Electric boilers
An electric boiler heats the water with electric elements instead of burning gas, so it needs no flue and no gas supply. It suits flats and homes off the gas grid, and it can sit anywhere there is power and a water supply.
Who electric boilers suit
Suits
- Flats and homes with no gas supply
- Properties where a flue is not possible
- Small, well-insulated homes with low heat demand
Good points
- No gas supply and no flue needed
- Very high efficiency at the boiler
- Quiet, compact and easy to place
- No carbon monoxide risk from the boiler
Watch out for
- Electricity costs more per unit than gas, so running costs are higher
- Needs a strong electrical supply
- Not suited to large homes with high demand
What electric boilers cost
Electric boilers typically cost £3,000 (12kW electric boiler, no cylinder, fitted), with most jobs between £2,200 and £3,800. That includes VAT at 20%. Fitting takes 1–2 days on site.
What you would actually pay
Typical 12kW electric boiler, no cylinder, fitted · UK- Typical installed cost Electric boilers, supplied and fitted
- £2,500
- VAT at 20% Standard rate
- £500
- Net cost to you
- £3,000
If you borrowed £3,000.00 over 36 months at 0.0%, it would cost £83.33 a month – £3,000.00 in total, of which £0.00 is interest. The last payment would be £83.45.
Illustration only – not a quote, not an offer of credit, and not financial advice. Rates depend on your circumstances and creditworthiness.
Where the money goes on electric boilers
| Element | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Boiler and fitting A new electric boiler of the right output fitted to the existing heating. This row is the headline price and covers the range. | £2,200 – £3,800 |
| Boiler only The cost of the boiler itself before fitting, shown to compare against a quote. Included in the headline row. | £1,200 – £1,800 |
| Magnetic filter Catches the iron sludge that wears out a boiler, and many manufacturers ask for one under their warranty terms. | £120 – £200 |
Guide prices including VAT. Your actual cost depends on your home, access and specification.
What moves the price of electric boilers
- The boiler itself
Budget ranges cost the least, mid-range ranges sit in the middle, and premium ranges with longer warranties cost the most. Output matters less to the price than the range does.
- Like for like or a conversion
Swapping a boiler for the same type in the same place is the cheapest job. Changing type, moving the boiler or re-routing the flue adds pipework, labour and days.
- The state of the system
Old radiators and pipes full of sludge can need a power flush, new valves or a filter before the installer will fit a new boiler under warranty.
- Where you live
Installer rates are higher in London and the South East than in the North and in Scotland, and the regional pages show the difference.
- Who fits it
National installers and local Gas Safe engineers quote differently for the same boiler. Compare quotes on the make and model, the warranty and what is included, not on the headline price alone.
What a quote for electric boilers should include
If a quote is missing any of these, ask why before you compare it with another.
- The make, model and output of the boiler, and the length of the manufacturer warranty once it is registered
- Whether the price includes a magnetic filter, a system clean or flush, and the cost if the installer finds the system needs one
- Whether the flue, the condensate pipe and any new pipework are included, and what a longer or relocated flue adds
- Removal and disposal of the old boiler, and who registers the installation with Gas Safe and the manufacturer
- A fixed price in writing, the deposit and the payment schedule, and the workmanship guarantee
- The date, the number of engineers and how many days the heating and hot water will be off
Electric boilers prices by region
Labour is most of the difference. Typical price (12kW electric boiler, no cylinder, fitted), including VAT.
| Region | Typical | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £3,800 | +25% |
| South East | £3,500 | +17% |
| South West | £3,300 | +10% |
| East of England | £3,200 | +6% |
| West Midlands | £3,100 | +4% |
| Scotland | £3,100 | +2% |
| East Midlands | £3,000 | UK average |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £3,000 | UK average |
| North West | £2,900 | −2% |
| North East | £2,900 | −5% |
| Wales | £2,800 | −6% |
| Northern Ireland | £2,600 | −12% |
Common questions about electric boilers
Are electric boilers expensive to run?
Per unit of heat, yes: electricity costs more than gas. They make most sense in small, well-insulated homes with no gas supply, or where a heat pump is planned later.
Can an electric boiler replace a gas combi?
Yes, and it removes the flue and the gas pipe, but your electrical supply has to cope with the load, and a larger home will cost more to heat than it did on gas.
Does an electric boiler need a hot water cylinder?
An electric combi heats water on demand, though at a lower flow than a gas combi. Many homes choose an electric system boiler with a cylinder for better flow, which is a separate cost.
Is VAT charged on a new gas boiler?
Yes. Gas boilers are standard-rated, so the price shown includes VAT. The zero rate for energy-saving materials applies to heat pumps, solar panels and insulation, not to gas boilers.
Where these electric boilers prices come from
Guide prices are compiled from published UK price guides, converted to a price before VAT, and shown here with VAT added. They are indicative, not quotations. How we price explains the method.
- greatbritishenergy.com, new boiler cost guide, updated 30 October 2026, quoting Checkatrade fitted prices and Which? brand prices (gas boilers standard-rated at 20%; the page does not say whether its figures include VAT, so they are treated as including it and divided by 1.2)
- Boiler Guide, combi boiler cost guide, updated 9 April 2025, for outputs by range
Get quotes for your home
A guide price only takes you so far. Local firms can price the work on your own home, and comparing a few quotes is the quickest way to see what is reasonable.
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