Underfloor heating installation across Ireland
Wet and electric underfloor heating systems for new builds, extensions and renovations. Works with heat pumps for maximum SEAI grant efficiency. Get quotes from local installers.
What you need to know
Underfloor heating in Irish homes
Underfloor heating (UFH) is the most efficient way to heat a home with a heat pump. Heat pumps run most efficiently at low water temperatures — typically 35–45°C — which is ideal for underfloor systems. Traditional radiators need 70°C or higher to heat a room effectively at those flow temperatures.
For new builds, wet underfloor heating laid in a screed floor is the default choice. For renovations, electric mat systems can go under tiles and hard floors in individual rooms without raising the floor height significantly.
UFH also works very well with solid concrete or stone floors, which act as a thermal store — warming up slowly and releasing heat gradually throughout the day.
- Compatible with all floor finishes (tile, stone, engineered wood, LVT)
- Up to 25% more efficient than radiator-based heating
- No visible radiators or pipes — full wall space available
- Even heat distribution, no cold corners
- SEAI heat pump grants apply when UFH is installed alongside a heat pump
Two systems
Wet vs electric underfloor heating
Water-fed (hydronic) UFH
Pipes laid in insulation board or screed carry warm water from your boiler or heat pump. This is the most common system for whole-house heating in Ireland.
Best for
- New builds and extensions with poured screed
- Whole-house heating as the primary system
- Homes with a heat pump (highest efficiency combination)
- Ground-floor slabs in renovations
Consider that
- Installation is disruptive — floor must be prepared and screed poured
- Screed takes 28 days to cure before occupation
- Higher upfront cost than electric
- Requires a plumber and heating engineer
Installed cost: €40–€70 per m² (labour only; pipes, insulation, manifold extra)
Electric mat UFH
Thin heating cables embedded in a mat go under tiles or other hard floors. Controlled by a thermostat. Best for single rooms rather than whole-house heating.
Best for
- Bathroom or kitchen tile floors (comfort heating)
- Renovations where raising floor height is not possible
- Quick installations — done in a day
- Supplemental heating in specific rooms
Consider that
- Electricity costs more per kWh than gas or heat pump
- Not suited as the sole heating system for a whole home
- Running costs are higher than wet UFH
- Floor loading capacity should be checked
Installed cost: €100–€180 per m² (supply and install; per-room basis)
SEAI grants
Underfloor heating and SEAI grants
If you are installing a heat pump under the SEAI Better Energy Homes scheme, pairing it with underfloor heating maximises both the efficiency of the system and the SEAI grant value. The €6,500 heat pump grant applies to the heat pump installation; the underfloor heating is separate but makes the heat pump significantly more efficient and reduces your heating bills.
SEAI One Stop Shop providers can coordinate the entire package: heat pump, underfloor heating, insulation and BER assessment — with enhanced grants available under that scheme.
Ireland's housing retrofit targets under the National Development Plan mean SEAI grant budgets are regularly reviewed. Apply for your grant before beginning any work — retrospective applications are not accepted.
See SEAI grant amounts
Compatibility
Floor finishes compatible with UFH
Cost guide
Underfloor heating costs in Ireland 2026
Underfloor heating costs vary significantly depending on system type, floor area and whether the house is a new build or a renovation. Wet hydronic systems have higher upfront costs but much lower running costs over the system lifetime.
For whole-house wet UFH in a standard three-bedroom Irish semi-detached (approximately 100–110 m²), budget €5,000–€8,000 for the UFH install alone. This does not include the heat pump, insulation or BER upgrade that typically accompany a deep retrofit.
Electric mat systems are a fraction of the upfront cost but carry higher day-to-day running costs. They are best used for comfort heating in a single room rather than as the primary heat source.
Always get at least three quotes. Verify that your installer is RGII-registered or a member of CIPHE before work begins. See our guide on vetting a tradesperson before committing to any contractor.
| Job type | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wet UFH — ground floor only (100 m²) | €4,500–€7,000 | Labour, pipe, insulation, manifold |
| Wet UFH — full house (200 m²) | €8,000–€14,000 | All floors, multiple zones, manifold |
| Wet UFH — extension only (30 m²) | €1,800–€3,000 | Single zone, connect to existing system |
| Electric mat — bathroom (6 m²) | €600–€900 | Mat supply and install, thermostat |
| Electric mat — kitchen (15 m²) | €1,200–€1,800 | Mat supply and install, thermostat |
| Heat pump + UFH combined | €18,000–€28,000 | Before SEAI grant of €6,500 |
| Screed pouring (by others) | €25–€40 per m² | Separate contractor, not the plumber |
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