Nest Thermostat Installation Cost

Looking for the cost to install a Nest thermostat?

In this guide, we'll reveal all you need to know about the types of Google Nest technology on offer, as well as the cost of labour to have it installed and what other smart home upgrades you can have done simultaneously.

Already bought your Nest thermostat and just want an installation quote?

Look no further. MyJobQuote has thousands of electricians near you ready to make you a free, no obligation quote.

Or, to learn more about Nest costs first, keep reading.

How Much Does Nest Thermostat Installation Cost?

Considering installing a Nest thermostat?

Nest, a division of Google, has created smart thermostats and gadgets that can be controlled remotely via a smartphone or tablet. Together with homeowners installing smart meters, they're becoming commonplace in homes across the UK for their energy and cost-saving benefits.

So, what is the cost of installing a Nest thermostat?

The average cost to supply and fit a Nest thermostat is around £260 to £370, combining the cost of the device with professional installation labour.

If you already own a Nest thermostat and just need it installed, labour costs typically range from £60 to £150, with most jobs averaging around £100 for a straightforward installation. Some electricians may also charge a call-out fee on top of their hourly rate, so it's worth asking for a full cost breakdown before you confirm a booking.

For supply only, Nest thermostats cost between £199 and £219.

If you want to complete your smart home, adding a Nest Doorbell is a great option. The Nest Doorbell (battery) costs £179.99 from Google's UK store.

Nest Thermostat Installation Prices

Take a look at the table below for the average Nest installation prices:

Nest Thermostat Cost (Supply Only)

How much is a Nest thermostat?

A standard Nest costs between £199 and £219.

Depending on the model you choose, your Nest prices can differ:

Nest Learning Thermostat Cost

Nest Learning Thermostats cost £219.

After using this thermostat for a week, it will recognise your living habits, and control your heating intuitively so that it's on when you need it, and off when you don't.

Since 2011, Google estimates that Nest thermostats have saved over 200 billion kWh of energy.

The Nest Learning Thermostat also has home/away assist software that automatically regulates the temperature after you leave the house.

For example, if you leave the house for an extended period, it will turn off your hot water tank until you return.

Nest Thermostat E Cost

The slightly lower-priced Nest thermostat, the Nest Thermostat E, costs £199.

Like the Learning Thermostat, it learns your preferences and builds a heating schedule for you. You can also control it remotely using the Nest app on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It works as a wireless thermostat and can be wall mounted or placed on a surface using the included stand.

You can see these Nest prices illustrated in the table below:

Extra Nest Installation Costs if You're Fitting Yourself

Let's now look at the tools and equipment you'll need to install your Nest thermostat yourself:

The primary tool you'll need is a Phillips screwdriver, which should come with your Nest thermostat, and costs between £6 and £10. If your existing thermostat uses a different size or type of screw, you may need a second screwdriver to remove it.

If you're wall-mounting your thermostat rather than using the included stand, you'll need a power drill. These typically cost between £60 and £120.

Lastly, a spirit level is required to ensure that your Nest is straight and perfectly placed. This will cost you between £6 and £9.

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Additional Nest Thermostat Installation Costs

When you install a Nest thermostat, you may decide to add other smart home features at the same time. Here are some additional costs to factor into your budget.

Smart Lighting

Once you've started incorporating smart home features, you'll quickly realise there are lots of optimisations you can make to help your home run smoothly. Smart lighting is just one of those.

The cost of smart lighting depends on the scale of your installation.

The average smart lighting installation costs £85, while kitting out your entire house with smart lighting can range from £3,200 to £10,500, depending on the size.

New Boiler

Most homeowners will not need a new boiler just because their existing one isn't compatible with a Nest thermostat.

However, when a gas combi boiler is fitted in an existing home in England or Wales, building regulations require at least one additional energy efficiency measure to be installed alongside it. A Nest thermostat is one of four measures that can satisfy this requirement, alongside flue gas heat recovery, weather compensation and load compensation. This means fitting a Nest alongside a new combi can help meet a requirement the installation already has to satisfy.

A new boiler costs around £2,400 in the UK.

Replacing a boiler is not a simple task, and it is not a do-it-yourself project. Gas boilers are subject to stringent safety regulations regarding replacement and maintenance, and you must have a Gas Safe registered engineer to complete a gas boiler replacement.

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that upgrading an old G-rated boiler to an A-rated one with full heating controls could save around £420 a year on energy bills in Great Britain.

