Heat Pump Prices NZ

The ranges below come from third parties and are attributed to them. They are not our prices. For a fixed price on your home, book a free in-home assessment and we will measure the rooms and give you a written quote.

Published price ranges by system type

High wall heat pumps are the most common and the cheapest to install. Mitre 10 publishes a range of $1,700 to $4,000 for a standard high wall heat pump supplied and installed in NZ, and Rinnai's November 2023 guide puts high wall units at $2,000 to $4,000 including installation.

Ducted systems cost considerably more because they need a larger indoor unit, ductwork and outlets in each room. Rinnai cites around $8,000 to $15,000 installed for a whole-home ducted system, while Sustainability Trust says most Wellington ducted projects fall between $12,000 and $22,000 or more including GST, with a 100 square metre three-bedroom example likely starting around $15,000.

We have not found a reliable published NZ range for multi-split or floor console systems. Mitre 10 notes that multi-split systems cost more upfront than a single split but avoid a separate outdoor unit for each room. Floor consoles usually cost a little more than a high wall unit of the same capacity, but the price depends on the model and the pipe route.

• High wall, supplied and installed: $1,700 to $4,000 (Mitre 10); $2,000 to $4,000 (Rinnai, 2023)
• Ducted whole home: around $8,000 to $15,000 (Rinnai, 2023); $12,000 to $22,000+ incl. GST in Wellington (Sustainability Trust)
• Multi-split and floor console: no reliable published NZ range; quote per home
• Mechanical ventilation systems: upwards of $2,000 installed (Consumer NZ)

What changes the installation price

The cheapest install is a back-to-back job, where the outdoor unit sits directly behind the indoor unit on the other side of the wall, so the pipes go straight through. Every metre of extra pipe, every corner and every bit of pipe cover adds labour and materials.

Access and building type matter too. A second-storey indoor unit, an outdoor unit that needs wall brackets or a roof mount, concrete or brick walls, and apartment buildings with body corporate rules all add time. Electrical work is another variable: every unit needs its own circuit connected by a licensed electrician, and older switchboards sometimes need upgrading first.

• Back-to-back install versus long pipe runs under floors or through ceilings
• Wall type: timber framing is quicker to drill than brick, block or concrete
• Height and access: second-storey units, brackets, roof mounts and scaffolding
• Electrical work: new circuit, switchboard capacity and any upgrade needed
• Unit size and brand: larger capacity and premium models cost more
• Condensate drain route and whether a pump is needed
• Removing and disposing of an old unit

Size and brand

Capacity is the biggest driver of the unit price. Mitre 10's sizing guide suggests 2.5 to 3.5 kW for rooms up to 20 square metres, 3.5 to 5 kW for 20 to 40 square metres, 5 to 7 kW for 40 to 60 square metres and 7 kW plus for larger spaces. High ceilings, single glazing and poor insulation push those figures up.

Buying a bigger unit than you need is not a safe bet. Consumer NZ says oversized units waste energy and cost more upfront, while undersized units struggle to heat the room. Brand affects price as well, but efficiency, noise and warranty terms are better reasons to choose one model over another. Our heat pump size calculator gives a starting estimate.

Running costs

Heat pumps are efficient because they move heat rather than make it. Consumer NZ considers a heating COP of 3 or more good, meaning the unit delivers at least 3 units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses. Efficiency drops near freezing because the outdoor unit has to defrost, but Auckland's mild winters are kind to heat pumps.

Consumer NZ estimates a small 2.5 kW unit could cost under $200 a year to run, while a 10 kW or larger unit might cost about $1,000 a year, depending on how you use it and your power price. The Zoned Energy Rating Label shows each model's estimated annual energy use in kWh, and the lower the figure, the less it costs to run.

Using it well matters as much as the model. Set a sensible temperature rather than the maximum, use the timer so it runs when you are home, keep doors closed to the room you are heating and clean the filters regularly. A heat pump service every year or two keeps efficiency up.

• Small 2.5 kW unit: under $200 a year (Consumer NZ estimate)
• Large 10 kW+ unit: about $1,000 a year (Consumer NZ estimate)
• Check annual kWh on the Zoned Energy Rating Label for any model

Compliance costs to budget for

Auckland Council says most residential heat pump installs do not need building consent, so there is usually no consent fee. A licensed electrician must connect the unit, and you should receive an Electrical Certificate of Compliance and an Electrical Safety Certificate. These should be included in any installed price you are quoted.

Landlords need to meet the Healthy Homes heating standard, which sets a minimum heating capacity for the main living room. The required capacity comes from the Tenancy Services heating assessment tool or a professional assessment, and it can change which unit size you need to buy.

How to compare quotes

Ask every installer for the exact model numbers, the heating capacity in kW, what is included in the install and whether electrical work and certificates are in the price. A quote that is much cheaper than others often leaves out pipe covers, electrical work or a proper condensate drain.

Check that the capacity matches the room. If one quote recommends 3.5 kW and another 6 kW for the same lounge, ask each installer how they worked it out. We measure every room and write the calculation basis on our quotes. You can read more answers on our FAQ page.

• Model numbers for indoor and outdoor units
• Heating and cooling capacity in kW
• Pipe length included and the cost of extra metres
• Electrical connection, certificates and any switchboard work
• Warranty terms and who services the unit

Heat Pump Prices FAQs