Gas Boiler Prices and Cost Guide

A new gas boiler is one of the cheapest and most efficient ways to heat your property. Our Gas Boiler Pricing Guide will help you learn why you might want to choose a gas boiler, the prices and costs involved, installation versus replacement costs, servicing and repair costs, how much it costs to run a gas boiler, and related regulations and grants.

Why choose a gas boiler?

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, 69% of homes in the UK heat with gas, making it far more popular than oil, electric, coal or solid fuel heating. Gas is the cheapest, most efficient option for home heating as well as being usually the most convenient; the vast majority of homes in the UK are connected to the gas mains.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) says that installing a new, efficient gas boiler can help your bank balance and the environment, saving up to £300 a year and 1,220kg of CO2, depending on what kind of boiler you’re replacing.

How much does a new gas boiler cost?

The price of a gas boiler will vary depending on its size, model and where you buy it from. The EST put the average price of a new gas boiler at £2,300. You may be able to get a cheaper gas boiler if you buy a reconditioned or second-hand model or one straight from the manufacturer. Here are some example gas boiler costs:

• A new gas Baxi boiler  will cost between £600 and £1,000
• New Vaillant gas boilers cost between £750 and £1,400
• A new Worcester Bosch gas boiler costs between £800 and £1,700

Get more information on new gas boiler prices.

Gas combi boiler prices

Rather than installing a regular system gas boiler, which has a separate cylinder to store hot water in, you may want to choose a gas combi boiler instead. Combi boilers don’t use a hot water tank and instead heat water on demand, this means they are ideal for smaller homes with less extensive hot water needs and they don’t take up much space. Gas combi boilers will vary in price depending on size and make, here are some specific prices:

• An Alpha CDC combi boiler from Discounted Heating online costs £504.32 excluding VAT
• According to Which? a Grant Vortex gas combi boiler costs between £1,400 and £2,200
• Npower quote a middle of the range gas combi boiler to cost between £800 and £1,550

Get more info on gas combi boiler prices.

Gas boiler installation costs

As well as paying for you new gas boiler, you’ll need to factor in professional installation costs. It’s a legal requirement in the UK that anyone installing, repairing or servicing gas appliances is registered with Gas Safe, formally known as CORGI. You should always make sure you hire someone Gas Safe registered to install your boiler; check they have a valid identity badge – according to Gas Safe there are around 7,500 illegal gas fitters operating in the UK. Gas boiler installation prices will vary depending on where you live, Which? estimates that:

• It will cost between £1,500 and £1,800 to install a new gas boiler in a different location

Get more information on gas boiler installation costs.

Gas boiler replacement costs

Replacing your gas boiler can actually save you up to £300 a year off of your fuel bills depending on how old the boiler you’re replacing is, reports the EST. Replacement boiler costs will depend on which model you choose, plus replacement labour costs. Which? says that:

• It will cost around £600 to replace on old boiler with a new gas boiler
• So, for example if you were to replace your old boiler with a new Alpha CDC gas combi boiler this would cost £1,104 (£504 for the boiler, plus £600 installation costs)

Get more information about gas boiler replacement costs.

Gas boiler servicing costs

To ensure that your gas boiler is working efficiently and safely, you should make sure you have it regularly serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Schedule a boiler service at least once a year, preferably before the heating season starts, an engineer will be able to detect any faults and potentially lethal carbon monoxide leaks.

• A gas boiler service will cost between £50 and £75, says the EST

Get more information about gas boiler servicing costs.

How much does it cost to run a gas boiler?

Gas is one of the cheapest types of fuel, costing much less than oil, coal, electric or solid fuel. According to Which?:

• The average annual fuel cost for a condensing gas boiler is £720 (based on the needs of a three-bed, semi-detached and well-insulated home)

In comparison, Which? says that electric heating costs on average £1,600 per year and oil costs £1,100.

Boiler regulations

Whether you’re installing a gas combi or system boiler, you’ll need to comply with the following government regulations for safety and energy efficiency:

• Your gas boiler must be a condensing model – this requirement is laid out in Part L of building regulations. Condensing models are up to 12% more efficient than non-condensing models because they recover more heat from waste gases; therefore they are cheaper and more energy efficient to run
• Planning permission – you’ll only need planning permission if your new gas boiler installation involves fitting a flue outside of your home. You should check with your Local Building Authority if this is the case or if you live in a listed building
• Building regulations – these state that all new boilers should be rated A or 88% efficient on the SEDBUK scale
• Heating controls – you must fit proper heating controls when installing a new gas boiler to control the timing and temperature of your heating. Controls can save you £55 and 280kg of CO2 per year, reports the EST

Gas boiler grants

Check whether you’re eligible for a grant towards the cost of installing a gas boiler under one of the following schemes:

The Scottish boiler scrappage scheme – if you live in Scotland you can receive £400 towards the cost of replacing your old boiler, which would typically be more than 10 years old, with a new Energy Saving Recommended boiler. Find out if you’re eligible by consulting the EST.

The Warm Front Scheme – English residents who own their own home or privately rent could be eligible for a grant of up to £3,500 towards heating and insulating their home. This scheme is being phased out over the next few years; a similar Warm Homes Scheme exists for those in Northern Ireland and in Wales you can get help from the Fuel Poverty Scheme.

Energy Supplier Grants – you could get money off your new gas boiler installation through one of the big energy companies. Under Carbon Emission Reduction Targets (CERT) they are required to provide discounts for new boiler installations.

Local government grants – you could receive a grant from your local government or home improvement agency – ask yours to find out if you’re eligible.