Nest Thermostat Labour Costs and Timescales

Professional installation of a Nest thermostat should be carried out by a qualified electrician. Fitting one is electrical work on your heating controls rather than gas work, so Gas Safe registration isn't needed. The installation process is usually straightforward and can be completed within the hour in most cases. Here's what to expect on costs:

• The average electrician's hourly rate for standard domestic work in the UK is £48 to £68 per hour, rising to £70 to £90 in inner London.
• In London and the South East, expect to pay more — installation labour can reach the higher end of the £60 to £150 range.

Based on the complexity of Nest installation, it usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.

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Is It Still Worth Buying a Nest Thermostat?

On 25 April 2025, Google announced it would not release any new Nest thermostat models in Europe, including the UK.

However, Google confirmed it will keep selling the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd generation) and the Nest Thermostat E in Europe while stocks last, and that both will continue receiving security updates and working with the Nest and Home apps.

Both models will keep working and receiving support for the foreseeable future, but there's no indication of when, or if, a replacement will follow.

If stock of either current Nest model runs low near you, it's worth comparing smart thermostat installation costs for other brands before committing to a wait.

Can You Install a Nest Thermostat Yourself?

Yes, in most cases you can install a Nest thermostat yourself.

• Google says most homeowners can install the thermostat in around 20 to 30 minutes, using the step-by-step instructions in the Nest app.
• However, with the Nest Learning Thermostat, Google recommends that a professional positions it, connects the Heat Link and sets it up.
• Fitting your Nest yourself means avoiding the £60 to £150 typically charged for installation labour, so you only pay for the device and any tools you need.

Whether it makes sense to install a Nest thermostat yourself depends mostly on what you're starting with.

If you already have a wired thermostat with clearly labelled wiring, swapping it for a Nest is usually a simple job you can do without calling in a professional.

On the other hand, anything involving your boiler's wiring should be looked at by a professional.

The Heat Link, rather than the thermostat itself, is usually what dictates this. It's wired in at your heating system, and if that wiring is old, unlabelled or undocumented, it's worth handing the job to an electrician rather than guessing at connections near your boiler.

What Impacts the Cost to Install a Nest Thermostat?

Many cost factors could impact the overall cost of your installation. Let's see what might affect you:

Location

Electrician hourly rates in inner London run from £70 to £90 per hour, and £55 to £75 across outer London and the South East, against a UK average of £48 to £68.

This service will be more costly in London and the South East due to higher business costs and the higher cost of living.

Minimum Fee

Electricians may charge a minimum fee in some cases. This is typically £50 to £100, charged as a single fee, and usually covers travel plus the first 30 minutes to an hour on site.

This is the minimum an electrician charges to attend a short job, whether or not the work fills a full hour. It's why a 30-minute Nest installation can still cost £60 to £150, rather than a fraction of an hourly rate.

This is worth factoring in when comparing quotes. Always ask whether a minimum fee applies, so you have a clear picture of the total cost before confirming a booking.

New Wiring

If new wiring is required, the cost may be slightly higher.

Whether or not you need new wiring depends on whether you already have a wired thermostat, or if you don't mind having your Nest plugged into a socket.

The installation can be simple or complex, depending on the existing heating system. Older heating systems may have unlabelled and undocumented wiring, making installation time-consuming.

In some homes, the boiler is in difficult locations that makes working around it difficult. If you can tell your contractor the make and model or send photos, they will be able to provide a more accurate quote.

What's Involved in Installing a Nest Thermostat?

While Nest thermostats are straightforward to fit in most cases, professional installation by a qualified electrician is recommended to ensure the system is set up correctly and safely.

As part of the installation process, they'll install it in the correct location, connect it to your heating system's power supply, configure the system, and help you link it to the Nest app on your smartphone.

Here are the steps involved in installing a Nest thermostat:

• Before beginning the installation, the contractor will turn off the mains power.
• Your contractor will discuss where to place the Heat Link, which receives instructions from the thermostat. It should be placed away from large metal objects that could interfere with the signal.
• The contractor will then wire the Heat Link to the boiler and mains supply using the correct terminals.
• They'll then check the Heat Link indicator lights: typically, a green light shows that the connection has been established, while a blue light indicates that it is attempting to connect to the Nest.

If you don't want the Nest to be attached to the wall, plug it in and place it on a surface. It must, however, be within 2 metres of a power outlet because it must always be plugged in. The Micro-USB cable will be plugged into the power supply and connected to the socket in the rim of the Nest's base.

