How Much Does a New Boiler Cost in the UK in 2026?

Last updated on November 11, 2026 by Emma Collins

A broken boiler rarely gives you time to shop around, and the first quote you get is not always the fair one. For most UK homes, a straightforward like-for-like combi replacement costs £2,500 to £4,000 supplied and fitted, according to Checkatrade’s October 2026 guide. Change the boiler type or move it to another wall, and the bill climbs fast. These are the real 2026 prices, what is included in a proper quote, and how to avoid paying for work you do not need. A low boiler pressure reading is a common false alarm, so check the gauge before you assume the boiler is finished.

How Much Does a New Boiler Cost in the UK?

Checkatrade’s October 2026 guide puts a new boiler at £1,200 to £10,000 for supply only. Once installation and typical extras are added, most households pay £3,000 to £15,000 in total. The figure that matters for most people is the like-for-like swap: replacing an old combi with a new combi in the same spot, supplied and installed, usually costs £2,500 to £4,000. A gas combi averages around £3,000 all in.

Job	Typical cost (supply + install)	Best for	Watch out for
Like-for-like combi replacement	£2,500–£4,000	Small to medium homes, one bathroom	Cheapest only if nothing moves and the pipework is sound
System boiler replacement	Around £3,000	Larger homes, several taps at once	Needs space for a hot water cylinder
Regular (heat-only) boiler replacement	Around £3,000	Older homes with existing tanks	Needs a cylinder and a cold water tank in the loft
Change of type (system or regular to combi)	Around £4,000	Homes that want the cylinder gone	Takes 1.5 to 3 days; old cylinder and tanks removed
Moving the boiler to a new spot	Around £1,000 extra labour	Freeing up kitchen space	Flue, gas pipe and water pipes all move too

The boiler itself is only part of the price. A gas combi unit costs £650 to £3,000 depending on brand and output. Installation labour is typically £1,000 to £2,000 — the old version of this article said £500 to £1,500, which is too low for 2026. A simple like-for-like swap takes 4 to 6 hours. These are guide prices for a typical three-bedroom home. A small flat with a low-output combi can cost less, while a large house with several bathrooms can cost £4,000 or more.

Combi, System or Regular: Which Boiler Costs Most?

A combi boiler heats water on demand and needs no hot water cylinder or cold water tank. It is the most popular choice in the UK, and usually the cheapest to install because there is less pipework. Combi boilers suit small to medium homes with one bathroom. They struggle when two people want a shower at the same time. A system boiler works with a hot water cylinder, so it can supply several taps at once. It costs more than a combi because of the cylinder and extra pipework, but it suits larger homes and families. A regular boiler, also called a conventional or heat-only boiler, also works with a cylinder and a cold water tank in the loft. It is the most expensive to install in a new setup, but it is often the cheapest option when replacing an old regular boiler, because the pipework and tanks are already there. It suits older homes with traditional heating systems.

What Affects the Cost of a New Boiler?

The output of the boiler matters, and it is measured in kilowatts, not physical size. Checkatrade’s sizing guide works like this:

Home	Radiators	Boiler size
1 bedroom, 1 bathroom	0–5	9–18 kW
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms	5–10	24–27 kW
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms	10–20	28–34 kW
4+ bedrooms, 4+ bathrooms	20+	35–43 kW

An oversized boiler wastes energy and money. An undersized one cannot keep up on a cold morning. If in doubt, let the installer size it — that is part of what you are paying for.

The brand also changes the price. Worcester Bosch and Vaillant are premium brands with longer warranties, usually 10 to 12 years, and they cost more. Ideal and Baxi are mid-range brands that offer good value, with warranties of 5 to 10 years. Cheaper brands exist, but a short warranty can cost you more in the long run.

The installation itself is often the biggest variable. Moving a boiler to a new location adds around £1,000 in labour, because the flue, gas pipe and water pipes all need to move. Upgrading an old gas pipe, adding a magnetic filter, or fitting smart controls such as a Hive or Nest thermostat also adds to the bill. Prices are usually higher in London and the South East.

What Is Included in a Boiler Installation Quote?

A proper quote should list everything, not just the boiler. It should include:

• The boiler itself and the flue
• A new thermostat or smart controls (around £150 for a Wi-Fi controller)
• A magnetic filter to protect the system from sludge (£60–£160 for the filter, plus £50–£150 to fit it)
• A chemical flush of the radiators, which cleans out rust and debris before the new boiler is connected

After the flush, learn how often to bleed your radiators to keep heat reaching every room.

The installer should register the boiler with Gas Safe and with the manufacturer so the warranty is valid. The quote should also include removing and disposing of the old boiler. A full powerflush is a deeper clean of the whole system and is worth having on an older system — but budget around £1,000 for it, not the £300 to £500 the old version of this article quoted. One piece of paperwork is easy to miss. In England and Wales, a new gas boiler installation must be notified to your local authority under the Building Regulations. Your Gas Safe registered engineer does this for you — usually through the Gas Safe Register — within 30 days of the work. You then receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate in the post, usually within 10 to 15 working days. Keep it safe: you will need it if you sell the home or remortgage. If no certificate arrives, chase the installer. The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ask for the warranty length in writing. A 10-year warranty is now common on premium boilers, and it is one of the best reasons to pay a little more for a good brand. A boiler with a two-year warranty is a false economy.

Are There Grants or Finance for a New Boiler?

There is no general government grant for replacing a gas boiler in the UK. The main government scheme, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, pays towards a heat pump, not a gas boiler. In England and Wales it offers £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump, £5,000 towards a biomass boiler, and £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump. Homes heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas connection can get £9,000 towards a heat pump — an extra £1,500 — but only on applications made before 31 March 2027. Your installer applies on your behalf and the grant comes off your quote. Scotland runs its own scheme through Home Energy Scotland, and the Northern Ireland scheme is closed. If you are considering a heat pump instead of a like-for-like boiler, that grant is worth looking into, but a heat pump is a different system with a different cost. See the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on GOV.UK for the current terms.

Some energy suppliers and local councils run their own schemes for households on low incomes, usually through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), which runs until 31 December 2026 — though suppliers may stop taking applications earlier. These are means-tested and not available to everyone. It is worth checking with your energy supplier, but do not assume you will qualify.

Most installers offer finance, usually spreading the cost over one to five years. Finance makes a new boiler affordable month by month, but check the total cost, because interest can add several hundred pounds. There is no ban on replacing a gas boiler in an existing home, so you can fit a new gas boiler whenever you need one.

How to Get the Best Price on a New Boiler

Get at least three quotes from Gas Safe registered installers, and make sure each one is quoting for the same boiler and the same work. A quote that looks cheap may leave out the filter, the flush or the controls, which you will pay for later.

Compare warranties, not just prices. A boiler with a 10-year warranty that costs £200 more than one with a 5-year warranty is usually the better deal. Check reviews for the installer, not just the boiler brand, because a poor installation causes more problems than a poor boiler.

Time the work if you can. Installers are busiest in autumn and winter, when boilers break down. Booking in spring or summer can mean a better price and a faster appointment. If your boiler fails in winter, our guide to keeping your house warm without central heating covers short-term fixes while you wait. Finally, ask what is included in writing before you agree, and keep the paperwork for your warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Budget £2,500 to £4,000 for a straightforward like-for-like combi swap, and expect more if you change boiler type or move the boiler. Get three like-for-like quotes, check that the filter, flush and controls are included, and confirm the installer will notify Building Control so your compliance certificate arrives. A good boiler, fitted properly, should keep your home warm for 10 to 15 years. After the install, keep an eye on boiler pressure so the system stays in its normal range.