How much does MVHR cost for my house?

Use the estimate above as a ballpark: it adds your unit cost, ducting per square metre, and design and commissioning. As a guide, most whole-house systems fall between about £3,000 and £10,000 installed, with an average around £6,450 in 2026.

Is a new build cheaper than a retrofit?

Yes. In a new build the ducting goes in before rooms are finished, which is quicker and tidier. Retrofit ducting is more disruptive and pushes the cost toward the higher end.

What is included in the estimate?

The unit cost you enter, plus ducting estimated per square metre of floor area, plus an allowance for design and commissioning. It does not include running costs.

Does this include running costs?

No. This estimates the installed cost. For the ongoing electricity cost, use our MVHR running cost calculator.

Calculator

MVHR cost estimator

This calculator gives a rough installed cost range for a whole-house MVHR system, based on the size of your home and the unit you have in mind. Enter the internal floor area and a unit cost, and it returns a lower and higher estimate. It is a ballpark to help you plan, not a substitute for a proper quote.

By VentRight Editorial · Last updated 2026-07-08 · Impartial · Sourced

How does this MVHR cost estimator work?

It gives a rough installed cost range for a whole-house MVHR system. It adds the unit cost you enter, ducting at roughly 12 to 25 pounds per square metre of floor area, and around 700 to 1,100 pounds for design and commissioning. It is a ballpark, not a quote: real costs vary with the home, the ducting complexity, and whether it is a new build or a retrofit.

The lower estimate uses the cheaper end of the ducting and design assumptions, and the higher estimate the dearer end, so the true figure for a straightforward job usually falls somewhere between the two. It reflects UK costs as of 2026. Always get quotes against your own plans before budgeting.

Sources: Checkatrade

What affects the real cost of an MVHR system?

New build versus retrofit is the biggest swing, as retrofit ducting is more disruptive and expensive. The unit chosen, the size and layout of the home, and the complexity of the duct routing all move the figure. Use the estimate as a starting point, then get quotes against your own plans. Our cost guide breaks down each element.

A large open-plan new build with simple duct runs sits at the lower end; a compact, awkward retrofit with a premium unit sits higher. The estimator cannot see your home, so it gives a range rather than a single number. The cost guide explains the unit, ducting, design and commissioning parts in detail.

Questions

How much does MVHR cost for my house?: Use the estimate above as a ballpark: it adds your unit cost, ducting per square metre, and design and commissioning. As a guide, most whole-house systems fall between about £3,000 and £10,000 installed, with an average around £6,450 in 2026.
Is a new build cheaper than a retrofit?: Yes. In a new build the ducting goes in before rooms are finished, which is quicker and tidier. Retrofit ducting is more disruptive and pushes the cost toward the higher end.
What is included in the estimate?: The unit cost you enter, plus ducting estimated per square metre of floor area, plus an allowance for design and commissioning. It does not include running costs.
Does this include running costs?: No. This estimates the installed cost. For the ongoing electricity cost, use our MVHR running cost calculator.

Tool · v1

MVHR installed cost estimate

A rough lower and higher installed cost range for a whole-house MVHR system, from floor area and unit cost.

With the default inputs (Floor area = 120 m2, MVHR unit cost = 2500 pounds) the Lower estimate is 4640 pounds; Higher estimate is 6600 pounds.

Result

Lower estimate: 4640pounds
Higher estimate: 6600pounds

How this works

This is a rough guide to the installed cost of a whole-house MVHR system. It adds the unit cost you enter, ducting estimated at 12 to 25 pounds per square metre of internal floor area, and 700 to 1,100 pounds for design and commissioning, to give a lower and a higher estimate. Real quotes vary widely with the home and whether it is a new build or a retrofit. Figures reflect UK costs as of 2026.

Each result is computed on the server from the inputs above using a versioned formula stored in the database. This version (v1) has passed its 7-day test window and is the currently-live version. Nothing is calculated in your browser.