Compare heat pump size, side by side

See the real size of the top 3 heat pump brands, grouped by the heating capacity your home might actually need.

Compare heat pump size, side by side

See the real size of the top 3 heat pump brands, grouped by the heating capacity your home might actually need.

Comparing the top 3 heat pump brands

This page compares the top 3 heat pump brands: Octopus Energy, Vaillant, and Aira. It looks at their size, noise, and footprint side by side, so you can see how they stack up before speaking to an installer.

Octopus Energy

Vaillant

Aira

Comparing size, brand by brand

Grouped by roughly the size heat pump your home might actually need. That way you compare brands directly at that size, not by brand — nobody's really choosing between their own small and large model. Matched by real heating capacity, not just the labelled kW. Fan positions are approximate. A 6ft ruler mark sits at the end of each row; scroll sideways on a narrow screen.

~6kW tier
for smaller or well-insulated homes
Octopus Cosy 6 (front)
Vaillant 5kW (side)
Aira 6kW (side)
Octopus Cosy 6
855 × 1125mm
430 × 1125mm (side)
58 dB(A)
Vaillant 5kW (front)
Octopus Cosy 6 (side)
Aira 6kW (side)
Vaillant 5kW
1100 × 765mm
450 × 765mm (side)
54 dB(A)
Aira 6kW (front)
Octopus Cosy 6 (side)
Vaillant 5kW (side)
Aira 6kW
1216 × 1005mm
420 × 1005mm (side)
57 dB(A)
~8-9kW tier
for medium-sized family homes - see the note below on Vaillant's gap here
Octopus Cosy 9 (front)
Vaillant 7kW (side)
Aira 8kW (side)
Octopus Cosy 9
855 × 1375mm
430 × 1375mm (side)
56 dB(A)
Vaillant 7kW (front)
Octopus Cosy 9 (side)
Aira 8kW (side)
Vaillant 7kW
1100 × 965mm
460 × 965mm (side)
~54 dB(A)
Aira 8kW (front)
Octopus Cosy 9 (side)
Vaillant 7kW (side)
Aira 8kW
1216 × 1005mm
430 × 1005mm (side)
56 dB(A)
~11-12kW tier
for larger or older, less-insulated homes
Octopus Cosy 12 (front)
Vaillant 12kW (side)
Aira 12kW (side)
Octopus Cosy 12
855 × 1375mm
440 × 1375mm (side)
61 dB(A)
Vaillant 12kW (front)
Octopus Cosy 12 (side)
Aira 12kW (side)
Vaillant 12kW
1100 × 1565mm
500 × 1565mm (side)
60 dB(A)
Aira 12kW (front)
Octopus Cosy 12 (side)
Vaillant 12kW (side)
Aira 12kW
1152 × 1503mm
460 × 1503mm (side)
57 dB(A)

Tiers group models with roughly similar real-world heating output, not identical labelled kW. The exact size your home needs depends on a proper heat-loss survey, not this page. Widths shown are the unit's front-facing width; depths aren't shown in this front-on view. Figures come from each manufacturer's published specifications and may vary by exact model or revision — always confirm with your installer. This is a size and shape comparison only, not an endorsement of any brand.

Frequently asked questions

What if my home falls between two sizes?

Just Ask: Heatpump

Just Ask: Heatpump is an independent companion to Visit a Heat Pump and Get a Heat Pump. Built from real installation experience to give honest, practical guidance before you commit.