The Best Cheap Combi Boiler [And Typical Combi Boiler Prices for 2023]
Looking for a cheap combi boiler, but don’t know where to start? Cheap boilers may be easy to find, but you don’t want to be buying a replacement every few years. So, how do you know which boilers are inexpensive but reliable?
To save you time, we went to work and analysed some of the cheapest boiler models, and some less-expensive ones from premium boiler manufacturers. We’ve compiled our findings in the guide below, where we’ll compare boiler prices, list the best cheap boilers on the market, and touch on installation costs.We’ll also cover leading boiler brands and recommend 2 specific models.
If you’re looking for the cheapest installation prices for Worcester boilers specifically, we’d recommend checking out Heatable. They offer extremely competitive boiler prices and ensure the best installation on affordable, flexible payment terms–even with poor credit.
How Much Does a Good, Cheap Combi Boiler Cost?
Avoiding the most unreliable low-end products, the best inexpensive combi boilers are likely to cost in the region of £700-£1,000 — that’s for the appliance only. Including installation, you can expect to pay around £2,000. But this number can change depending on your property details. You can get exact combi prices on screen in less than 90 seconds by using this anonymous questionnaire from Heatable.
Choosing the Right Cheap Combi Boiler: Reviews & Recommendations
With several brands to choose from, each offering a handful of different ranges, choosing a new central heating boiler isn’t always simple.
Some of the most popular combi boilers in the UK include:
- Vaillant EcoTec
- Baxi 600
- Worcester Greenstar I
- Worcester CDI Compact
- Ideal Logic Plus
- Potterton Titanium
The problem is that the best models aren’t necessarily the cheapest. But, with cash in hand, there are 2 products that stand out from the crowd.
They Best Cheap Combi Boilers
We’ve highlighted 2 new boiler deals below — the Baxi 600 and the Ideal Logic Plus.
In terms of overall value for money, thanks to a long warranty, efficiency and reliability, we think they’re the best affordable combi boilers available. They rival boilers that cost 10-25% more and are manufactured by some of the most popular boiler brands in the UK.
Baxi 600 Combi Boiler
The Baxi 600 is one of the best compact boilers on the market. It’s also quite affordable.
For such a small and compact boiler, the output is impressive. It’s available in both 24kW and 30kW models.
Size
Compact boilers are the in-thing right now. House prices are increasing, and our wages aren’t; space comes at a premium. Even if you have plenty of space in your home, chances are you don’t want to stare at an ugly boiler on your day off.
The Baxi 600 is a relatively inexpensive combi boiler that’s designed to fit into small spaces, such as a kitchen cupboard. That’s similar in a way to the Worcester Bosch CDi Compact, but you’d spend way less.
Here are the dimensions of the Baxi 600:
- Width = 390mm
- Height = 700mm
- Depth = 285mm
Warranty
The Baxi 600 comes with a long, 7 years warranty — more than enough peace of mind.
Price
Here’s where the Baxi 600 is leaps and bounds above the equivalent Worcester Bosch. Boiler prices for 24kW-30kW boilers are in the region of £800-£1,300. That’s why we were shocked to find a brand like Baxi, selling their 24kW for around £750 and the 30kW for around £850; an absolute bargain!
Keep in mind, though, the partnership between Heatable and Worcester means that Worcesters are just as good value for money, and with a longer warranty. You can see how cheap their Worcester boilers are by filling out this quick, anonymous questionnaire.
Ideal Logic Plus Combi Boiler
Ideal Boilers are a UK brand, knocking out 10,000 quality units per year. And, that popularity has snowballed, partly thanks to their hugely popular — and affordable — Ideal Logic Plus.
If someone’s asking for a boiler recommendation, assuming the Plus is suitable, there’s a good chance we’re going to recommend it.
And here’s why…
Size
In terms of output, you’re going to get more choice with the Ideal Logic Plus than with the Baxi 600 — 24kW, 30kW and 35kW. (Ideal also have the Vogue, with a longer warranty, and 40kW output, if that’s what you need).
Physical size is comparable to the Baxi 600, so the Ideal Logic Plus is a compact combi boiler, too. Its dimensions are:
- Width = 395mm
- Height = 700mm
- Depth = 278mm
Warranty
Again, the warranty is identical to that of the Baxi 600, at 7 years. That said, Ideal Boilers offer a 10-year warranty on their heat exchangers, which is one of the most expensive boiler parts to repair.
Price
The Ideal Logic Plus 24kW costs around £750, whilst you should expect to pay £100-150 more for the 30kW model (boiler only). This makes the model one of the most affordable new boilers you can get.
Which Combi Boiler Is the Best Choice for the Price – Baxi 600 or Ideal Logic Plus?
