Are heat pumps cheaper to run than gas?

They can be, especially on a heat-pump tariff such as Octopus Cosy or similar. A well-designed heat pump with a SCOP of 3.5+ on a competitive tariff is often comparable to or cheaper than gas for many UK homes.

Seasonal Coefficient of Performance — how many units of heat the pump delivers per unit of electricity over a year. A SCOP of 3.5 means 3.5 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity.

Do I need a special tariff?

Not strictly, but heat-pump-specific tariffs offer cheaper electricity at certain times and can significantly reduce running costs.

How can I reduce running costs further?

Insulation upgrades, correct sizing, weather compensation control, and pairing with solar all reduce running costs.

Heat Pump Guide

Heat Pump Running Costs

What heat pumps actually cost to run in UK homes — and how they compare to gas.

One of the biggest questions UK homeowners have is whether a heat pump will be cheaper to run than their current boiler. The honest answer: usually yes if it's well-designed and you're on the right tariff — but not automatically.

SCOP — the number that matters

Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) is the heat pump's annual efficiency. A SCOP of 3.5 means 3.5 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity used. Most modern air source heat pumps target SCOP 3.0–4.5 depending on system design and house.

Running cost example

For a typical UK home using ~12,000 kWh of heat per year:

Gas boiler (~85% efficient, gas at ~6p/kWh): ~£850/year
Heat pump (SCOP 3.5) on standard tariff (electricity ~25p/kWh): ~£860/year
Heat pump (SCOP 3.5) on heat-pump tariff (blended ~15p/kWh): ~£515/year

These are illustrative — actual costs depend on house, install quality and tariff.

How to maximise savings

Choose an experienced MCS-certified installer who designs to a low flow temperature
Switch to a heat-pump-friendly time-of-use tariff
Insulate before installing where possible
Pair with solar and a battery to offset peak-rate use

Get heat pump quotes that include estimated annual running cost on your tariff.

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Frequently asked questions

Are heat pumps cheaper to run than gas?: They can be, especially on a heat-pump tariff such as Octopus Cosy or similar. A well-designed heat pump with a SCOP of 3.5+ on a competitive tariff is often comparable to or cheaper than gas for many UK homes.
What is SCOP?: Seasonal Coefficient of Performance — how many units of heat the pump delivers per unit of electricity over a year. A SCOP of 3.5 means 3.5 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity.
Do I need a special tariff?: Not strictly, but heat-pump-specific tariffs offer cheaper electricity at certain times and can significantly reduce running costs.
How can I reduce running costs further?: Insulation upgrades, correct sizing, weather compensation control, and pairing with solar all reduce running costs.