Ground Source Heat Pump Cost

How much does a ground source heat pump cost in the UK?

In 2025, the average cost of ground source heat pump installations can be anywhere between £10,000 and £16,000.

However, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) allows a qualified installer to apply for £7,500 off off the total cost (unit and installation).

This effectively reduces the average ground source heat pump installation cost to between £2,500 and £8,500 in 2025.

This guide covers everything you need to know about ground source heat pump installations. We dive into what a ground source heat pump is, what the cost of vertical and horizontal ground source heat pump systems are, what impacts the prices you're quoted, and much more!

Ready to get a quote now?

More than 1 million homeowners across the UK use MyJobQuote to find tradespeople near them every year.

And it couldn't be easier.

Submit a few basic details and we'll connect you with heat pump installers near you. There's no cost, no obligation, and no hassle.

Want a few more details about ground source heat pump costs first?

We've got you covered! Check out the full guide below.

How Much Is a Ground Source Heat Pump?

Ground source heat pumps and air source heat pump installation costs can vary significantly.

Let's start from the smaller end:

The pump would be installed using a 6kW heat pump. Within the heat pump, a hot water cylinder with a small horizontal ground loop would be installed. The length of this is usually around 250m to 300m. This would cost in the region of £10,000 to £12,500 for the installation.

Naturally, as the size of the installation grows, the price will also. Moving on to the larger ground heat source pumps, a heat pump with a 12kW and 750m ground loop with a 300-litre water cylinder would come to around £15,500 to £16,000.

The installation is not the only cost. It's important to consider the additional costs, such as digging — which can leave a substantial dent in your budget if not taken into account. The cost of this will also vary depending on the pump size.

Some pumps, for example, horizontal systems, may require trenching, while vertical pumps may require deep drilling of a borehole.

What type of heating system are you currently using?

Gas boiler

1 votes - 100%100% of votes

Oil boiler

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

Electric boiler

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

Other renewable system

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

I don't have central heating

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

1 votes See results Hide results

This cost can and will vary on a case-by-case basis. This depends on aspects such as location (as local prices may be cheaper/more expensive), contacts (maybe you know a landscaper who can do this for a reduced rate) or availability (taking two days to complete may higher the premium you pay with a professional contractor).

Ground Source Heat Pump Prices

Horizontal Ground Source Heat Pump Price

Vertical Ground Source Heat Pump Price

Supply Costs

Some people might be capable of doing the installation themselves. This is a cost-effective way if you have the tools and skills for the job.

Below are the costs for purely the supplies with no installation costs. The UK average is around £1,350 per kW.

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!

It's FREE and there are no obligations

Get started

Additional Ground Source Heat Pump Costs

If DIY is not your forté, then there are plenty of tradespeople who would be happy to help. One of the main jobs includes groundwork, however, there are other tasks that may be less obvious.

Let's look at it this way, you have just spent £21,950 on a vertical GSHP, you are on track to save a lot of money on your heating bill in the long term, or are you?

Typically, yes, you will, but you may be wasting your time and money in certain circumstances.

Why?

Wall insulation. If you do not have sufficient insulation, then the heat that is being generated is somewhat wasted. This is something that may be worth looking at while you are upgrading your heating system.

Cavity Wall Insulation Cost

Cavity wall insulation makes sure that the heat being generated is kept inside the house, meaning less energy is required to heat the home.

This is not only eco-friendly but also economically friendly, as this will help you maintain those savings.

On average, cavity wall insulation costs around £500 to install in the UK. But as shown below, the price you're quoted by an installer will vary depending on the size of your home.

Underfloor Heating Cost

Now we know how much it is to install the pump and maintain the savings, you may find that you have some spare money left in the budget to really enjoy the heating.

We all know the feeling. It's early morning in December; the room is warm until you step into the bathroom/kitchen, and you are then met with the icy tiles on your bare feet.

