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myBox in Boiler Cost
At a Glance
- The average cost of boxing in a boiler is around £335 in 2025.
- It takes approximately 3 to 6 hours to complete this job.
- A breakdown of what it will typically cost to box in a boiler in the UK.
- What impacts the prices you're quoted by tradespeople for boxing in a boiler, expert tips, and what's involved in this type of job.
- How to find and hire a carpenter near you to box in your boiler.
Want to know how much boxing in a boiler costs in the UK?
The average cost to box in a boiler is £335 in 2025.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about putting your boiler in a box. This includes typical prices you'll be quoted to hide a boiler in your kitchen, what building regulations you need to know about, and how to box in a boiler.
Whether you want to box in a combi boiler, regular boiler or system boiler, we’ll give you a clear idea as to how you should go about this.
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£335
Table of Contents
- How Much Does It Cost to Box in a Boiler?
- Supply Only Costs
- Labour Costs and Timescales
- What Impacts the Cost of Boxing in a Boiler?
- Additional Box In Boiler Costs
- What's Involved in Boxing in a Boiler?
- Can I Box In a Boiler Myself?
- Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Boxing in a Boiler
- Checklist: Hiring a Carpenter to Box in a Boiler in the UK
- FAQs
- Sources
How Much Does It Cost to Box in a Boiler?
The average cost of boxing in a boiler in the UK is £335.
Depending on the type of boxing in you choose, your prices will differ:
- A modified kitchen cabinet would cost £160 to £270
- A custom-built unit is priced at approximately £265 to £425
- Having a utility space built would cost about £400 to £560
The cost of boxing in a boiler depends on the type and size of the construction, ease of access to the work area, and where you live in the UK.
The latter point is relevant since labour prices differ from region to region in the UK.
The cost of boxing in a boiler will also vary depending on the type of boiler that you have.
How much would it roughly cost for a box to be built around a boiler in a spare room to cover the boiler and pipes?
"Depending on what materials you need, no more than £250 (including labour)."
Box in Boiler Prices
| Job Description | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Modified Kitchen Cabinet | £160 – £270 |
| Custom-Built Unit | £265 – £425 |
| Build a Utility Space | £400 – £560 |
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Supply Only Costs
The supply costs are a part of the overall costs to box a boiler in and exclude the price of labour.
The cost of supplies would land around £70 to £135 for a modified kitchen cabinet, £100 to £200 for a custom-built unit or £235 to £335 in the case of building a utility space.
Supply Costs of Boxing in a Boiler
| Job Description | Supply Costs |
|---|---|
| Modified Kitchen Cabinet | £70 – £135 |
| Custom-Built Unit | £100 – £200 |
| Build a Utility Space | £235 – £335 |
Want a custom price?
Post your job
Labour Costs and Timescales
We’ll now move on to the price of labour involved in boxing in a boiler.
A tradesperson would set a labour price of about £150 to £200 per day, whereas a relatively straightforward installation may cost between £90 and £135 (e.g., modified kitchen cabinet).
The labour cost is part of the overall price of boxing in a boiler.
It would take about three to 6 hours to install a modified kitchen cabinet, but 6 to 8 hours (or around a full workday) to have a custom-built unit or a utility space.
The labour cost and timeframe depend on the extent of the work and ease of access to the workspace.
Labour Costs of Boxing in a Boiler
| Job Description | Labour Costs |
|---|---|
| Modified Kitchen Cabinet | £90 – £135 |
| Custom-Built Unit | £165 – £225 |
| Build a Utility Space | £165 – £225 |
Want a custom price?
Post your job
What Impacts the Cost of Boxing in a Boiler?
When it comes to boxing in a boiler, various cost factors are at play. While we’ve touched on these earlier, let’s take a closer look at the cost-affecting factors involved.
Type and Size of Construction
One of the main factors in determining the price of boxing in a boiler is the type and size of the construction.
