Regular boilers
A regular boiler, also called a heat-only or conventional boiler, works with a hot water cylinder and a feed-and-expansion tank in the loft. It is common in older homes where the radiators run on an open-vented system.
Who regular boilers suit
Suits
- Older homes with an open-vented system
- Large households that want stored hot water
- Houses where mains pressure is low
Good points
- Copes with low mains pressure
- Stored hot water for several taps at once
- Suits older pipework and radiators
- Simple, well-understood equipment
Watch out for
- Needs a cylinder and a loft tank
- Takes more space than a combi
- Fewer new models to choose from
What regular boilers cost
Regular boilers typically cost £3,000 (Gas regular (heat-only) boiler, like-for-like swap, fitted), with most jobs between £2,500 and £3,500. That includes VAT at 20%. Fitting takes 1–2 days on site.
What you would actually pay
Typical Gas regular (heat-only) boiler, like-for-like swap, fitted · UK- Typical installed cost Regular 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 regular boilers
| Element | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Boiler and fitting, like for like A new gas regular boiler fitted in place of the old one, with the cylinder and tanks left as they are. This row is the headline price and covers the range. | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Moving the boiler New pipework and a flue route where the boiler moves. Optional, and the labour grows with the distance. | £600 – £1,000 |
| Power flush Cleaning the radiators and pipework before the new boiler goes on. Optional, and worth asking about on an old system. | £400 – £1,000 |
| Magnetic filter Catches the iron sludge that wears out a boiler, and many manufacturers ask for one under their warranty terms. | £110 – £310 |
Guide prices including VAT. Your actual cost depends on your home, access and specification.
What moves the price of regular 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 regular 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
Regular boilers prices by region
Labour is most of the difference. Typical price (Gas regular (heat-only) boiler, like-for-like swap, 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 regular boilers
Are regular boilers being phased out?
They are less common in new installations, but they are still fitted, and a like-for-like swap is often the simplest and cheapest route in an older house with an open-vented system.
What is the difference between a regular and a system boiler?
A regular boiler needs a cylinder and a feed-and-expansion tank in the loft. A system boiler has the pump and expansion vessel built in, so it needs the cylinder but no loft tank.
Is a back boiler the same as a regular boiler?
No. A back boiler sits behind a fire in the fireplace. Replacing one usually means a different type of boiler in a new place, which costs more than a like-for-like swap.
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 regular 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)
- energyguide.org.uk, how much to fit a boiler, updated 29 October 2026 (VAT treatment not stated; treated as including VAT and divided by 1.2)
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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