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Cost to Move a Radiator

By Kim

Last updated 18th September 2024 - Reading time: 19 mins

At a glance

The average cost to move a radiator is around £150
The job will usually take between 2 - 5 hours to complete

In this article, you'll find out the following:

A breakdown of pricing information including what your options are, the cost factors to consider and what's involved in such a task
How long the job will take and a general overview of what types of jobs can be performed
How to find and hire a radiator fitter

Trying to find out how much it costs to move a radiator?

In this price guide, we look at the average costs for moving a radiator, including radiator prices depending on the type, plumber costs and any additional costs that might incur.

An average price to take a radiator off the wall and re-position it is usually around £150.

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Average Cost of a Moving a Radiator:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 2-5 hours

£150

How Much Does it Cost to Move a Radiator?
Supply Only Costs
Additional Costs
Labour Costs and Timescales
Cost Factors of Moving a Radiator
What's Involved in Moving a Radiator?
Can I Move a Radiator Myself?
Types of Radiator
Where Can I Move a Radiator to?
Building Regulations for Moving Radiators
Cost of Moving a Radiator
Hiring Someone for Moving Radiator Checklist
FAQs
Sources

How Much Does it Cost to Move a Radiator?

If you are renovating or extending your home, you may find that you need to move a radiator. Sometimes you may also want to move a radiator if you feel the need to add more radiators within your home. Regardless of the reason why you want to move a radiator, you are probably wondering how much the job is going to end up costing overall.

It may surprise you to learn that moving a radiator won’t hurt your budget hugely. In the majority of cases, moving a radiator is a straightforward job that most plumbers can complete in a short space of time.

The total cost of the job will depend on what you are looking to achieve. You can expect to pay roughly £40-£60 for the materials and a further £80-£120 for the labour of moving the radiator.

The ease of relocation is going to play a big part in the length of time that it takes to move the radiator, as well as the overall cost of the job. Does the pipework need to go through plaster, coving, skirting, or brickwork? Every obstacle that sits in the way makes the job that bit more complex, and these are the things that will add cost and time onto the job.

Once your radiator has been successfully moved, bleeding is always necessary. Bleeding a radiator will only take around 30 minutes but can cost an additional £40-£50 to complete.

Is under the window the best place in a lounge to put a radiator?

"Best place would usually be underneath the window but this all depends if you currently have anything there also try not to block with furniture as this could reduce the heat you’ll be getting in that room Thanks Jake"

JG Plumbing & Heating

Moving a Radiator Prices

Job Type	Duration	Material Costs	Labour Costs
Moving a radiator	2-3 hours	£40-£60	£80-£120
Adding a new radiator	3-5 hours	£100-£200	£120-£180
Bleeding a radiator	30 minutes	£4-£6	£40-£50

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Supply Only Costs

When it comes to moving a radiator, you don’t need a whole lot of supplies since you already have the radiator. However, you may decide to choose a new or different type of radiator to install in the new position. If this is the case, you will need to purchase a new radiator.

Radiator prices can vary depending on sizes or types of radiator. Below is a list of the different types of radiators that you can get and the average cost for each one:

Central Heating Radiator Costs

Small Central Heating Radiator – £20-£40

Medium Central Heating Radiator – £40-£80

Large Central Heating Radiator - £85-£120

Column Radiator Costs

Small Column Radiator – £115-£190

Medium Column Radiator – £148-£230

Large Column Radiator - £320-£380

Designer Radiator Costs

Small Designer Radiator – £180-£500

Medium Designer Radiator – £200-£650

Large Designer Radiator - £410-£690

Vertical Radiator Costs

Small Vertical Radiator – £250-£495

Medium Vertical Radiator – £280-£525

Large Vertical Radiator - £230-£575

Towel Radiator Costs

Small Towel Radiator – £50-£350

Medium Towel Radiator – £100-£480

Large Towel Radiator - £60-£500

Cast Iron Radiator Costs

Small Cast Iron Radiator – £280-350

Medium Cast Iron Radiator – £525-£595

Large Cast Iron Radiator - £490-£750

Flat Panel Radiator Costs

Small Flat Panel Radiator – £180-£250

Medium Flat Panel Radiator – £200-£225

Large Flat Panel Radiator - £220-£250

Stainless Steel Radiator Costs

Small Steel Radiator – £250-£450

Medium Steel Radiator – £450-£540

Large Steel Radiator - £250-£580

Mirror Radiator Costs

Mirror Radiator - £315-£410

Space Saving Radiator Costs

Small Space Saving Radiator – £200-£250

Medium Space Saving Radiator – £550-£675

Large Space Saving Radiator - £195-£350

Additional Costs

When moving a radiator to a new location in the room, there may be some other costs that you may need to think about. Below is a list of additional costs that may arise when relocating a radiator:

