Types of heat pump compared
There are really only a handful of heat pump types worth knowing about, and the right one comes down to how many rooms you want to heat and what you want on show. Here is each main type, who it suits and a rough fitted price, written plainly for a cold Queenstown home.
The main types of heat pump are the high-wall, the floor console, multi-room (multi-split) systems and ducted whole-home systems. A high-wall is the cheapest and most common, a floor console suits low windows and replacing an old fire, multi-split heats several rooms off one outdoor unit, and ducted heats the whole house out of sight.
Whichever type you choose, the thing that matters most in Queenstown is a cold-climate model sized for a hard frost, the same principle behind every heat pump installation we do. Here is how the main types compare, with the full numbers on our installation cost guide.
| Type | Best for | Rough fitted price |
|---|---|---|
| High-wall | A single room or open living area | $2,200 to $6,000 |
| Floor console | Low windows, low-stud rooms, replacing a fire | $3,200 to $6,000 |
| Multi-room (multi-split) | Several rooms off one outdoor unit | $5,500 to $14,500 |
| Ducted whole-home | Even, hidden heating through the whole house | $14,000 to $28,000+ |
High-wall heat pumps
The high-wall is the unit most people picture: a slim indoor unit mounted up high on an interior wall, paired with an outdoor unit. It is the most common type in the country for good reason. It is the most affordable to buy and install, it heats a room or an open-plan living area quickly, and it comes in a wide range of sizes and cold-climate ratings.
Who it suits: most homes, and especially anyone heating one main living area or a single room. In an older single-glazed cottage in central Queenstown or Arrowtown we will usually size the high-wall up to make up for the heat the building loses. Rough fitted price: $2,200 to $3,200 for a small bedroom unit, $3,000 to $4,800 for a living area, and $4,200 to $6,000 for a large open-plan space.
Floor console heat pumps
A floor console sits low on the wall, near the floor, like a modern version of a gas heater. It pushes warm air out at floor level where you feel it sooner, and because it does not need a high wall to mount on it suits rooms with windows up high, low ceilings, or a spot where an old fireplace used to be.
Who it suits: low-stud rooms, homes with lots of glazing, and anyone replacing a wood burner or gas fire who wants the heat to come from roughly the same place. Some models draw from both the top and bottom, which helps in a tall room. Rough fitted price: $3,200 to $6,000 depending on size.
Multi-room and multi-split systems
When you want to heat several rooms, a multi-split system runs two or more indoor units off a single outdoor unit. Each room gets its own head and its own control, so a bedroom and a living area can run at different temperatures or be switched off independently. It is the usual answer when one high-wall cannot reach the rooms you care about but a full ducted system is more than you need.
Who it suits: larger homes, two-storey homes, or anywhere you want individual room control without ducting. It keeps the number of outdoor units down, which matters when wall and yard space is tight. Rough fitted price: $5,500 to $10,000 for two or three rooms, and $10,000 to $14,500 for four or more.
Ducted whole-home systems
A ducted system hides the main unit in the roof space and delivers warm air through discreet vents in the ceiling, heating the whole house evenly with almost nothing on show. It is the quietest, most seamless way to heat a home and it comes into its own through a long alpine winter, which is why so many new builds around the Lakes specify it from the start.
Who it suits: whole-home comfort, new builds and renovations where the ducting can be run easily, and anyone who wants warmth everywhere without units on the walls. Rough fitted price: $14,000 to $28,000 or more. There is a lot more to it, which we cover in our guide to ducted heat pumps in Queenstown.
Which type is right for your home?
If you are heating one main living space, a well-sized high-wall is usually the smart buy. If you want a few rooms covered, a multi-split makes sense. If you are building or renovating and want the whole house warm and quiet, look hard at ducted. Whatever the type, we will size it for your spot on the valley floor and be straight about what it will and will not do.
The quickest way to narrow it down is our heat pump sizing calculator, or just get in touch and talk it through. For the full numbers, head to the installation cost guide.
Heat pump type questions
What is the most common type of heat pump?
The high-wall heat pump, the unit you see mounted up high on an interior wall. It is the most popular type because it is the most affordable to buy and install and it heats a single room or open living area well, which suits most Queenstown homes.
What type of heat pump is best for a cold Queenstown winter?
It is less about the type and more about the rating. Any of these types can handle a hard frost as long as it is a cold-climate model that holds its output in sub-zero temperatures. For whole-home comfort through an alpine winter a ducted system is hard to beat, but a well-sized high-wall keeps a single living area warm for far less.
What is the difference between a multi-split and a ducted system?
A multi-split runs several visible indoor units off one outdoor unit, so each room has its own head and its own control. A ducted system hides the unit in the roof space and pushes warm air through vents in the ceiling, heating the whole house evenly with almost nothing on show. Ducted costs more but feels seamless.
Which type of heat pump is the cheapest?
A single high-wall heat pump is the cheapest way into heat pump heating, from around $2,200 fitted for a small unit. Floor consoles cost a little more, multi-room systems more again, and ducted whole-home setups are the most expensive because of the extra hardware and labour.
Not sure which type suits your home?
Tell us what you want to heat and we will recommend the type and size that actually fits your place and budget. Free quote, no obligation.