Central Heating Installation Cost

How Much to Install Central Heating in 2025?

Installing central heating is a big job that involves several different parts, including installing a boiler, new radiators, a water tank, and pipework. The average cost for installing central heating usually falls somewhere between £4,000 to £5,300.

There are a number of factors that can affect the cost of central heating installation, including the type and brand of boiler you want to have installed, the number of radiators you would like, and your location in the UK.

With this in mind, no two central heating installation jobs are the same, and the price you pay can work around your personal budget.

The cost of everything involved will usually be included in the total price that your chosen central heating installer quotes you.

Modern central heating systems tend to be highly efficient and can use a lot less fuel than older systems while still delivering the same amount of heat.

Having central heating installed is not a cheap or easy job. You can expect it to cost quite a bit and take a while to complete.

This article will go over the cost of installing gas central heating as well as the overall new central heating installation costs for all types of central heating, and the steps involved in the job.

Central Heating Installation Prices

Supply Cost of Central Heating Installation

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Additional Central Heating Installation Costs

There are several additional costs that you may need to consider when it comes to having central heating installed.

Let's take a look at some different scenarios to see what additional central heating costs you may encounter:

Moving into an Older Property Without Working Central Heating

Potentially, the most expensive scenario is moving into an older property without working central heating. In this case, you'll need to budget for the cost of new boiler installation, which typically ranges from £600 to £2,900 depending on your boiler type.

You'll then need to add in the cost of new radiators, which can range between £170 to £300 to cater for the house size and your heat requirements.

If the property has had central heating in the past, but it's been left unused for years and no longer works, it's important to factor in the cost of a powerflush to rid the pipes of any built-up sludge and debris from previous use to ensure your new system works efficiently.

Renovating or Extending a Home

On top of buying a new boiler to cope with the additional energy output and disposing of the old one, you'll need to add in the cost of moving radiators into your budget if you want to re-use what you already own. The cost of moving radiators ranges from £170 to £300.

You may also want to improve your home's insulation, add other heating options, such as underfloor heating, or improve your home's window efficiency to ensure no heat is lost. Underfloor heating costs around £800, which is a higher up-front cost compared to moving radiators, but typically has lower running costs as the system can operate at lower temperatures, which can reduce overall energy costs.

Replacing Boiler Like-For-Like

One of the lowest-cost options when it comes to central heating installation is swapping your old boiler like-for-like with a newer, more efficient model of the same fuel type.

If your existing boiler is a system or regular/conventional, you may also want to budget in the cost of a new immersion heater to improve your system if you've been suffering with inefficient heating, corrosion, or lack of hot water. New immersion heaters cost in the region of £120 to £150.

Switching Energy Type

There are lots of reasons you may want to change your energy type, from environmental concerns to access issues, or simply to have lower running costs.

Air source heat pumps cost between £7,800 and £9,600 to install, while ground source heat pumps cost £11,500 to £18,500 to install.

Depending on the nature of your change, you'll encounter different additional costs. For example, if you're moving away from gas and want to switch to air source or ground source heat pumps, you'll need to get your property suitable for the new heat source.

This can include:

• Improving Your Home's Insulation - Heat pumps have lower flow temperatures compared to gas boilers, so if your home isn't properly insulated, you'll lose the majority of the heat, so you may want to budget for additional cavity wall insulation.
• Having Adequate Radiators/Underfloor Heating - Due to the lower flow temperatures, you'll need to ensure you've got enough radiators/underfloor heating to heat your home and give off enough heat adequately.
• Electrical Upgrades/Rewiring - You may need to invest in a few electrical upgrades to avoid overloading your electrical system, such as the cost of a new consumer unit.

Labour Cost to Install Central Heating

The average cost to hire a plumber is around £170 to £310 per day. A central heating installation job is considered a large undertaking and often requires the services of more than one plumber to complete.

For a complete new central heating installation, the labour costs will usually fall somewhere between £1,200 to £2,400 for the full job. Depending on the type and difficulty of the job, it typically takes 4 to 8 days to complete.

You will usually receive a quote for the entire job, including the cost of labour for every central heating expert who is involved in the job.

Those located in London can expect to pay around £250 to £550 more for the total cost of labour for the job compared to those located in the north or other parts of the UK.

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What Impacts the Cost of Installing Central Heating?

There are a number of different things that can affect the overall cost of your central heating installation job. Below is a list of what may affect the price you pay for the job:

Type of Boiler

You can expect to pay different costs depending on the type of boiler that you have installed, as well as the manufacturer of the boiler.

Combi boiler prices are between £600 and £2,300 for the boiler alone.