New Thermostat - £150-£280
TRV Radiator Valve - £5-£39
Double-Glazing Installation - £2500-£6500
Home Insulation (professional loft insulation) – £300-£350
Power Flush - £350 - £650
New Boiler (supply and installation) - £900-£1400
Pipework (supply and installation) - £800 - £1000
Water Tank (supply and installation) - £150 - £200

Labour Costs and Timescales

The labour costs of moving a radiator usually fall somewhere between £80-£120. The cost can vary depending on the size of the radiator, the difficulty of the job or the location of your property.

If your radiator is particularly large or if the position you’re moving it to is quite difficult then you may find that the cost of labour increases as the job will take a lot longer than a smaller or simpler job.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £30-£70 for labour than those based in the North of the UK.

On average, moving a radiator will usually take around 2-5 hours to complete. However, if the job is more complex or requires any extra work, then you should expect the time to take a little longer. Regardless, the majority of radiator moving jobs can be completed within a day.

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Cost Factors of Moving a Radiator

There are a number of factors that can affect the cost of having your radiator moved.

This can include things such as the number of radiators that need to be moved, the size of the radiator, the type of radiator, whether any extra plumbing work needs to be done, the location of your property, and whether you are moving an existing radiator or buying a new radiator for the new location.

Below is a list of each of the cost factors that can affect the overall cost of the job.

Number of Radiators

The number of radiators that need to be moved can affect the cost of your radiator moving job. The more radiators that need to be moved, the longer the job is going to take.

Plumbers in the UK will charge around £40-£60 per hour and so any additional hours that are added onto the job can cause the overall cost of the job to really add up.

Size of Radiator

The size of the radiator can also affect the cost of the job. Larger radiators will usually take a little longer to move since the job can sometimes be a bit more difficult. This can result in extra labour costs due to the additional time.

Type of Radiator

The type of radiator that needs to be installed can affect the cost of the job as some radiator types are more complex to move than others. Plumbers will often charge more for more difficult jobs, and these types of jobs will also take more time which can result in extra labour costs.

Cast iron radiators can take a lot longer to install than classic radiators as they are much heavier and therefore more difficult to move.

Extra Plumbing Work

If any extra plumbing is needed to complete the job, this can also add additional time on to the job and therefore will result in extra costs.

Extra plumbing work may also require the use of extra materials and so the overall cost of the job will add up as you’re spending more on the things needed to complete the work.

Location of Property

Those based in London can expect to pay around £30-£70 for labour than those based in the North of the UK. With this in mind, people who are based in and around London can expect to pay more for the overall job than people based elsewhere in the UK.

Existing or New Radiator

If you are moving an existing radiator, the overall cost of the job will be much cheaper than if you were to buy a new radiator. Depending on the type and size, radiators can cost on average anywhere between £20-£750.

So, as you can see, the cost of changing a radiator can work out much higher than if you were to use your existing radiator.

What's Involved in Moving a Radiator?

You may be wondering how to move a radiator from one position in the room to another. The following tips explain the easiest way to complete a simple radiator moving job.

Follow the basic plumbing steps – It is best to only attempt to move a radiator if you have some plumbing knowledge already. Without knowing the basic rules of plumbing, you may damage the pipework, heating system, or you may even cause your system to leak.
If you are attempting this job yourself, you need to ensure that you’re competent in doing so and that you do your research before attempting the job.

Measure your radiator – You need to start by measuring your existing radiator to ensure that it’s going to fit in the new location.
You also need to measure the space between the bottom of the radiator and the floor so that you can be sure to leave enough room below for all of the necessary pipework.

