Most domestic boiler-cover plans are written for standard household combi, system and conventional boilers up to roughly 70kW output. A commercial boiler is typically a higher-output unit, a multi-boiler cascade, or a system serving business premises rather than a single home. As a rough guide, you're likely in commercial territory if any of the following apply:
Important: our comparison panel is domestic-focused. The plans we list are designed for ordinary household boilers and most will not accept commercial or high-output systems. For commercial premises you'll need a specialist commercial provider — see the signposting below.
Heating and hot water are usually business-critical. A breakdown can close a kitchen, empty a salon's diary or leave tenants without heat — with knock-on costs far beyond the repair itself. Commercial cover is worth considering when:
If you let out a normal house or flat with a domestic boiler, you may not need commercial cover at all — landlord boiler cover with an annual gas safety check is often the right fit. See our landlord boiler cover guide.
Commercial plans are bespoke, so the exact terms vary by provider and premises. Cover commonly extends to:
Most commercial boiler cover is sold as a service and maintenance contract rather than FCA-regulated insurance. That means it isn't covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman in the way a regulated insurance policy would be — so always check the contract status before you buy. It should never be described as "insurance" unless the provider is genuinely offering a regulated insurance product.
There are no flat monthly prices to compare here, because commercial cover is quote-based. Premiums depend on factors such as boiler output (kW), the number and age of units, the type of premises, the level of cover, and the response time you need. The table below is an illustrative shape of the market only — not a price list and not an offer.
| Type of arrangement | Typically suits | Pricing basis |
|---|---|---|
| Single commercial boiler contract | Shops, offices, small premises with one larger boiler | Bespoke quote |
| Multi-boiler / plant room contract | Care homes, schools, hotels, large premises | Bespoke quote |
| Communal / landlord heating contract | Blocks of flats, HMOs, managing agents | Bespoke quote |
Indicative market structure, last checked June 2026. Always obtain a written quote and confirm full terms on the provider's own site.
Because we don't list commercial plans, the best route is a specialist commercial heating maintenance provider or a commercial insurance broker. Good places to start include nationwide commercial boiler maintenance firms, your existing gas/heating contractor, and brokers who arrange business protection. Ask each for a written quote, the response-time guarantee, and whether the product is a maintenance contract or regulated insurance.
Usually not. Domestic plans are written for standard household boilers and most exclude business or commercial premises and high-output systems. Check the terms before relying on one, and arrange specialist commercial cover where needed.
Often it's a service and maintenance contract rather than FCA-regulated insurance, so FSCS and Financial Ombudsman protections may not apply. Some providers do offer regulated insurance — ask which you're being sold and read the contract.
Commercial cover is bespoke and priced on boiler output, premises and response time, so there's no meaningful like-for-like monthly price to list. You'll need a tailored quote from a specialist provider.
Domestic cover is an off-the-shelf plan for a standard household boiler, with a fixed monthly price and simple terms. Commercial cover is bespoke: it's built around your premises, boiler output, the number of units and the response times your business needs, and it's normally sold as a service and maintenance contract rather than FCA-regulated insurance. A commercial agreement also tends to include written priority response and a documented service record for compliance.
There's no flat monthly figure, because every commercial quote is priced individually on boiler output in kW, the number and age of units, the type of premises and the response time you require. As a result it can range from a few hundred pounds a year for a single shop boiler to several thousand for a multi-boiler plant room. Always get a written quote and confirm the full terms on the provider's own site — we don't list commercial prices here.
It depends on how business-critical your heating and hot water are, and whether a standard plan will accept your boiler. If a breakdown would close a kitchen, empty a salon's diary or breach obligations to tenants, cover that guarantees a fast repair is usually worth it. A very small premises with an ordinary household boiler may sometimes be served by a domestic-style plan, so check whether your system falls inside or outside the household terms before deciding.
As a rough guide you're in commercial territory if the output is above about 70kW, you run several boilers in a bank, or the system uses a commercial flue, plant room or three-phase supply. Boilers heating business premises such as a café, gym, surgery or office, or providing communal heat to a block of flats or care setting, are also usually treated as commercial. If your boiler is a standard combi, system or conventional unit serving a single home, it's normally classed as domestic.
Most commercial contracts include an annual service and safety inspection carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, alongside breakdown repairs. The exact scope varies by provider, so confirm whether parts, labour and wider plant or controls are included before you sign. A documented service record also helps you meet your maintenance and safety obligations.
If you're covering an ordinary household boiler — including a rented home — compare our selected panel of domestic plans. We compare a selected panel, not the whole market, and may earn commission. Information only, not advice; always confirm details on the provider's own site.
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