Heat pumps in Dorset
The short answer
- 1,263 heat pumps installed in Dorset with a government grant since May 2022
- 74.6 for every 10,000 households, ranked 39th of 318 councils in England and Wales
- 431 grants in 2025/26, against 239 in 2023/24
Updated 25 September 2026. Every figure on this page comes from our published model; see where our data comes from.
1,263 heat pumps have been installed in Dorset with a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant since May 2022, 74.6 for every 10,000 households. That ranks Dorset 39th of 318 councils in England and Wales, 2.1 times the England and Wales figure of 35.0.
How Dorset compares
13th of 27 councils in the South West. The region as a whole has 63.3 heat pumps for every 10,000 households.
| Area | Heat pumps | Per 10,000 households |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 1,263 | 74.6 |
| South West | 15,508 | 63.3 |
| England and Wales | 86,852 | 35.0 |
Year by year
431 grants in 2025/26. Dorset had 431 grants paid in 2025/26 against 239 in 2023/24, the first full year: 1.8 times as many, against 2.3 times across England and Wales.
| Financial year | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 (from 23 May) | 167 | 9,840 |
| 2023/24 | 239 | 13,731 |
| 2024/25 | 333 | 25,109 |
| 2025/26 | 431 | 30,986 |
The data behind this table
Financial years run April to March. The first year starts on 23 May 2022, when the scheme opened, and April to June 2026 is in the total but not yet in a year, so the years add up to less than the total.
Nearby in the rankings
The councils either side of Dorset in the South West.
| Rank in region | Council | Heat pumps | Per 10,000 households |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Stroud | 462 | 88.2 |
| 10 | East Devon | 550 | 82.4 |
| 11 | Cotswold | 320 | 78.8 |
| 12 | Wiltshire | 1,622 | 75.4 |
| 13 | Dorset | 1,263 | 74.6 |
| 14 | Somerset | 1,556 | 62.2 |
| 15 | Tewkesbury | 253 | 61.8 |
| 16 | Teignbridge | 360 | 60.2 |
| 17 | Bath and North East Somerset | 472 | 59.6 |
Energy use in Dorset
9,051 kWh of gas and 2,576 kWh of electricity a year for the median home, about £1,708 at the October 2026 price cap. Gas use is 10% below the England and Wales median of 10,012 kWh.
| Home | Gas, Dorset | Gas, England and Wales | Electricity, Dorset | Electricity, England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All homes | 9,051 | 10,012 | 2,576 | 2,538 |
| Detached house | 12,767 | 13,771 | 3,210 | 3,320 |
| Semi-detached house | 8,572 | 10,574 | 2,714 | 2,673 |
| Mid-terrace house | 7,004 | 9,092 | 2,264 | 2,383 |
| End-terrace house | 7,718 | 9,631 | 2,432 | 2,549 |
| Bungalow | 10,792 | 10,229 | 2,535 | 2,271 |
| Converted flat | 6,211 | 7,141 | 2,025 | 2,136 |
| Purpose built flat | 4,571 | 5,704 | 1,800 | 1,947 |
The data behind this table
Medians from 2024 meter readings (DESNZ NEED local authority tables 2024, LA1, LA2, LA5 and LA6). Gas covers homes with a gas meter. Costs use the Ofgem cap for October to December 2026, with standing charges. Energy use in every council on one map.
Getting a heat pump in Dorset
£7,500 off, or £9,000 replacing oil or LPG until 31 March 2027. A typical 3 bed semi costs £11,000 to £15,500 installed before the grant.
In England, ask your council whether it has Warm Homes: Local Grant funding, which can pay for insulation and a heat pump for households on lower incomes. See what a heat pump would cost and save in your home with the heat pump calculator, and what it costs to run with the running cost calculator.
How we worked this out
Heat pumps are Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants paid from 23 May 2022 to 30 June 2026 (DESNZ Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics, August 2026, Tables Q1.2 and A1.7), counting air and ground source heat pumps. Heat pumps installed without the grant, such as in most new build and social homes, are not counted. Households are the Census 2021 count for Dorset: 169,261.
Get heat pump quotes for your home
Tell us about your property and we will pass your request to up to three MCS-certified heat pump installers covering your postcode. It is free and there is no obligation to go ahead.
- MCS-certified installers only
- £7,500 grant, or £9,000 replacing oil or LPG
- Free, with no obligation
Frequently asked questions
How many heat pumps are there in Dorset?
1,263 heat pumps have been installed in Dorset with a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant since the scheme opened in May 2022, to the end of June 2026. That is 74.6 for every 10,000 households.
How does Dorset compare with the rest of the country?
Dorset ranks 39th of 318 councils in England and Wales for heat pump grants per household, 2.1 times the England and Wales figure of 35.0. Across the South West the figure is 63.3.
Can I get a heat pump grant in Dorset?
Yes, if you own the home and are replacing fossil fuel or electric heating: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 off a heat pump, or £9,000 replacing oil or LPG until 31 March 2027. Your MCS installer applies for it. In England, ask your council whether it has Warm Homes: Local Grant funding, which can pay for insulation and a heat pump for households on lower incomes.
Data sources
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics, August 2026, Tables Q1.2 and A1.7. Source: Ofgem.
- Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, TS041 number of households.
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, NEED consumption data tables 2026, local authority tables 2024.
- Map: Office for National Statistics, Local Authority Districts (May 2025) boundaries, Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025.