Underfloor Heating Cost

By Kane
Last updated 3rd April 2025 - Reading time: 12 mins
At a Glance
  • The average underfloor heating installation cost is around £800.
  • This type of job will typically take between 1 to 2 days to complete.
In this guide, you'll find:
  • NEW! Our underfloor heating cost calculator, which gives you a quick and easy estimate for how much it costs to install underfloor heating in 2025.
  • A breakdown of how much underfloor heating costs per square metre for wet and electric installations in the UK.
  • Additional jobs you might need to budget for, which might impact the total underfloor heating cost you're quoted.
  • Advice shared by tradespeople on MyJobQuote.
person installing laminate flooring over underfloor heating

Average Underfloor Heating Cost:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 1 – 2 days

£800

Video Overview: How Much Is Underfloor Heating?

How Much Does Underfloor Heating Cost?

Underfloor heating has become a popular alternative to conventional radiators in UK homes — especially in luxury bathroom renovations, kitchen extensions, and loft conversions. It can be installed under almost any type of flooring — including stones, wood, tiles, and carpets.

There are two different types of underfloor heating you can get.

Let's take a look at these (and their typical costs) below:

Electric Underfloor Heating Cost

Electric underfloor heating systems use a network of wires running in a mat which is fitted under the surface of the floor. They warm the floor, but are not as good at heating the room — so are best installed in smaller rooms (e.g., bathrooms).

In 2025, electric underfloor heating costs between £40 and £90 per m² to get installed by an experienced professional. (This estimate includes materials and labour.)

Smaller rooms (e.g., downstairs toilets or ensuites) will typically land at the higher end of this range. Larger rooms will be towards the lower end of this range, as it works out more efficient for the tradesperson to fit.

Below are a few quick cost examples for different types of rooms:

Room Type Average Size (m²) Average Cost
Small Downstairs Toilet 2 £160 – £180
Ensuite Bathroom 4 £240 – £300
Medium Kitchen 12 £600 – £900
Conservatory 14 £630 – £980
Living Room 20 £800 – £1,200
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Electric Underfloor Heating Systems Are Best For: Retrofits of smaller rooms (e.g., downstairs bathrooms, ensuites, small extensions).

Main Tradesperson Required: Electrician

Pros:

  • ✔ Electric underfloor heating installation costs are lower than a wet underfloor heating system.
  • ✔ Typically involve limited additional costs.
  • ✔ Minimal impact on the height of the floor.

Cons:

  • ✖ Electric underfloor heating running costs are higher than a wet underfloor heating system.
  • ✖ Not as efficient at heating larger rooms (e.g., living rooms).

Wet Underfloor Heating Cost

Wet use a network of pipes to run hot water from the boiler, which then radiates heat through the floor and into the room. These wet underfloor systems are much more efficient than electric underfloor systems — and can even be more efficient than conventional radiators.

In 2025, wet underfloor heating costs between £100 and £190 per m² to get installed by an experienced professional. (This estimate includes materials and labour.)

Smaller rooms (e.g., downstairs toilets or ensuites) will typically land at the higher end of this range. Larger rooms will be towards the lower end of this range, as it works out more efficient for the tradesperson to fit.

Below are a few quick cost examples for different types of rooms:

Room Type Average Size (m²) Average Cost
Small Downstairs Toilet 2 £340 – £380
Ensuite Bathroom 4 £600 – £720
Medium Kitchen 12 £1,200 – £1,500
Conservatory 14 £1,300 – £1,600
Living Room 20 £1,800 – £2,200

Wet Underfloor Heating Systems Are Best For: Major renovations of large areas (or an entire property), as well as new builds.

Main Tradesperson Required: Heating Engineer

Pros:

  • ✔ Wet underfloor heating running costs are lower than an electric underfloor heating system.
  • ✔ More efficient at heating larger rooms (e.g., living rooms).

Cons:

  • ✖ Wet underfloor heating installation costs are higher than an electric underfloor heating system.
  • ✖ Might necessitate a boiler replacement (~ £2,000).
  • ✖ Heats up more slowly than an electric underfloor heating system.
  • ✖ Typically requires extensive new piping to connect to the boiler.

Underfloor Heating Costs Per M²

The table below summarises how much underfloor heating costs per m² in the UK for these two different types of systems.

As this shows, a factor that significantly impacts the cost to install underfloor heating is whether it's a new build or you're retrofitting an older property.

Job Description Cost Per M²
Electric underfloor heating (new build) £40 – £80
Electric underfloor heating (older home) £50 – £90
Water underfloor heating (new build) £100 – £140
Water underfloor heating (older home) £150 – £190
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Electric vs Wet Underfloor Heating: Which Fits Your Project?

The choice between electric and wet underfloor heating systems often comes down to the scale of the project that you're planning.

In the UK, electric underfloor heating is a much more popular choice because it's more suitable for retrofits (i.e., when homeowners are upgrading an existing room). They're nowhere near as disruptive as installing a piped underfloor heating system and an affordable (yet luxurious!) upgrade option when renovating a single room.

However, wet underfloor heating systems are the more common choice for new builds or when homeowners are undertaking major renovations (e.g., single storey extensions).

But why is that?

