DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
Electric underfloor heating cost for a bathroom or kitchen
Electric underfloor heating is the quiet upgrade that turns cold morning tiles into something you actually want to stand on. In smaller rooms like bathrooms and kitchens it often beats a wet system on install cost, because the heating mat drops straight under the tiles with little fuss. The real prices below come from real bathroom and kitchen jobs, so you can see what the mat, the thermostat and the fitting really add up to.
The quick version
- Electric mats suit small rooms because the install is quick and the height added under the tiles is minimal.
- The heated area drives the cost, and you only mat the floor you walk on, not under units or the bath.
- A Part P registered electrician must make the final connection so the work meets building regulations.
- Underfloor heating can qualify as an energy-saving measure at 0% VAT until 2027 in many installs.
What people actually paid
Real prices, in people's own words
- £1,100“just paid Wunda around £1100 for the components for our GF UFH. this includes a Grundfos pump station, 11 port manifold, perimeter insulation strip, pipe staples, around 1200m of 16mm pipe and the required isolation valves.”
- £1,100“pricing as above I did mine £1100 most my bits came from Outsourced Energy”
- £1,200“The UFH kit (pipes, manifolds, actuators, stats, control unit etc) came in at £1200 (supply only, we self-fitted). We did get a quote of £500 for someone else to fit it for us.”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
The price swings on how much floor you are actually heating and what sits on top of it. A cloakroom needs a tiny mat, while a big kitchen-diner needs a lot more, and the mat is only part of it. You are also paying for insulation boards to stop heat sinking into the subfloor, a thermostat, the electrician's time to wire it safely, and the tiling that goes back down over the top. If the floor needs levelling first, or the tiler is working around awkward corners and a WC, the labour climbs. The quality of the thermostat matters too, since a smart programmable unit costs more upfront but trims running costs later.
How to pay less
- Only heat the floor you stand on. There is no point running mats under a fitted kitchen or the bath.
- Lay insulation boards underneath so the warmth rises into the room instead of soaking into the subfloor.
- Have the mat fitted at the same time as new tiles so you pay for the floor prep once.
- Get three quotes covering the mat, thermostat and the electrician's connection so nothing is hidden.
Common questions
Is electric underfloor heating expensive to run in a bathroom?
For a small bathroom used in short bursts it is modest, since you are only heating a few square metres for an hour or two. A good programmable thermostat keeps the cost sensible by warming the floor only when you need it.
Can I fit the mat myself and just get an electrician for the connection?
Some people lay the mat and leave the final wiring to a professional, but the electrical connection must be done by a Part P registered electrician to comply with building regulations. Check with your fitter, as many prefer to handle the whole job for the guarantee.
Does electric underfloor heating raise the floor height much?
Only a little. The mat and adhesive add a few millimetres under the tiles, which is why it works so well in retrofit bathrooms and kitchens where you cannot lose much height.