Is underfloor heating more efficient than radiators? Here's what to consider when making your choice

Is underfloor heating more efficient than radiators? If you're in the process of choosing heat emitters for your home, you've probably asked yourself this question.

First of all, let's take a look at how they both work. Underfloor heating provides gradual, natural warmth by circulating warm water through pipes or using electric wires beneath your flooring. Radiators operate in one of two ways: they either circulate hot water through metal panels to release warmth via radiation and convection, or they convert electricity directly into heat.

To help you find the best option for your home, we put these two popular choices head-to-head after consulting with the experts. Keep reading to see which one we crowned the best – or jump straight to our comparison chart.

Which is more efficient: underfloor heating or radiators?

Underfloor heating is usually more energy-efficient than radiators – especially when it is combined with low-carbon heating technologies, such as heat pumps.

Martyn Fowler, Founder of Elite Renewables, says, "Wet underfloor heating is more efficient than radiators because it runs at lower flow temperatures and maintains warmth more steadily. When it’s paired with a heat pump, the efficiency is even better.

"Electric underfloor heating uses more energy and is less efficient overall. We usually recommend it for smaller rooms where it’s only needed for short periods.Radiators sit somewhere in the middle. Their energy use depends a lot on how well the system is set up and how well insulated the property is."

Martyn Fowler

Martyn Fowler is the founder of Elite Renewables. He has over 20 years of experience working on residential HVAC systems and improving energy efficiency.

Which heats a room faster: underfloor heating or radiators?

The best radiator will heat up your room more quickly, according to Martyn Fowler. Once you’ve turned the heating on, you can expect to feel a difference within 15 to 20 minutes, as it starts warming up the air immediately.

Underfloor heating, on the other hand, takes longer because it needs to warm the floor before the heat rises into the room. However, it’s worth noting that electric underfloor heating warms up faster than wet systems, which is why Martyn recommends it for bathrooms in particular – where people want quick, localised heating for short periods of time.

David Miloshev, HVAC expert at Fantastic Services, adds, "Radiators will generally heat a room quicker than underfloor heating because they operate at a higher water temperature. Most radiator systems run between 60 to 75°C. This means they deliver heat to the room more rapidly, creating noticeable warmth within minutes. The warm air rises and circulates, which can quickly bring the room up to temperature."

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David Miloshev

David Miloshev has worked with Fantastic Services as an appliance technician and certified electrician for more than five years

Which heats a room more evenly: underfloor heating or radiators?

We now know that radiators are the quickest option, but what provides the most even heating? The winner for this round is underfloor heating, according to David Miloshev.

He explains, "Underfloor heating spreads warmth across the entire floor surface, creating a broad and low-level radiant heat. Warm air rises naturally and fills the space uniformly. There are no distinct hot or cold spots and the temperature tends to remain stable once the system reaches a comfortable temperature. This is especially noticeable in well-insulated homes where heat loss is low and steady heat delivery works efficiently."

By contrast, radiators are point heat sources, which means they emit heat from a small area. The warm air rises near the radiator, moves across the ceiling, cools, and then drops on the opposite side of the room – causing temperature differences between different parts of the space.

Which is cheaper to run: underfloor heating or radiators?

While radiators are cheaper to buy upfront, underfloor heating has lower running costs, which will save you money in the long run.

Martyn Fowler says, "Underfloor heating is usually the cheapest system to run over time. It works at lower temperatures and gives you a stable background heat that doesn’t require constant on and off cycles. Radiators are cheaper to install but can cost more to run, especially if the system is unbalanced or if heat is being lost through poor insulation.

"The right system depends on the space and how well the rest of the home is performing. Insulation makes the biggest difference to running costs, whichever system you go for."

Underfloor heating vs radiators: a quick comparison

After comparing these popular emitters, it’s clear that underfloor heating is a great option for many properties. Provided you’re happy to wait a little longer for it to heat up your room – and pay a bit more upfront initially – it’s the most efficient choice of the two.

If you decide to install it in your home, it’s worth learning what underfloor heating manifolds are, as they’ll be an important part of your setup, as well as what underfloor heating costs to expect.