DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
Underfloor heating cost: wet vs electric systems UK
Underfloor heating is a lovely upgrade, but what you pay depends heavily on which type you choose and whether it goes into a new build or a retrofit. Electric mats suit a single room and go in fast. A wet system is a bigger job with pipework tied into your boiler or heat pump, better suited to whole floors. The real prices on this page cover both routes so you can compare them fairly before you commit to either.
The quick version
- Electric underfloor heating is cheaper to install per room and suits small areas like bathrooms and kitchens.
- A wet underfloor heating system costs more to fit but is usually cheaper to run once it's covering a whole floor.
- Retrofitting into an existing floor costs more than laying underfloor heating during a new build or major renovation, because the old floor has to come up first.
- Floor build-up matters as much as the heating system itself: insulation, screed depth and the finished flooring on top all move the final price.
- Timing the install to coincide with other building work is the single biggest lever most people have over the final bill.
- A national installer will usually quote higher than a local one for the same job, so it pays to get more than one quote.
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 first fork in the road is wet versus electric. Electric mats are quick to lay and cheaper up front, which is why they turn up so often in bathrooms and small rooms, though they cost more to run because they're heating directly from electricity. A wet system pipes warm water through the floor and links to your boiler or heat pump, so it's a bigger job with more parts and more labour, but it runs efficiently across larger areas and at lower temperatures. Retrofit versus new build makes just as much difference. Lifting an existing floor, adding insulation and reinstating the finish afterwards is far more work than laying pipes or mats into a fresh screed while the floor is already open. Room size, the state of the subfloor, and the flooring you finish with (tile, wood, carpet) all move the number too, since some finishes conduct heat better than others and some need extra preparation. Who does the work matters as well: a national heating firm usually quotes above a local installer for what is essentially the same job, because their overheads and marketing costs are higher and get built into the price.
How to pay less
- Match the system to the job. Use electric for a single small room like a bathroom, and save wet systems for whole-floor jobs where the higher install cost is spread over more square metres.
- Install underfloor heating during a renovation or new build rather than as a standalone retrofit, since the floor is already up and the disruption is already happening.
- Get several quotes and check each one includes insulation, controls, screed and floor finishing, not just the mats or pipes, so you're comparing like for like.
- Ask whether the quote covers the manifold, thermostats and any electrical work separately, as these can be quoted as extras by some installers and included by others.
- Pair a wet system with a heat pump or an efficient boiler so the lower running temperature keeps running costs down for years after the install.
- Choose a local installer over a national one where you can, since the same job is often priced lower once you strip out the bigger firm's overheads.
Common questions
Is wet or electric underfloor heating cheaper?
Electric underfloor heating is usually cheaper to install, especially in a single small room, but it costs more to run day to day. A wet system costs more to fit yet is cheaper to run once it's covering a larger area. The real prices on this page show both routes so you can weigh install cost against running cost rather than looking at one number in isolation.
Can underfloor heating be retrofitted?
Yes, but it costs more than fitting it during a build. Retrofitting means lifting the existing floor, adding insulation, laying the mats or pipes, then refinishing on top, and all of that adds labour and disruption. If you're already renovating a room for other reasons, that's the ideal time to add underfloor heating and save on the extra upheaval of doing it as a separate job.
Does underfloor heating work with a heat pump?
Yes, and it's a strong pairing. A wet underfloor heating system runs at a lower flow temperature than radiators, which suits an air source heat pump and helps keep running costs down. If you're planning both, mention it to your installer early so the underfloor system is sized and designed to work with the heat pump from the start rather than being bolted on afterwards.
Why do quotes for underfloor heating vary so much?
Because the job itself varies. Whether you're doing electric or wet, retrofit or new build, one room or a whole floor, and what finish is going on top all change how much labour and material the installer needs. Two quotes for what sounds like the same job can genuinely be pricing different amounts of work, so it's worth asking each installer exactly what's included before comparing the numbers.
Does the type of flooring on top affect the cost or performance?
Yes. Tile and stone conduct heat well and are the easiest finishes to pair with underfloor heating, while thick carpet or certain wood floors can insulate against the heat and may need a system designed to compensate. Some finishes also need extra preparation before the heating goes in, which can add to the installer's price.
Is it worth getting a wet system for just one room?
Usually not. Wet systems involve more labour, pipework and a link into your boiler or heat pump, so the install cost is easier to justify when it's spread across a whole floor. For a single small room, electric mats tend to work out cheaper overall even though they cost more to run, simply because the install itself is so much smaller.