Heat pump running cost for a 4-bed house
Heat pump running cost for a 4-bed house
The cost depends on how much heat the home needs, how efficient the heat pump is (its SCOP, or seasonal coefficient of performance) and the prices of electricity and gas. A SCOP of 3 means every 1 kWh of electricity delivers 3 kWh of heat.
16,000 kWh of heat a year
| SCOP | Electricity used | Heat pump cost a year | Gas boiler cost a year | Saving vs gas (minus = costs more) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 6,400 kWh | £1,728 | £1,067 | -£661 |
| 3 | 5,333 kWh | £1,440 | £1,067 | -£373 |
| 3.5 | 4,571 kWh | £1,234 | £1,067 | -£168 |
| 4 | 4,000 kWh | £1,080 | £1,067 | -£13 |
Electricity 27p/kWh, gas 6p/kWh, boiler efficiency 90%. Prices are typical: use your own bill.
What decides the saving
- The gap between electricity and gas prices: a heat pump saves most when electricity is cheap compared with gas.
- The SCOP: well-designed systems in well-insulated homes reach 3.5 or more.
- The heat your home loses: insulation and draught-proofing cut the heat needed.
- Your tariff: some suppliers offer cheaper heat pump or time-of-use tariffs.
Upfront cost and grants
A heat pump costs more to install than a gas boiler. In England and Wales the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has offered a grant towards an air source heat pump: check the current amount and eligibility on GOV.UK. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own support schemes.
Check your own numbers
Find your heat demand from your gas bill (kWh used for heating) or your energy performance certificate, then enter it in the calculator above with your own prices.
Sources and further reading
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in a 4-bed house?
Are heat pumps cheaper to run than gas boilers?
What is SCOP?
Results are estimates for information only, not financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.