Updated 25 September 2026
Full central heating cost UK 2026
The going rate for full central heating in 2026 is £4,000–£8,000 (total, ex VAT). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Market band£4,000–£8,000
Worked example, 8 radiator£6,069
Time on site5 days
Full central heating calculator
Price a real job freeUses your rates, your speed and your receipts.
Market band source: Trade2Base.
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| first | Lift floors and run pipework | 5 h per radiator |
| second | Hang radiators and valves | 1.5 h per radiator |
| in | Fit boiler, flue and controls | 5 h |
| commission | Fill, flush, balance and commission | 4 h |
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade choice | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combi boiler (A-rated, 25–30 kW) each | £750 Entry combi, 7-year warranty — Lowest cost compliant boiler | £1,000 Mid-range combi, 10-year warranty — Reliable, parts easy to get | £1,500 Premium combi, 12-year warranty — Quieter, better hot water |
| Radiator each | £45 Single convector — Small rooms | £90 Double convector sized to the room — Right output | £200 Designer or column radiator — Feature |
| Radiator valves (TRV and lockshield) per radiator | £12 Basic TRV set — Room control | £25 Branded TRV set — Reliable heads | £45 Smart TRV set — Room-by-room scheduling |
| Pipe, fittings and clips per radiator per radiator | £40 Plastic barrier pipe — Fast to run under floors | £60 Copper to rads, plastic runs — Durable where visible | £90 All copper — Longest life |
| Heating controls each | £40 Wired programmable stat — Meets Part L controls | £80 Wireless programmable stat — Place it anywhere | £180 Smart thermostat — App control |
| Magnetic filter and cleanser each | £90 Basic magnetic filter — Catches sludge | £130 Branded filter and cleanser — Protects the heat exchanger | £180 Dual-action filter — Best protection |
| Flue kit each | £60 Standard horizontal flue — Straight out the wall | £90 Telescopic flue — Fits the wall thickness | £120 Vertical or plume management kit — Awkward terminal positions |
Trade prices ex VAT, estimates checked 2026-09-25. Log your receipts in Grafto and your own prices replace these.
What changes the price
- Floors? suspended timber · solid concrete big effect
- Controls? keep existing · new programmable stat · smart controls
- Lived in during the work? empty · lived in
Good practice
- Lived-in home: lifting floors around furniture takes longer
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Possible asbestos lagging | old grey or white pipe lagging | Possible asbestos lagging: stop and test before disturbing |
| Lead pipe | dull grey soft pipe, wiped joints | Lead supply pipe: recommend replacement |
Questions
How much does full central heating cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is £4,000–£8,000 (total, ex VAT), from Trade2Base. A worked example of 8 radiator comes to about £4,765–£8,666 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does full central heating take?
The worked example of 8 radiator takes about 5 working days.
What changes the price of full central heating?
Mainly floors, plus any prep found on site: possible asbestos lagging, lead pipe.