We trust both brands, and we’re impressed by all product details, such as the warranty, price, compactness, and output. So, what we’d do is:
1. Get multiple price quotes from local boiler installers.
2. Check prices against Worcesters, because they’re generally better and come with a longer warranty.
There’s a good chance that both Ideal and Baxi have a relationship with your local plumbing merchant, who consequently gets better prices from one brand over the other. See what the prices are, and go with the better deal — both of these boiler models are excellent.
Typical Combi Boiler Prices [From Leading Brands]
Don’t like our 2 recommendations above? Let’s have a look at the better boiler brands, then review what you’d want from a boiler and touch on the prices you can expect to pay.
Firstly, we’d not advise heading for the cheapest combi boiler that you can find. They’re usually very low quality, which is typically backed by a ridiculously short warranty.
Combi Boiler Warranty
First up is warranty. We’d NEVER advise installing a boiler with less than a 5-year warranty. That’s because we believe that warranties tell us exactly what manufacturers think of their product.
And remember — boiler repairs aren’t cheap, so a long warranty is all that stands between you and parting ways with potentially hundreds of pounds to fix your boiler.
There are plenty of boilers from leading brands, with warranties in the region of 5-10 years. The added cost of the longer warranty is relatively low, too. For instance, you can get Worcester boilers installed by Heatable for a similar price to a cheaper brand, and you’d get a 10 year warranty rather than one that’s only 2, 5 or 7 years.
Combi Boiler Brand Prices
Brand has a huge bearing on price. Worcester Bosch tend to be the most expensive, but they’ve earnt a solid reputation.
Regardless of the type of cheap new boiler you’re looking for, here are the brands we’d stick to:
LPG & Gas Combi Boilers
For LPG & Gas combi boilers, we’d be heading for:
- Baxi
- Ideal Boilers
- Vaillant
- Potterton
- Worcester Bosch
Oil Boilers
If you’re looking for a cheap oil boiler with a long warranty, high efficiency, and from a well-known brand, you’ll want to head for:
- Grant
- Worcester Bosch
- Warmflow
Combi Boiler Installation: How to Determine if the Cost is Cheap?
OK, so you’ve chosen your boiler. Now what?
New boilers aren’t cheap, but a combination of the right installer and the best-value boiler can save you plenty of pound notes.
If you’d prefer the long version, we’ve created a guide to combi boiler replacement costs here; there’s even a section detailing what to expect in terms of price when getting a new boiler from British Gas and other national installers.
LPG & Gas Combi Boilers Installation Prices
A typical combi boiler will be in the 24kW-30kW range, enough to power central heating and hot water for a 1-3 bedroom property. Expect a budget combi boiler installation to sit around £1,500-£2,000, inc VAT. There’s a tonne of factors that affect the price including boiler size, brand, complexity of the installation, what’s included in the install (filter, flue kit, etc) and so on.
You can get quotes from up to 3 boiler installers here — you’ll be able to get a straight-up comparison to find the cheapest boiler deal possible. Or, go straight to Heatable and new boiler deals on screen.
Oil Combi Boilers
Guestimating installation costs for LPG and gas boilers is relatively straightforward, even though prices can vary from boiler-to-boiler and installer-to-installer.
Prices for an oil boiler vary even more.
Oil Boiler Installation Prices
A cheap combi oil boiler could be as little as £1,200, whilst an expensive one could set you back upwards of £2,000. And that’s just for the boiler.
To help you figure out what you should expect in terms of cost, we’ve created an oil boiler cost guide here.
What kind of fuel does your boiler use?
Fixed price online with next day installation
Where To Buy Budget Combi Boiler Packs
You’ll be able to buy the least expensive combi boilers from leading national stores offering plumbing and heating supplies. These include the likes of:
- Screwfix
- B&Q
- Plumbase
- Plumb Center
- Grahams
However, we personally wouldn’t bother. Your boiler installation company will get much better deals than any DIY or plumbing store offers to the average retail customer. But, that’s not the only reason to get your installer to grab your boiler on your behalf.
If there’s a fault with a boiler you’ve purchased outside of the installation contract, there’s a good chance the installer is not going to go out their way to sort out the problem. Their job is to install it, not to fix it.
So, if the boiler is installed and there’s a problem, it’s on you to get a replacement, not them. This is why it’s always best to buy your appliance through the installer.
Personally, we’d just head straight to Heatable. You can check prices for boilers that will suit your property here.
Paying For Your Boiler
There’s probably a good reason you’re looking for inexpensive combi boilers — you’ve had a sudden breakdown, and the replacement cost is huge and unexpected.
But you don’t have to scrimp by fitting a sub-standard boiler to save £100 or so now, only to lose £100s more on repairs in the long run.