Modifying a kitchen cabinet would be a simpler and relatively cheaper task than having a custom-built unit constructed around your boiler.
The size of the construction itself would also play a role in determining the supply costs as well as the labour price potentially (as this often relates directly to how long the work takes and/or the scale of the job).
Ease of Access
The level of accessibility a tradesperson has to your boiler would also matter.
The easier they can access the workspace, the quicker and simpler the task should be. This would likely mean a lower labour cost than would be the case otherwise.
Location of Property
In addition, the cost of labour would also depend on your location.
Labour prices tend to be below the UK average in northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
On the contrary, trade costs are usually above the UK average in the southeast. London is especially known for its high costs in general.
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Additional Box In Boiler Costs
We’ll now look at some extra jobs you may wish to schedule around the same time as getting your boiler boxed in.
These types of jobs are a good idea to think about at the same time, as you'll often be quoted lower prices if you bundle multiple jobs together.
Cost to Service a Boiler
You should have your boiler serviced annually, so it makes sense to bundle the jobs together while the area is easily accessible for the heating engineer.
A boiler service costs £100 in 2025.
An annual boiler service is critical to ensure that your boiler is safe and working correctly. And, if you want to maintain your boiler's warranty, then annual servicing is typically something that you should schedule with a heating engineer near you.
A heating engineer may also spot issues when servicing your boiler, and would likely fix any issues there and then — although this could increase your bill.
Cost to Bleed a Radiator
When you've had your boiler serviced, it's a good idea to have your radiators bled at the same time to fully optimise your heating system.
The cost of bleeding radiators depends on the number of radiators in your home, but for a typical 3-bed semi-detached home, you can expect costs of around £275.
Radiator bleeding improves heating efficiency, makes your system less noisy, and can help to prevent pools of water from forming beneath your radiators while in use. Bleeding a radiator can also address issues like cold spots, which would likely lower running costs.
Cost to Move a Radiator
Another thing you may be thinking about is having one or multiple radiators moved somewhere else. While your boiler is being boxed in, it makes sense to complete all your heating updates at the same time.
The cost to move a radiator is around £150 per radiator.
And, if you're thinking of adding a new radiator, you’d need to budget around £200 per radiator.
What's Involved in Boxing in a Boiler?
Let's look at the steps required to box in a boiler. The methods will vary depending on the way in which you want to have your boiler boxed in.
You should explore different box in boiler ideas before deciding the best way to go about it, although you should consult a professional if you have any doubts as to whether your vision is suitable.
Hiring a Contractor and Obtaining the Materials
First and foremost, you need to decide whether you want to undertake the work yourself or hire a professional.
If you choose to hire a professional, they'll source the materials for you. Otherwise, you'll need to get them yourself.
If you're attempting this DIY, it’s important that you secure all the correct materials and have the right tools needed before you start work.
Boxing In the Boiler
In most cases, the work will be relatively simple. A kitchen cabinet or the creation of a cupboard is a popular way of achieving this.
For a kitchen box in boiler job, a ready-made cabinet would suffice. This can help to conceal your boiler and make it smoothly fit in with its surroundings.
In some cases, having a cupboard created would suit, though this would depend on location and/or the size of the boiler. The exact process will differ from construction to construction.
For instance, you may need to box in pipes under the boiler or not, depending on the nature of your boiler. If in doubt, you should hire a professional.
Final Checks and Clean Up
Lastly, you’d want to perform any final checks and clean up the space.
Once everything is in good, safe working order and everything is clean, you’re good to go.
Can I Box In a Boiler Myself?
Thankfully, boxing in a boiler is a fairly straightforward job for a DIY enthusiast so long as you have the right skills and knowledge.
It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. For example, there may be some more difficult elements of the job you may need to do, like boxing in boiler pipes.
I have a boiler flue that runs through the kitchen wall, into the adjacent room and out through the external wall in that room. Is it possible (and safe) to box a flue pipe in this sort of situation?
