June 28^th, 2025

Underfloor heating is gaining popularity in UK homes due to its energy efficiency and the rising cost of heating bills. It can be up to 25% more efficient than traditional central heating systems with radiators, and up to 40% more efficient when combined with a heat pump. Conservative estimates suggest you could save up to £145 per year.

 

But how much does it cost to install underfloor heating? In this guide, we’ll break down the installation costs of underfloor heating in the UK for 2025, so you can weigh up the cost benefit versus the potential savings.

Before we begin, it’s important to draw a distinction between the two main types of underfloor heating: wet (water-based) and electric.

• Wet underfloor heating – pipework connected to your central heating and boiler, usually installed by a qualified plumber or heating engineer.
• Electric underfloor heating – uses electric mats or cables, installed and certified by a qualified electrician.

The complexity of installation depends on factors like the type of system, whether it’s a new build or retrofit, the floor construction, and the size of the area.

Additional Factors To Consider For Underfloor Heating Installs

When retrofitting underfloor heating, particularly wet systems, homeowners often underestimate the full cost. It’s not just about laying pipes or cables; the process often involves removing old radiators, capping off plumbing, repairing wall damage, fitting new flooring, and replacing skirting boards and architraves.

 

For new builds, the process is more straightforward; no demolitions or making good, just the cost of supplying and fitting the system into a new space.

 

Electric underfloor heating is also popular in upstairs bathrooms, where its thinner profile makes it easier to install without raising floor levels. It usually doesn’t require disturbing existing wall finishes.

Underfloor Heating Conversion Cost Calculations

In terms of build specification, BuildPartner gives you three broad options to choose from:

 

• Basic spec is a basic finish; e.g., Leyland, Everest, Wickes.
• Standard spec is a standard finish; e.g., Dulux, Hamilton, Slim Line.
• Premium spec is a high-spec finish; e.g., Farrow & Ball, Fine Line, Siemens.

 

In this article, we’ve provided a breakdown of the cost of installing underfloor heating to a standard specification. In addition, we have provided three different benchmarks to show the range of pricing you can expect among different contractors. These are:

 

• Low benchmark – smaller companies are generally lower cost but less specialised and with low project management function; good for low/mid-spec projects and tight budgets.
• Mid benchmark – medium-sized companies offer a balanced mix of cost-effectiveness and specialisation; good for mid-range projects for effective execution within moderate budgets.
• High benchmark – larger companies generally have a higher cost base but can handle a wide variety of specialist tasks; good for mid/high-spec projects and project management.

 

The specification and benchmark you choose will have a major impact on the overall cost, so it’s important to align them with both your budget and the level of finish you’re aiming for.

Cost Of Installing Wet Underfloor Heating - Retrofit

The table below shows the average cost of retrofitting wet underfloor heating for a 50m² layout (i.e., ground floor):

Wet Underfloor Heating - Retrofit Ground Floor	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£14,294	£15,984	£17,543	£275	£307	£337
Greater London	£15,061	£17,356	£18,840	£290	£334	£362
Inner London	£15,620	£17,386	£18,200	£300	£334	£350
Midlands	£13,857	£15,495	£17,007	£266	£298	£327
North England	£13,644	£15,257	£16,745	£262	£293	£322
Northern Ireland	£14,212	£17,275	£15,356	£271	£332	£295
Scotland	£14,349	£16,045	£17,610	£276	£309	£339
South East	£13,820	£15,249	£17,145	£289	£319	£355
South West	£14,010	£16,095	£17,665	£277	£310	£340
Wales	£13,627	£15,237	£16,355	£262	£293	£315
Average	£14,249	£16,138	£17,247	£277	£313	£334

All costs exclude VAT.        

 

Here’s what the data shows for retrofitting underfloor heating across a 50m² ground-floor layout:

 

• It costs 7% more to install underfloor heating in Inner London.
• The minimum cost is £13,627, and the maximum cost is £18,840.
• The total average cost is £15,878, or £308 per square metre.

 

Start your free trial with BuildPartner to get a bespoke estimate of your construction project within minutes.

