For whole-house heating in a 3+ bedroom UK home, a heat pump is the better choice. An air source heat pump costs £8,000-£14,000 (£500-£6,500 after the £7,500 BUS grant) and runs at £800-£1,200/year for a 3-bed house. Infrared panels cost £200-£500 per panel with a whole-house setup of 9-15 panels totalling £3,000-£6,000, but annual running costs reach £900-£1,400 because infrared operates at COP 1.0 compared to a heat pump’s COP 3.0-3.5. Infrared panels suit single rooms, extensions and garden offices. Heat pumps suit primary heating.
Head-to-Head Comparison Table
| Feature | Air Source Heat Pump | Infrared Heating Panels |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost (whole house, 3-bed) | £8,000-£14,000 | £3,000-£6,000 (9-15 panels) |
| Cost after BUS grant | £500-£6,500 | No grant available |
| Annual running cost (whole house) | £800-£1,200 | £900-£1,400 |
| Efficiency | COP 3.0-3.5 (300-350%) | COP 1.0 (100%) |
| Provides hot water | Yes | No — separate system needed |
| Installation time | 2-4 days | 1-2 hours per panel |
| Maintenance | Annual service £100-£200 | None |
| Outdoor unit required | Yes | No |
| Planning permission | Usually not needed | Not needed |
| Lifespan | 20-25 years | 20-30 years |
| Heating method | Whole house via central system | Room-by-room, radiant heat |
| EPC impact | Significant improvement | Minimal improvement |
Sources: Energy Saving Trust, Ofgem, manufacturer specifications
How Do Heat Pumps and Infrared Panels Work Differently?
Heat pumps and infrared panels use fundamentally different heating methods, and understanding this difference is the key to choosing correctly.
An air source heat pump extracts heat from outdoor air and distributes it through your existing central heating system — radiators or underfloor heating — plus a hot water cylinder. It heats the entire home through one integrated system. For every 1kWh of electricity consumed, it produces 3-3.5kWh of heat (COP 3.0-3.5).
Infrared panels are electric heaters mounted on walls or ceilings. They emit infrared radiation that heats objects and surfaces directly — people, furniture, walls — rather than heating the air. Each panel heats a single room or zone. For every 1kWh of electricity consumed, they produce 1kWh of heat (COP 1.0). They are 100% efficient at converting electricity to heat, but they cannot multiply energy the way a heat pump does.
This efficiency difference is the critical factor in running costs.
Which Costs Less to Run for a Whole House?
A heat pump costs 25-40% less to run than infrared panels for whole-house heating because of its 3:1 efficiency advantage. Here is the maths for a 3-bedroom semi with 14,000kWh annual heating demand at Ofgem Q2 2026 rates (electricity 24.67p/kWh):
Heat pump (COP 3.2):
- Electricity used: 14,000 / 3.2 = 4,375 kWh
- Annual cost: 4,375 x 24.67p = £1,079
Infrared panels (COP 1.0):
- Electricity used: 14,000 kWh (though in practice, infrared’s radiant approach may reduce this by 10-20% through zoning)
- Annual cost (adjusted): 11,200-14,000 x 24.67p = £2,764-£3,454
In practice, infrared advocates argue that panels do not need to heat the entire air volume and can be zoned room-by-room, reducing total energy consumption. Even accounting for a generous 30-40% reduction from zoning, annual costs for a 3-bed home are £900-£1,400 — still higher than a heat pump.
The running cost gap widens further because infrared panels do not heat water. A separate electric immersion heater or dedicated water heater adds £300-£600/year to the infrared setup.
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Which Costs Less Upfront?
Infrared panels are significantly cheaper to buy and install, but the BUS grant narrows the gap substantially.
| Heat Pump | Infrared (whole house) | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment cost | £5,000-£9,000 | £2,000-£5,000 (9-15 panels) |
| Installation cost | £3,000-£5,000 | £500-£1,500 |
| Hot water cylinder | £500-£1,500 | Not included (need separate) |
| Total before grant | £8,000-£14,000 | £3,000-£6,000 |
| BUS grant | -£7,500 | None available |
| You pay | £500-£6,500 | £3,000-£6,000 |
After the BUS grant, a heat pump installation can actually cost less than a whole-house infrared panel setup. And the heat pump provides hot water, which infrared does not.
