The short answer
Choose a wet (water) system for a whole house, a new build or anywhere paired with a heat pump, and an electric (mat) system for a single room or a retrofit where you do not want to raise the floor. Wet UFH runs pipes off a boiler or heat pump and costs more to fit but less to run; electric UFH uses a thin heating mat wired to a thermostat, costs less to fit but more per unit of heat, and barely raises the floor. The decision comes down to how much area you are heating, whether it is new or existing, and your heat source. These are general pointers, not advice for your specific job.
Wet and electric underfloor heating reach the same comfortable result — warmth rising evenly from the floor — but they suit very different jobs. This guide sets out how the two systems differ across the things that matter: fitting, running cost, floor height, response and where each one fits best. All figures are typical illustrations rather than quotes, and underfloor heating should be fitted by a Gas Safe registered heating engineer (wet) or a NICEIC registered electrician (electric).
Wet vs electric at a glance
- Heat source Wet: boiler/heat pump · Electric: mains
- Fit cost Wet higher · Electric lower
- Running cost Wet lower · Electric higher
- Floor height Wet more · Electric minimal
- Best for Wet: whole house · Electric: single rooms
- Installer Wet: Gas Safe · Electric: NICEIC
How wet underfloor heating works
A wet system circulates warm water through a loop of pipes laid under the floor, connected to a manifold and fed by a boiler or heat pump. Because it warms the whole floor at a low flow temperature, it is efficient and well suited to heating a whole house or open-plan space, and it is the natural partner for a heat pump. The trade-offs are a higher fitting cost and more floor build-up — pipes plus screed — which is why it is easiest to fit in a new build or during a renovation. See whole-house cost.
| Factor | Wet (water) | Electric (mat) |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Whole house, new build, heat pump | Single rooms, retrofits, bathrooms |
| Fitting cost | Higher (£60–£150/m²) | Lower (£50–£100/m²) |
| Running cost | Lower | Higher per unit |
| Floor height added | More (pipes + screed) | Minimal (thin mat) |
| Installer | Gas Safe heating engineer | NICEIC electrician |
How electric underfloor heating works
An electric system uses a thin heating mat or cable laid under the floor finish and wired back to a thermostat. Because the mats are only a few millimetres thick, the floor is barely raised, which makes electric the common choice for retrofitting a single room such as a bathroom, en-suite or kitchen. It is cheaper and quicker to fit, but electricity costs more per unit than gas, so it is best for smaller areas used occasionally rather than a whole house heated daily. For the cost detail, see wet vs electric cost and running costs.
Which should you choose?
If you are building, extending or renovating, or heating most of the home, a wet system is usually the right answer: it is efficient, comfortable and cheaper to run, and it pairs with a heat pump. If you want to warm a single existing room without lifting the floor — a tiled bathroom is the classic case — an electric mat is simpler and cheaper to fit. Consider the floor finish too, as both systems have suitable and less suitable finishes; see underfloor heating under laminate and wood floors. This is general information; the right choice depends on your home, heat source and how you use the rooms, and underfloor heating should be fitted by a Gas Safe registered heating engineer (wet) or a NICEIC registered electrician (electric).
Compare underfloor heating quotes
For a close call between wet and electric, quotes for both make the decision clear. Use our service to compare quotes from a Gas Safe heating engineer or NICEIC electrician in your area.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose wet or electric underfloor heating?
Choose wet for a whole house, a new build or anywhere paired with a heat pump, and electric for a single retrofit room where you do not want to raise the floor much. Wet costs more to fit but less to run; electric is the reverse. These are general pointers, not advice for your specific job.
Can you use electric underfloor heating in a whole house?
You can, but it is rarely sensible. Electricity costs more per unit than gas, so heating a whole house with electric mats is expensive to run. Whole homes almost always use a wet system; electric is best kept to single rooms. See whole-house cost.
Which raises the floor less?
Electric. The heating mats are only a few millimetres thick, so the floor is barely raised, which is why electric suits retrofits. A wet system adds more height because of the pipes and screed, so it is easiest in a new build or renovation.
Which is better with a heat pump?
Wet underfloor heating. Its low flow temperature is exactly what a heat pump needs to run efficiently, which is why the two are often installed together. Electric UFH does not connect to a heat pump. See running costs.
Sources & further reading
- Energy Saving Trust — wet and electric underfloor heating and heat pumps
- Gas Safe Register — registered heating engineers for wet systems
- NICEIC — registered electricians for electric underfloor heating
- Manufacturer guidance — system specification, floor build-up and controls
- GOV.UK / Building Regulations Approved Document L — efficiency standards
This is general information, not advice for your specific property or installation. The right system varies with your home, heat source, floor finishes and how you use the rooms. Underfloor heating should be fitted by a Gas Safe registered heating engineer (wet) or a NICEIC registered electrician (electric). We are an independent information and introduction service, not an installer.