"Yes, you can box it in, but current gas safety rules state that you have to have an access panel on every joint."
Ensuring Adequate Ventilation
In terms of safety concerns, spatial ventilation surrounding a boiler space is particularly important. It is critical that enough room exists around the boiler for air circulation.
In addition, there needs to be sufficient clearance at the front of the boiler for maintenance and servicing purposes. If the boiler needs to be moved, however, you will need to hire a professional.
Potential Labour Savings
Boxing in a boiler DIY, if suitable, could save you somewhere in the range of £80 to £200 in labour expenses. However, it will likely take a DIY enthusiast longer to perform the work than a professional.
Hazards and dangers include straining yourself when carrying heavy materials. You also want to be sure you don’t do a botched job. You’ll need to know how to box a boiler to do this work DIY. If there is any doubt, hiring a contractor to box in a boiler is best.
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Boxing in a Boiler
Typically, you won't need planning permission to box in a boiler.
The main exception is if your property is a listed building. In these cases, you will need permission from your local building authority prior to having your boiler boxed in.
There are no specific building regulations for boxing in a boiler. However, you need to ensure room for air circulation around the boiler for proper ventilation, and you must ensure that there is sufficient clearance at the front for maintenance and servicing.
You should follow the manufacturer's instructions for the recommended clearances. In general, you’ll be looking at approximately the following clearance gaps:
- 2cm to 5cm at the sides of your boiler
- 20cm to 30cm gap at the top of your boiler
- 10cm to 20cm along the bottom of the boiler
Other work, if applicable, may be covered by planning permission or building regulations.
Planning permission approval can take up to 8 weeks, and generally costs between £100 to £200, whereas the price of building regulations generally falls close to £100.
Is it possible to have a boiler installed in a bathroom?
"Yes, you can install your boiler in the bathroom, but keep in mind about zones. The boiler should also be in a boiler unit/cupboard as well as a fused spur."
Checklist: Hiring a Carpenter to Box in a Boiler in the UK
Should you wish to hire a contractor to perform the work, there are certain considerations worth taking on board. Here's our recommended checklist when finding the right contractor for the job:
- Use MyJobQuote to gather at least 3 quotes from different local carpenters to get an idea of prices in your area.
- Ask for a written quotation to clearly see what is (and isn't) included in your cost.
- Take a look at the trader's past customer reviews.
- Find out if they are part of an accreditation, and if they offer any guarantees on their work.
FAQs
Can I box in my boiler?
If you have the right skills and knowledge, it’s generally fine to undertake the work DIY. However, if you have doubts that relate to where the boiler is located, or the ventilation required, you should ask a professional.
Does a boxed in boiler need ventilation?
Yes, boilers require ventilation to ensure safe and proper functionality. However, the type of ventilation required depends on the type of boiler you have.
Modern UK boilers are room-sealed, which means they bring in air through an external flue. Older UK boilers are open-flue, which means they bring in air from the room they're situated in. In either case, it's best to consult with a professional tradesperson who is familiar with ventilation requirements when boxing in a boiler.
Modern UK boilers are room-sealed, which means they bring in air through an external flue. Older UK boilers are open-flue, which means they bring in air from the room they're situated in. In either case, it's best to consult with a professional tradesperson who is familiar with ventilation requirements when boxing in a boiler.
How do you box in a wall-mounted boiler?
You can box in a wall-mounted boiler with a kitchen cupboard built around it. You'll need to follow the boiler manufacturer's clearance guidelines.
What are some of the advantages of boxing in a boiler that I may not have realised yet?
Aside from the obvious visual benefits, boxing in a boiler can also naturally reduce how noisy your boiler is.
How much might it cost to unbox a boiler and make it exposed again?
Exposing a boxed-in boiler will cost around £60 to £120, covering waste removal expenses and labour costs. In this case, it would probably be best to hire a professional to remove the construction around a boiler, as this could be messy.
Sources
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/boilers-and-heating/planning-permission
