Heat pump prices NZ (2026): installed costs by size and type

Heat pump prices in New Zealand are quoted as a supplied-and-installed figure, and that is the only number worth comparing. The unit itself is usually half the bill or less. The rest is labour, copper pipe, cabling, brackets and commissioning. This guide sets out the price bands you should expect in 2026, what moves a quote up or down, and what the unit will cost to run once it's on the wall.

The figures below come from published 2026 NZ price guides, cross-checked against each other. They are market ranges, not our prices. Your home, the pipe route and the installer's workload decide where in the range a quote lands, which is why we're moving to one fixed installed price for each standard high-wall package, with the standard install spelled out. See our packages.

How much does a heat pump cost installed in NZ?

Most NZ households pay between $2,500 and $4,800 for a single high-wall heat pump, fully installed. The low end buys a small unit for a bedroom or small lounge with a simple back-to-back install. The high end is a larger living-area unit with a longer pipe run or a harder outdoor-unit position.

Varcoe's 2026 figures land in the same place: roughly $2,000–$4,500 for a single-room high-wall, $4,000–$7,000 for a multi-room system, and $8,000–$15,000 or more for ducted. When two independent sources agree this closely, the bands are a fair guide to the NZ market.

What size heat pump do I need, and what does each size cost?

Size is measured in kilowatts (kW) of heating output, and price climbs with it. On our size calculator, a moderately insulated room with a 2.4 m stud needs about 2.6 kW at 20 m², 3.9 kW at 30 m², 5.9 kW at 45 m² and 6.5 kW at 50 m². High ceilings, poor insulation and a cold climate push those up. Buy the size the room needs, not the biggest one that fits the budget.

Sizing matters for cost in two ways. An undersized unit runs flat out and still leaves the room cold. An oversized one costs more to buy and, as Consumer NZ points out, is inefficient and costs more than necessary. Run your room through our heat pump size calculator, or read how to size a heat pump for a NZ living room, before you look at quotes.

What is included in a heat pump installation price?

A standard installation price covers the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, the refrigerant pipes between them, the electrical connection, a condensate drain, wall or ground brackets and commissioning. If a price only lists the unit, it isn't an installed price, so ask for the full figure in writing.

The unit and the labour break down roughly like this in the 2026 NZ market:

A back-to-back install, where the indoor and outdoor units sit on opposite sides of the same wall, is the cheapest because the pipe run is short and there's one hole through the wall. Anything that makes the route longer or harder adds to the price.

What extras can push a heat pump quote up?

The usual extras are longer pipe runs, outdoor units that can't sit on the ground behind the indoor unit, and electrical work beyond a simple connection. These can add a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, so check each quote lists them rather than leaving them for the invoice.

• Longer pipe runs. If the outdoor unit has to go on a different wall, round a corner or out of sight, expect roughly $50–$80 for each extra metre of pipe, plus cover trunking to tidy it.
• Second-storey or awkward indoor units. An upstairs unit usually means pipes running down the outside of the house or through wall and ceiling cavities, which takes longer and may need scaffolding or a ladder platform.
• Wall, roof or high brackets. A ground stand is the simplest mount. Wall brackets on a second storey or a roof mount take more labour and hardware.
• Electrical upgrades. An older switchboard may not have room for a new circuit, or may need work before a registered electrician can sign off. That cost varies widely, so ask the installer to check your board at the site visit.
• Condensate drainage. Heat pumps produce water. Where it can't drain by gravity to a suitable spot, a condensate pump or a longer drain line adds cost.
• Removing an old unit. Taking out and disposing of an existing heat pump, including recovering its refrigerant properly, is usually a separate line item.
• Wi-Fi control. Some models include it; others need an add-on adapter. Consumer NZ lists skipping Wi-Fi as a common buying mistake.

How much does a multi-split or ducted heat pump cost?

A multi-split system with two to five indoor units costs about $5,000–$12,000 installed. A ducted system for a standard home is about $8,000–$15,000, and a large home with five or more zones can reach $15,000–$25,000. Both cost more than a single high-wall because they heat more rooms from one outdoor unit.

Ducted prices spread widely because most of the money is in labour and ductwork, not the unit. A new build where the ducts go in before the ceilings are lined sits at the low end. Retrofitting ducts into an existing home with a tight roof space sits at the high end. Our ducted heat pump cost guide and multi-split cost guide break these systems down further, and our multi-split and ducted pages cover which suits which home.

Do heat pump prices differ between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch?

Installation prices don't vary much between NZ cities. The things that move a quote are the pipe run, the outdoor-unit position and the electrical work, and those depend on your house, not your postcode. Outside the main centres, a travel charge is common across the industry, and it should be listed separately if it applies.

