The Best Electric Underfloor Heating Kits For Cold Floors
Five DIY-friendly mat and cable kits for warming tiled kitchens and bathrooms or wooden floors.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best electric underfloor heating is the Nassboards Premium Pro Electric Underfloor Heating Kit, because everything's in the box and its thin cables keep a tiled floor level. If you want to spend less, go for the EconoHome Underfloor Electric Heating Mat, which includes a smart thermostat.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Nassboards Premium Pro Electric Underfloor Heating Kit
Best Overall
Nassboards Premium Pro Electric Underfloor Heating KitKitchens and bathrooms with tiles or vinyl, laid by a confident DIYer
- Check price of EconoHome Underfloor Electric Heating Mat
Best Value
EconoHome Underfloor Electric Heating MatSmaller rooms on a budget where a smart thermostat is wanted
- Check price of BodenWärme Underfloor Heating
Best For Laminate & Engineered Wood
BodenWärme Underfloor HeatingLaminate and engineered wood floors that need a foil mat beneath them
- Check price of Fastwarm Electric Underfloor Heating Sticky Mat Kit
Best Quality
Fastwarm Electric Underfloor Heating Sticky Mat KitLarger rooms where underfloor heating will be the main heat source
- Check price of HEATIT Electric Underfloor Heating
Best Budget
HEATIT Electric Underfloor HeatingSmall bathrooms and kitchens where you already own a thermostat
Your floor covering picks the mat type for you. Tiles and stone go over a mesh mat bedded in adhesive, while laminate and engineered wood need a foil mat laid straight beneath them. Sizing is where people go wrong. The cable can't be cut, as the tape in the photo up top warns, so measure only the open floor and leave out units, baths and toilets.
Check the thermostat too, as the HEATIT kit doesn't include one. The five below range from budget mats to a premium kit for rooms where the floor is the main heat source.
Laying And Testing These Underfloor Heating Kits
We've laid electric underfloor heating under tiles and laminate across our own properties, and our step-by-step guide on how to install underfloor heating covers the job in detail. Each kit here comes complete and ready to lay.
Our most recent install was in a new extension on a house we were renovating, where the underfloor heating is the main heat source. The first two photos show a mat being rolled out and tested, and we checked every mat with a multimeter before covering it. That check is quick, and it's the only way to know a cable hasn't been nicked before it disappears under screed and tiles.
With every mat tested, the floor was screeded and, once that had dried, tiled. We control this install with a WiFi smart thermostat, because we find them far easier to set up and adjust than a standard push-button unit. The photos below show how much of the extension floor the mats cover and how the cable runs across the mesh.
The mats in these extension photos carry Warmup branding, and the lessons from that job fed into how we judged the five kits below. When a brand brings out an improved kit, we try to buy it and put it on a real floor where we can. Each kit was scored on the following:
- Build: cable thickness, insulation and how the mat holds together while you lay it
- Kit contents: whether everything needed for the install comes in the box
- Thermostat: how easy it is to set up and live with, and what upgrades are offered
- Floors: which coverings the kit is approved for, including wet rooms
- Sizes: the range of mat sizes on offer
- Backing: the warranty and value for money
The Best Electric Underfloor Heating Kits
All five kits use fluoropolymer-insulated heating cable. Only the HEATIT kit is sold without a thermostat.
Best Overall
Nassboards Premium Pro Electric Underfloor Heating Kit
Best for: Kitchens and bathrooms with tiles or vinyl, laid by a confident DIYer
Check Price On AmazonWe liked the Nassboards Premium Pro enough to lay it in the kitchen of one of our rentals, and the kit itself was easy to work with. The cables are only 3 mm thick, so they add very little to the floor height under tiles, and they're insulated in tough fluoropolymer. Nassboards rates it at 200W per square metre and lists it for tiles, carpet and vinyl in rooms from kitchens and conservatories to wet rooms.
