Radiant Floor Heating Cost: What to Expect, and How Much You’ll Pay
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Radiant heat flooring is a great way to keep warm in the winter. Radiant floor heating cost can vary depending on the system but averages $3,831 nationally, typically ranging from $1,700 to $6,170.
Highlights
- The typical cost of radiant floor heating installation is $1,700 to $6,170 with a national average of $3,831.
- Cost factors for installing radiant heat flooring can include floor size, floor material, heating system type, labor, installation location, site preparation, cleanup, and debris disposal.
- Installing radiant floor heating has many advantages including increased comfort, improved safety, better energy efficiency, lower maintenance requirements, and increased home value.
- Because installing radiant floor heating involves many complex components including electrical work, it’s generally recommended that homeowners leave this project to a professional.
Want to install radiant floor heating?
A pro can help. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring experts near you.
Many homeowners don’t give much thought to radiant floor heating until cold weather strikes and their bare feet hit those cold bathroom tiles. That’s when many people wish they had installed this in-floor heating system. According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, a radiant floor heating system costs anywhere from $1,700 to $6,170, with most homeowners paying a national average of $3,831. This space-saving heating method provides consistent heat throughout all parts of the room, unlike many other forms of heating, such as radiators or forced air. And because it’s not blowing hot air around, radiant heat doesn’t stir up dust. Even heat distribution enables an almost unlimited furniture arrangement without worry about covering heat registers or dodging overhead drafts.
Floor heating systems were once considered a purely luxury feature, but today, more homeowners are discovering the benefits of installing a radiant floor heating system, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Homeowners will want to learn about radiant floor heating costs to determine whether to move forward with this project.
What is radiant floor heating?
For those who are unfamiliar with this kind of system, a brief explanation of radiant floor heating may be in order. Radiant floor heating is an alternative method of heating a home—or at least part of a home. Often relegated to bathrooms and kitchens, it’s an under-floor system that emits heat from the ground up, making floors pleasantly warm to walk on and eliminating drafts from forced air heat ducts or radiators.
There are two types of underfloor heating from which to choose: electric and water-based. Both provide consistent, efficient heat. A study by Kansas State University in conjunction with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) revealed that a radiant system could operate 25 percent more efficiently than a forced-air system.
Both water-based and electric systems can save as much as 15 percent on home heating bills, and they are compatible with all types of flooring and are relatively easy to install.
Factors in Calculating Radiant Floor Heating Cost
Floor heating can be pricey. Of course, the size of the room will impact the cost of materials and labor, but other factors can impact the price of radiant floor heating. First is the type of system chosen: electric or hydronic.
It’s important for homeowners not to focus so much on installation costs that the cost of operating each type of system is forgotten. The heating source can make a difference in cost, and geothermal, solar, propane, and electric all come with different price tags. In addition to the size of the floor where radiant floor heating will be installed, the type of flooring can also make a difference in the cost.
Where a homeowner is located may alter the price due to travel distance and labor rates, but also in scheduling a contractor during their peak season. The cost also depends on how much demo (if it’s not being installed in new construction or a renovation), site prep, and cleanup are required.
Want to install radiant floor heating?
A pro can help. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring experts near you.
Floor Size
When homeowners are contracting a project priced by the square foot, it’s important to note that the price will be higher for more square footage based on the need for more materials and labor. For example, installing radiant heat flooring in a room that is 50 square feet will cost $300 to $1,250, whereas installing radiant heat flooring in a larger space of 200 square feet can cost up to $5,000. Very large projects of 2,500 square feet or more may cost as much as $62,500.
| Floor Size | Average Cost (Materials and Labor) |
| 50 square feet | $300 to $1,250 |
| 100 square feet | $600 to $2,500 |
| 200 square feet | $1,200 to $5,000 |
| 500 square feet | $3,000 to $12,500 |
| 1,000 square feet | $6,000 to $25,000 |
| 2,000 square feet | $12,000 to $50,000 |
| 2,500 square feet | $15,000 to $62,500 |
Floor Material
While radiant floor heating can be used with most types of floors, it will cost more to install the system under certain kinds of floors.
“Many heating systems, particularly electric ones, are designed to work most optimally with specific flooring types,” explains Julia Billen, owner and president of WarmlyYours, a radiant heating installation company with headquarters in Lake Zurich, Illinois. “Tile is far and away the most popular floor covering that is paired with floor heating. Even though it’s naturally chilly, when heated, it’s great at acting as a conductor for efficient transfer of heat.”
Installing radiant heating under laminate and hardwood is the least expensive option, averaging $17.50 per square foot installed. Concrete radiant floor heating is also relatively inexpensive at $22.50 per square foot. Installing radiant flooring beneath floor made from tile and ceiling panels is at the top end of the price range, costing $30 and $55 per square foot respectively.
Heating System Type
The two most common types of underfloor heating systems are electric and hydronic. Electric systems cost between $19,000 and $36,000, while hydronic radiant floor heating systems average between $19,000 and $48,000. The ability to install the electric system as mats contributes to its lower cost. However, when it comes to operating costs, the hydronic system costs less to run because water retains heat for an extended period. Other options include geothermal, solar, and propane.
