Ideal and Baxi make some of the best combi boilers on the market.
So if you’re looking for a replacement combi boiler, you won’t do much better than them. But does one brand outperform the other?
The mid-range price offered by both manufacturers makes them an attractive compromise between top of the range and low budget. We’ve compared a combi boiler from each brand to find out which brand comes out on top.
Even though Ideal and Baxi boilers are both considered to have mid-range prices, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shop around. There will be differences between and within the brands depending on the type of boiler model you want. By comparing quotes, you can ensure you’re getting the best deal, saving you money.
The only downside is that comparing quotes can be time-consuming as you have to research and contact installers one by one. Thankfully, we have a solution to save you time.
Our team at Boiler Guide can send you up to 3 free quotes from qualified heating engineers available near you. This means you can avoid wasting hours researching and contacting heating engineers one by one. Instead you can easily compare the quotes and choose the best one.
Simply click the button below to get your free quotes now.
Combi boilers are compact units that heat water on demand. Meaning they don’t store hot water in a cylinder – a bonus if you’re trying to save space!
But this is only good news if your home has a single bathroom.
If you get a combi but home has two showers being used at the same time, the water pressure will drop. So homes with two or more bathrooms, would be better suited to a system boiler.
Ideal and Baxi have plenty of combi boilers to choose between. But it isn’t a case of simply picking one at random or going for the cheapest. Your new combi boiler must suit the heating and hot water demands of your home.
To get that right you need to look at the output rating (otherwise known as the size of the boiler).
A boiler’s output rating shows its power. And combi boilers have two output ratings. One for central heating (CH) and another for domestic hot water (DHW). Both of these need to suit your home.
You can get an idea of the right central heating output for your home using the table below.
Radiators
CH output
Up to 10
24-27 kW
10-15
28-34 kW
15-20
35-42 kW
Now you know what size combi boiler you need, you can look for a model.
The tables below show which ranges by Baxi and Ideal have a combi boiler suitable for your home:
Baxi combi boilers
Baxi range
24-27
28-34
35-42
200
–
–
–
600
?
–
–
800
?
–
–
Duo-tec
?
?
–
Platinum
?
?
–
Platinum+
–
?
–
Ideal combi boilers
Ideal range
24-27 kW
28-34 kW
35-42 kW
Logic Max
?
–
–
Logic Plus
?
–
–
Vogue Max
?
?
–
Vogue GEN2
?
?
–
If you’re unsure what size of combi boiler you need for your home, don’t worry, a professional heating engineer can help you.
By hiring a heating engineer, they can advise you and ensure your boiler will be powerful enough to meet your needs while also avoiding unnecessarily overpaying for a larger size.
Our team at Boiler Guide can connect you with up to 3 qualified heating engineers available in your area. You’ll receive a free quote from each heating engineer, which you can then compare and choose the best deal.
Click the button below to receive free quotes from professional heating engineers now.
We’ve also noted whether an LPG model is also available. This is only important to home’s that aren’t connected to the gas grid.
Up to 10 radiators
Baxi and Ideal give homes with up to 10 radiators plenty of choice. Almost all of their ranges have a suitable combi but we’ve picked out the Baxi 836 and Ideal Vogue Max C32.
These boilers are very evenly matched – making a comparison challenging. The output ratings, flow rate and maximum warranties are all identical. However, you could say the Vogue Max C40 clinches victory thanks to being slightly more efficient. Ideal also offer an LPG version for off-grid homes.
Combi model
Baxi Platinum 40
Ideal Vogue Max C40
CH output
32 kW
32 kW
DHW output
40 kW
40 kW
Efficiency
92%
93%
Hot water flow rate
16.4 l/min
16.4 l/min
LPG compatible
No
Yes
Max. warranty
10 years
10 years
Potential cost
£1,276
£1,323
Other CH outputs
24, 28 kW
18, 26 kW
15-20 radiators
For larger homes with 15-20 radiators, neither Baxi or Ideal have a suitable combi boiler. So you will need to turn to Worcester Bosch who have the most powerful combi boilers on the market.
If your home also has 2 or more bathrooms then you could be better off with a system boiler over a combi. Rather than heating water on demand and sending it straight to the taps like a combi, system boilers store hot water in a cylinder. This allows them to meet higher demand for hot water without a drop in water pressure. Find out more about these types of boilers in our system boiler vs combi boiler guide.
And the winner is…
Ideal and Baxi are both trusted boiler manufacturers. Either way, you will be getting a reliable boiler that’s protected by an extensive warranty.
The key to finding the right boiler for your home is a suitable output rating. So make sure you know what size boiler you need. You can find this in our ‘what size boiler do I need for my house‘ guide.
All you need now is a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit your new boiler.
You can get free quotes from up to 3 installers in your area by tapping through our short form. You’ll be matched with local installers who will then be in touch to quote on the job. And by comparing more than a single quote, you can be confident that you’re getting a competitive price.