The box covers the whole job, with two thermal tapes, thermal primer, a roller, self-adhesive, a floor probe, the thermostat and clear instructions. Sizes run from 1.5 to 18 square metres, and you pick from eight thermostats, including touch, WiFi and smart versions.
That choice is where we tripped up. The WiFi thermostat we picked first was awkward to set up, and swapping to the Nassboards smart thermostat with Alexa support made day-to-day control far easier.
What we like
- Thin 3 mm cables that barely raise the floor
- Rated at 200W per square metre
- Approved for kitchens, bathrooms and wet rooms
- Choice of eight thermostats
- Primer, roller, tapes and floor probe in the box
- Mat sizes from 1.5 to 18 square metres
- Tough fluoropolymer cable insulation
What to know
- The WiFi thermostat we chose first was awkward to set up
Our verdict
The Nassboards Premium Pro is our pick for a tiled kitchen or bathroom, and with the primer, tapes and floor probe all in the box you won't be making a second trip to the shops mid-job. Go for the smart thermostat over the basic WiFi one. If you're laying laminate or engineered wood, the BodenWärme foil kit is the better fit.
Best Value
EconoHome Underfloor Electric Heating Mat
Best for: Smaller rooms on a budget where a smart thermostat is wanted
Check Price On AmazonThe thermostat is where a cheap underfloor heating kit can disappoint, and that's where EconoHome stands apart. It puts a WiFi smart thermostat in the box, with Google and Alexa support and an easy interface, so the part you touch every day is the part they haven't skimped on.
The mats run from 1 to 10 square metres and have a thin profile to keep the floor height down. You can cut the mesh with scissors to turn corners and work around the room's shape, leaving the cable itself untouched. EconoHome approves it for wet areas and most floor types, from tiles to wood, and the cable has fluoropolymer insulation.
The trade-off is choice. There are fewer mat sizes and thermostats than Nassboards or Fastwarm offer, so larger rooms are out.
What we like
- WiFi smart thermostat that works with Google and Alexa
- Suits most floor types including wood
- Thin profile keeps the floor height down
- Mesh cuts with scissors to follow the room
- Approved for wet areas
- Fluoropolymer cable insulation
What to know
- Fewer sizes and thermostat options than the other kits
- Mats only go up to 10 square metres
Our verdict
A smart thermostat in the box at a budget price is what makes the EconoHome kit good value, and it suits a bathroom, en suite or small kitchen well. The catch is size, as the mats stop at 10 square metres, so bigger rooms need the Nassboards Premium Pro or Fastwarm kit.
Best For Laminate & Engineered Wood
BodenWärme Underfloor Heating
Best for: Laminate and engineered wood floors that need a foil mat beneath them
Check Price On AmazonBodenWärme specialises in underfloor heating, and this kit is designed for laminate and engineered wood rather than tiles. The mat is foil encased, with an aluminium structure that spreads the heat evenly beneath a floating floor, and the cable is dual core.
The latest version of the mat adds a full earth system for extra safety, which matters under a floor you'll be living on for years. Sizes run from 1 to 24 square metres, you can choose from four thermostats, and all the hardware for the install is supplied. BodenWärme backs it with a 10-year manufacturer warranty.
It costs more than the budget EconoHome and HEATIT kits, so it's the one to choose when the floor going down is laminate or engineered wood rather than tiles.
What we like
- Foil mat made for laminate and engineered wood
- Full earth system for added safety
- Dual-core cable
- Mat sizes from 1 to 24 square metres
- Choice of four thermostats
- 10-year manufacturer warranty
What to know
- Costs more than the EconoHome and HEATIT kits
Our verdict
Laminate and engineered wood need a foil mat, and that's exactly what the BodenWärme kit is built around, with a full earth system and a 10-year warranty behind it. It costs more than the budget kits, and under tiles it's the wrong choice, as a mesh mat such as the Nassboards Premium Pro suits that job better.
