The average underfloor heating cost is around 85 per m², but this can vary from between £60 to £120 depending on the existing flooring, access and other factors.
Cost Per m²
We contacted 42 companies for quotes on a small electric underfloor heating installation. These are for quotes in the smaller size ranges of 10-15m² for a supply and installation. Prices exclude VAT.
[table “93” not found /]It’s worth remembering that the electrician only deals with the electrical aspects of electric underfloor heating. Therefore, a tradesman such as a tiler will be needed to finish the flooring once the electricals have been completed.
The costs stated are the electrician’s part of the work and will need to work with a tiler to finish the floor. Typically an electrician will need the following aspects to be sorted before starting:
- The existing floor is to be fully removed in the subject area
- A level floor area and surface for installation
- Local power supply for this to install the controls and sensors
Generally, an electrician will charge by the hour. Labour costs will typically be around £350 – £500 plus materials for a smaller area size (<15m²).
Factors That Affect the Cost
Total Size of Floor
The larger the total size of the electric underfloor heating, the lower the cost per m².
Type of Floor
Different flooring materials heat up more or less quickly which depends on their thermal mass and conductivity. Materials with lower thermal mass and higher conductivity heat up faster but cool down faster and vice versa.
This affects the maximum heat output the system can use. Higher capacity systems will cost more to run. Extra insulation under the system can ensure better performance, but that will cost extra and raise the floor.
The flooring materials electricians typically encounter to using an electric underfloor heating system are:
- Tiled: lets through the most amount of heat
- Wooden/laminate: lets through a good amount of heat
- Carpets: lets through the least amount of heat
Ease of Getting Power to System
An electrician will need to take a look at the existing electrical system and whether it is sufficient. He or she will need to determine whether you can come off a socket for the supply or whether you need a new supply cable run back to your fuse board.
Depending on the size of the electrical underfloor heating, a new supply may need to be installed. This could add a figure along the lines of £185.00 to bring the new supply from your distribution/fuse board.
Something else to consider is whether it is going to be the primary source of heat or just to keep the chill off the flooring. This will affect the cost of the system used.
Type of Thermostat
You can have either a standard digital thermostat or one where you can control it with your phone. You can expect to pay along the lines of £95 extra for a control WIFI thermostat.
Extent of Flooring Work
These systems require the existing floor to be fully removed in the subject area. Therefore, an electrician will need to liaise with a flooring specialist to fully complete work.
The electrician may have a recommended partner they can work with that speeds up the process or you might need to hire one yourself.
Location
Labour costs in London and the south of England are generally more expensive than elsewhere.
If the contractor needs to travel beyond a certain radius, then they may add an extra fee on top. Unless you live in a very rural location or want to use an electrician that operates further afield, you shouldn’t need to pay extra.
Other Factors
Other questions an electrician will typically need to know before pricing works accurately include the following:
- Has the consumer unit got RCD protection?
- What type of heating mat is used?
- What is their wattage? The more wattage per square metre, the warmer the floor will be and the quicker it will heat up.
- Is this a primary or secondary source of heating?
- Will there be concrete screeding over the top of the heat mat?
Why Electric Underfloor Heating?
Electric underfloor heating is gaining in popularity due to its great quality and ease of installation, particularly in existing properties.
They can be laid under almost any type of flooring and are particularly popular for rooms with hard floorings like bathrooms and kitchens.
Because the installation process of electric underfloor heating (i.e. dry systems) is different from wet systems, installation costs vary considerably.
Why You Can Trust This Cost Data
We contacted 42 companies for quotes on a small electric underfloor heating installation for both a 10m² and a 15m² sized room. We then averaged out the costs and looked for the typical range these costs fell into.
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