Heat pump installation cost in NZ

Most single-room heat pump installs in New Zealand cost between $2,000 and $5,500 supplied and fitted, depending on the unit size and how hard the install is. Multi-splits for several rooms run roughly $5,000 to $13,000, and whole-home ducted systems usually start around $12,000.

This is one of our core heat pump pages for Wellington, and the question we get asked first. Here are honest ranges, what moves the price, and where you can genuinely save.

Heat pump installation price ranges (2026)

These are typical supplied-and-installed prices in the Wellington region, including a standard install. Your home could sit anywhere in the range depending on the factors further down the page.

Ranges are a guide for greater Wellington homes in 2026 and are not a quote. Prices include GST and a standard install.

Not sure which row is your home? Our heat pump sizing calculator suggests a size and a price range from four quick questions, then leads straight into a free quote.

What makes the price go up or down

Two homes can want the same unit and pay quite different prices. The install itself is where the difference lives:

• Pipe run length and route. A short back-to-back run through one wall is cheapest. Long runs, runs through the roof space, or concealed runs in a wall cost more in time and materials.
• Outdoor unit location. A unit at ground level on a wall bracket is simple. Working at height, on a steep Wellington section, or fixing to awkward cladding adds labour.
• Electrical work. If a new dedicated circuit or a switchboard upgrade is needed, that adds cost. Plenty of installs reuse the capacity that's already there.
• Capacity and brand tier. Bigger units cost more, and premium cold-climate models sit above the entry-level ranges. We'll help you work out whether the premium is worth it for your room.
• Old unit removal. Taking out and getting rid of a dead heat pump or an old fire is a small add-on.

Where you can save (and where you should not)

Cost is driven most by the type of system you choose, so it's worth comparing the main heat pump types first. The honest saving is in sizing: pay for the capacity your room actually needs, no more. An oversized unit costs more to buy and runs less efficiently. The place not to cut corners is the install quality, because a cheap, rushed install is what leads to poor performance and early heat pump repairs down the track. The biggest saving of all is the grant: if your home was built before 2008 and you hold a Community Services Card or live in a lower-income area, you may qualify for the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant, which can cover up to 90% of an approved heat pump.

Running cost, not just install cost

A heat pump gives you around three to four units of heat for every unit of power it draws. That's why it's the cheapest way to keep most Wellington homes warm, day to day. The government's energy efficiency agency EECA has good background on this in its EnergyWise guidance on home heating. The upfront install is the bigger number, but the running cost is where a heat pump quietly pays you back.

Single room or ducted: cost vs coverage

If you're weighing several splits against one hidden system, the trade-off is upfront cost against whole-home comfort. We break this down on our ducted heat pumps in Wellington page. And if you haven't settled yet on what the job involves, start with heat pump installation in Wellington for how we go about the work.

Cost questions, answered