Heating a kitchen is often overlooked when planning the look of your new kitchen. But it should be a key part of the process, and if you don’t give it any thought before you start, you could be heading for trouble. You could end up with insufficient floor or wall space, which limits your heating options.
Before you start designing a kitchen, carefully consider which heating option you want, where it needs to go, and whether it fits within your budget. Do you want radiators? Is underfloor heating a viable option? Or, do you want something a little more specialist? Read on to review the options and determine what will work best for you.
Working in the industry for over 15 years Gordon and Alan's mission is to help property owners get warmer and more comfortable with underfloor heating and proper floor screed.
Installing underfloor heating in a kitchen
Underfloor heating (UFH) is not only a popular choice for heating a kitchen, it's probably the best choice too when it works for your project. And it brings with it plenty of advantages as Gordon Chalk and Alan Houghton of Next Level Underfloor Heating and Screed Solutions reveal.
- Even heat distribution Unlike radiators, which cause hot spots, UFH provides continuous warmth across the floor, making the kitchen pleasant even on frigid mornings.
- Space saver Cabinets and appliances sometimes take up valuable wall space in kitchens. UFH removes the need for huge radiators, offering you additional design options.
- Energy efficient UFH runs at lower temperatures than standard radiators, making it more energy efficient. This is particularly useful in kitchens, where appliances may provide extra warmth.
- Comfort underfoot Walking over heated tiles or hard floors, particularly in the winter, provides a nice touch.
- Hygiene and safety Compared to radiators, UFH minimises dust circulation, which is advantageous in kitchens. It also reduces the danger of burns or injury from hot surfaces or projecting edges.
But before you go ahead and install UFH you’ll need to choose between a wet system (connected to your home's central heating) and electric underfloor heating. Wet systems are often the preferred choice, but Chalk and Houghton delve into the differences and suggest which is best for what.
"Wet UFH is best suited for larger kitchens, or extensive renovations that allow you to connect the system into the flooring,” explains Chalk and Houghton. They add, “When used in conjunction with a boiler or heat pump, it is very energy efficient. And, it has lower long-term operating expenses.”
You would also need to consider the following says Chalk and Houghton, “Installation expenses are higher, and a suitable subfloor depth is required. Also, installation is more time-consuming.”
The alternative to wet UFH is an electrical UFH system, which Chalk and Houghton say, “Is ideal for smaller kitchens or retrofits, particularly if height buildup is an issue.” They add, “Installation is easier and quicker, with less disturbance and thin mats are ideal for kitchens with a restricted floor depth.” Plus, they are, “Ideal for areas where you do not need to heat the whole home.”
But Chalk and Houghton say to note these considerations, “Running expenses are higher as compared to wet systems and long-term heating of bigger rooms may be less efficient.”
Try these underfloor heating solutions
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An underfloor heating kit with programmable timerstat bundle. It is easy to fit and is suitable for use under almost any floor covering.
An easy to install DIY UFH kit that comes with everything you need. Includes 2 x rolls of thermal tape, thermal primer and roller, self adhesive mat, floor probe and thermostat.
Choosing radiators to heat a kitchen
If you're renovating an existing kitchen, you may have a radiator system as the primary heating source. Radiators are effective for space heating because they respond quickly and can warm a room within 20-30 minutes. There are some neat designer radiators to choose from.
Patrick Garner, Gas Safe Engineer at Heatable, gives his recommendation. “Cabinets and appliances can mean that wall space is limited. This is why a tall vertical radiator or compact convector radiator can be the most effective option. They pack plenty of heat into a smaller footprint and warm the room quickly.”
However, be warned. Garner says, “Using the wrong radiator size or placing it in an inadequate location can make a big difference, as heat can be trapped behind units or lost to draughts.”
He adds, “The best position is where air can flow freely and where it will be strong enough to counteract any natural heat loss from extraction fans, tiled floors and large windows.”
