Anyone replacing a fossil heating system with a heat pump is subsidised via the Buildings Programme – but the contributions are set and paid out by your canton, and the differences are large. For a typical single-family home, they run in 2026 for air-to-water systems from zero (Thurgau, incentive discontinued) through CHF 2,900 (Canton of Zurich) to CHF 8,500 (Canton of Zug); for ground-probe systems, from CHF 4,800 to over CHF 20,000. Some municipalities add a contribution of their own on top. What's decisive is the order: the application must be approved before construction starts, otherwise the contribution is lost. (As of July 2026)
Key points in brief
- Replacing a fossil heating system (oil, gas) or electric heating with a heat pump is subsidised.
- The canton sets the contributions – the programmes differ considerably (table below).
- Air-to-water in a single-family home: from zero (TG) to CHF 8,500 (ZG); ground probe: up to over CHF 20,000.
- Watch for special rules: Schaffhausen only subsidises air-to-water in single-family homes with sufficient photovoltaics.
- The application must be approved before construction starts – otherwise the entitlement lapses.
Who subsidises the heat pump – the federal government or the canton?
The basis is the federal and cantonal Buildings Programme – how it works overall is explained in the article on the Buildings Programme. Important for understanding it: it's financed jointly (among other things from the CO₂ levy), but the contributions are set, implemented and paid out by your canton. As a homeowner, you submit an application to the cantonal programme and receive a contribution – there's no separate federal cheque on top. That's exactly why the amounts differ so much from canton to canton. Some municipalities add a municipal contribution on top as well.
How much incentive do I actually get?
The most honest way to see this is a direct comparison of the 2026 programmes in our region – simplified to the typical single-family home:
| Canton | Air-to-water HP (single-family home) | Brine-to-water/ground probe (single-family home) |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 2,900 | CHF 6,800 (ground probe regeneration: additionally possible) |
| Aargau | CHF 3,000 + CHF 60/kWth | CHF 6,000 + CHF 180/kWth |
| Zug | CHF 8,500 | CHF 20,000 + CHF 400/kWth |
| Schwyz | CHF 3,200 + CHF 120/kWth | CHF 4,800 + CHF 360/kWth |
| Thurgau | no incentive (discontinued in 2026) | CHF 9,000, plus PV bonus CHF 3,000 |
| Schaffhausen | CHF 3,000 – only with PV of at least 30 W/m² of energy reference area | CHF 10,000, plus PV bonus CHF 3,000 |
Guideline figures according to the cantonal incentive programmes 2026 (as of January–July 2026, depending on the canton), simplified to systems in the single-family-home class; tiering for larger outputs and further conditions according to the programme. Everywhere: a maximum of 50 percent of the eligible investment, proof of quality (heat pump system module or quality label), heat pump as the main heating system. The current programme page of your canton is decisive.
Three things stand out. First, the range: the same air-to-water system gets almost three times the Zurich contribution in Zug – and nothing at all in Thurgau since 2026. Second, the trend towards linking with photovoltaics: Schaffhausen makes PV a condition for air-to-water systems in single- and two-family homes, Thurgau and Schaffhausen pay a PV bonus for ground probes – so the combination of heat pump plus solar system is also becoming standard in incentive policy. Third, volatility: programmes get cancelled or adjusted (Aargau, for example, has fundamentally excluded designated district-heating areas since May 2026). What applies to you is on the current programme page of the canton where you live; the Zurich details: Heat pump incentives Canton of Zurich.
What do I need to watch out for so the contribution doesn't lapse?
The most important rule is: application before construction starts. The incentive application must be submitted to the cantonal programme and the approval awaited before work begins – a retrospective application has no chance. And «start of construction» is interpreted strictly: even placing the order or the drilling can count as such. That's why the application belongs at the beginning, not the end.
Two further conditions are central. First, the heat pump must replace a fossil heating system or electric heating – the switch is what's subsidised, not the heat pump as such. Second, many programmes require proof; for more extensive renovations, a GEAK can be a condition.
And finally, it's worth looking at the overall calculation: what the heat pump costs net after deducting the incentive is shown in the article Heat pump cost Switzerland; how the switch runs as a planned project instead of an emergency, in Heating replacement with a heat pump. The incentive is a big lever – but it only works if the order is right.
The most expensive mistake with heat pump incentives doesn't cost a single extra cent in materials – it comes from getting the order wrong. We've seen cases where someone had to rip out the old oil heating in an emergency in winter and quickly ordered a heat pump – and then found out the incentive money was gone, because the application hadn't been approved before construction started. Several thousand francs, lost to a formality. What we advise everyone: treat the heating replacement as a project, not an emergency. Plan the old heating's retirement before it dies, submit the application early – and wait for the approval before the first tradesperson shows up.
Frequently asked questions
How much incentive is there for a heat pump in Switzerland?
That's set by your canton, and the range is large: for an air-to-water system in a single-family home, it runs in 2026 from zero (Thurgau) through CHF 2,900 (Zurich) to CHF 8,500 (Zug); for ground-probe systems, from around CHF 4,800 to over CHF 20,000. Everywhere, the ceiling of 50 percent of the eligible investment applies.
Who pays the heat pump incentive?
The Buildings Programme is financed jointly by the federal government and the cantons – but the contribution is set and paid out by the canton. You submit an application to the cantonal programme and receive a payment; there's no separate federal contribution on top. Sometimes the municipality adds its own contribution.
Why does my neighbour in another canton get more?
Because every canton runs its own programme: Zug subsidises a ground-probe system with CHF 20,000 and more, Zurich with CHF 6,800 – and Thurgau scrapped the air-to-water incentive entirely in 2026. What always applies is the programme at the property's location, not the owner's place of residence.
Do I have to submit the incentive application before installation?
Yes, mandatorily. The application must be submitted to the cantonal programme and the approval awaited before work begins. A retrospective application has no chance, and «start of construction» is interpreted strictly – even placing the order can count. The application belongs at the beginning.
Is every heat pump subsidised?
Replacing a fossil heating system (oil, gas) or an electric heating system with a heat pump is subsidised – the switch is what's subsidised. In addition, many programmes require proof, and for larger renovations, sometimes a GEAK. The exact conditions are set by the cantonal programme.
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Securing the incentive – in the right order.
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Sources: Cantonal energy incentive programmes 2026 (Canton of Zurich 1.1.2026; Aargau version 05/2026; Zug 1.1.2026; Schwyz January 2026; Thurgau version 1.1, 1.7.2026; Schaffhausen 1.7.2026 — official programme PDFs), The Buildings Programme, SFOE. Rates are continually adjusted.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