Where city matters more is the size of unit you need. A lounge in Christchurch or Dunedin, where July nights average 2–3°C, needs more heating capacity than the same room in Auckland at around 8°C: our size calculator adds 20% for those colder climate zones, so a moderately insulated 30 m² lounge goes from about 3.9 kW to about 4.7 kW. A bigger unit costs more, so colder-climate homes tend to spend more for the same floor area. Running costs also vary by region because lines charges differ. See our local pages for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga and Dunedin.

How much does a heat pump cost to run in NZ?

Consumer NZ estimates a small 2.5 kW heat pump costs under $200 a year to run and a large 10 kW or bigger unit about $1,000 a year. Your figure depends on how many hours you run it, how cold it gets outside, the unit's efficiency and your power price.

Heat pumps are cheap to run because they move heat rather than make it. A unit with a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3 delivers about 3 kW of heat for every 1 kW of electricity it draws, and Consumer NZ treats a COP of 3 or more as good. Efficiency drops as outdoor temperatures approach zero, because the outdoor unit has to work harder and defrost itself.

Two habits keep the bill down. Set the thermostat sensibly: EECA suggests a maximum of 20–21°C for heating. And heat the room before you use it with a timer, rather than leaving the unit running all day. The full heat pump running costs guide shows how to work out your own figure.

Can I get a grant for a heat pump?

Yes, if you qualify for Warmer Kiwi Homes. The EECA programme funds up to 90% of a heat pump installation, capped at $3,450, and EECA expects most eligible households to pay about $400–$700 themselves. You must own and live in a home built before 2008 and meet an income test.

To be eligible for the heat pump grant, EECA says you need to:

• Own and live in a home built before 2008.
• Hold a Community Services Card or SuperGold Combo card, or live in a lower-income area identified by EECA.
• Already have ceiling and underfloor insulation installed to EECA's standard. If you don't, the insulation grant comes first.
• Have no working fixed heater, such as an existing heat pump, wood or pellet burner, flued gas heater or central heating.

Warmer Kiwi Homes no longer funds wood or pellet burners, so a heat pump is now the heater it pays for. The work has to go through the programme's approved providers, so check eligibility on the EECA website before you sign a private quote. Our guide to what Warmer Kiwi Homes actually covers has the detail.

Are expensive heat pump brands worth the extra?

Sometimes. Premium brands and their top model ranges tend to cost more, but the gap often buys better efficiency, quieter running or stronger output in cold weather. Reliability matters too: Consumer NZ's owner surveys rate some brands well below others. Compare the model, not just the badge.

The Zoned Energy Rating Label is the fairest way to compare two quotes for different units. More stars means lower running costs for the same heat. Consumer NZ puts the life expectancy of a heat pump at 10 to 15 years, so a cheaper unit with fewer stars can cost more over its life. Our brand guides cover Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, Panasonic, Fujitsu and others.

How do I compare heat pump quotes fairly?

Line the quotes up on the same terms: the exact model number, its heating capacity, the installed price including GST, and every extra. Then check who does the refrigerant and electrical work and what the warranty covers. Whoever you choose should be happy to answer all of this in writing, and our fixed prices are set out the same way.

1. Check each quote names the model, not just the brand, so you can look up its heating capacity and star rating.
2. Confirm the price is fully installed and includes GST, pipe, brackets, drainage, electrical connection and commissioning.
3. Ask how the installer sized the unit. They should have measured the room and asked about insulation, ceiling height and windows.
4. Compare the outdoor-unit position and pipe route each installer proposes, and ask about noise near bedrooms and boundaries.
5. Ask who issues the electrical Certificate of Compliance and whether the installer handles the refrigerant work themselves.
6. Compare warranties on the unit and on the installation workmanship, and ask what servicing the warranty expects.

Our full checklist is in how to compare heat pump quotes, and choosing a heat pump installer covers the licences to check.

What does a heat pump cost to service?

A professional service for a single wall or floor unit costs about $79–$249 per visit. Multi-split services start at around $374 for two units and ducted systems at around $375. Cleaning the filters yourself between services is free and keeps the unit efficient.

Servicing is worth budgeting for from day one. See heat pump servicing for what a service includes, and how to clean heat pump filters for the job you can do yourself.

How can I get a good price on a heat pump?

Get the size right, compare like with like, and book early. Winter is peak season for heat pump installs in NZ, so quotes requested in late summer or autumn leave you more time to decide and more choice of install dates.

• Choose the right size. Paying for capacity you don't need is the most common way to overspend.
• Keep the pipe run short. If you can accept a back-to-back position, you avoid extra pipe and trunking.
• Insulate first. A well-insulated room needs a smaller unit. If you might qualify for Warmer Kiwi Homes, check before buying privately.
• Bundle rooms. If you want to heat two or three rooms, price a multi-split against separate units.
• Compare star ratings. A slightly dearer, more efficient unit can win on running costs.