How much does it cost to run a electric underfloor heating (per m²)? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a electric underfloor heating (per m²) rated at 150W costs 3.9p an hour to run and around £86.46 a year assuming 6 hours a day, figures per square metre of mat.
Per hour
3.9p
Per typical use
24p
Per day
24p
Per week
£1.66
Per year
£86.46
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 150W for a electric underfloor heating (per m²); published figures for this appliance range from 100W to 200W. Electric underfloor heating mats are typically rated 100–200W per square metre; a well-insulated modern room may only need the system running at 65–85W/m² in practice, while a poorly insulated older room runs closer to the full rated figure. Multiply the results below by your floor area in square metres. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 6 hours a day, figures per square metre of mat, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 4.2p | £91.52 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 4.0p | £88.30 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 4.0p | £87.41 |
| London | 26.60 | 4.0p | £87.38 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 4.0p | £87.32 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 4.0p | £87.22 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 4.0p | £87.02 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 4.0p | £86.95 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 4.0p | £86.56 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 3.9p | £85.77 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 3.8p | £84.10 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 3.8p | £84.10 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 3.8p | £83.64 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 3.8p | £83.31 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 3.9p | £86.46 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £83.31 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £91.52 a year — a gap of £8.21 for identical use.
How a electric underfloor heating (per m²) compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- electric underfloor heating (per m²) — £86.46 a year (this page)
- heated airer — £88.38 a year
- electric shower (8.5kW) — £109 a year
- electric shower (9.5kW) — £122 a year
- ceiling fan — £46.11 a year
- electric shower (10.5kW) — £134 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Fit a programmable thermostat rather than a simple on/off switch — most systems only need short bursts to keep a well-insulated floor warm
- Use a floor sensor as well as an air sensor to avoid overheating the slab beyond what is needed
- Improve insulation below the heating mat where possible — heat lost downward into the subfloor is wasted entirely
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a electric underfloor heating (per m²) for an hour?
- 3.9p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 150W). One typical use — 6 hours a day, figures per square metre of mat — costs closer to 24p.
- How much does a electric underfloor heating (per m²) cost to run per year?
- Around £86.46 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 6 hours a day, figures per square metre of mat — about £1.66 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a electric underfloor heating (per m²) in?
- East Midlands, at £83.31 a year, against £91.52 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £8.21 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my electric underfloor heating (per m²) change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 100W–200W, so the top of that range costs about 2.0x the bottom. This page uses 150W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Warmup — guide to underfloor heating heat output — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
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