What is a Hive thermostat and who makes it?
Hive launched in 2013 as British Gas's connected-home brand and is now run by Centrica. The thermostat replaces your room thermostat or programmer, and a receiver wired to the boiler lets you control heating and schedules from the Hive app. You do not need to be a British Gas energy customer to buy one. The range also includes smart plugs, cameras and sensors, but heating is the core product.
What to look for: which Hive thermostat do I need?
Choose the Hive Thermostat if you want a physical dial on the wall; choose the Mini if you want the same smart features in a smaller, cheaper unit. Hive describes the Mini as having the same features as the standard model in a more compact size, and both support multizone heating. Here is what separates them:
Controls on the wall: the standard Hive Thermostat keeps a dial, while the Mini uses a touchscreen instead. Households where someone will never open the app tend to prefer the dial.
Size and price: the Mini is £40 cheaper and measures 84mm x 83mm x 22mm. The Mini box contains the thermostat, a receiver, four AAA batteries and a user guide.
Boiler compatibility: Hive says most gas and LPG boilers work, and it lists oil boilers (with an existing thermostat or programmer) and electric boilers with a standard room thermostat as compatible. Solid fuel boilers and heat pumps are not supported, and Hive does not offer pro-install on oil boilers. Check your boiler on Hive's compatibility checker before buying.
OpenTherm: Hive says OpenTherm support is for compatible combi boilers only, with savings of up to 12% (a manufacturer figure).
Hub: hub requirements differ between Hive product versions and retailer listings, so read the listing to confirm whether a Hive Hub is included before you buy.
| Model | Price (Hive+ member price) | On-wall control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hive Thermostat | £119 (£107.10) | Dial and app | Households wanting wall-unit control |
| Hive Thermostat Mini | £79 (£71.10) | Touchscreen and app | Smaller space, tighter budget |
Do you need a British Gas subscription for Hive?
No. Hive does not require a British Gas energy contract or any subscription to use the thermostat. Hive+ is optional at £3.99 a month or £39.90 a year, and some features such as Saver Mode and Budget Tracker need it. Remote control, scheduling and geolocation reminders work without it.
Can you buy a Hive thermostat on its own?
Yes. You can buy direct from hivehome.com and fit it yourself, or pick it up from retailers. Hive warns that DIY fitting needs competence in electrical wiring and recommends an experienced local tradesperson if you are unsure. Buying direct avoids any installation fee, but the wiring is your responsibility.
British Gas Hive installation: what does it cost?
Hive does not list a fixed installation fee on its product pages, so you see the price when you choose pro-install and book an appointment at checkout. What Hive does state is that choosing pro-install includes one year of Hive+ free, and that it auto-renews after 12 months. Hive's pages also say a British Gas engineer fits the products, and that you have 14 days to tell Hive if you want to return them. We have not found a verified current installation price, so treat third-party figures as estimates and compare the checkout total with a local heating engineer's quote.
How much should you spend: British Gas install or buying direct?
Buying direct and self-installing is the cheapest route, at £79 or £119 for the device. Pro-install adds an installation fee shown at checkout, plus a free year of Hive+ worth £39.90. If you are not confident with boiler wiring, or you want one visit that also sets up the app, the engineer is the safer option. If you already have a trusted heating engineer, buying direct and asking them to fit it is a sensible alternative. Prices vary by retailer, and discounts appear during sales.
What should you avoid when buying Hive?
Do not assume your boiler is supported. Hive lists heat pumps and solid fuel boilers as unsupported, and names some Worcester Bosch models, including the Greenstar HE Plus and R-series combis, as incompatible. Also avoid buying a second-hand or retailer-bundled kit without checking which Hive version and hub arrangement it uses, and do not rely on the free year of Hive+ without noting that it auto-renews.
Does a Hive thermostat need to work with Home Assistant?
Hive works with Home Assistant through its cloud-based Hive integration, which depends on Hive's servers rather than local control. If local control matters most, a Zigbee thermostat suits a Home Assistant setup better. See our best smart thermostats in the UK for alternatives.
Where to go next
For a closer look at the heating side, read our British Gas Hive boiler control guide. Weighing Hive against its main rival? See Hive vs tado UK, or the three-way Hive vs tado vs Nest comparison.