Drain the system – Before you start removing the radiator, you need to drain the heating system of all of the water to avoid any messy water from leaking out into the room.
You need to turn off your boiler and isolate any electricity supply, then drain the system completely.
Cap the pipework – Once you have fully drained the system, you need to cap the pipework that leads to the radiator. You can use soldering or push-fit caps to cap off your existing pipework.

Move and install your radiator – Since you’ve already made the relevant measurements, you should know exactly where your new radiator placement is going to be.
All that’s left to do now is to install the new radiator using the existing wall fitting from the original radiator. Be sure to check that the pipes are fitted correctly before going about refilling the system.

Switch the boiler back on – Once everything is in place and fitted completely, you can then switch your boiler back on.

Can I Move a Radiator Myself?

Moving your radiator to a new position is a fairly straightforward job providing you have some basic knowledge of plumbing beforehand.

Unless you feel that you are fully competent to do so and that you have the required plumbing knowledge needed to move a radiator, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals.

If you attempt to move your radiator yourself without the basic knowledge needed to do so, you could cause damage to your heating system that may result in some hefty costs down the line.

You may also cause leaks within your system, which could cost a lot to fix or could even cause damage to other parts of your property.

Types of Radiator

Below is a list of the different types of radiator that are available to buy:

Central Heating Radiators

Central heating radiators have the highest heat output and also benefit from having the greatest heating efficiency of any type of plumbed radiator style.

This makes them a very popular choice in many homes in the UK. These radiators use corrugated panels to radiate heat out into the room.

You can get single-panel styles of central heating radiators for small rooms, or you can get double-panel ones for larger rooms as these produce more heat.

Pros

✔ Extremely efficient
✔ Heat up quickly
✔ Provide a lot of heat
✔ Come in single panel or double-panel

Cons

✖ Double-panel central heating radiators can be bulky

Column Radiators

If you are looking to add or retain a little bit of period charm to your home, then a column radiator might be the perfect option for you. These radiators give a nice traditional feel to your home.

They are very similar in style to cast-iron radiators which originated during the Victorian era. These modern column radiators keep the traditional look but offer much greater heat efficiency than the older models.

Pros

✔ Traditional style
✔ Good heat efficiency

Cons

✖ May look old fashioned
✖ Could be bulky

Designer Radiators

A designer radiator can bring a wide range of benefits to your home. Some of these benefits include space-saving technologies, amazing designs, and even dual-purpose radiators that double up as mirrors, memo boards, and more!

These types of radiators are the ideal way to add a contemporary and modern feel to any room. They can create incredibly stylish and attractive features that you won’t need to hide or disguise.

Pros

✔ Don’t take up a lot of space
✔ Modern aesthetic
✔ Beautiful designs
✔ Stylish

Cons

✖ May not be as energy-efficient as some models
✖ Expensive

Vertical Radiators

Vertical radiators come in a wide range of styles and colours. They are also very convenient as they can fit perfectly into small wall spaces, meaning you can heat more of your home when you previously wouldn’t have been able to.

If you have a small room in your home, a vertical radiator takes up much less space than a traditional one, so it leaves you with a lot more room for furnishings.

If you choose a bold design, a vertical radiator can even become a part of the décor too.

Pros

✔ Space-saving
✔ Stylish

Cons

✖ Always visible

Towel Radiators

With a towel radiator, you can dry your towels whilst also adding some extra warmth into your bathroom. This can look very stylish and is perfect for when you’re getting out of the bath or shower and need that little bit of extra warmth in there.

Pros

✔ Adds extra warmth to the bathroom
✔ Dries towels

Cons

✖ Can take up a lot of room
✖ Not always enough to heat the whole room alone

Cast Iron Radiators

A cast iron radiator takes longer to heat up and cool down than other models of radiator. This means that they keep warm for longer after turning your heating off. With this in mind, these are great radiators for large rooms with high ceilings.

This model of radiator would be best suited in an older period home. However, they can be a beautiful feature in contemporary décor.

Pros

✔ Keeps warmth in longer
✔ Great for larger rooms or rooms with high ceilings

Cons

✖ Takes longer to heat up
✖ May corrode over time

Flat Panel Radiators

If you are looking for a very easy and relatively fast way of changing your radiators, then a flat-panel radiator is the perfect option for you. These radiators are designed to be light and compact. They can fit into almost any room without taking up a hefty amount of space.

