The short answer
Get at least three quotes from registered installers — a Gas Safe registered heating engineer for a wet system or a NICEIC registered electrician for an electric system — all on the same brief, and insist on an itemised written quote after a proper survey rather than a phone-only price. Tell each installer the same details: the rooms and floor area, whether you want a wet or electric system, your heat source, the number of zones and controls, and the floor build-up and finish. Then line the quotes up item by item and weigh price alongside the survey quality, the warranty and reviews. These are general pointers, not advice for your specific job.
Getting quotes is the step where homeowners most often end up comparing apples with pears — one quote assumes a wet system in screed, another an electric mat, or one leaves out the controls or commissioning. This guide explains what to tell installers, what a good quote should contain, and how to compare three quotes fairly. We are an independent information and introduction service: we do not fit heating, and we publish this guidance free.
Getting quotes at a glance
- How many At least three
- Same brief Identical details to each
- Survey On-site, not phone-only
- Format Itemised, in writing
- Registration Gas Safe or NICEIC
- Compare on Like-for-like brief
What to tell each installer
To get comparable quotes, give every installer the same brief. The more precise you are, the less room there is for quotes to drift apart on hidden differences. Cover the rooms and floor area, whether you want a wet or electric system, your heat source (boiler or heat pump), the number of heating zones and controls, the floor build-up and finish, and whether it is a new build or a retrofit. Ask each installer to survey the property rather than quote over the phone, because a measured survey is what makes a quote reliable. See wet vs electric if you are unsure which system to brief.
| Tell the installer | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Rooms & floor area | The core of the quote — must match across all three |
| Wet or electric system | Changes fitting and running cost significantly |
| Heat source | Boiler or heat pump affects a wet system’s design |
| Zones & controls | More zones and smart controls add cost and comfort |
| Floor build-up & finish | Screed, low-profile board, tile, wood or carpet |
| New build or retrofit | Retrofit usually costs more and may need floor work |
What a good written quote includes
A quote you can rely on is itemised and in writing, not a single headline figure. It should set out the system type (wet or electric), the rooms and area covered, the number of zones and controls, the floor build-up and finish, how the system connects to your heat source or electrical supply, the warranty length and terms, and that commissioning and certification are included. If a quote is vague about any of these, ask for it to be spelled out before you compare. See how underfloor heating is installed to understand what should be covered.
How to compare quotes fairly
With three written quotes on the same brief, line them up item by item. A price gap often comes down to one quote including more zones, smarter controls, or floor work that another omitted — adjust for anything missing before judging on price. Sense-check the figures against typical costs in our underfloor heating cost guide, then weigh the things price alone does not capture: the quality of the survey, the clarity of the warranty, independent reviews and how the installer communicated. The cheapest quote is not automatically the best value, and the most expensive is not automatically the safest. These are general pointers, not advice for your specific job.
Compare underfloor heating quotes
Get matched with a Gas Safe registered heating engineer or NICEIC registered electrician in your area, then apply these checks to compare on a like-for-like brief. Free to use, no obligation — we are an independent guide, not an installer.
Frequently asked questions
How many underfloor heating quotes should I get?
At least three, all on the same brief — same rooms and floor area, system type, heat source, zones and floor finish. This lets you compare fairly and spot a quote that is cheap only because it leaves something out, such as controls or commissioning.
Should I get a survey or a phone quote?
Insist on an on-site survey. A measured survey is what makes a quote reliable; a phone-only or online estimate can change significantly once an installer sees the floor, heat source and any work needed. A proper survey also lets you judge how the installer works.
What should an underfloor heating quote include?
An itemised written quote should list the system type, rooms and floor area, number of zones and controls, floor build-up and finish, how it connects to your heat source or supply, warranty terms, commissioning and certification, and the deposit and payment schedule. Ask for anything vague to be spelled out.
Who should I get quotes from for underfloor heating?
For a wet system off a boiler or heat pump, get quotes from a Gas Safe registered heating engineer. For an electric system, use a NICEIC registered electrician. Using registered installers keeps the work safe, compliant and warranty-backed.
Sources & further reading
- Gas Safe Register — finding and checking registered heating engineers
- NICEIC — finding registered electricians for electric systems
- Energy Saving Trust — quotes for heating and heat pumps
- Manufacturer guidance — system design, controls and floor build-up
- GOV.UK / Building Regulations Approved Document L — efficiency standards
This is general information, not advice for your specific situation, and not a quote. We are an independent information and introduction service — we do not carry out heating work or provide quotes ourselves; we can connect you with a Gas Safe registered heating engineer (wet) or a NICEIC registered electrician (electric). Figures are typical illustrations, not quotes.