For a system boiler, this could cost £1,150 to £2,850, and for a conventional boiler, you would be looking at costs of around £450 to £1,750.

Number of Radiators

The number of radiators in your system can affect the cost of the installation, as you will need to pay for the materials of each of the different radiators, and you will also need to pay for the labour of installing each additional radiator.

In short: the more radiators you install in your heating system, the more you can expect your job to cost.

Hot Water Cylinder

A system or regular boiler will usually require a water tank installation. This is where the hot water is stored and heated before being delivered to the hot water outlets.

A new hot water tank typically costs between £230 to £575, including the cost of installation.

Location of Property

The location of your property can affect the amount you pay for your central heating installation, as labour costs in London are considerably higher.

Those located in London can expect to pay around £250 to £550 more for the total cost of labour for the job compared to those located in the north or other parts of the UK.

What's Involved in Installing New Central Heating?

Installing a central heating system is a complex procedure and requires knowledge of how to build and put together several different components.

Here are the main steps involved in installing central heating:

• Choose the type of boiler and radiators that best suit your energy usage and fuel type.
• Your heating engineer will find the best location for the new boiler (usually found in kitchens, utility rooms, or bathrooms), and will begin the installation process.
• Once the boiler is fitted, the engineer will move on to fit the radiators.
• Pipework will be run throughout the property, and will be connected to the boiler's valves, the radiators, the water tank (if needed), and the appropriate outlets.
• Your engineer will then ensure all the radiator valves are closed and the vents are sealed before filling the system with water. They will then bleed each radiator to remove as much air as possible from the system.
• Once complete, the engineer will switch on the boiler to heat the water. They'll then go around each radiator in your home and balance out the flow of hot water using the valves.

Although central heating installation may not seem like it has a lot of steps, each job requires specific, specialist knowledge and skill, and should only be carried out by a qualified professional to ensure safety.

Can I Install Central Heating Myself?

It's recommended you hire a qualified engineer to install your central heating system rather than doing it DIY.

If you have a gas boiler, this will need to be fitted and checked over by a contractor who is Gas Safe registered by law. Attempting to install a gas boiler without any knowledge or training is dangerous and illegal in the UK.

Building Regulations for Central Heating Systems

Any work to install a new boiler needs building regulations approval due to the safety issues that are involved, plus the need for energy efficiency. The best way to approach the job is to hire a professional who is certified to perform the task.

The contractor that you hire should have full knowledge of what they need to do to comply with the building regulations when it comes to installing your new central heating system.

Planning Permission for Central Heating Systems

You do not usually need to worry about planning permission when it comes to installing a new central heating system, considering all of the work that is being completed is internal work.

If you live in a listed building or a building within a conservation area, you may need to check with your local planning authority before going ahead with the work.

A qualified contractor can usually give you the best advice when it comes to the rules and regulations needed to carry out a new central heating system installation.

Types of Central Heating

Below, you'll find an explanation of the different types of boilers and heating systems, along with the pros and cons of each energy type to help you choose the best fit for you and your home.

Combi Boiler Cost

A combi boiler (or combination boiler) is an all-in-one unit that provides your home with hot water and heat. Combi boilers connect directly to the mains water supply, meaning there's no need for a separate hot water cylinder or cold water tank, making them popular choices for UK homeowners who are low on space.

The typical cost of a combi boiler is between £600 to £2,300, depending on make, model, and output.

Pros

• ✔ Small, space-saving design
• ✔ Hot water on demand
• ✔ Energy-efficient by design as water is only heated when needed

Cons

• ✖ Not a great fit for large homes with multiple bathrooms
• ✖ If there's increased demand for hot water, the water flow may be reduced
• ✖ If there's a drop in your mains water pressure, your system will be impacted

System Boiler Cost

System boilers use a hot water cylinder to heat and supply hot water to your home. They don't need a separate cold water tank and can take water directly from the mains, which allows them to cope much better with high hot water demands compared to a combi boiler.

The typical cost of a system boiler is between £1,150 to £2,850.

Pros

• ✔ Capable of dealing with high hot water demands
• ✔ No need for a cold water tank, saving interior space
• ✔ Typically more efficient than other boiler types

Cons

• ✖ Needs a hot water cylinder, taking away some internal house space
• ✖ Installation is more complex than a combi boiler
• ✖ If the hot water runs out, you'll have to wait for the cylinder to reheat

Regular Boiler Cost

Regular boilers - also known as conventional or heat-only boilers - work with a hot water cylinder and a cold water tank. These systems are usually found in older properties and, as a result, are typically less efficient than modern alternatives.

The typical cost of a regular boiler is between £450 to £1,750, depending on your specifications.

