Heat pump running cost UK — 6 systems at 26.11p/kWh
An 8 kW air-source heat pump (COP 2.7, BEIS data) running 12 hours on a cold UK winter day costs £9.28 at the current Ofgem cap rate of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026). In milder conditions (8 h running) the same system costs £6.19/day.
COP data: DESNZ/BEIS — Heat Pump Information Note: Seasonal Performance Data 2024 (OGL v3.0). Unit rate: Ofgem cap 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026). Published 2026-06-20.
Heat pump running cost at 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026): 8 kW ASHP, COP 2.7 draws 2.96 kW of electricity per hour. Cold winter day (12 h): 35.6 kWh = £9.28. Mild winter (8 h): 23.7 kWh = £6.19. Source: DESNZ/BEIS (OGL v3.0) + Ofgem.
Daily cost by system and usage scenario
| System | COP | Cold winter day (12 h) | Mild winter day (8 h) | Spring/autumn shoulder season (5 h) | Domestic hot water only (2 h) | Always-on low-modulating (6 h equivalent) | All-day heating (18 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW Air Source Heat Pump | 2.7 | £5.8022.2 kWh | £3.8714.8 kWh | £2.429.3 kWh | 96.7p3.7 kWh | £2.9011.1 kWh | £8.7033.3 kWh |
| 8 kW Air Source Heat Pump | 2.7 | £9.2835.6 kWh | £6.1923.7 kWh | £3.8714.8 kWh | £1.555.9 kWh | £4.6417.8 kWh | £13.9353.3 kWh |
| 10 kW Air Source Heat Pump | 2.7 | £11.6044.4 kWh | £7.7429.6 kWh | £4.8418.5 kWh | £1.937.4 kWh | £5.8022.2 kWh | £17.4166.7 kWh |
| 12 kW Air Source Heat Pump | 2.5 | £15.0457.6 kWh | £10.0338.4 kWh | £6.2724.0 kWh | £2.519.6 kWh | £7.5228.8 kWh | £22.5686.4 kWh |
| 8 kW Ground Source Heat Pump | 3.5 | £7.1627.4 kWh | £4.7718.3 kWh | £2.9811.4 kWh | £1.194.6 kWh | £3.5813.7 kWh | £10.7441.1 kWh |
| 12 kW Ground Source Heat Pump | 3.5 | £10.7441.1 kWh | £7.1627.4 kWh | £4.4817.1 kWh | £1.796.9 kWh | £5.3720.6 kWh | £16.1161.7 kWh |
Daily electricity cost = (output kW ÷ COP) × hours × 26.11p/kWh. COP from DESNZ/BEIS — Heat Pump Information Note: Seasonal Performance Data 2024 (OGL v3.0). Unit rate: Ofgem cap (1 July to 30 September 2026).
Heat pump FAQs
How much does a heat pump cost to run per day in the UK?
An 8 kW air-source heat pump (ASHP) with a seasonal COP of 2.7 running for 12 hours on a cold UK winter day draws 35.6 kWh and costs £9.28 at the current Ofgem cap rate of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026). In milder conditions (8 h), the same system costs £6.19/day. Source: DESNZ/BEIS Heat Pump Information Note 2024 (OGL v3.0) for COP data; Ofgem for unit rate.
What is COP and why does it matter for running cost?
COP (coefficient of performance) measures how much heat a heat pump delivers per unit of electricity consumed. A COP of 2.7 means the pump delivers 2.7 kW of heat for every 1 kW of electricity. So an 8 kW heat pump with COP 2.7 draws only 2.96 kW of electricity per hour of operation. BEIS 2024 data shows typical UK domestic ASHP seasonal COP in the range 2.5–3.5. Ground-source heat pumps typically achieve 3.0–4.5 SCOP.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas heating in the UK?
At the current Ofgem rates (26.11p/kWh electricity, 7.33p/kWh gas), a heat pump with COP 2.7 delivers heat at 9.7p per useful kWh, versus a gas boiler at ~87% efficiency delivering heat at 8.4p per useful kWh. Currently gas remains cheaper per useful kWh at these cap rates. The financial case for heat pumps depends on installation costs, insulation quality, and future gas/electricity price trajectories.
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Sources
COP values: DESNZ/BEIS — Heat Pump Information Note: Seasonal Performance Data 2024 (OGL v3.0). Unit rate: Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (1 July to 30 September 2026), OGL v3.0. BEIS · Ofgem.