There is a simple yet luxurious solution: underfloor heating.

On average, underfloor heating costs around £800 to get professionally installed.

Different houses need different types of underfloor heating, though. In an older house, electric mats may not produce enough heat to work effectively.

In this case, a wet underfloor will be used which is directly linked to the boiler, giving it a much more effective system. This is, however, more expensive. Electric mats are cheaper and better suited to more insulated areas which do not need heating as much.

How Much Does Ground Source Heat Pump Installation Cost?

The labour cost is often overlooked. We get so invested in picking the right equipment and how much that is costing and then forget about the extra work that needs to be done. The main part of having a GSHP installed is the groundwork.

The cheaper way to have the pump installed is to have it installed horizontally, as this requires less labour. As shown before, the groundwork for a vertical 12kW heat source pump would need more work.

Three boreholes will need to be drilled, which comes to a total of £15,000 for the drilling alone. For a horizontal heat pump, the price would be around £10,000.

How Long Does Installing a Ground Source Heat Pump Take?

The timescales depend on what needs work doing to it. The main timescale comes before the heat pump is even near the house. The heating system needs to be excavated, which can take one or two days to complete.

Following this, installing the pipes takes place. Then, the tradesperson will make sure the heating system is working to its full potential, and modifying the ductwork will commence, which can take three to four days. The heat pump will then be installed and connected to the ductwork.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

What Impacts Ground Source Heat Pump Costs?

The size is a big factor when looking at what can affect the cost. The bigger the pump, the more work will be needed on the other aspects of the job, such as groundwork and heat pump type.

Level of Insulation

The level of insulation is also a big factor. If the insulation is not sufficient, then the new pump is somewhat of a waste as the heat generated is not being preserved in the house.

The insulation depends on how much you need and what type of insulation you buy. The good thing is you can get a full house insulated for a small amount in the grand scheme of the overall project.

Type of Heat Pump

The type of heat pump can cost or save you a big chunk of the budget. A horizontal heat pump is the most cost-effective but may not be suitable for the space you have.

If you have a big pump that needs a large surface area that you cannot cater to, you may need to have a vertical pump which will cost you a lot more.

RHI Payments

RHI payments are a good incentive put in place by the government to get homeowners to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

If used correctly, the landlord/homeowner will be awarded quarterly payments as an incentive to stick to using clean, renewable energy.

This is a good way to get some money back for the initial outlay of the heat system change.

Location of Property

The location of the property may mean that the contractor may need to do more work than they would for an average customer.

If more work is needed, the contractor may charge more in labour, which could prove rather costly in the long run.

Groundwork

Many of the factors previously mentioned have referred to the groundwork. The groundwork, much like the name suggests, provides the base for the work that needs doing.

The groundwork is the specialist aspect that needs professional assistance to ensure it has been completed to a suitable level.

The more groundwork that needs doing, the more money it will cost as labour charges will increase.

What’s Involved in Installing a Ground Source Heat Pump?

When installing a ground source heat pump, there are five steps involved, including:

Assess Your Home

Planning is the most important part of any design process.

This step involves an installer visiting the home to appraise what heat pump, energy source, and distribution would be best for the home.

The installer will take all the information and create a plan for the best GSHP system for you.

Excavate Loop Fields

After the initial planning, it is time to excavate the loop fields, whether the plan suggests horizontal and vertical, so that the pipes can be buried into the soil with them later on.

Install the Pipes

The pipes are then fitted and filled with water and antifreeze, which then acts as a heat exchanger.

Modify the Heat Distribution Infrastructure

From here, the contractor will modify the ductwork. This may require the removal of the original heat distribution infrastructure.

Install the Heat Pump

For the last step, the contractor will connect the heat pump to the ductwork, meaning the heat pump is now ready.

Before turning the heat pump on, the water flow from the ground to the exchange loop, air temperature, and amp draw on the heat pump need to be observed.