Patrick Garner is a seasoned Gas Safe certified engineer and the dedicated leader of the heating system installations team at Heatable, with extensive experience in boilers, heat pumps, and home energy solutions.
Plinth heating for a kitchen
Plinth heaters are small heating systems that make use of the plinths in a kitchen. Garner highlights the benefits: “Traditional radiators can be difficult to fit into kitchens, which is why you sometimes need to get creative.”
He adds, “Plinth heaters are a great option. They sit under cabinets, saving wall space, whilst delivering quick bursts of warm air as needed.” Plinth heaters come in two types:
- Hydronic plinth heaters, which are connected to your central heating
- Electric plinth heaters
The pros and cons of each type closely match those of UFH, with connected central-heating heaters being less expensive to run than electric ones. However, plinth heaters are an effective use of space and are relatively cheap and easy to specify and install.
Hydronic heaters will have a higher output than electric ones. Still, both will likely need some support to heat a larger kitchen and may perform better as supplementary heating systems to round out your kitchen's space-heating requirement and reduce cold spots.
It's worth noting that these heaters will create a quiet blowing sound when in use.
Discreet kitchen skirting heating
Skirting heating is another option for adding a discreet heating system to your kitchen. This system typically incorporates a heating element into a skirting board design, which can run along the length of a room. Skirting heating can also be provided in a ‘plinth’ version, installed at the base of kitchen units or fitted wardrobes, for example.
Skirting heating is especially useful when wall space is at a premium and leaving space for a radiator might compromise the kitchen design.
Although they don’t heat the floor from underneath like underfloor heating, they do distribute the heat over a wider area than a traditional kick space heater or radiator as they can span the length of the room.
Heat-storage range cookers
Once upon a time, living with a traditional heat-storage range cooker such as an AGA was a lifestyle choice. These 'always on' ranges provided space heating, but during the summer months, this could cause the kitchen to overheat. Today's heat-storage ranges run on a variety of fuels, from electricity and gas to LPG, oil and solid fuels.
Guy Goring, Managing Director of EVERHOT, extols the virtues of an electric range cooker, “While traditional heat storage cookers have a reputation for being expensive to run, Everhot models use less than half the energy of an AGA.”
He adds, “You can enjoy the aesthetic and performance of a classic range cooker – sustainably and affordably. Our cookers were designed to harness renewable energy and minimise energy consumption, using a gentle, consistent trickle of electricity throughout the day.”
Some come with more sophisticated controls, allowing independent control over the heating, hot water and and cooking functions, both manually and automatically on a timer.
However, heat-storage ranges still take some getting used to as an alternative for heating your space and cooking. These use radiant heat for both the oven and the hobs, which may require some trial and error compared to more common appliances.
Guy Goring, MD and engineer, has led the company for the past 30 years and continues to ensure that Everhot cookers set the pace in innovation, efficiency, and functionality. Its latest cookers come with Wi-Fi control.
Installing a stove in a kitchen
A stove or fireplace is also a good option for an open plan kitchen, where it can be used to supplement heat from another source and create a focal point across a living and dining space. Guy Goring says, “When placed within a fireplace, a small stove becomes a natural focal point – blending classic charm with contemporary practicality.”
While stoves are unlikely to be used as the primary heating source for a space, they are more efficient than open fireplaces. Freestanding stove designs allow for more creative placement within a space, perfect for sitting in a corner, without the need for a traditional fireplace surround.
However, keep in mind the stove's ventilation requirements and how it fits into the larger scheme of your kitchen's design.
There are, again, fuel options available, including wood, gas, electricity, and bioethanol fireplaces that don't require ventilation. While the likes of gas and electric fires are easier to keep burning and offer greater control than log burning stoves, there's something undeniable about the real crackle of logs on a fire that shouldn't be overlooked.
If you are installing a new kitchen, find out how much does a new kitchen cost in 2025. If looking for ideas check out wooden kitchen ideas and shaker kitchen ideas for inspiration.
