Independent · 9 provinces · rebates checked October 9, 2026
Heat pump installation in Canada, without overpaying.
What it costs in your province, which rebates are open right now, and what to check on every quote before you sign.
Not an installer. No forms, no lead selling.
- $12,000–$19,000Typical ducted install
- $4,000–$8,500Single-zone ductless
- 5 of 9Provinces with a rebate open
- $10,000Most the federal rebate will pay, from early 2027
Before you sign
Three ways heat pump buyers overpay.
None of them is the installer cheating. All three come from how quotes and rebates are written.
-
Trusting the rebate on the quote
Some rebates pay by the ton. In Ontario, a typical 3-ton system gets $3,750, not the $7,500 maximum. A quote that subtracts the maximum looks $3,750 cheaper than it is.
-
Doing the steps in the wrong order
In Ontario the installer must file before any work starts. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick the energy assessment comes before you buy anything. Get the order wrong and there is no rebate at all.
-
Comparing quotes that aren’t the same job
One quote is sized from a heat loss calculation, another from square footage. One names the model, another just the brand. The prices only mean something once the quotes line up.
Systems and prices
Heat pump installation, and what it costs
Most Canadian HVAC contractors won't publish a price range, so this guide does. What a homeowner actually pays turns on home size, climate zone, electrical capacity, and existing ductwork — but these are the honest national ballparks to measure a quote against.
Ducted Heat Pump Installation
Central air-source heat pump tied into your existing forced-air ductwork. Cold-climate (CCHP) units rated to -30°C are now standard in Canadian installs.
Typical range: CAD $12,000–$19,000
Learn more ›Ductless Mini-Split Installation
Wall-mounted indoor units. Ideal for homes without ducts, additions, or zone-specific climate control. Single-zone or multi-zone.
Typical range: CAD $4,000–$8,500
Learn more ›Multi-Zone Ductless Systems
Two to eight indoor heads off a single outdoor compressor. Whole-home coverage without ducts.
Typical range: CAD $8,000–$15,000
Learn more ›Geothermal Heat Pump Installation
Ground-source systems with the highest efficiency and longest lifespan, and the largest provincial rebates where they exist.
Typical range: CAD $20,000–$40,000
Learn more ›Oil-to-Heat-Pump Conversions
Replace an oil furnace and tank with a cold-climate heat pump. Price includes oil tank removal.
Typical range: CAD $12,800–$21,000
Learn more ›By province
Rebates and prices where you live.
Each of the 9 provinces this site covers runs its own rebates, and each one wants the steps done in its own order.
- OntarioON
- British ColumbiaBC
- AlbertaAB
- ManitobaMB
- SaskatchewanSK
- Nova ScotiaNS
- New BrunswickNB
- Newfoundland and LabradorNL
- Prince Edward IslandPE
Quebec is not covered. Its heat pump programs are run in French by the provincial government and Hydro-Québec, and their own pages are the reliable source.
Common questions
How much does a heat pump cost to install in Canada?
A typical ducted air-source heat pump costs $12,000–$19,000 installed in Canada. Single-zone ductless systems run $4,000–$8,500, multi-zone ductless $8,000–$15,000, and geothermal $20,000–$40,000. Home size, province, electrical capacity and existing ductwork set the final figure. The heat pump cost guide has province-by-province pricing and a calculator.
What rebates are available for heat pumps in 2026?
Provincial and utility programs today, with a federal rebate coming: the National Heat Pump Rebate, announced on October 8, 2026, will pay up to $10,000 below the median income and $2,000 to others once it opens in early 2027. The federal Greener Homes Loan and the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program are closed. Ontario's Home Renovation Savings pays up to $7,500 for a home not heated by natural gas, BC Hydro and CleanBC up to $4,000 when a heat pump replaces electric heat, and Efficiency Manitoba $2,000 for a ducted system; Nova Scotia and New Brunswick pay smaller amounts. Low- and median-income households in six provinces can get a heat pump at no cost through the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program. The rebates page lists every open program by province.
Do heat pumps work in cold Canadian winters?
Yes. Modern cold-climate heat pumps (CCHPs) are rated to operate at -30°C and below. The technology that struggled in the 2010s has been replaced by inverter-driven, refrigerant-optimised systems that deliver useful heat at temperatures Canadian winters routinely hit. Look for ENERGY STAR cold-climate certification and an HSPF of 10+ for true Canadian-winter performance.
How long does heat pump installation take?
Most ducted heat pump retrofits take 1-2 days. Ductless single-zone installations are typically a 1-day install. Multi-zone systems with 3+ indoor heads take 2-3 days. Geothermal is a larger project (5-10 days including ground loops). Total elapsed time from quote request to working system is typically 2-3 weeks, longer where a provincial rebate requires an energy assessment before the work. The step-by-step installation process guide has the complete timeline.
Does this site install heat pumps or arrange quotes?
Neither. Heat Pump Installation Canada is an independent guide. It publishes what installation costs by province, which provincial rebates are open, and how cold-climate equipment actually performs in a Canadian winter. It does not install, quote, sell anything, or pass homeowner details to contractors. Provincial trade-licensing registries and the HRAI directory are where to find someone licensed. The nine English-language provinces are covered here (9 of 10); Quebec is not yet.