Central Heating Installation Cost: Full Cost Breakdown (2025)

When forecasting the central heating installation cost for your home, you need to factor in the price of a boiler, radiator, heating controls, and pipework. Without professional guidance, it's easy to get lost in the multitude of central heating components, their models and styles, let alone prices.

In this piece, we'll break down the cost of installing central heating in the UK as well as tips on how to save money along the way. However, even with the best tips on hand, your cost to install central heating can skyrocket without intensive price research. And a busy homeowner like you doesn't have too much time to spare.

Thankfully, WhatCost has got your back in these stressful searches. By filling out our 30-second form, you will receive up to 3 quotes from central heating installers near you. Our offer is free and non-binding.

Click below to begin.  

How much does it cost to install central heating? On average, that's between £2,500–£8,970. It depends on your house size, the number of radiators, potential pipework and even your location in the UK. 

Gas is the most popular energy source for central heating in the UK, mainly because it's relatively cheap and has an established infrastructure. 

Air source heat pumps are usually more expensive, ranging from £7,000–£15,000. However, a part of the expenses could be offset with a Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant, which covers £7,500 of the initial investment. 

While being the most affordable option to install, electric storage heaters aren't the cheapest way to heat a house as electricity is 4 times more expensive than gas. 

The cost of a new heating system for a 2 bedroom house in the UK usually ranges from £3,100–£5,900 (for a gas boiler system). 

Such houses typically have between 5-6 radiators and one bathroom and can be effectively heated by a combi (24-28kW) or a system boiler (18-26kW). Here's an approximate cost breakdown:

In case the property doesn't have a gas supply, connecting to the mains supply will cost £500–£900.  

The cost of installing central heating in 3 bed house in the UK is £4,300–£7,700 (for a gas boiler system). 

3-bedroom houses usually have 1-2 bathrooms and need 8-10 radiators. Combi boilers sized between 28-34kW and system boilers of 18-26kW suit homes with multiple bathrooms and higher water demands. 

Exact prices depend on the boiler type, the number of radiators, the pipework, and labour. 

The payback period for a new system is usually 5-10 years, but this timeframe largely depends on the energy prices and your heating preferences. 

Central heating system installation cost in 2025 is £3,100–£7,700. It includes installing a gas boiler and radiators, pipework, heating controls, and labour costs. In some projects, the process also includes installing underfloor heating, removing an old boiler, relocating it, or swapping it for a different boiler type.

Here's a breakdown of the potential installation costs.

Installing a boiler is the most common option among UK households for central heating. There are three main boiler types: combi, system, and conventional. 

Combi (or combination) boilers provide heating and hot water directly from a single unit. This turns a combi boiler into a compact solution for small properties that don't have space for a separate water tank. 

System boilers suit larger houses with multiple bathrooms and high hot water demands. They also require a loft, kitchen, airing cupboard, or utility room space for a separate hot water cylinder (about 600mm in diameter).

Also known as ‘traditional’ or ‘regular’, these boilers use both a hot water cylinder, a cold water storage tank, and a feed and expansion tank. This requires a lot of space, so conventional boilers suit large properties with adequate storage space and proper insulation.

Nowadays, these three boiler types are compatible with various fuels and heating sources like gas, electricity, oil, and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).

An alternative to those mentioned above is biomass boilers. These burn wood pellets or logs for a more sustainable approach. 

A like-for-like boiler replacement cost ranges between £1,730–£2,135, while switching to combi from a different type will cost you £2,440–£2,745.

For example, choosing higher-end models from premium manufacturers will cost you more. Having a large household with intensive heating needs calls for a more powerful (and more expensive) boiler. Also, relocating your boiler might lead to extensive pipework changes, which in turn also increases costs. 

As for the labour costs, the price largely depends on multiple factors like location, pipework to be done, and the complexity of the job. A straightforward replacement (like a combi to combi) means you’re looking at 1 - 2 days of work, so you might be charged £300-£1,000.

However, more complex jobs that last multiple days will probably cost you £2,000–£3,000.

Whichever boiler type or fuel you choose, the cost of a new boiler and installation is anything but low. Any homeowner who has been through this process would recommend getting several quotes to ensure you're getting the best value for your money. Leave the hard work to WhatCost. Complete our 30-second form, and we'll provide you with up to 3 quotes from reputable installers near you. Compare the quotes and choose the best deal for your heating project.

Click below to begin.

The cost of a new heating system is also determined by the preferred fuel or source of heat. In the UK, around 74% of households use gas central heating as their main source of heating. 