Pros

✔ Light and compact
✔ Easy to move
✔ Don’t take up a lot of space

Cons

✖ Often small so don’t produce as much heat

Stainless Steel Radiators

Stainless steel radiators are very efficient, but they are also a stunning room feature. They are available in a variety of beautiful finishes that are both easy to maintain, and easy to keep clean.

Stainless steel doesn’t corrode or rust as some other metals do, and so a stainless steel radiator is guaranteed to last a long time.

Pros

✔ Very efficient
✔ Stylish
✔ Easy to keep clean
✔ Doesn’t corrode
✔ Last a long time

Cons

✖ Not to everyone’s taste

Mirror Radiators

Mirror radiators can be a great choice for bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. This is because they give the perception of a bigger space. They also double up as a stylish décor item whilst giving off heat to warm the room.

Pros

✔ Heat rooms where there isn’t much room for a radiator
✔ Stylish

Cons

✖ Usually small so don’t give off much heat

Space Saving Radiators

A space-saving radiator is a perfect option if you want to make the most of the space in your room. They can fit into narrow spaces, wrap around corners, and can easily blend into the décor.

Pros

✔ Fit into small spaces
✔ Stylish

Cons

✖ Often small so don’t give off much heat

Where Can I Move a Radiator to?

You can usually move your radiator to any wall in the room where there is no electrical or plumbing work in the way behind the wall. You also need to ensure that the wall you want to move your radiator to is big enough to house your existing radiator.

It’s always best to thoroughly measure each aspect so that you can be certain the radiator is going to fit into its new position in your home.

You should also check where your water pipes are located. The further away your radiator is from the existing pipework, the more it is going to cost as it will take a lot longer to reposition the radiator. Adding new pipework is a time-consuming task so you should be aware of this beforehand.

Building Regulations for Moving Radiators

In most cases, you do not need any form of building regulations approval in order to move a radiator.

You may need to seek building regulations approval if you complete any of the following as a part of the job:

Install a new or replacement heating system or boiler
Install an additional radiator to your existing heating system

If you are unsure of whether or not you are going to need building regulations approval for your job at hand, then it is always best to seek advice from a professional before going ahead with the work.

Cost of Moving a Radiator

If you are renovating your home or redecorating a room, you may want to move your radiator so that it fits in with the new layout of the room. You may also want to move a radiator in cases where it is not heating the room efficiently.

Although the work can be done as a DIY project for someone with basic plumbing knowledge, it’s always best to opt for a professional to move your radiator. If the job isn’t completed correctly, you could cause some damage to your heating system.

Hiring Someone for Moving Radiator Checklist

When you are looking to hire a plumber to move your radiator for you, there are a few things that you need to consider first. Below is a list of things that you should think about when trying to find the right contractor for the job:

Does the contractor have any testimonials for their previous work?
How much experience does the contractor have of moving radiators?
Do you know anyone that can recommend a good contractor to you?
Does the contractor offer any guarantees on their work?
Be sure to obtain at least 3 quotes from various contractors with costs to move a radiator
Ask for a breakdown of costs on the quote so that you know you’re getting a good price for each different element of the job

FAQs

Does it matter which way you pipe a radiator?

It doesn’t really matter which way your radiators are piped. The closer you can get your radiator to the existing piping, the better.

What is the best type of radiator?

Central heating radiators are considered to be the most popular radiators in the UK due to their ease of installation and the fact that they are very energy efficient. These types of radiator can easily heat up a room of any size quite quickly.

What are the two valves on a radiator for?

One of the valves on your radiator controls the amount of hot water that enters the radiator, and the other one balances the system out by controlling the amount of heat the radiator lets out.

Where should I put my radiator?

The best positioning for a radiator is somewhere in the coldest part of the room where it’s unlikely to be blocked by furniture. This way, the radiator can heat the room most efficiently.

Why is my radiator hot at the top and cold at the bottom?

This means that the flow of water into the radiator is not sufficient. This can be caused by blockages or oxygen bubbles in the system, pump issues, or a build-up of sludge within the radiator or system. In most cases, this issue can be fixed by bleeding the radiator.