Underfloor heating cost UK 2026
Electric underfloor heating typically costs £40–£80 per m² supply only, plus install. Wet (hydronic) systems cost £85–£135 per m² fitted including manifold, pipework, and screed. Wet is cheaper to run, electric is cheaper to install — choose based on use case.
Cost guide ranges
| Room type / size | Electric mat (DIY) | Electric mat (fitted) | Wet system (fitted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom (5m²) | £200–£400 | £500–£900 | £700–£1,200 |
| Kitchen (15m²) | £600–£1,200 | £1,200–£2,200 | £1,500–£2,800 |
| Open-plan (40m²) | £1,600–£3,200 | £3,200–£5,500 | £3,800–£6,500 |
| Whole ground floor (80m²) | £3,200–£6,400 | £6,000–£10,500 | £7,000–£12,500 |
| New build / extension (per m²) | — | £40–£80/m² | £85–£135/m² |
| Retrofit (per m², existing flooring lifted) | — | £60–£120/m² | £110–£180/m² |
What's typically included
- Heating element (electric mat) or pipework (wet system)
- Insulation board on top of subfloor
- Wet system: manifold + actuators + thermostat
- Electric system: thermostat + floor sensor
- Connection to existing heating circuit (wet) or consumer unit (electric)
- Standard install labour
- Building regs notification
What's typically NOT included
- Subfloor levelling if uneven (£8–£25/m²)
- Liquid screed for wet system if needed (£20–£40/m² supply)
- Floor finish on top (tile, LVT, engineered wood — buy separately)
- New boiler if existing one inadequate
- Heat-pump-compatible system if pairing with ASHP
- Smart-home integration (Hive, Nest, etc) £100–£300
What drives the price
- Electric vs wet — electric (mat or wire) cheap to install (£40–£80/m²) but expensive to run (electricity 3–4× cost per kWh of gas). Best for bathrooms, en-suites, small kitchens. Wet (hydronic) £85–£135/m² fitted but runs off central heating; cheap per hour. Best for ground floors, extensions, whole-house retrofits.
- New build vs retrofit — new build / extension is cheapest because the floor is built up around the system. Retrofit means lifting existing flooring + sometimes raising floor levels — adds 30–50%.
- Wet system flow temp — modern systems run at 35–45°C (vs 75°C for radiators). Pairs perfectly with heat pumps. With a gas combi, mixing valves and bypasses are required.
- Insulation under the system — insulation board (typically PIR foam) sits below the heating element. Without it, heat goes downward into the subfloor instead of up into the room. Adds £8–£20/m² supply but essential.
- Floor covering compatibility — tile and stone best (high thermal conductivity). Engineered wood acceptable. Carpet not recommended (insulates against the heat). Solid timber risks shrinkage.
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How we estimated these ranges
This is a guide only. The ranges below are intended for early budgeting and trade benchmarking. They are not a substitute for a site visit or an itemised quote from a qualified tradesperson. Always get a site-specific quote before agreeing work.
What's included in these ranges: typical labour costs, common materials at standard specification, and routine preparation or installation work for a standard project of this type.
What's excluded: unusual access (multi-storey, restricted parking), unforeseen structural issues, specialist design or architect fees, planning and building control application fees, premium or high-end finishes, emergency or out-of-hours work, and regional extremes.
Regional note: London, the South East and remote rural areas can vary significantly from the UK averages shown. London labour rates in particular can run 30–50% higher than national averages on the same scope.
Sources and checks used: publicly available UK trade supplier pricing (2025–2026), common day-rate and labour-duration assumptions used in trade quoting, internal example quote structures from TailoredQuote platform data, and where relevant cross-referenced regional contractor surveys and BCIS-style construction cost data.
Last reviewed: May 2026 by TailoredQuote. Prices in this guide will be reviewed and updated periodically.
Frequently asked questions
Electric for small wet rooms (bathrooms, en-suites). Wet for larger areas, whole-floor installs, and anywhere paired with a heat pump.
Wet UFH at low flow temps is similar or slightly cheaper than radiators. Electric UFH is significantly more expensive to run because electricity costs 3–4× more per kWh than gas. Use electric for small areas, wet for everything else.
Engineered wood is fine if the manufacturer rates it for UFH. Solid timber risks shrinkage and gaps. Always check the floor manufacturer's spec before pairing with UFH.
Bathroom retrofit: 2–4 days. Whole ground floor: 1–2 weeks (longer with screed drying time). New build with poured screed: 4–6 weeks elapsed time but only days of active work.
Related cost guides
Last reviewed: May 2026
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