Labor
The biggest percentage of radiant flooring cost is labor, which typically costs between $550 and $2,500 in total. Labor costs can be vastly different around the country, increasing the price considerably.
Those who live in a remote area or at a great distance from the contractor’s headquarters may have to pay more for the installation because the contractor has to transport laborers and materials. If the contractor is located a significant distance from the materials supplier, that could also affect the price.
Want to install radiant floor heating?
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Installation Location
The reason the room where a homeowner intends to install radiant floor heating affects the cost is that certain rooms usually have specific types of flooring, which may cost more. For example, basements typically have concrete floors. The average cost of adding radiant heat flooring in a basement ranges from $10,000 to $30,000. Although a garage also usually has concrete floors, installation costs are significantly lower, averaging $8,000 to $20,000 because a garage offers easier access. Bathrooms and kitchens have the lowest average costs: $2,000 to $6,500 and $2,500 to $7,500, respectively. Heating a driveway uses a similar process to radiant floors, though the prices will be different; installing a heated driveway costs $3,000 to $25,000.
Site Preparation, Cleanup, and Debris Disposal
Site prep, cleanup, and disposal of debris can increase costs as well. Prep work can include digging, installing foam, and compacting. Removing the existing flooring in the room of the installation will cost about $60 to $120 per hour. The level of difficulty of that work will ultimately determine the final cost. Similarly, the amount of cleanup and debris to be removed will also affect the final bill. Disposing of debris runs $100 to $600 per truckload if done by a professional. If a homeowner chooses to handle disposal themselves, they will likely pay around $300 to $600 per week to rent a dumpster.
Additional Costs and Considerations
When planning for in-floor heating systems, there are a few other potential hidden costs for homeowners to keep in mind. For example, if a homeowner chooses a hydronic system, they may need to install a water heater if the current model doesn’t supply enough.
For those who decide to heat their entire house with radiant floor heating, it’ll be necessary to come up with another way to cool the home in the summer. Adding radiant cooling will require supplementary equipment, such as a chiller and a dehumidifier. It’s also important to consider the placement of a cooling system.
Whichever system is selected, there will be operating expenses. Ongoing operating costs tend to be slightly higher for electric radiant floor heating than for hydronic systems—just the opposite of installation costs. There is generally little to no maintenance cost with either system, although a hydronic system may require the boiler to be inspected and serviced every so often.
Want to install radiant floor heating?
A pro can help. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring experts near you.
Water Heater or Boiler Installation
A hydronic floor heating system requires a water heater or boiler to heat the water that circulates underfoot. If the home’s water heater is old, it and possibly the pipes may need replacing. The best plumbing services charge about $45 to $200 per hour. Water heater repair costs about $221 to $964. Similarly, if the water heater isn’t of sufficient capacity to support the floor heating system, a new one will be needed. Residential boiler prices are around $5,678 on average. Installing or replacing a water heater costs $874 to $1,765.
Radiant Cooling
Some radiant systems can be used for both radiant heating and cooling, although an under-floor system isn’t practical for cooling since cool air sinks. Instead, a geothermal cooler or chilling unit can be installed in the ceiling, which requires additional tubing. These systems also require the installation of a dehumidifier to prevent condensation buildup on ceiling panels, which has an additional cost. Alternatives include window AC units and ductless air conditioning.
Pre-Fitted Subflooring
Homeowners have two options when it comes to subflooring for their radiant heating systems. They can either opt for a custom layout or go with pre-fitted subflooring. Pre-fitted subflooring typically results in less work, and thus, a lower labor cost. It’s also worth noting that radiant floor heating adds about an inch in height to floors, so it’s important to account for doors, baseboards, and cabinets that may need to be moved. This may affect the subflooring options that are available for individual homes.
Operating and Maintenance Costs
Hydronic and electric systems have similar operating costs, although a hydronic radiant heat system often runs a little less expensive since the hydronic system retains more heat, so the system won’t need to run as long. In general, both radiant systems cost about $3 per day to run. However, the size of the home’s boiler and the type of fuel used to run it could alter that average.
Additional Thermostats and Temperature Zones
Establishing temperature zones in rooms with radiant floor heating allows homeowners greater control over when and how the system operates. For example, it’s possible to schedule the primary bathroom to heat up automatically in the morning, or the flooring in living spaces to heat up in the evening. Incorporating this feature will add about $1,000 to $15,000 to the installation cost, plus about $350 for a smart thermostat. Not only does this result in greater convenience, but it can also help homeowners save energy as the system will only be activated in spaces during parts of the day when they are occupied.
Types of Radiant Floor Heating
While the two main types of radiant floor heating are divided into electric and water-based, other systems can be used. Geothermal in-floor systems use thermal heat, transferred by heat pumps that circulate hot water through pipes. Solar radiant heat systems collect energy from the sun via solar panels, which then circulate a fluid to heat the floors. Propane un