Underfloor Heating Running Cost Calculator
Enter your heated floor area, heating type, daily usage hours and how many months you run it each year. Estimate what your electric underfloor heating costs per day, month and season.
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Tip: The "hours per day" field represents the maximum available heating time. If you use a thermostat or programmable timer, enable the thermostat saving toggle — it applies a 30% reduction to reflect real-world cycling behaviour.
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Heating Settings
Electricity cost estimate only. This calculator estimates electricity cost only. It does not verify whether underfloor heating is suitable for your floor covering. Always follow the floor manufacturer's instructions for maximum surface temperature, thermostat use and installation method.
Floor temperature. Many laminate, vinyl, wood and resilient floors require the finished floor surface to stay below the manufacturer's maximum limit, often 27 °C. Check your floor covering's technical data sheet before installing underfloor heating.
Common questions
How much does electric underfloor heating cost to run? +
A 10 m² floor with a 120 W/m² heating mat draws 1.2 kW. Running 8 hours per day uses 9.6 kWh. At $0.28/kWh that is around $2.69 per day, about $82 per month, and roughly $491 over a 6-month heating season. A thermostat reduces this by an estimated 30%, bringing the seasonal cost to around $344.
What is the cheapest type of electric underfloor heating to run? +
Heating foil typically has the lowest wattage at around 100 W/m², making it the cheapest per square metre. Low-output mats run at around 120 W/m², standard mats and cables at 150–160 W/m². The difference in cost is modest — a programmable thermostat has a much larger impact on running costs than the choice of heating type.
Does a thermostat really save money on underfloor heating? +
Yes. A programmable thermostat cycles the heating on and off to maintain temperature rather than running continuously. In practice this cuts consumption by around 30%, which adds up to a meaningful saving over a full heating season.
Is electric underfloor heating expensive compared to central heating? +
Electric underfloor heating costs more per kWh than gas central heating in most countries. It works best as a supplement for bathrooms, kitchens or entrance halls where only a small area is heated for a few hours per day. For those use cases, annual running costs are typically modest.
Understanding electric underfloor heating costs
How much does electric underfloor heating cost to run?
Electric underfloor heating running costs depend on three things: the heated floor area, the wattage of the system per square metre, and how long it runs each day. A 10 m² bathroom floor with a 120 W/m² heating mat draws 1.2 kW total. Running 8 hours per day uses 9.6 kWh. At $0.28/kWh, that is around $2.69 per day or roughly $491 over a 6-month heating season. These are estimates — actual consumption varies with thermostat settings, insulation and floor construction.
Heating cables, mats and foil
All three types of electric underfloor heating use the same basic principle: resistance wire generates heat when electricity passes through it. Heating cables are laid in loops, heating mats come pre-spaced on a mesh, and heating foil uses a thin conductive layer. Wattage varies: cables typically run at 160 W/m², mats at 120–150 W/m², and foil at 100 W/m². Always check the product specification and your floor covering's maximum surface temperature limit before selecting a wattage.
Why a thermostat makes a bigger difference than the heating type
The difference between 100 W/m² and 160 W/m² is about 37%. A programmable thermostat typically cuts effective run time by 30% by cycling the system on and off rather than running continuously. Over a full heating season, the thermostat saving is in the same order of magnitude as switching from cable to foil — and a thermostat works regardless of which type you have installed.
Underfloor heating as a primary vs. supplementary system
Electric underfloor heating at 120–150 W/m² can provide sufficient heat for well-insulated rooms in mild climates. In colder climates or older buildings, it typically works best as a supplement to a central heating system — providing comfortable floor warmth in bathrooms, kitchens and entrance areas. Note that floor coverings such as laminate, vinyl and engineered wood often have a maximum surface temperature limit, commonly 27 °C. Always verify compatibility with the floor manufacturer before installation.
Want to compare with your full home heating cost? Try the Heat Pump Running Cost Calculator or see how underfloor heating fits into your Home Energy Savings.
For a detailed breakdown of running costs, wattage types and floor covering compatibility, read the guide: How Much Does Underfloor Heating Cost to Run?