Best Quality
Fastwarm Electric Underfloor Heating Sticky Mat Kit
Best for: Larger rooms where underfloor heating will be the main heat source
Check Price On AmazonFastwarm is another underfloor heating specialist, and its sticky mat kit sits at the top of the price range here. At just 2 mm, the cable adds next to nothing to the floor height, and it has a fluoropolymer coating over a dual-core resistive heating cable.
The self-adhesive mat sticks to the floor as you roll it, which keeps it in place while you spread adhesive or levelling compound over it. Everything for the install comes in the box, mat sizes run from 1 to 24 square metres and there are 10 thermostats to choose from. Fastwarm says it can be used as a primary heat source, with the thermostat giving each room its own control.
The lifetime guarantee is the strongest in this roundup, and it's the main reason to pay the extra.
What we like
- Ultra-thin 2 mm fluoropolymer-coated cable
- Self-adhesive mat stays put while you work
- Choice of 10 thermostats
- Mat sizes from 1 to 24 square metres
- Lifetime guarantee
- Suitable as a primary heat source according to Fastwarm
What to know
- Most expensive kit in our roundup
Our verdict
The Fastwarm kit is worth the money for a large room, an extension or anywhere the floor will be the main source of heat, where a lifetime guarantee earns its keep. For a small bathroom, it's more than you need, and the Nassboards Premium Pro or EconoHome mat will do the job for less.
Best Budget
HEATIT Electric Underfloor Heating
Best for: Small bathrooms and kitchens where you already own a thermostat
Check Price On AmazonHEATIT keeps the cost down by selling the mat without a thermostat, which makes sense if you already have one or want to choose your own. The mats have adhesive tape along the underside, so they stick down as you lay them, and that makes the install easier for anyone fitting underfloor heating for the first time.
The cable is insulated in fluoropolymer and suitable for wet areas, and the mat works under most floor types. HEATIT backs it with a 30-year warranty and it carries the UKCA mark. Apart from the thermostat, everything for the install is in the box. Sizes run from 1 to 10 square metres.
Factor the thermostat into the budget. HEATIT recommends its own, though plenty of smart thermostats work with it.
What we like
- 30-year warranty
- Adhesive tape on the underside for easy laying
- Fluoropolymer cable suitable for wet areas
- UKCA marked
- Works under most floor types
What to know
- No thermostat in the box
- Mats only go up to 10 square metres
Our verdict
Owning a thermostat already is what makes the HEATIT mat a bargain, and the 30-year warranty is impressive for a budget kit. The adhesive tape on the underside makes it a friendly first install. Without a thermostat you'll need to add one to the cost, and rooms over 10 square metres need the Nassboards or Fastwarm kits.
How To Choose Electric Underfloor Heating
Laying electric underfloor heating is a satisfying DIY job, but most of the decisions that make it work happen before the first mat is unrolled. Get those right and the rest of the job is straightforward.
Measuring The Heated Area
Measure the open floor where people will actually stand and leave out the space under kitchen units, baths, shower trays and toilets. The mat should cover that open area without going under fixed furniture, so the size you order is smaller than the room itself.
Draw the room out on paper and plan where the mat will turn. The mesh or foil can be cut and flipped to change direction, but the cable can't be cut or shortened, so a mat that's too long is a real problem. If the room sits between two sizes, go for the smaller one.
Matching The Kit To Your Floor Covering
Mesh mats are bedded in tile adhesive or a thin layer of levelling compound and suit tiles, stone and some vinyl. Foil mats such as the BodenWärme go straight under laminate and engineered wood on a suitable underlay. For luxury vinyl, the manufacturer of the floor sets the rules, and our complete guide to Karndean flooring covers what to check before laying it over heating.
On a tiled floor, the cables need a smooth layer over them before tiling. Our guide on how to use self-levelling compound walks through getting a flat finish over mats.
