity tariffs, and installer design.

Typical heating context

  • Mains gas boilers
  • Oil boilers in rural homes
  • Direct electric heating
  • LPG in off-grid homes

Energy cost assumptions (planning ranges)

  • Electricity: GBP 0.22-0.34 per kWh (Ofgem regional cap spread and available tariffs)
  • Gas: GBP 0.05-0.11 per kWh (Ofgem cap benchmark and regional/tariff variation)
  • Heating oil: GBP 0.09-0.13 per kWh equivalent (kerosene supplier tracking, delivery-size and season dependent)

Electricity/gas benchmarks align with Ofgem's 1 April to 30 June 2026 cap context (24.67p/kWh electricity and 5.74p/kWh gas GB average, Direct Debit) and broader tariff variation. Heating-oil range uses UK supplier-tracked kerosene pricing converted to kWh-equivalent planning values.

Grant and support schemes

Boiler Upgrade Scheme: typically GBP 7,500 for eligible ASHP/GSHP installs in England and Wales

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme may support eligible heat pump installations in England and Wales. Devolved rules and support can differ.

Heat pump suitability notes

Best outcomes are usually in homes with improved fabric, lower flow temperatures, and time-of-use electricity optimisation.

Worked example (illustrative)

If electricity is GBP 0.28/kWh and gas is GBP 0.08/kWh, a heat pump with SCOP 3.2 has delivered-heat energy cost near GBP 0.09/kWh versus about GBP 0.09/kWh from a 90% gas boiler before standing charges.

Sources and assumptions

  • GOV.UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Used for grant pathways and eligibility context. Last checked: 2026-04-28. Confidence: medium.
  • Ofgem energy price cap and market data: Used for electricity, gas, and heating oil planning ranges. Last checked: 2026-04-28. Confidence: medium.
  • MCS standards and UK building fabric guidance: Used for building performance and retrofit assumptions. Last checked: 2026-04-28. Confidence: medium.

Helpful next step

Adjust fuel prices, SCOP, grants, and costs using your own numbers.

Estimate your heat pump payback

Heat pump cost calculator

Select United Kingdom assumptions and override with your latest tariff and quote data.

Heat pump sizing calculator

Sense-check likely size range before commissioning a full room-by-room survey.

Europe assumptions hub

Compare country-level ranges, support context, confidence, and caveats.

Europe grants guide

Cross-check grant assumptions by country with current scheme pages.

Insulation guide and ROI

Estimate how fabric improvements could reduce demand before system replacement.

Calculator methodology

Review formulas, assumptions, and estimate limitations before acting on planning outputs.

Related articles

Read practical guides on grants, sizing, running costs, and retrofit sequencing.

Sources and assumptions

Last checked: 2026-04-28. Confidence: medium.

  • Electricity price range: GBP 0.22-0.34 per kWh (Ofgem regional cap spread and available tariffs).
  • Gas price range: GBP 0.05-0.11 per kWh (Ofgem cap benchmark and regional/tariff variation).
  • Heating oil equivalent range: GBP 0.09-0.13 per kWh equivalent (kerosene supplier tracking, delivery-size and season dependent).

Caveat: prices vary by supplier, tariff, region, standing charge, and usage. Use your live bill and tariff for final decisions.

Read calculator methodology

Frequently asked questions

They can be, but suitability depends on local climate, building heat loss, existing emitters, energy prices, and installer design. The UK has a mild but damp heating season, with local variation between coastal, urban, rural, and northern homes.

Request local quotes or guidance

Send a homeowner question, correction, partnership note, or request for help comparing energy upgrades.

Privacy and referral transparency

  • There is no obligation to proceed after you submit this form.
  • We do not routinely share your details with third parties.
  • Partner introductions only happen where relevant to your request.
  • Your data is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

What happens next:

  1. We review your question or quote request.
  2. We may reply directly or ask for missing details.
  3. If a partner introduction is relevant, we explain who the partner is before sharing your details.
  4. You are under no obligation.
  5. Your data is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

If we suggest a partner

Where we suggest a partner, we aim to prioritise relevant, reputable providers or installers. We do not recommend proceeding without checking credentials, quotes, warranties, and official grant requirements.