How much does MVHR cost?

How much does an MVHR system cost in the UK?

As of 2026, a whole-house MVHR system in the UK typically costs between £3,000 and £10,000 installed, with an average domestic installation around £6,450. Smaller homes with a simple layout sit at the lower end; large homes, premium units and difficult retrofits sit at the top. The figure covers the unit, the ducting, the design and the commissioning.

Prices vary with the market and with your specific home, so treat these as guide ranges rather than fixed quotes. As a rough steer by size, one supplier quotes design, supply and commissioning at about £5,300 for a 150 square metre home, £6,800 for 250 square metres, and £8,300 for 350 square metres, before installation labour and VAT. Always get a proper quote against your own plans.

Sources: Checkatrade

What does the cost of MVHR break down into?

An MVHR installation has four main parts. The unit itself is usually £1,500 to £3,500. Ducting and materials run from about £1,500 to £3,000. System design is typically £450 to £700. Commissioning, the setting and measuring of the air flow rates, is around £400 to £800, and is often included in the price when a professional installs the whole system.

On top of these, installation labour is a significant cost on a retrofit and is usually folded into a single installed price on a new build. The unit and the ducting together make up most of the total. Spending a little more on a good unit and rigid ducting, rather than the cheapest option, tends to pay back in lower running costs and fewer problems later.

Sources: Checkatrade; Homebuilding & Renovating

Is MVHR cheaper in a new build or a retrofit?

New build is generally cheaper. In a new build the ducting can be routed before walls and ceilings are closed up, so installation is quicker and tidier. Retrofitting MVHR into an existing home means working around finished rooms, tighter spaces and awkward duct routes, which adds labour and cost. A retrofit of the same size can cost noticeably more than the new-build equivalent.

This is why MVHR is easiest to justify when a home is being built or deeply renovated anyway, so the ducting goes in as part of the works. Retrofitting into an untouched house is possible but more disruptive, and for some homes a decentralised extract system or positive input ventilation is a more realistic option.

What affects the price of an MVHR system?

The main drivers are the size of the home, which sets the amount of ducting and the unit capacity; the unit itself, where a high-efficiency Passivhaus-grade unit costs more than an economy one; the complexity of the duct routing; and whether it is a new build or a retrofit. A well designed and properly commissioned system may cost more up front but runs better and cheaper.

Access matters too. A simple loft-based run in a new build is cheap to install; threading ducts through an occupied three-storey house is not. The choice of ducting, rigid or semi-rigid rather than cheap flexible, also affects both cost and long-term performance.

Is MVHR worth the money?

MVHR is worth it where a home is airtight enough to need mechanical ventilation, which is most new builds and deep retrofits. There it provides constant filtered fresh air and recovers most of the heat that ventilation would otherwise waste. In a leaky older home the case is weaker, and a cheaper extract or positive input system may make more sense. It is a ventilation decision first, not a heating one.

The running cost of MVHR is low, and the heat recovery reduces heating demand, but the recovery alone rarely pays back the install cost quickly on its own. The real value is the air quality and comfort in an airtight home that would otherwise be stuffy or damp. Our running cost guide covers the ongoing numbers.