  • Wet underfloor heating systems are powerful enough to 100% replace radiators (which is especially valuable for open-plan renovations).
  • The installation of underfloor heating can be built into your renovation plans, so it's nowhere near as disruptive as it otherwise would be.
  • Wet underfloor heating running costs are lower, so it's more cost-efficient in the long-run (especially with rising energy prices in the UK).

So while electric underfloor heating systems might be the go-to choice for smaller renovations (e.g., luxurious ensuite upgrades), wet underfloor heating systems are typically the better option if you're planning a larger renovation.


Underfloor Heating Cost Calculator

How to Find an Underfloor Heating Installer

MyJobQuote is the simplest, easiest, and fastest way to find an underfloor heating installer near you.

All you need to do is:

  • Head over to our quote form.
  • Give us a few details about what you're after.
  • Sit back and wait for local tradespeople to get in touch to arrange visits.

This is the perfect way to get multiple quotes from local underfloor heating specialists — and get the best price for your job.

Additional Underfloor Heating Costs

When estimating the total cost of an underfloor heating installation, you might need to budget for some additional jobs.

Let's take a quick look at these below:

New Flooring

While it's sometimes possible to reuse your current flooring when getting underfloor heating installed in an existing space, most homeowners take the opportunity to install new flooring.

And in new builds (e.g., extensions), you'll always need to budget for this on top of the underfloor heating costs covered above.

Flooring costs vary significantly depending on the type of flooring you'd like to get. Overall, you're looking at somewhere between £15 and £100 per m².

The table below gives a better idea of flooring costs for 3 of the materials that are most popular among homeowners getting underfloor heating installed.

Flooring Type Typical Price Range
Ceramic / Porcelain Tiles £40 – £70 per m²
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) £30 – £50 per m²
Engineered Wood £50 – £80 per m²
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What type of flooring does not go well with underfloor heating?

"Stone or tile flooring works best, however there are many options — including Vinyl or wood!"

Moving or Removing Radiators

If you're planning to install underfloor heating in a room that already has radiators, then you'll need to budget to move or remove them.

The average cost of moving a radiator is between £80 and £120 per radiator.

If you're rather just remove the radiators, then you'll need to budget between £50 and £80 per radiator.

We're planning to install underfloor heating in our kitchen. Do we still need a radiator?

"You do not need to have radiators in the room if you install underfloor heating."

Boiler Relocation

You may have to move your existing boiler to a different location for ease of access, especially if you're installing a wet system into your property.

The average boiler relocation cost is around £725.

New Boiler

If you're opting for a wet underfloor heating system (i.e., connected to your boiler), then it's possible you may need to upgrade your boiler to accommodate the additional demand placed on it.

This is something you'll want to clarify with the professional installer when getting a quote, as the cost of installing a new boiler is around £2,000.

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Can You Install Underfloor Heating Yourself?

Wet underfloor heating systems are not DIY friendly.

Installing them will, at the very least, require some assistance from a heating engineer. With a system which is connected to your main boiler, it’s simply not worth chancing it and doing it on your own, so always consult a local heating engineer or underfloor heating company to advise you before taking on this job.

A survey carried out by a professional will help you select the best underfloor heating system and ensure your boiler can support the additional heating system. However, DIY electric underfloor systems using heat mats are much simpler and cheaper to install.

You will still need an electrician to connect the power up to your heating system, but for a typical bathroom, the total cost for DIY electric underfloor heating can be under £500. For those who are very confident in their skills, there are also DIY wet underfloor heating kits.

These full kits include a pump, valves, thermostats and pipework to heat around 20 square metres. If you did most of the work DIY and just hired a plumber or heating engineer for the important bits, you could have a wet underfloor heating system in your bathroom for under £1,000.

As we need a new central heating system, should we switch to underfloor heating rather than replace the radiators? What's more cost-effective in your opinion?

"UFH is more energy efficient due to lower running temperatures so you will save energy usage.

Radiators are cheaper but take up wall space and generally cost more to run due to higher flow temperatures"

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Underfloor Heating Checklist

  • Underfloor heating can be one of the most cost effective ways to heat your home.
  • Electric underfloor heating mats are simple to DIY install.
  • Underfloor heating can offer a space-saving alternative to radiators.
  • Underfloor heating can take longer to heat up than conventional radiators.

FAQs

What are the downsides to underfloor heating?

Underfloor heating can take longer to heat up than radiators and in some cases, they won't be able to heat the room comfortably, which means you will still need radiators. In addition, underfloor heating can be pricey to install when retrofitted.

Can underfloor heating be used as a whole-house heating system?

Yes, in fact, this would offer a number of benefits including reduced energy consumption and more living space without radiators. In many cases, wet underfloor heating systems can be used as the primary source of heat as long as the rooms themselves are well insulated.

A heat loss calculation needs to be carried out to determine how much heating is needed and this is normally carried out by an architect or a heating engineer.

Is underfloor heating cheaper to run than radiators?

Yes, underfloor heating can be cheaper to run in some circumstances. With some installations, it has proved to be up to 25% cheaper to run than radiators using a condensing boiler. However, every installation is different, so it is best to always get a professional survey done when considering underfloor heating systems.

Can I completely install electric underfloor heating by myself?

No, while most of the underfloor heating installation can be completed by a competent DIY enthusiast, the thermostats and other wiring require electrical work which needs to be completed by an electrician.
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