Join ConsumerLoginDonate
  • Consumer NZ
  • About us
  • Consumer rights and advice
  • Subscribe to our newsletters
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Community guidelines
  • Contact us
  • Membership
  • Join
  • Membership support
  • Consumer magazine
  • Consumer Advice Line
  • Top tests and reviews
  • Other sites
  • Campaigns
  • Stop misleading supermarket pricing
  • Fix the broken electricity market
  • Flight rights
  • Stamp out scams
  • Right to repair
  • End greenwashing now
  • Fair repayment for retirement village residents

Follow us

© Copyright Consumer NZ. All rights reserved.
<Heating, cooling & air
  1. Home/
  2. Home & living/
  3. Heating, cooling & air/
  4. Heat pumps

Heat pumps

Find the best heat pump or air conditioner for your home with our buying guide and reviews for more than 300 models. 

Updated May 2026
  • Overview
  • Compare (368)
  • Buying guide
  • How we test

Looking to buy a heat pump? Find the best heat pumps available in New Zealand with our buying guide and expert reviews. We've compared hundreds of wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted and floor-mounted models from Mitsubishi, Daikin, Panasonic and more.

On this page

  • Buy the best heat pump for your home
  • Best heat pumps in 2026
  • What you need to know when buying a heat pump
  • Get the most out of your heat pump
  • People's Choice
  • Which heat pump brands are most reliable?
  • Other heating appliances for your home


Product suite header image  1

Buy the best heat pump for your home

We assess heat pumps to find the best ones for real-world use. Our expert reviews and recommendations are based on results from compliance testing, member surveys and our decades of experience.

Whether you want an efficient heat pump with low energy usage or to save upfront with a cheap heat pump, our results will help you find the perfect one. We can also help you buy the best air conditioner for cooling in summer.

Our assessment looks at:

  • Heating efficiency

  • Low-temperature performance

  • Cooling efficiency (AC)

  • Noise

  • Reliability

    Plus, see the latest prices, product specs and features, member reviews and more.

See all reviews


Best heat pumps in 2026

Has your old heat pump given up? Or maybe you want a second one for your bedroom? Our expert recommendations help you find the best unit for your target heat pump capacity, budget and mounting preference.

Graphic of a heat pump with question mark symbol.

Best heat pump for a small room

Graphic of a heat pump with question mark symbol.

Best heat pump for a lounge

Graphic of a heat pump with question mark symbol.

Best heat pump for a large open area

Heat cheap

Best budget buy


What you need to know when buying a heat pump

A new heat pump should last 10 years or more. How do you choose the right one? Check out our buying guide for top questions, key features, energy use and other important info.

  • Types of heat pumps: We explain the difference between a split, multi-split and ducted systems.

  • What size heat pump do you need?: Heating capacity is the most important heat pump specification. If you buy a cheap heat pump with a capacity that’s too low, it’ll struggle to warm the space. If it’s too high, it’ll be inefficient and cost more upfront than you need to spend.

  • Are heat pumps expensive to run? How much it costs to run a heat pump depends on how efficient it is at heating or cooling the air. You can figure out your hourly heat pump cost using this formula.

  • Heat pump installation: Should you install a wall mounted, ceiling mounted or floor mounted heat pump?

  • Smart heat pumps: Are they worth the extra cost?

Read buying guide
Low power news width

Which power company has the happiest customers?

See the full ratings of all power companies in our nationally representative survey.

Read more

Get the most out of your heat pump

Learn how to improve your heat pump's performance with our expert advice, and discover the best ways to service and use it.

How to maintain and clean your heat pump

Getting the best out of your heat pump only takes a vacuum cleaner and a few minutes of your time.


Heat pump FAQs

We answer your questions about heat pump settings, defrosting and corrosion damage.


Should you leave your heat pump on all the time?

It’s the question that divides households. Should you leave your heat pump running 24/7 or just put it on when you get home?


Is it worth using the dry mode on your heat pump?

Ever wondered about the effectiveness of your heat pump's dehumidifier mode? We took a look to see if it’s worthwhile.


People's Choice

Pc brands

Our People's Choice awards are granted to brands that consistently rate above average for customer satisfaction and meet out other performance criteria. Become a member and see which brands have earned a People’s Choice award.

Get access to People's Choice

Which heat pump brands are most reliable?

We asked thousands of Consumer members about their experience with products they've used to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.

Get access
Image of a woman and cat in front of a heater

Most reliable heating products

Our annual reliability survey reveals which heating and ventilation products are most reliable. See which brands you should be buying from.

Read more

Other heating appliances for your home

Looking for something else? We've tested various heating appliances for your home, including efficient woodburners, eco-friendly pellet burners, and versatile electric heaters. Keep your space warm and comfortable with these reliable options.

Woodburner lit inside a house.

Woodburners

Updated April 2026
Image of burning pellets

Pellet burner reviews

Updated April 2026
Woman and cat warming up in front of electric heater

Electric heaters

Updated May 2026


Was this page helpful?

Related articles

Woman and cat warming up in front of electric heater

Electric heaters

Updated May 2026
Image of a dehumidifier by a cat

Dehumidifiers

Updated May 2026
Woodburner lit inside a house.

Woodburners

Updated April 2026
Image of a clothes dryer

Clothes dryers

Updated May 2026