Wet and electric systems · Ireland
Underfloor Heating Ireland: Costs, Systems and Local Installers
Wet or electric underfloor heating, for a new build, an extension or a retrofit, with county-by-county guidance on what it costs, which system suits your home, and how to pair it with a heat pump.
The basics
Wet or Electric: What Underfloor Heating Involves
Underfloor heating comes in two forms. Wet systems circulate warm water through pipes laid in the floor screed, running off a boiler or, ideally, a heat pump, and suit whole houses, new builds and extensions. Electric systems use thin heating mats or cable under tile, and suit bathrooms and single-room retrofits. Choosing between them comes down to how much floor area you are heating and what your heat source is.
How Long Does Underfloor Heating Take to Fit?
A wet single-storey system takes two to four days plus screed curing. An electric bathroom mat is usually a one-day fit under the tiler.
SEAI Grants for Heat Pump Upgrades in 2026
Up to €6,500 for a heat pump and €1,200 for solar water heating, through SEAI-registered contractors. Underfloor heating is the ideal heat-pump partner.
Local coverage
Underfloor Heating by County Throughout Ireland
Underfloor heating is never one-size-fits-all. What you pay, whether a wet or electric system suits your home, and how a heat pump fits into the picture all depend on where in Ireland you live and the age of your house. Choose your county for 2026 pricing that reflects real local costs, the systems that actually suit your area, and local plumbers and heating installers working on your doorstep.
Leinster
12 countiesFrom Dublin extensions and Meath new builds to renovation projects across the Kildare and Wicklow commuter belt, wet underfloor heating on a screed manifold is the system installers fit most in Leinster. Electric mats stay popular for one-off bathroom retrofits in older terraced homes.
Munster
6 countiesCork and Limerick see plenty of wet underfloor heating paired with heat pumps in new builds, while rural Munster favours low-profile overlay systems when retrofitting older farmhouses and bungalows. Single-room electric heating suits the many holiday homes and en-suites across Kerry and west Cork.
Connacht
5 countiesNew builds across Galway and Mayo increasingly specify wet underfloor heating run off an air-to-water heat pump, a natural fit for the exposed, high heat-demand homes of the west. Retrofit overlay systems and electric mats cover the older rural housing stock where a full screed is impractical.
Ulster
3 countiesCavan, Monaghan and Donegal are off the gas grid, so wet underfloor heating on a heat pump is the efficient choice for new one-off homes in the colder northern counties. Low-profile retrofit boards and electric bathroom mats handle upgrades to the older drumlin-country housing stock.
Browse local plumbers in any county in the full plumber directory.
The options
Underfloor Heating Ireland: Which System Is Right for Your Home?
Wet Underfloor Heating
Warm water pipes laid in the floor screed, run off a boiler or, ideally, a heat pump. The low flow temperatures suit new builds and extensions where the floor is being built up from scratch. Supply and fit.
Electric Underfloor Heating
Thin heating mats or loose cable set under tile or stone. Quick to fit and controlled by a room thermostat, it is the common choice for bathrooms, en-suites and single-room retrofits. Supply and fit.
Retrofit / Low-Profile UFH
Slim overlay panels that add just 15 to 20 mm to the floor, so wet underfloor heating can go into an existing home without digging out the slab. Ideal for renovations and kitchen extensions on older houses.
2026 prices
Underfloor Heating Cost Ireland 2026: Typical Prices by System
Typical supply-and-fit ranges. All figures include labour and VAT at 9%.
Wet UFH per m²
€60–€90
Whole floor, pipes in screed, supply and fit
Electric UFH per m²
€50–€75
Mat or cable under tile, supply and fit
Single-room electric
€600–€1,100
Bathroom or en-suite, fitted
Whole-house wet system
€6,000–€12,000
New build or full retrofit, all zones
Manifold and zoning
€400–€900
Per manifold, sets the room-by-room control
For a full breakdown see our Ireland plumbing costs guide.
SEAI grants
SEAI Grants for Heat Pumps and Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating pairs perfectly with a heat pump, and SEAI grants are available for heat pump installation (up to €6,500) and solar water heating (€1,200). The underfloor heating itself is not separately grant-aided, but as part of a heat-pump upgrade it delivers the low running costs the grant is designed to encourage. Work must be carried out by an SEAI-registered contractor before any grant can be claimed.
See SEAI-registered plumbers →Hiring
How to Find an Underfloor Heating Installer in Ireland
Underfloor heating is a specialist fit best handled by an experienced plumber or heating installer. Here is how to choose and hire correctly.
Browse Local Plumbers in Your County
Every plumber listed in our plumber directory works locally and can be contacted directly. Browse by county, find heating installers near you, and enquire about underfloor heating. No fees and no sign-up to get in touch.
Get Three Written Quotes for the Work
Quotes should specify whether the system is wet or electric, the floor build-up, the number of heating zones, the manifold and the controls. A quote without a floor plan and zone layout is incomplete, since the specification affects both comfort and running costs.
Confirm the Heat Source and Controls
Wet underfloor heating runs best at low flow temperatures, so confirm whether it will pair with a heat pump, a boiler or a blend of both. Ask about weather compensation and room thermostats, as good controls are what make underfloor heating cheap to run.
Agree the Screed and Commissioning Steps
For a wet system the installer should pressure-test the pipework before the screed goes down and commission the manifold once the floor has cured. Ask for the commissioning sheet and the manufacturer warranty on completion, and keep them with your home file.
Underfloor Heating Questions From Irish Homeowners
How much does underfloor heating cost per m² in Ireland in 2026?
Wet underfloor heating costs €60 to €90 per square metre supplied and fitted across a whole floor in 2026. Electric underfloor heating is €50 to €75 per square metre. A single bathroom in electric mat runs €600 to €1,100 fitted. All figures include labour and VAT at 9%.
Is wet or electric underfloor heating better for an Irish home?
Wet underfloor heating is the better choice for a whole house or a new build, as it runs cheaply off a boiler or heat pump and covers large areas efficiently. Electric underfloor heating suits single rooms such as bathrooms and en-suites, where it is quick to fit but costs more to run over a full house.
Can underfloor heating be retrofitted into an existing Irish home?
Yes. Low-profile overlay systems add only 15 to 20 mm to the floor, so wet underfloor heating can be fitted in an existing home without digging out the slab. It is a common upgrade during kitchen extensions and full renovations. Electric mats are an even simpler retrofit for a single tiled room.
Does underfloor heating work with a heat pump in Ireland?
Underfloor heating and heat pumps are an ideal pairing. Underfloor heating runs at low flow temperatures, which is exactly where a heat pump is most efficient, so the two together give low running costs. SEAI grants of up to €6,500 for a heat pump make the combination attractive for new builds and deep retrofits.
How long does underfloor heating installation take?
A wet underfloor heating system for a single storey takes two to four days to lay and commission, plus screed curing time before you can run it fully. An electric mat in one bathroom is usually a one-day fit under the tiler. Whole-house wet systems in a new build are scheduled alongside the wider build programme.
What are the running costs of underfloor heating versus radiators?
Underfloor heating warms a room evenly at a lower water temperature than radiators, so a wet system paired with a heat pump generally costs less to run than radiators on a boiler. Electric underfloor heating costs more per unit of heat, which is why it suits single rooms rather than whole houses.
Find an Underfloor Heating Installer Near You
Underfloor heating quotes from local plumbers and heating installers in every county. Contact them directly, no fees, no sign-up.