Budget from an itemised quote for your own property. Confirm the specification, site preparation, VAT and exclusions before comparing prices. The scope below identifies work to price; it is not a current national price average.
Installing a heat pump is a significant investment, but SEAI grants dramatically reduce the upfront cost and running savings make the payback period reasonable for most homes.
Installed cost ranges
For a typical 3–4 bedroom Irish home:
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump unit | €3,500 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) | €7,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) |
| Radiator upgrades | €1,500 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) | €5,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) |
| Hot water cylinder | €800 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) | €1,500 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) |
| Installation labour | €2,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) | €3,500 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) |
| Controls and commissioning | €500 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) | €1,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) |
| Total installed | €9,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) | €18,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) |
After maximum SEAI grants:
| Grant | Amount |
|---|---|
| Heat pump unit | €6,500 (manual, 2026-09-22) |
| Central heating upgrade | €2,000 (manual, 2026-09-22) |
| Renewable heating bonus | €4,000 (manual, 2026-09-22) |
| Total grant | €12,500 (manual, 2026-09-22) |
| Net cost (midpoint) | Quote required |
What affects installation cost?
Radiator upgrades are the biggest variable. If your existing radiators are adequately sized, they may work without replacement. However, many homes need larger or additional radiators, which can add €1,500 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12)–€5,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12).
Underfloor heating (UFH) is ideal for heat pumps operating at low flow temperatures. Retro-fitting UFH in an existing home is expensive (€8,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12)–€15,000 (historical estimate, manual, 2026-06-12) per floor) and is usually not included in a standard heat pump retrofit. New builds or major renovations benefit most from UFH.
Home insulation reduces the size of heat pump needed and improves efficiency. SEAI recommends completing insulation upgrades before or alongside a heat pump install.
Geography: heat pumps are slightly less efficient in colder climates. However, Ireland’s mild maritime climate is well suited to heat pumps, especially the north and west coasts.
Running costs vs oil
At current energy prices (electricity 34.38 c/kWh (collected, 2026-07-01), kerosene 11.72 c/kWh (collected, 2026-07-01)):
A heat pump with a Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) of 3.5 effectively costs electricity price ÷ SPF per unit of useful heat:
Compare the energy price divided by the assumed efficiency.
Compare to kerosene oil boiler at ~85% efficiency: Compare the energy price divided by the assumed efficiency.
Savings depend on the rates and seasonal performance you achieve. Use our heat pump vs oil calculator for detailed numbers based on your home’s energy usage.
Source: SEAI Domestic Fuel Cost Comparison, source date 1 July 2026 (automatically collected) Source: SEAI Domestic Fuel Cost Comparison, source date 1 July 2026 (automatically collected)