How much does Hive installation cost?

Smart thermostats like Hive, Nest and Tado have revolutionised the way we as homeowners manage our heating. They even save us money, so they’re a smart investment in more ways than one!

We’ve put together this Hive installation cost guide to show you average UK prices for installing a smart thermostat in your home.

How much does Hive installation cost?

The average Hive installation cost is around £238 for materials and labour.

How much does Hive cost?

The biggest cost involved in Hive installation is purchasing the unit itself.

A basic Hive heating unit alone costs about £105.

However, if it’s your first Hive unit in your home you’ll need to also buy the Hive Hub unit. This allows you to connect the Hive units to your smartphone.

A Hive thermostat with Hive Hub will cost around £170. 

How much to install Hive?

If you choose to have your Hive devices installed by a professional, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of labour.

It’s generally quick and easy to install a Hive thermostat. So, professional installation is cost-effective.

Typical labour costs for Hive installation are between £175-£300.

How much is a Hive subscription in the UK?

Lastly, you might want to factor in the cost of a Hive Heating Plus subscription.

This isn’t an essential cost as the Hive thermostat does work without a subscription. But you’ll need to subscribe if you want to get the full benefits of your smart thermostat.

We’re talking about features like energy consumption insights and alerts if there’s an issue that might be affecting your heating system’s efficiency.

It also offers Hive customers an extended warranty on all their Hive products for the duration of their subscription.

The Hive Heating Plus subscription costs £3.99 a month.

Factors affecting your Hive heating installation costs

Although we’ve given you a ballpark estimate, your Hive installation cost can vary based on lots of different factors. Here are the main ones.

Whether you already have a Hive unit

If you already have a Hive Hub, you won’t need to buy another one.

So, if you’re simply looking to add a thermostat to an existing Hive system, this can lower your costs.

Number of zones

Want to be able to control the heating in different rooms or areas of your home separately? In this case, you’ll want to invest in Hive Multizone.

This essentially means purchasing a Hive thermostat for each room or zone in your home that you want to be able to control individually, which will naturally increase your costs.

You can also add Hive Radiator Valves to each radiator if you want extra, room-by-room control of your heating.

Your boiler

If you have an older boiler, a boiler that is hard to access, or one that has more complex wiring, then Hive installation will typically take longer.

This can cause your labour costs to rise. You can expect this additional cost to be between £30 - £60 per hour.

Boiler replacement

If you’re looking to upgrade or change your boiler, then installing Hive at the same time can be a great call.

As a boiler engineer will already be charging you to install a new boiler, adding a Hive unit should be relatively quick and easy.

In this way, it might save some labour time and so lower your Hive installation cost.

Your location

As with any home improvement project, your location will affect your labour costs.

In particular, the costs in London and the South East of England are higher than elsewhere. For example, the cost to install a Hive device in a London property could be closer to £300.

Get a Hive thermostat installation quote

The best way to get an accurate Hive installation cost is to ask professional installers in your area for quotes.

We always recommend getting at least three quotes. That way, you can get a feel for a range of contractors. Plus, you can make sure you’re getting a fair and competitive price for the work.

Comparing quotes is easy with our request a quote feature. Simply add your details to the form and we’ll contact some of the best local tradespeople for you. They’ll then provide you with a quote.

Alternatively, just enter your postcode into the box below to browse a selection of trusted Hive installers near you.

What is smart heating?

Smart heating is a general term that refers to a heating system you can control remotely – normally using a mobile app.

A smart thermostat is connected to the internet so that you can access your home’s heating system from your smartphone.

This means you can control your heating system when you’re out and about – or simply from the comfort of your sofa.

Thanks to smart technology, you can also see trends in your heating behaviour and see how much you’re spending on energy as you go.

In this way, a smart thermostat is a great solution if you’re looking to cut your energy bills or you just want more control of your heating when you’re out of the house.

Smart thermostats vs smart meters

It’s important to know the difference between a smart thermostat and a smart meter. Both come in very handy at home but they work quite differently from one another.

A smart meter is a meter for your gas or electricity. But instead of having to take meter readings manually, a smart meter will do it for you automatically.

This means your energy supplier gets more accurate, regular readings to help with billing. Plus, you get a clearer idea of how and when you use your electricity.

On the other hand, a smart thermostat allows you to control your home’s heating system.

