Free insulation deals from energy suppliers

Some energy suppliers offer free insulation and free boilers to eligible households. Read on to find out if you qualify.

You could save £230 a year on your energy bills by insulating your loft and £240 with cavity wall insulation if you live in a semi-detached house, according to Energy Saving Trust. 

Both can cost hundreds of pounds upfront to install, so it's worth checking whether you can get free insulation from your energy supplier first.

Read about the different types of insulation available to make your home feel cosier.

What free insulation can I get?

Some suppliers offer free insulation if you're eligible under the Great British Insulation Scheme or Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. 

To qualify for the Great British Insulation Scheme, your home will need to be among the least energy efficient (with an EPC of D to G) or in the lower council tax bands.

You can only get one type of insulation for your home but could still save you hundreds on your energy bills. 

To qualify for ECO, you or someone else in your household will usually need to receive certain government benefits. Your home will also need to require an energy efficiency upgrade. 

Exactly what you could get will depend on the results of a retrofit assessment.

Find out more about both schemes in our ECO guide.

British Gas: free insulation or heating upgrade

What can I get? Cavity wall insulation via the Great British Insulation Scheme. Insulation and air source heat pumps via ECO4.

Who is eligible? Those in homes with an EPC rating between D and G. For ECO4 funding you'll need to receive certain benefits. For the Great British Insulation Scheme your home will need to be in council tax band A-D (or A-E in Scotland and Wales).

How can I apply? Online on British Gas' website.

EDF Energy: free insulation or heating system upgrade for customers

What can I get? Loft insulation, wall insulation, floor insulation or a heating system upgrade, such as replacing an inefficient gas boiler or old electric heating system with a more efficient one.

Who is eligible? EDF customers whose homes have an EPC rating of E or below. You, or someone in your household, must also receive one of the qualifying benefits (see EDF’s website for the full list).

How can I apply? Online on EDF Energy's website. It has temporarily stopped accepting applications but plans to open them again in future.

E.ON Next: insulation grants if on selected benefits or a low income

What can I get? Up to £500 towards loft insulation, attic or roof insulation.

Who is eligible? To get the full £500 you'll need to be installing loft insulation for the first time. If you already have a layer of insulation in your lost, you might get a top-up but will need to pay more towards it.

Eligibility is based on whether you or someone else living at your property receive certain benefits or you have a household income of £31,000 or less. You must own your home or rent it privately and it must have an EPC rating between D and G. You don't need to be a customer of E.ON Next.

How can I apply? Online on E.ON Next's website.

Octopus Energy: insulation for customers 

What can I get? Cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and underfloor heating via ECO4.

Who is eligible? Octopus Energy customers who get qualifying benefits.

How can I apply? Online on Octopus Energy's website.

Ovo Energy: free insulation if on selected benefits with an inefficient home

What can I get? Loft, cavity wall or floor insulation via the Great British Insulation Scheme. Insulation, boilers and heat pumps via ECO4.

Who is eligible? Homeowners or private tenants with an EPC rating on their home of D or below who are receiving certain benefits.

How can I apply? By email at eco@ovoenergy.com. Visit the Ovo website for more information.

Scottish Power: insulation or heating if you get certain benefits

What can I get? Upgraded or new insulation, a replacement heating system or new air source heat pump via ECO4. In some circumstances, you might be able to get solar panels.

Who is eligible? Homeowners with an EPC ratings of D or below and receiving certain benefits. If you rent, your EPC must be E or below. You don't need to be a Scottish Power customer.

How can I apply? Online on Scottish Power's website.

Utilita: free energy-saving measures if on selected benefits

What can I get? Energy-efficiency measures including insulation, a new boiler, and solar panels.

Who is eligible? Those in homes with an EPC rating of D or below if you own your home, or E or below if you are in social or private rented accommodation, and who receive certain benefits. You don't need to be a Utilita customer.

How can I apply? Online on Utilita's website.

Other energy suppliers 

E (Gas & Electricity), Ecotricity, Outfox the Market and Utility Warehouse don't currently have information about what's available through the Energy Company Obligation on their websites but you can find their contact details for the scheme on the Ofgem website.

So Energy says the criteria for ECO are strict and to apply you need to complete a form on So Energy's website. You don't need to be a So Energy customer.

You can also contact your local council to find out if they're participating in the scheme.

DIY insulation products

If you decide to install your own loft insulation, you can buy it from shops such as B&Q and Homebase. It typically costs between £20 and £40 for a roll. 

Find out how B&Q and Homebase fare in our rankings of the best and worst home and DIY shops.

What type of insulation do I need?

To work out which type of insulation is right for your home, read our guides to loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.

Before taking up any deal, you'll need to read the small print for each insulation offer to make sure both you and your home are eligible. 

Companies typically need to be able to insulate at least two thirds of your loft space, and exclude properties with more than 100mm of loft insulation already in place. 

You may not be eligible if you live in a rented property, flat or maisonette, or a housing association or council property, and most deals only apply only to people living in mainland Britain as well. 

You may also need to pay towards the cost of your 'free' insulation if you live in a particularly large or unusual house.

Heating alternatives

You could also take a look at our guides to underfloor heating and solar panels to find out more about these alternative – and potentially cheaper – options for heating. 

If you only need to heat a specific area – your living room while you watch TV in the evening, for example – you could consider an electric heater. Make sure you get one that doesn't rack up your energy bills using our guide to the best electric heaters.