250 litre hot water cylinder NZ: prices, dimensions and which to buy
Every 250 litre cylinder we sell compared: price, height, diameter, weight, heat-up time, indoor or outdoor, and whether a Haier HP250M1U1 heat pump makes more sense. Thermann 250L, Rinnai ME250590E30 and MS25055030, Rheem MPSS 32525015 and Rinnai LS25055030.
Last reviewed 2026-10-28
250 litres is the family size: the usual choice for 3 to 4 people, or a busy house where showers run back to back. It is also the size where a heat pump cylinder starts to make the most sense. Here is every 250 litre cylinder we sell, with the numbers that decide which one fits.
250 litre hot water cylinder prices NZ
Mains pressure electric, all prices including GST, supply only:
| Model | Litres | Size (mm) | Element | Lining | Siting | Cylinder warranty | Price incl GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermann Reece 1360876 | 250 | 580 dia x 1566 high | 3 kW | Vitreous enamel | Indoor or outdoor | 10 yr | $1,870 |
| Rinnai MS25055030 | 250 | 550 dia x 1730 high | 3 kW | Duplex stainless steel | Indoor | 10 yr | $2,250 |
| Rinnai ME250590E30 | 250 | 590 dia x 1575 high | 3 kW | Vitreous enamel | Indoor or outdoor | 7 yr | $2,480 |
| Rheem MPSS 32525015 | 250 | 580 dia x 1620 high | 3 kW | Duplex stainless steel | Indoor or outdoor | 10 yr | $3,230 |
At 250 litres stainless is not automatically the expensive option: the Rinnai MS25055030 stainless is $2,250 against $2,480 for Rinnai's own ME250590E30 enamel, with 10 years on the cylinder instead of 7. See enamel, copper or stainless.
250 litre cylinder dimensions
- Shortest: Thermann 250L at 580 x 1566 mm, and Rinnai ME250590E30 at 590 x 1575 mm.
- Narrowest: Rinnai MS25055030 at 550 mm across, but taller at 1730 mm.
- A 250 litre cylinder is 550 to 590 mm across, wider than a 180 slimline at about 490 mm, so measure the cupboard width and the door, not just the height. More in will your new cylinder fit.
How heavy is a 250 litre cylinder?
Thermann list their 250L at 77 kg empty. Add 250 kg of water and it is about 327 kg full, all on a footprint under 600 mm across. A suspended timber floor needs to be sound, and the seismic restraint matters.
How long does a 250L cylinder take to heat up?
Heating 250 litres from 15°C to 65°C takes about 14.5 kWh: 4.8 h from cold with the 3 kW element these all use. The Haier heat pump recovers at 42 litres per hour. Full table in how long a cylinder takes to heat.
Is 250 litres enough?
250 litres usually suits 3 to 4 people. Go to 300 litres for 5 or more, or when several showers run in the same hour. Going one size up costs less than living with cold last showers. See what size cylinder do I need.
250L electric or a heat pump?
The Haier HP250M1U1 is $4,090, $2,220 more than the Thermann 250L electric. What the extra buys:
- COP 4.48 at 20°C air, water 15 to 55°C: at those test conditions, roughly a quarter of the power of an element for the same hot water in mild weather.
- Works down to -7°C, 43 dB noise.
- Can reuse an existing 15A cylinder circuit.
- Outdoor only, on pavers, with clear air around it. 7 years on the cylinder.
- Free delivery anywhere in New Zealand.
Whether it pays back depends on your power price and how much hot water you use: see heat pump running cost and all heat pump cylinders.
Indoor or outdoor 250L?
- Indoor or outdoor: Thermann 250L, Rinnai ME250590E30, Rheem MPSS 32525015.
- Indoor only: Rinnai MS25055030 and LS25055030.
See outdoor cylinders.
Low pressure 250L
For a house on a header tank, the Rinnai LS25055030 is a 250 litre low pressure stainless cylinder, $2,090, 10 years on the cylinder, indoor only. See low or mains pressure.
What else the job needs
- Valve set for mains pressure: Apex CP 20 combi pack $570 or RMC Econopack $360.
- Safe tray and tundish.
- Connecting a cylinder is restricted sanitary plumbing work for a licensed person.
Prices include GST and are supply only. Delivery is free in Auckland, $30 per order elsewhere in New Zealand, free with a heat pump. Also compare 180 litre and 135 litre cylinders.