Insulation Under The Mats
Heat goes the easy way, and on a concrete slab that's downwards. Insulation boards under the mats send the warmth up into the room and help the floor heat up faster. Our guide to floor insulation explains the options for solid and suspended floors.
Thermostats And Floor Probes
The thermostat is the part you'll use every day, and it's where cheap kits cut corners. A floor probe sits between two cable runs and stops the floor getting too hot, which protects wooden coverings as well as the cable. Smart thermostats let you schedule warm floors for the mornings and control them from your phone, and our guide to how a smart thermostat works explains what to look for.
Testing And The Electrical Connection
Test each mat with a multimeter before you lay it, after you lay it and again once the screed or adhesive is on, comparing the reading with the figure on the mat's label. A damaged cable is a quick fix before the floor goes down and a major job afterwards.
Laying the mats is DIY work, but the final connection to the mains should be made by a registered electrician. A new circuit, or any electrical work in a bathroom, is notifiable under the Building Regulations in England and Wales.
Underfloor Heating Questions Answered
Is electric underfloor heating expensive to run?
Electric underfloor heating costs depend on the mat's wattage, the size of the heated area, how well the floor is insulated and how many hours it runs. Insulation boards under the mats and a thermostat with a floor probe and timer keep the running time down. Used in a bathroom or kitchen for a few hours a day, it's a modest cost.
Can electric underfloor heating be the main heat source?
Yes, electric underfloor heating can be the main heat source in a well-insulated room, and we use it that way in a renovated extension. The floor needs insulation boards under the mats and the mats need to cover most of the open floor area. Fastwarm sells its sticky mat kit for primary heating, while smaller kits suit topping up existing radiators.
Can you put electric underfloor heating under laminate?
You can put electric underfloor heating under laminate as long as you use a foil mat made for floating floors, such as the BodenWärme kit. The foil spreads the heat evenly and sits on an insulating underlay beneath the boards. Check the laminate manufacturer's guidance on underfloor heating and the maximum floor temperature before you buy.
Do you need an electrician to fit electric underfloor heating?
You can lay the mats and fix the thermostat in place yourself, but a registered electrician should make the final connection to the mains. Adding a new circuit or doing electrical work in a bathroom is notifiable under the Building Regulations in England and Wales. The electrician can also test the system and give you a certificate for the work.
Which thermostat would you pick with the Nassboards Premium Pro?
Go for the Nassboards smart thermostat with Alexa support. We started with the WiFi model and found it awkward to set up, and everyday control got far easier once we'd swapped to the smart one. With eight thermostats on offer, including touch, WiFi and smart versions, it pays to pick the right one first time.
Is the Fastwarm kit worth the extra money over the Nassboards Premium Pro?
Only for a large room or an extension where the floor is the main source of heat. Fastwarm is the most expensive kit in our roundup, and the lifetime guarantee is the main reason to pay it. For a small bathroom or kitchen, the Nassboards Premium Pro or EconoHome mat does the job for less.
Is the HEATIT mat really a bargain if it comes without a thermostat?
It is if you already own a thermostat or want to choose your own. Otherwise factor one into the budget, as HEATIT recommends its own. The 30-year warranty is impressive for a budget kit, and the adhesive tape on the underside makes it a friendly first install. Mats stop at 10 square metres.
Is it worth testing the mat with a multimeter before covering it?
Yes, and we tested every mat on our extension floor that way. A multimeter reading takes moments, and it's your only warning that a cable has been nicked while it can still be fixed. Check the reading against the figure on the mat's label each time, and don't let the screed or tiles go down until it matches.
Which Underfloor Heating Kit We'd Lay
The Nassboards Premium Pro is the kit we'd choose for most tiled kitchens and bathrooms, with thin cables, a complete kit and a good choice of thermostats. The EconoHome mat is the value pick with a smart thermostat thrown in.
For laminate and engineered wood, go for the BodenWärme foil kit, and for a large room heated by the floor alone, the Fastwarm kit and its lifetime guarantee are worth the extra.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.