Individual infrared panels cost £200-£500 depending on size and wattage:
- 300W panel (bathroom/small room): £200-£300
- 600W panel (bedroom): £300-£400
- 900W panel (living room): £400-£500
- 1200W panel (large open-plan room): £450-£600
Installation is simple — most panels are hardwired by an electrician in 1-2 hours per panel, or some plug-in models require no installation at all.
When Are Infrared Panels the Better Choice?
Infrared panels make sense for targeted, supplementary or part-time heating — not as a primary whole-house system. The best use cases are:
- Garden offices and outbuildings — no pipework, no outdoor unit, instant heat when needed
- Single-room extensions — cheaper than extending your central heating system
- Rental properties — low upfront cost, no maintenance, tenant-controllable
- Bathrooms — quick radiant heat with no warm-up time, often combined with a towel rail panel
- Rarely used rooms — guest bedrooms, conservatories, hobby rooms where heating is only needed occasionally
Infrared panels also suit properties where a heat pump is impractical — for example, flats with no outdoor space for a heat pump unit, or listed buildings where external alterations are restricted.
When Is a Heat Pump the Better Choice?
For any UK home with 3+ bedrooms that needs reliable, cost-effective whole-house heating and hot water, a heat pump is the clear winner. The reasons are:
- Lower running costs for whole-house heating (25-40% less than infrared)
- Hot water included — no need for a separate system
- BUS grant — £7,500 reduces upfront cost, often below the cost of whole-house infrared
- EPC improvement — a heat pump significantly improves your home’s energy rating, adding property value
- Future-proof — aligned with Government decarbonisation targets and building regulations
A heat pump replaces your existing boiler as a single central heating system. Infrared panels are an addition, not a replacement — you still need a solution for hot water and any rooms without panels.
For full details on system types and installation, see our heat pumps guide.
Total Cost Over 10 Years
| Heat Pump | Infrared (whole house) | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation (after grant) | £500-£6,500 | £3,000-£6,000 |
| Running costs (10 years) | £8,000-£12,000 | £9,000-£14,000 |
| Hot water (10 years) | Included above | £3,000-£6,000 (immersion) |
| Maintenance (10 years) | £1,000-£2,000 | £0 |
| 10-year total | £9,500-£20,500 | £15,000-£26,000 |
Over 10 years, a heat pump saves £5,000-£6,000 compared to whole-house infrared when hot water costs are included.
FAQ
Can infrared panels replace a gas boiler?
Infrared panels can replace a gas boiler for space heating, but they do not provide hot water. You would need a separate electric water heater (immersion cylinder or point-of-use heaters) adding £300-£600/year in running costs. For a 3+ bedroom home, a heat pump is more cost-effective as a complete boiler replacement because it handles both heating and hot water in one system.
Are infrared panels cheaper to run than a heat pump?
No, not for whole-house heating. Infrared panels operate at COP 1.0 (100% efficiency), meaning every unit of electricity produces one unit of heat. A heat pump operates at COP 3.0-3.5, producing three or more units of heat per unit of electricity. For a typical 3-bed home, infrared running costs are £900-£1,400/year compared to £800-£1,200/year for a heat pump, before accounting for hot water.
Do infrared panels work in old houses?
Yes, and they can be particularly effective in older homes with high ceilings or draughts because they heat objects directly rather than air. Cold air draughts have less impact on radiant heat. However, for whole-house primary heating in an older home, a high-temperature heat pump for older homes is still more cost-effective long-term.
Can I use infrared panels alongside a heat pump?
Yes, this is a practical combination. Use the heat pump as your primary whole-house heating and hot water system, then add infrared panels in rooms that need a quick boost — such as a conservatory, garden room or bathroom. The infrared panel provides instant radiant heat without the warm-up time of radiators.
Do infrared panels need planning permission?
No. Infrared panels are internal fittings that require no planning permission, no building regulations approval and no outdoor unit. They are hardwired by a qualified electrician (Part P compliant) and can be installed in any room. This makes them suitable for listed buildings and conservation areas where external heat pump units may require consent.
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