Benefits of Hive installation

Opting for Hive installation in your home comes with lots of benefits. Here are some of the main ones.

• Control your heating system from your smartphone
• Keep track of your energy usage
• Enjoy more flexibility for your heating patterns
• Save money by only heating your home when you want to
• Receive reminders to your phone when you’ve left the heating on
• Connect your heating to other smart devices in your home (such as motion sensors to keep the heating on while you’re at home)

Will Hive save me money?

Switching to a smart thermostat such as Hive is a great way to save money.

The smart technology can send you reminders and use smart algorithms to help you understand when your home needs heating – and when your heating has accidentally been left on.

It also makes it easy to take action because your heating can be controlled remotely wherever you are.

In this way, Hive is designed to help you heat your home better while reducing your energy bills.

A smart thermostat like Hive could save you up to £129 a year.

Can you install Hive yourself?

If you’re confident at DIY and you have some time on your hands, you may be able to install a Hive thermostat yourself.

However, Hive recommends getting their thermostats installed by a professional.

A fully trained engineer will be able to make sure your thermostat is installed and connected correctly.

Plus, they’ll be able to talk you through all the features of your Hive unit, so that you can make the most of your smart heating system.

Do I need a plumber or electrician to install Hive?

A plumber or boiler engineer will normally be the best person to install Hive in your home.

Most of the time, they’ll be able to install and connect your Hive thermostat within the hour – assuming you have a standard boiler setup.

They’ll also be able to give you professional advice about Hive installation if you have an old boiler or a complicated heating system in your home.

Always make sure that the professional you’re hiring is fully trained and has experience installing thermostats.

We recommend getting at least three quotes to make sure you’re getting the best contractor and price for the job. This brings us to…

How do I find Hive installers near me?

We have two quick and easy ways to find Hive installers near you on Checkatrade.

1. Use our ‘request a quote‘ feature

If you’re short on time, just add your details to our ‘request a quote‘ form.

We’ll reach out to trusted Hive installers on your behalf, and they’ll then be in touch with quotes for the work.

2. Use our online search

If you’d rather browse local Hive installers yourself, simply enter your postcode below.

You’ll then be able to see and contact some of the best Hive installers near you on Checkatrade.

Hive installation FAQs

Will Hive work with my existing boiler?

Hive should work with most boilers and radiators. So, the only thing you should need to change is the thermostat. Once that’s done, you’re ready to go.

That said, there are a few boilers that aren’t compatible. These include solid fuel boilers (biomass and coal) and some models in the Worcester Intelligent Appliance and Worcester combi boiler ranges.

Can I use Hive to control heating in different parts of the house?

Absolutely. With Hive Multizone, you can create up to three different heating zones in your home, each one with its own thermostat.

This can be particularly useful across multiple floors, or when you only want certain areas of your home heated. Just bear in mind that this system will cost more than the basic Hive heating unit.

Can I take Hive with me if I move house?

Kind of. If you move house, you can take your Hive hub with you. But you’ll need to leave the Hive thermostat and receiver as they are deemed part of your property’s heating system.

Is there a monthly cost for Hive?

Yes, there is a monthly charge for the Hive Heating Plus subscription. This costs £3.99 a month.

Can you use Hive without a subscription?

Yes! The Hive thermostat works without a subscription so you can avoid paying a monthly charge if you want to.

That said, without a Hive Heating Plus subscription, you won’t get all the benefits of your smart thermostat.

For instance, you’ll miss out on detailed energy consumption insights and alerts to issues that might be affecting your system’s efficiency.

How much does it cost to have Hive installed?

The average cost to have Hive installed is £238. This includes both the cost of materials and labour.

Do energy companies install Hive for free?

No. Hive products and services aren’t free, although you may be able to get a discount depending on your energy provider.

Is Hive being discontinued in the UK?

Nope! Hive is discontinuing its Hive View cameras, Hive HomeShield and Hive Leak products. However, it will continue offering smart thermostats and other smart heating products.

Why is Hive being discontinued?

Hive has decided to discontinue its smart security and leak detection products because it wants to focus on other areas of innovation that will get homes closer to Net Zero.

Is Hive really worth it?

Yes! If you’re keen to improve your home’s energy efficiency and comfort, a Hive thermostat is worth it.

Not only will you be able to enjoy controlling your heating system remotely. But you’ll also be able to use the insights it gives you to reduce your energy bills – potentially by up to £129 a year.