Cost Of Installing Wet Underfloor Heating - Newbuild

The table below shows the average cost of installing wet underfloor heating in a newbuild home, with a 50m² layout:

 

Wet Underfloor Heating - Newbuild Ground Floor	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£4,991	£5,581	£6,126	£96	£107	£118
Greater London	£5,131	£5,950	£6,297	£99	£114	£121
Inner London	£5,319	£5,912	£6,495	£102	£114	£125
Midlands	£4,745	£5,306	£5,824	£91	£102	£112
North England	£4,661	£5,212	£5,720	£90	£100	£110
Northern Ireland	£4,890	£5,889	£5,235	£92	£113	£101
Scotland	£4,981	£5,569	£6,113	£96	£107	£118
South East	£4,724	£5,282	£5,797	£99	£110	£121
South West	£4,836	£5,615	£6,163	£97	£108	£119
Wales	£4,651	£5,200	£5,563	£89	£100	£107
Average	£4,893	£5,552	£5,933	£95	£108	£115

 All costs exclude VAT.

 

Here’s what the data shows for installing underfloor heating in a newbuild:

 

• The minimum cost is £4,651, and the maximum cost is £6,495.
• The total average cost is £5,459, or £106 per square metre.

 

Cost Of Installing Electric Underfloor Heating - Bathroom

The table below shows the average cost of installing electric underfloor heating in a 9m² bathroom; these costs only include the cost of the heating installation and do not include other elements such as new flooring and making good wall finishes:

 

Electric Underfloor Heating - Main Bathroom	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£665	£743	£816	£74	£83	£91
Greater London	£707	£763	£848	£79	£85	£94
Inner London	£705	£786	£862	£78	£87	£96
Midlands	£647	£723	£794	£72	£80	£88
North England	£638	£714	£783	£71	£79	£87
Northern Ireland	£626	£699	£768	£70	£78	£85
Scotland	£664	£743	£815	£74	£83	£91
South East	£631	£705	£782	£70	£78	£87
South West	£646	£729	£800	£72	£81	£89
Wales	£640	£715	£769	£71	£79	£85
Average	£657	£732	£804	£73	£81	£89

 All costs exclude VAT.

 

Here’s what the data shows for retrofitting electric underfloor heating in an existing bathroom:

 

• The minimum cost is £626, and the maximum cost is £862.
• The total average cost is £732, or £81 per square metre.

 

Average Cost Of Installing Underfloor Heating

So, how much does it cost to install underfloor heating in the UK? Based on the three types of installations covered in this article, it costs on average (when using a mid-benchmark contractor):

• Wet underfloor heating - retrofit ground floor: £16,138, or £313 per square metre.
• Wet underfloor heating - newbuild ground floor: £5,552, or £108 per square metre.
• Electric underfloor heating - main bathroom (retrofit): £732, or £81 per square metre.

These figures highlight just how much the total cost can vary depending on your project type and scope.

A common assumption is that electric systems are cheaper, but while that may be true for small areas with minimal disruption, in some cases, there’s price parity with wet systems.

Start your free trial with BuildPartner to get a bespoke estimate of your construction project within minutes.

Please remember that all costs exclude VAT.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Underfloor Heating

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about installing underfloor heating.

What’s the difference between electric and wet underfloor heating?

Wet systems use hot water pumped through pipes and are cheaper to run but more complex to install. Electric systems use heated cables or mats, are easier to install, but cost more to run.

What's the best type of flooring to use with underfloor heating?

The best flooring for underfloor heating is one that conducts heat well and is stable with temperature changes. Tile and stone are great because they transfer heat efficiently and retain warmth. Engineered wood can also work well. Solid hardwood, however, can warp with changes in temperature and moisture.

Some vinyl and laminate options are suitable, but it’s always worth checking their compatibility with underfloor heating to prevent damage.

Will underfloor heating raise my floor height?

Installing underfloor heating will raise your floor height. Electric systems typically add around 15–30mm, while wet systems can add 30–70mm or more due to pipework and screed layers.

After installing, you may need to adjust or replace skirting boards and architraves to fit the new floor level, and there will often be extra work making good plaster and repainting affected walls.

Is underfloor heating expensive to run?

Electric underfloor heating typically uses 0.1–0.2 kWh per m² per hour, which costs around 3–6p per m² at current electricity rates.

Wet systems are more efficient, using about 0.05–0.1 kWh per m² per hour, and with gas at roughly 8p per kWh, the cost is closer to 0.4–0.8p per m².

That means wet underfloor heating is roughly 7 to 8 times cheaper to run than electric.

What’s the downside of underfloor heating?

With underfloor heating, you lose the option to hang clothes or towels on radiators to dry. You have no available warm surfaces for quick drying, something many of us rely on, particularly in colder months.