Heat pump cost in Ireland
A heat pump costs €9,000–€14,000 fully installed in Ireland in 2026. That is for an air to water system, the type fitted in about 90% of homes. The SEAI grant of up to €14,500 brings the net cost to about €4,000 or less for most homes replacing oil or gas.
Heat pump cost breakdown
A quote covers more than the unit. For a typical air to water install in a 3-bed home, the price splits like this:
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air to water heat pump unit | €4,000–€7,000 | Price depends on the brand and the kW size |
| Installation and labour | €3,000–€5,000 | 2 to 3 days for an air source system |
| Hot water cylinder | €800–€1,500 | Usually replaced, as a heat pump needs a compatible cylinder |
| Radiator upgrades | €1,000–€3,000 | Only if the existing radiators are undersized |
| BER assessments, before and after | €300–€500 | Required for the SEAI grant |
| Total before grant | €9,000–€14,000 | Not every home needs every item |
Prices assume a home with reasonable insulation. Insulation work is not included.
Heat pump prices by system type
| System type | Installed cost | SEAI grant | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air to water | €9,000–€14,000 | Up to €14,500 | Most Irish homes, with radiators or underfloor heating |
| Ground source | €14,000–€18,000 | Up to €14,500 | Rural homes with garden space |
| Exhaust air | €7,000–€10,000 | Up to €14,500 | New builds and compact homes |
| Air to air | €3,000–€5,000 | Up to €9,500 as main heating | Single rooms, apartments and well-insulated homes |
Air to water is the price most people mean when they ask what a heat pump costs. Ground source costs €14,000–€18,000 because trenching or drilling adds €3,000–€6,000 on its own.
Heat pump cost by house size
A bigger home needs a bigger heat pump, and has more radiators that may need upgrading.
| Home | Typical heat pump size | Installed cost before grant |
|---|---|---|
| 2-bed terrace or apartment | 5–8 kW | €8,000–€11,000 |
| 3-bed semi-detached | 8–11 kW | €9,000–€13,000 |
| 4-bed detached | 11–14 kW | €11,000–€15,000 |
| 5-bed or larger detached | 14–16 kW | €13,000–€18,000 |
The size comes from a heat loss calculation done at the survey. An oversized heat pump costs more and runs less efficiently.
Cost after the SEAI grant
The grant has three parts: up to €10,500 for the heat pump, up to €2,000 for central heating upgrades, and €2,000 boiler scrappage when the heat pump replaces oil, gas, solid fuel or electric storage heating. The maximum is €14,500, and SEAI never pays more than the cost of the works.
A home that qualifies for all three parts pays about €4,000 or less. A home that qualifies only for the €10,500 unit grant pays more upfront but gets the same running cost saving. See the heat pump grant rules.
Heat pump running costs
A heat pump produces 3 to 4 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity, so it costs less to run than oil or gas even though electricity costs more per unit.
| Heating system | Cost per year, average 3-bed |
|---|---|
| Electric storage heaters | €2,000–€2,800 |
| Oil boiler | €1,800–€2,500 |
| Gas boiler | €1,200–€1,800 |
| Air source heat pump | €600–€1,000 |
A yearly service adds €100–€200. A night-rate or smart electricity tariff cuts the running cost further, because the heat pump can heat the water and pre-warm the house overnight.
Heat pump cost vs a new boiler
Most people price a heat pump when the old boiler fails, so the fair comparison is against the boiler you would otherwise buy.
| Option | Upfront cost | Grant | Fuel cost per year, 3-bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New oil boiler | €3,000–€4,500 | None | €1,800–€2,500 |
| New gas boiler | €2,500–€4,000 | None | €1,200–€1,800 |
| Air to water heat pump, after grant | Up to about €4,000 | Up to €14,500 | €600–€1,000 |
Is a heat pump worth the cost?
Replacing oil, a heat pump saves €1,000–€1,500 a year, so a net cost of up to about €4,000 pays back in roughly 4 years or less. Replacing gas, the saving is €500–€900 a year and payback runs up to about 8 years.
The unit costs €4,000–€7,000, the cylinder €800–€1,500 and radiator upgrades €1,000–€3,000, so ask whether your quote includes the cylinder and radiators before comparing it with another. Labour is €3,000–€5,000; see what installation involves.