Typical NZ installed prices
| Heat pump | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
| Small high-wall, about 2.5 kW (bedroom, small room) | $2,000 to $3,200 |
| Medium high-wall, about 5 kW (lounge) | $2,800 to $4,800 |
| Large high-wall, about 8 kW (open-plan living) | $3,500 to $5,500 |
| Ducted, whole house | $12,000 to $22,000 |
Installed prices, including GST, for a standard back-to-back install. Based on published price guides from eight NZ installers and retailers, updated Oct 2026.
What you pay for a heat pump comes down to two things: the unit itself, and the job of putting it in. A small high-wall unit mounted on the other side of the wall from the outdoor unit is a very different day’s work to a ducted system running through the ceiling of a two-storey house. That gap is why the “special” on the flyer rarely matches the number on your quote.
What pushes a heat pump quote up or down
Every quote is built from the same pieces:
- The size of the unit. Measured in kW. A bigger space needs a bigger unit, and bigger units cost more. See what size heat pump you need.
- The type. A single high-wall unit is usually the simplest job. Floor consoles and ceiling cassettes take more work to fit. Ducted and multi-room systems heat more of the house and cost the most.
- The brand and model. Prices differ, and so do star ratings (how efficient the unit is) and how well it keeps heating on a frosty night.
- How hard the install is. How far the pipes run between the indoor and outdoor units, what your walls are made of, and whether the job needs scaffolding or a long run through the roof space.
- The base for the outdoor unit. It shouldn’t sit straight on the ground. It goes on a secure base, a pad or wall brackets, and it has to be mounted so water can drain away from it in heating mode.
- The electrical work. How much is involved depends on your switchboard and how far the new circuit has to run.
Why the special price on the flyer isn’t your price
An advertised price can only allow for a typical job. Your house might need a longer pipe run, work on a second storey, a new circuit from an old switchboard, or a drain line to carry water away from the outdoor unit. None of that is unusual. All of it changes the price.
Extra costs near the coast or in Rotorua
If you live near the sea, or in a geothermal area like Rotorua, budget for corrosion protection. Salt air and sulphur gases speed up corrosion, and the main brands’ warranties don’t treat corrosion as a manufacturing fault where the right protection wasn’t specified and maintained. Ask each installer which corrosion zone your house sits in and what protection they’ve included. A cheaper quote without it isn’t comparing like with like.
→ Related: Heat pump brands compared
How to compare heat pump quotes
- Get a quote, not just an estimate. A quote is an offer to do the job for a set price, and it’s generally the most you’ll pay. An estimate is a best guess, and the final bill should generally land within 10 to 15% of it.
- Get it in writing, and in detail. Two or three if you can. A written quote is your evidence if something goes wrong later.
- Compare like with like. Same size (check the 7°C heating figure on the label), same type, and the same work included.
Ask each installer to list:
- the model number of both units
- the heating capacity at 7°C and 2°C
- where both units will go and how the pipes and drain will run
- the base for the outdoor unit
- any corrosion protection, if you’re near the coast
- the electrical work, and that you’ll get a Certificate of Compliance
- the warranty, and who you call if something goes wrong.
Check how each quote handles access, too. The main brands’ warranties don’t cover extra costs for reaching a unit in a high or awkward spot, so an outdoor unit tucked where a technician needs a ladder or scaffold can cost you more at every service. Paying a little more at install for a spot that’s easy to reach is money well spent.
→ Related: Questions to ask a heat pump installer
What does a heat pump cost to run?
You can work it out yourself from the energy label. Every new heat pump carries a Zoned Energy Rating Label, and all of New Zealand sits in the Cold zone.
- Find the kWh per year figures for the Cold zone: the red one for heating, the blue one for cooling.
- Add them together if you’ll use both. If you only heat, use the red figure.
- Multiply by the price per kWh on your power bill.
That gives you a yearly figure for comparing models, not a promise. The label assumes typical use. Heat the house all day through a Dunedin winter and you’ll use more than it shows. Run the lounge for a few evening hours in Tauranga and you’ll likely use less.
Two models of the same size can differ a lot on that kWh figure. More stars for the Cold zone means a more efficient unit, so it uses less power for the same heat. A dearer unit with more stars can make up some of the gap in power bills over the years you own it.
→ Related: How efficient are heat pumps in NZ?
Is there a grant for a heat pump?
Some owner-occupiers can get help through the government’s Warmer Kiwi Homes programme. It can cover up to 90% of an approved high-wall heat pump, capped at $3,450, for homes that meet the rules. Who qualifies is narrow and changes over time, so check before you get private quotes. Eligibility and how to apply are set out in heat pump grants in NZ.
Can you fit a heat pump yourself to save money?
Not legally, for most of the job. The wiring must be done by a licensed electrician who gives you a Certificate of Compliance, and the refrigerant side needs specialist training and certification. Who can install a heat pump explains what’s involved, so the realistic saving is in comparing quotes for the whole job.
What are your rights if something goes wrong?
Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, the heat pump has to be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose, and the installation has to be done with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time, and at a reasonable price if no price was agreed. If the work is poor, you can ask the installer to fix it for free. If they refuse or take too long, you can have someone else fix it and claim the cost, and if the problem is serious you can cancel. Those rights come from the business that sold you the job, and a brand’s warranty sits on top of them, not instead of them.
Where to get heat pump quotes near you
Get two or three quotes from installers in your town, or start with high-wall heat pump installers if you’re heating one room. A proper quote spells out both model numbers, where everything goes, and what’s included in the price. Get a quote and put the numbers side by side before you decide.