Gas central heating installation cost. A full system from scratch.
Installing gas central heating in a home that has never had it runs £4,500 to £7,700 for a typical 3-bed: boiler, 8 to 10 radiators, the pipework circuit, controls and labour. Here is the breakdown, the cost by home size, and what changes for off-grid LPG.
£4,500 to £7,700
Boiler, 8 to 10 radiators, pipework, controls, labour.
£200 to £350
Supplied and fitted. Designer and column radiators cost more.
£1,800 to £3,500
A boiler swap, not a full install. Far cheaper.
Cost by home size
| Home size | Radiators | Full install (from scratch) | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 4 to 5 | £2,800 to £4,500 | 3 to 4 days |
| 2-bed house | 6 to 7 | £3,500 to £5,800 | 4 to 5 days |
| 3-bed house | 8 to 10 | £4,500 to £7,700 | 4 to 6 days |
| 4 to 5-bed house | 10 to 12+ | £6,500 to £11,000 | 5 to 8 days |
Source: UK trade cost guides (Checkatrade, Greenmatch, MyJobQuote), 2026. Ranges are indicative for a home with no existing system. Always get three written quotes from local Gas Safe engineers.
Where the money goes
A from-scratch install is not just a boiler. The pipework circuit and fitting every radiator are what make it cost two to three times a straight boiler swap.
| Component | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gas boiler (supplied and fitted) | £1,200 to £3,000 | Combi for most homes, system boiler with cylinder where two or more bathrooms draw hot water at once. |
| Radiators | £200 to £350 each | Supplied and fitted. A 3-bed home typically needs 8 to 10. Doubles and designer panels cost more. |
| Pipework | £800 to £1,500 | Full flow-and-return circuit through the house. Higher in older properties with awkward joist or solid-floor runs. |
| Controls | £200 to £500 | Programmer, room thermostat (smart adds £150 to £250) and thermostatic radiator valves. |
| Labour | £1,200 to £2,400 | At £300 to £500 a day for a Gas Safe engineer, the full job runs 4 to 8 days. |
| New gas supply (if needed) | £250 to £600+ | Upgrading or running a new supply pipe. A brand-new mains gas connection from the street is a separate network charge. |
From scratch versus replacing what you have
The single biggest factor in your quote is whether the house already has a heating circuit. If sound pipework and radiators are in place, you are buying a boiler and a day or two of labour: £1,800 to £3,500 for a like-for-like swap. If the house has only ever had electric storage heaters, open fires or no heating at all, you are paying for the whole system, which is where the £4,500-plus figures come from.
Replacing an existing boiler? The installation timeline and hidden-costs page covers swaps and conversions in detail. Weighing gas against a heat pump for a from-scratch system? A heat pump install can attract the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, which changes the maths considerably. See the gas versus heat pump comparison.
How to keep the cost down
- Get three written, itemised quotes. From local Gas Safe engineers. A full-system job has too many variables for a reliable online fixed price.
- Install in spring or summer. April to August is the quiet season. Engineers will negotiate 8 to 12% off autumn-rush pricing.
- Combine with other work. If you are renovating or lifting floors anyway, running pipework at the same time saves a second round of disruption and making-good.
- Right-size the radiators. Oversized or designer radiators add up fast across 8 to 10 rooms. Standard double panels heat most rooms well.
- Check Gas Safe registration. On the Gas Safe Register, for both the company and the individual engineer, before any work starts.
FAQ
How much does it cost to install gas central heating from scratch in 2026?
For a typical 3-bed house with no existing system, budget £4,500 to £7,700. That covers a new gas boiler, 8 to 10 radiators, a full pipework circuit, controls and labour. A 1-bed flat starts around £2,800; a large 4 to 5-bed house with 10 or more radiators can reach £11,000. Older properties that need extensive pipework or a new gas supply sit at the top of these ranges.Is installing central heating cheaper if I already have radiators and pipework?
Much cheaper. If the pipework and radiators are sound and you are only changing the boiler, the job becomes a boiler swap or conversion, typically £1,800 to £3,500 rather than a full-system price. The expensive part of a from-scratch install is the pipework circuit and fitting every radiator. See the boiler installation page for swap and conversion pricing.How much does each radiator cost to supply and fit?
Around £200 to £350 per radiator supplied and fitted, depending on size and type. Standard single and double panel radiators sit at the lower end; vertical, column and designer radiators cost more. A 3-bed home usually needs 8 to 10, so radiators alone account for £1,600 to £3,500 of a full installation.How much does Calor gas (LPG) central heating cost to install?
For off-grid homes, the heating side (boiler, radiators, pipework, controls) costs roughly the same as a mains-gas install, around £4,500 to £7,700 for a 3-bed. The difference is the fuel store: an LPG boiler runs from a bulk tank, usually supplied on a rental or supply contract by a provider such as Calor (low or no upfront tank cost) or bought outright at £1,500 to £3,000. Running costs are higher than mains gas because LPG is a more expensive fuel per kWh, so weigh it against a heat pump if you are off the gas grid.How long does a full central heating installation take?
Four to eight days for a whole-house system from scratch, depending on size and how accessible the pipework runs are. A 3-bed typically takes 4 to 6 days: lifting floors, running the flow-and-return circuit, hanging radiators, fitting and commissioning the boiler, then balancing the system. Plan for disruption and no heating or hot water across the works.
For boiler-only pricing and the type-by-type comparison, start with the gas boiler cost homepage or the boiler types guide.