How much does underfloor heating cost in the UK?
Underfloor heating costs £50 to £150 in the UK, typically around £90 per m². What moves the price most is electric system, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
Underfloor heating is priced by the area covered and by the system type. Electric mats are cheaper to fit and suit single rooms, while a wet water system costs more but is cheaper to run over a whole floor.
Underfloor heating cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your underfloor heating in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Underfloor heating cost breakdown
Typical underfloor heating costs, by the unit:
| What | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Per m², supplied and fitted | £50 to £90 per m² |
| + Wet water system instead of electric | add £40 to £60 per m² |
| 8 m² | £400 to £720 |
| 15 m² (typical) | £750 to £1,350 |
| 30 m² | £1,500 to £2,700 |
What's included in the price?
Typical underfloor heating prices include:
- The heating mats or pipe, and the manifold or thermostat
- Fitting and connection
- Floor build-up or screed where needed
- Testing and commissioning
What changes the price?
The things that move underfloor heating prices most:
Electric system, cheaper to fit, versus a wet water system
Area in square metres and number of rooms
Retrofit into an existing floor versus a new build or screed
Floor finish on top and any insulation upgrade
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, underfloor heating typically costs around £120 per m², about 30% above the UK average of £90. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £85.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £50 | £90 | £150 |
| London | £65 | £120 | £200 |
| South East / South West | £55 | £100 | £170 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £45 | £85 | £140 |
Guide prices per m², scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Underfloor heating cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £45 | £75 | £130 |
| Birmingham | £50 | £90 | £150 |
| Bristol | £55 | £100 | £170 |
| Cardiff | £45 | £85 | £140 |
| Edinburgh | £50 | £90 | £150 |
| Glasgow | £45 | £80 | £140 |
| Leeds | £45 | £85 | £140 |
| Liverpool | £45 | £85 | £140 |
| London | £65 | £120 | £200 |
| Manchester | £50 | £85 | £140 |
| Newcastle | £45 | £80 | £140 |
| Sheffield | £45 | £85 | £140 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for underfloor heating, not quotes.
Fairly consistent nationally, with London a little higher on labour.
Common questions
Is electric or water underfloor heating cheaper?
Electric is cheaper to install, usually £50 to £90 per square metre, and suits a single room like a bathroom. A wet system costs more to fit, around £90 to £150 per square metre, but is cheaper to run across a whole floor.
How much is underfloor heating for one room?
An electric system for a typical bathroom of 4 to 6 square metres usually costs £400 to £800 fitted. A kitchen or open-plan room on a wet system costs more.
Can underfloor heating go under any floor?
It works well under tile, stone, engineered wood and many vinyls. Thick solid timber and deep carpet insulate too much and reduce the heat output, so check the floor finish first.
Is underfloor heating expensive to run?
Electric underfloor heating costs more per unit of heat than a gas-fed wet system, which is why it suits bathrooms and single small rooms rather than whole floors. A wet system costs more to install (£40 to £60 per m² extra) but runs at low temperatures, so it is cheaper to run and pairs well with a heat pump. Insulation under the heating makes more difference to running cost than the system choice.
What are the downsides of underfloor heating?
It responds slowly, so it suits rooms kept at a steady temperature rather than quick bursts of heat. Retrofitting raises the floor level, which can mean trimming doors, and a fault under a tiled floor is disruptive to reach. Electric systems are also noticeably more expensive to run in large rooms. None of these are deal-breakers, but they are why quotes should state the floor build-up height.
Can I install underfloor heating myself?
Partly. With electric underfloor heating you can lay the mat or cable yourself, which saves on the £50 to £150 per m² fitting, but the final connection to the mains must be done by a qualified electrician. Water underfloor heating is harder, as it ties into your heating system and usually needs a plumber. DIY suits a small electric mat in one room more than a whole-house water system.
How long does underfloor heating last?
The pipe is the part that lasts, and it lasts a very long time: the DIN 4726 standard the industry works to requires a projected life of at least 50 years, and manufacturers commonly warrant pipe for 25 to 50. Since the pipe is buried in screed, that is the number that matters, because it is the component you cannot easily get at. What does need replacing sooner is everything you can reach: the manifold, pump, actuators and controls are usually good for 20 to 30 years and are serviceable. An annual check as part of a boiler service is enough maintenance for most systems. In practice a wet system installed properly should outlive the floor finish above it and probably the boiler feeding it.
Is underfloor heating worth it?
It depends why you want it. At £50 to £150 per m² it is a real cost, and it rarely pays for itself in resale value, so treat it as comfort you buy to enjoy while you live there. It works best fitted during a renovation or new floor, where the extra over a radiator is smaller. Retro-fitting into one existing room is where the cost per m² bites hardest.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.