If you want your thermostat to be wall-mounted, this base can be screwed to the wall, and the Nest is mounted on it.

The only thing left is to set up your Nest account online or via the Nest mobile app. Then, connect the Nest to your Wi-Fi network, install any necessary software updates, and ensure that the Heat Link is linked to the thermostat, boiler, and hot water tank.

You can then use the app to link the thermostat to your Nest account and start controlling the heating from anywhere.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Installing a Nest Thermostat

No building regulations or planning permission are required for a Nest installation, but there are a few guidelines to follow.

Replacing a thermostat on an existing circuit isn't notifiable work. The one exception is having a brand new dedicated circuit run for the Heat Link. Notifiable work must either be self-certified by the electrician through their competent person scheme, or notified to your local authority with a building notice, and all electrical work, notifiable or not, must meet the BS 7671 wiring standard.

These notification rules are England's. Wales has its own version of Part P with a wider list of notifiable work, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate building regulations. BS 7671 applies across the UK.

You may also need to ask permission first if your home is a listed building, or from your landlord if you rent.

For optimal performance, your Nest should be installed:

• In a frequently used room, so the Nest can read the correct temperature.
• On an interior wall, around 1.2 to 1.5 metres from the floor.
• Away from draughts, not behind doors, bookcases, or other objects.

Here's how installation typically happens for the Nest Learning Thermostat, and Nest Thermostat E:

Nest Learning Thermostat — Your installer will agree on the best location in your home for the Nest Learning Thermostat. Once agreed, your installer will install the Nest Learning Thermostat, Heat Link, and, if desired, the Nest Learning Thermostat Stand.

Nest Thermostat E — Nest Thermostat E will come with a stand and a plug, allowing it to be placed anywhere. Because the Heat Link E is designed to replace your existing thermostat, your installer will do so whenever possible. If you don't already have a thermostat or an integrated receiver, the Heat Link E will be installed next to your boiler.

Types of Nest Thermostat Systems

Google offers two smart Nest thermostat models: the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E.

While the products appear similar at first glance, there are a few key differences that will help you make a decision.

Nest Learning Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat is Google's premium model.

The unit is 3.3 inches in diameter, and is covered by a polished metal ring that comes in four finishes (stainless steel, white, black and copper), allowing you to match it to your decor.

This Nest thermostat has all the features you'd expect from a smart thermostat, such as learning your family's habits and creating a personalised energy-saving schedule. It also allows for remote monitoring and control using your smartphone and integrates with other Nest devices, or Amazon Alexa.

It has a high-resolution colour display with Farsight technology, which means it illuminates when you walk into a room and displays the temperature, weather, or time. It also has a 2-year warranty.

Pros

• ✔ Learns from your habits to create a schedule suitable for your home
• ✔ Compatible with most UK central heating systems
• ✔ Farsight function
• ✔ Works with smart assistants

Cons

• ✖ Can be expensive compared to other models.
• ✖ You may encounter the need for additional wiring in some cases.

Nest Thermostat E

The Nest Thermostat E is Google's affordable thermostat.

It has a slightly smaller 3.19-inch diameter, with a polycarbonate body and a ceramic-feel finish.

This design is only available in white, with a less vibrant "frosted" display that's supposed to blend in better with any environment.

The Nest Thermostat E has nearly all the same functional options as the Nest Learning Thermostat. This includes learning your routine, compatibility with smart assistants, and app control. It comes with a 2-year warranty.

Pros

• ✔ Creates a heating schedule through learning.
• ✔ Works with most UK heating systems.
• ✔ Works with smart assistants.

Cons

• ✖ Might not be compatible with some older heating systems.
• ✖ No Farsight functionality.

Checklist: Hiring an Electrician for Nest Installation in the UK

Let's go through our checklist for finding the best contractor to install your Nest:

• Use MyJobQuote to gather at least 3 quotes from different local electricians to compare prices.
• Consider a certified Nest Pro installer if the extended warranty matters to you.
• Look at the electrician's qualifications, and see if they have experience fitting smart heating systems and other smart home devices.
• Check that the electrician is registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC, NAPIT, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification or OFTEC, to confirm they can self-certify their work.
• Read over the trader's past customer reviews and look at any photos/videos of their previous projects.
• Ask for a written quotation so you can see exactly what's included — and whether a call-out fee applies on top of the hourly rate.

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