More and more companies are offering combi boiler installations on finance. So, if you don’t have the cash up front, you can compare quotes and pay for your boiler monthly. For finance on Worcester and other quality boiler brands, you can get a fixed price for a replacement using Heatable’s clickable form.
FAQs About Cheap Combi Boilers
We’ve compiled a few questions that we often hear about cheap boilers, and we’ll try our best to answer them below.
Can I install a combi boiler myself?
You can — but only if you’re on the Gas Safe Register. If you’re not a Gas Safe registered engineer, you should not be installing a gas appliance, such as a boiler. And when you hire an installer to fit your combination boiler, make sure you check their Gas Safe ID card and license number to ensure that they’re legally allowed to perform the work.
Keep in mind, that some manufacturers will not honour their warranties (especially those with a longer term) if you don’t use their accredited installer. One simple loophole to still get a long warranty on any boiler you purchase is to use a company like Heatable, who protect all the boilers they fit with some of the longest warranty terms out there.
How much is a combi boiler in the UK?
Combination boilers in the UK may cost anywhere between £500 and £2000+, depending on the brand and model. That’s for boiler only, so with installation, we’re talking about a average range of £1,500-£3,200+. If you’re looking for a budget combi boiler, you can expect a decent model to set you back around £1,700-£2,000, including installation.
Are combi boilers cheaper to install?
Generally, yes — a combination boiler is cheaper to install than a regular or system boiler. That’s because, unlike a system boiler, a combi doesn’t require a hot water cylinder and all the associated pipework. It simply uses heats mains water to supply hot water to your taps, while serving the central heating system when there’s no call for domestic hot water.
Note, however, that a combination boiler is not always an appropriate choice, and there may be times when you should explore other boiler types. Because a combi setup lacks a hot water cylinder, the water pressure in your taps may not suffice if you run multiple taps or showers often. If your household has high demand for domestic hot water, it’s best to go with a system boiler instead.
What is the cheapest boiler to run?
Natural gas combination boilers typically cost the least to run. Gas has the cheapest unit rates of all available fuels, and modern condensing combis are highly efficient. So, for every pound you spend on natural gas, at least 90p actually get converted to heat.
That said, combi boilers aren’t ideal for every property size. If you have a large home with plenty of radiators and robust demand for hot water, system boilers are worth considering.
On the other hand, if you live in a small flat, an electric boiler may actually be a more efficient option than a gas combi.
Do combi boilers use a lot of electricity?
No, gas boilers, including combination boilers, do not use a lot of electricity, as it’s not used to produce heat. In a gas boiler, electricity is needed to power electrical components such as the Printed Circuit Board (PCB), fan, motorised valve, thermostatic controls, and others. So, while a gas boiler will not operate without electricity, it does not consume enough power to make a significant dent in your heating bills.
Do boilers run on gas or electricity?
Boilers can run on natural gas, LPG, electricity, oil, or biomass fuels, such as wood pellets.
However, most combination boilers in the UK run on natural gas, thanks to the breadth of the country’s gas grid and the relatively low cost of this fuel option. Other fuels are more commonly used in properties that do not have access to mains gas.
Can a plumber install a boiler?
A plumber cannot install a boiler; you’d need a Gas Safe registered heating engineer to do that. That being said, plumbers can legally work on other components of your central heating and domestic hot water systems. These include the radiators, towel rails, the pipework connecting them to the boiler, as well as your taps and showers.
Is it worth switching to a combi boiler?
The answer depends on your family’s demand for domestic hot water. Switching to a combi has some benefits — you’ll be able to save space by removing the hot water cylinder and the water storage tanks (if you’ve got them). That said, a combination boiler will struggle to keep up with high hot water consumption, especially if you frequently run multiple taps and showers.
What is the most economical combi boiler?
If you want the absolute crème de la crème, we’d suggest you consider the Viessmann Vitodens 050-W or the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000, which boast an efficiency of 97% and 94%, respectively. This means that for every pound you spend on natural gas, only 3-6p are wasted; the rest is converted to heat.
It’s important to note that if you’re looking for a boiler that’s economical while operating, you’ll need to pay attention to the energy efficiency ratings. So, whilst you may consider brands such as Vokera or Glow Worm if you’re shopping around for a cheap boiler, it’s always best to go with premium brands if you want your appliance to run as efficiently as possible. Not only will these top-branded boilers be efficient, but their efficiency will last a long time.
That said, you can certainly still find an inexpensive boiler that’s also quite economical. For example, the Alpha E-Tec range is 93% efficient, but is definitely one of the cheaper brands available in the UK (you can get a fixed price quote for one here).
What’s Next?
Thanks for reading our 10-minute guide to the best cheap combi boilers.
Think a quote you’ve received is a rip off? Still have questions about combi boiler installation costs or prices? Confused about any boiler reviews you’ve read online?
We’re here to help. Drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.