Pros

• ✔ Regular boilers work well in areas with low water pressure
• ✔ Can cope with multiple hot water usage across different bathrooms
• ✔ Good for larger households

Cons

• ✖ Regular boiler setups take up a lot of interior space with a hot water cylinder and a cold water tank
• ✖ Hot water isn't instant
• ✖ Typically less energy-efficient than combi or system boilers

Types of Fuel for Central Heating Systems

To give you an idea of energy costs, here's the estimated cost per kWh for gas, electric, oil, and solid fuel, along with which boilers the fuel types are compatible with:

Gas Central Heating Cost

Gas is the most common form of boiler fuel in the UK. It is convenient as it is supplied through mains connections and can provide homes with heating and hot water.

In 2025, gas costs an average of £0.07 per kWh.

Pros

• ✔ Cost-effective, being one of the cheapest fuel types in the UK
• ✔ Convenient fuel type as most homes are on the gas network
• ✔ Produces a lot of heat quickly

Cons

• ✖ Gas usage isn't environmentally-friendly
• ✖ If your home is rural, you might not have access to a mains gas supply
• ✖ Boilers can be bulky and need external flues

Electric Central Heating Cost

Electric boilers are noiseless and very light compared to other boilers. They also have low maintenance and running costs.

In 2025, electricity costs an average of £0.27 per kWh.

Pros

• ✔ No noise while the boiler is in use
• ✔ Very light and compact design, ideal for small spaces
• ✔ Low maintenance

Cons

• ✖ High running costs, with electricity being the most expensive fuel in our selection
• ✖ Can take longer to heat compared to other fuel types
• ✖ Not suitable for large homes with high hot water demands

Oil Central Heating Cost

Oil is used as a substitute for natural gas in rural and off-grid areas. If you're using oil as a fuel, you must make sure your boiler is capable of running on oil.

In 2025, oil costs an average of £0.09 per kWh.

Pros

• ✔ A good substitute for gas for off-grid homes
• ✔ High energy-efficiency
• ✔ Ideal for large homes with high heat demands

Cons

• ✖ You'll need to store your fuel in an external tank somewhere on your property
• ✖ Many boilers aren't compatible
• ✖ Oil prices can fluctuate

Solid Fuel Central Heating Cost

Solid fuels are often the cheapest but are the most polluting form of fuel. The fuel can come in the form of coal, wooden logs, or biomass pellets.

In 2025, solid fuel variants cost between £0.05 to £0.10 per kWh, depending on the exact fuel type.

Pros

• ✔ Typically low cost
• ✔ Useful for rural homes without mains gas or electric connections
• ✔ Biomass gives a sustainable fuel option

Cons

• ✖ Not renewable
• ✖ Very polluting, especially if you're using coal
• ✖ Large storage space needed

Benefits of Central Heating Systems

• Reduced Energy Bills - Modern central heating systems will reduce your bills all year round. Upgrading an existing system could reduce your current energy bills by up to 30%. Modern boilers and heating systems are incredibly efficient.
• Better for Your Health - A central heating system can prevent several health issues, such as asthma, hypothermia, bronchitis, strokes and heart attacks. Central heating protects your home from moisture build-up and mould growth.
• Lower Emissions - A modern central heating system can help to lower your emissions and help you save the environment. Modern systems tend to be highly efficient and produce significantly fewer emissions than older systems or other forms of heating.

Cost of Central Heating Removal

You may want to remove your central heating system if you are making way for a new system. In these cases, the job should be completed by a professional central heating remover or installer who has all the knowledge needed to avoid doing any damage to your home in the process.

Hiring a professional to carry out the job of removing your central heating system will usually cost around £120 to £240 per day, and the job will usually take approximately 1 to 2 days to complete.

You may consider hiring more than one contractor for the job if you would like for it to be completed more quickly.

Checklist: Hiring a Central Heating Installer

There are a few things you will need to consider before hiring someone to install a new central heating system for you. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

• Gather at least 3 quotes from different engineers using MyJobQuote.
• Check that your engineer is Gas Safe registered and qualified to install your new central heating system.
• Ask for an itemised breakdown of costs, making sure you know exactly what's included and what's not (waste removal, skip hire, supply of materials).
• Take a look at the engineer's customer reviews - make sure the comments align with what you're looking for.
• If there are any photos or videos of the trader's work, make sure you look over them to see the quality of work you can expect.
• Be sure to check if your engineer offers a warranty or guarantee on their work on parts and labour.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/boilers-and-heating/planning-permission
https://www.stheatingservices.co.uk/types-fuel-used-boiler/