Can I Install a Ground Source Heat Pump Myself?

We all love DIY. We all like to look at our work and feel proud of our achievements. Unfortunately, DIY is not perfect, and some things need to be left to the professionals.

While this is technically possible to install yourself, it is highly advisable to leave this to the contractor. The risks are very real and very serious. The most obvious is the complete rewiring of a heating system, which can cause issues with electric shocks, power cuts, flooding, etc.

Without a proper design which has been done by a professional means, the efficiency will be compromised. This may result in the heat pump becoming useless in terms of saving energy and money. If that still isn't enough to deter you, maybe the RHI's disqualification will be.

The main advantage of having this done by a professional is that you will get the quarterly payment incentive if used correctly.

Now if you are completely sold on wanting to be involved, you can do aspects of the project yourself. For instance, You can dig the trenches for the horizontal ground source heat pump.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Ground Source Heat Pump Installation

Planning permission needs to be looked into. If planning permission is needed, then it is important to apply as this can result in most costs along the line.

Planning permission can cost up to £206 for making changes to your home, and you can apply through your local authority.

Now, do you need planning permission for a new GSHP?

Simply put, you don't need planning permission — but you do need to comply with the building regulations. It is best to speak to your local MCS-certified installer to help you with any questions.

Types of Ground Source Heat Pumps

Horizontal ground source heat pumps fall typically on the cheaper side of GSHP systems as less groundwork is required, so this is a benefit. This is also cheaper, and both vertical and horizontal systems are great renewable sources.

Vertical ground source heat pumps require a lot less space than its horizontal counterpart meaning it is more accessible if you do not have a lot of landmass. Overall a GSHP has an annual running cost average of £975.

Benefits of Ground Source Heat Pumps

RHI Payments

The payments you receive for having a GSHP can work out to around £4,300 per year, which is a big return and goes a long way to help regain the money that was initially laid out to have the system installed.

Space Saving

The heating system does not require the mains gas import, meaning you save space in your home. You also do not need to worry about seeing it outside either, as the system will be below ground.

No Risk of Combustion

No gas is being used. This way of heating uses a mix of both solar and heat generated in the ground. This means there is no chance of a gas leak.

There is no chance of a build-up of gas and subsequent combustion as there is nothing in the system to cause this reaction.

Save Money

We all love to save money, and when using a GSHP, the usage cost of your energy will be considerably lower as no fossil fuels are being used. The initial outlay does seem expensive, but this is a long-term investment, and you will certainly see the benefits.

Ground Source Heat Pump Removal Cost

Much like the installation, the DIY option is very much advised against. A professional should be called to remove this, as the same risks apply to the installation.

The removal will require more groundwork to remove the system, and then the system will need to be replaced, so it could end up costing a lot more in the long run.

The labour costs will be at least the same as the installation, if not more, as more work needs to be done.

Checklist: Ground Source Heat Pump Installations in the UK

1. Get multiple quotes — It would help if you get quotes from multiple companies and contractors before hiring anyone. This gives you a great chance to review the different prices and work out who best suits the job.
2. Look for local hires — Local hires are always great options as they're usually on hand to start the work quickly. They have probably worked on homes in the area for you to take a look at, and you'll save money on travel costs.
3. Check their previous work — Contractors will now generally have online portfolios and websites for you to take a look at their previous work and peruse reviews that they have received from past customers. This is a brilliant way to vet them before hiring any company.
4. Don't rush! — Take the time to review all the prices and make a decision based on good research of everything listed in this section before choosing a contractor.
5. Liability insurance — You should always make sure that the company working on your home has liability insurance to protect both them and you, the customer, from any issues further down the line.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/boiler-upgrade-scheme-bus
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/heat-pumps/building-regulations
https://mcscertified.com/consumers-communities/certificate-queries/
https://gshp.org.uk/gshps/what-are-gshps/
https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/ground-source-heat-pumps.htm