Home energy grants compared
Which upgrade gives the most for your money? Here are the SEAI grants next to typical costs, and the order that usually works best.
Quick answer: The cheapest upgrades to finish are usually attic and cavity wall insulation: the SEAI grant often covers most of the cost. Heat pumps and external wall insulation get the biggest grants (up to €14,500 and €8,000) but cost far more, so you pay more yourself. Most homes get the best result by insulating first, then upgrading windows and heating, then adding solar.
Source review · SEAI.ie · Sources and review
| Attic insulation | Grant €2,000 · SEAI median cost €2,700 |
|---|---|
| Cavity wall insulation | Grant €1,800 · SEAI median cost €2,350 |
| Internal wall insulation | Grant €4,500 · SEAI median cost €8,600 |
| External wall insulation | Grant €8,000 · SEAI median cost €26,500 |
| Heat pump system | Grant up to €14,500 · SEAI median cost €17,000 |
| Solar PV | Grant up to €1,800 · SEAI median cost €11,100 |
Grants from SEAI, checked 25 September 2026 (the heat pump grant 4 October 2026). Costs are SEAI medians for January to June 2026: a guide, not a quote.
| Upgrade | SEAI grant | Typical cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attic insulation | €2,000 | €2,700 | Stops the 20 to 30% of heat a house loses through the roof |
| Cavity wall insulation | €1,800 | €2,350 | Fills cavity walls from outside in a day or two |
| Internal wall insulation | €4,500 | €8,600 | Insulated boards inside the external walls |
| External wall insulation | €8,000 | €26,500 | Wraps the outside walls: the biggest fabric upgrade |
| Windows and doors | €4,000 + €800 per door | Varies by number and size | Cuts draughts and heat loss through glazing |
| Heat pump | Up to €14,500 | €17,000 | Replaces oil, gas, solid fuel or storage heating |
| Heating controls | €700 | Varies | Better control of your existing heating |
| Solar PV | Up to €1,800 | €11,100 | Makes your own electricity |
| Solar water heating | €1,200 | Varies | Heats 50 to 60% of your hot water |
Typical costs are SEAI medians for grant-aided work in a detached house, January to June 2026. Smaller homes get smaller grants and usually cost less. Source.
The usual advice, including SEAI’s for heat pumps, is “fabric first”: keep the heat in, then change how you make it.
Our upgrade order guide goes into more detail, and your BER advisory report lists the upgrades that suit your home.
Compare the main upgrades in our 3D home, with grants and typical costs beside each one.
Check my grantsUse your existing BER advisory report, if available, to discuss a suitable first upgrade. Check the cash needed before any grant arrives, as well as the final balance. Write down:
For planned work, apply and accept the offer before work starts. Do not book the next stage assuming a particular payment date: paperwork, inspections or required corrections can delay payment. Check SEAI’s payment guidance.
Your home in 3D
Select an upgrade on our 3D home to compare grant options, conditions and typical costs. When you are ready, choose the work you want and request a quote from one registered contractor who covers your county. The figures are guidance; your contractor checks the work and SEAI decides grant eligibility.
SEAI grants for attic insulation, wall insulation (cavity, internal and external), windows and doors, heat pumps, heating controls, solar PV and solar water heating, plus the free Warmer Homes Scheme and One Stop Shop whole-home upgrades.
Usually attic and wall insulation. They are the cheapest to finish after the grant, they cut heat loss quickly, and they get your home ready for a heat pump.
A heat pump system, at up to €14,500 for a house. External wall insulation gets up to €8,000 for a detached house.
Yes. You can combine several upgrades in one project and have the grants paid together, or use a One Stop Shop to manage a whole-home upgrade.
Yes. Explore attic insulation, wall insulation, windows and doors, heat pumps and solar panels on our 3D home. Each upgrade shows grant options, conditions and typical costs. Choose the work you want to discuss, then request a quote from one SEAI-registered contractor who covers your county.
The full source review remains . The Traditional Homes Pilot route and its BER exception were checked on . Payment arrangements and the staged-work checklist were checked against SEAI’s individual-grant support and application guidance on . Other information retains its earlier review date.