There's a reason for that – 84% of domestic properties in the UK are connected to the gas grid, and gas is generally cheaper than other sources of heat, especially electricity as of 2025: 

Apart from the costs, when choosing a fuel for your central heating system, consider the following:

In the UK, the most common radiator types are single and double panel radiators, as well as column, towel and designer ones. Depending on the size and type, radiators cost typically between £80–£300 (with some designer units reaching £1,700 per piece). Installing a new radiator costs around £150–£220 per unit, including labour (£75–£150 as a standard). 

It's a general rule of thumb to install one radiator for every 5m³ of space to be heated. As we mentioned earlier, a 3 bed house typically needs 8-10 radiators; therefore, the supply cost for 10 column radiators for such property starts at £1,150. 

However, apart from the house size, the end radiator price depends on other important factors:

Installing a new radiator requires extra pipework and thermostatic valves, which adds £100–£300 and £50–£150, respectively, to the overall cost and usually takes 2-3 hours. 

Replacing the radiators, however, costs £100–£200 per unit and takes approximately 1–2 hours.

A certified installer can help you get the hang of the BTU measurements and determine the number and suitable types of radiators for your property.

Hot water cylinders are an essential part of system and conventional boilers and provide storage and distribution of hot water for domestic use. There are two main types: vented and unvented.

Vented cylinders use gravity for water pressure and have a vent pipe leading to a cold water storage tank, usually located in the loft. They cost £220–£600 on average. However, installing a new conventional boiler requires an additional £200–£450 for a cold water tank.

Unvented cylinders are more expensive (£345–£4,000) as they are connected directly to the mains water supply and don't need a cold water tank in the loft. This makes them a space-saving option; however, they are more expensive to install. 

Also, there are two main types of unvented cylinders: direct and indirect. The former heats water using electricity via an immersion heater, while the latter uses gas from a boiler. 

Since electricity prices are higher, the long-term operational costs of direct cylinders are higher despite their lower upfront costs. 

If your house needs a system or a conventional boiler for effective heating, choosing between the two types depends on the following factors:

In situations when a cylinder replacement is needed, you can account for labour costs of around £300–£500 per project.

Heating controls, such as thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and smart or room thermostats, are crucial components of any central heating system. They help homeowners manage their temperature efficiently and reduce their heating bills. 

Here are the estimated costs for different controls:

Important to note these prices are estimates, and a professional installer should assess your property and choose the most suitable options for you, including your preferences and budget.

We can help you find a certified engineer near you without you wasting days and weeks comparing prices and calling installers. Simply complete our 30-second form below, and we'll provide you with up to 3 quotes to compare. The quotes are free and don't bind you to any orders.

Click the button below to get started.

The cost of a new heating system does not include only a boiler and radiator. There are a number of factors which are as important:

As of 2025, the costs for central heating maintenance and servicing in the UK range between £65–£300. The prices are based on the type of system and service required, service providers (local engineers vs national companies), or location in the UK, with London and the south being more expensive. 

Here's the breakdown of the typical boiler servicing costs.

Boiler servicing usually includes:

If you have an air source heating system, expect servicing costs of around £150–£300. 

There are cases when your central heating system might need maintenance beyond regular servicing. These are usually strange sounds coming from the heating system, uneven heat distribution, pre-winter checks, wear and tear, or system flushing. Here are some potential costs:

On top of that, some providers offer annual service plans for emergency callouts and regular maintenance, which typically cost the following:

While these costs might be an additional burden to your budget, servicing a central heating system is not a DIY job and (if you have a gas boiler) must be performed by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Such engineers usually have a yellow triangular symbol on their Gas Safe Registration card. 

In most cases, yes, installing a central heating system is a worthwhile investment. Yet, it's important to weigh all possible benefits and drawbacks. 

Potential benefits:

Potential drawbacks:

If the cost of a new central heating system is a constraint for your budget, you could opt for several alternatives. 

First, you repair or optimise your existing system. Second, consider installing a smart thermostat in order to boost the efficiency of the entire system. Alternatively, you could improve the zoning by adding individual room controls such as smart TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) to heat only the rooms you need and when you need them, and this way reduce energy consumption.

However, while these measures are indeed better than a cold home, there's a chance they will bring temporary financial relief, but eventually, you will pay more for higher running costs. 

With the initial investment in the bracket of £3,000–£8,000, which is a considerable amount, there are ways to save on the full cost:

To save up on the boiler costs, you could check whether you qualify for grants available in the UK or request quotes. 

Yet finding an installer near you not only saves you time but also speeds up the installation process. However, searching for one in your area yourself can march on for days if not weeks, without any actionable contacts at your fingertips. Thankfully, WhatCost offers a shortcut. By answering a couple of questions about your home, you can get up to 3 free, non-binding quotes from local installers.

Click the button below to get started.