Best Electric Underfloor Heating UK: Brands and Systems Compared

Electric underfloor heating is the practical choice for a bathroom, en-suite, cloakroom or small extension where you want warm tiles without installing a boiler connection or a water manifold. It is also useful for larger rooms where the floor is only one part of the heating strategy.

There isn't one best electric underfloor heating brand for every project. The right choice comes down to the room shape, floor build-up, expected use, controls and the installer who will connect it. I've not tested the products listed here. This is a practical comparison based on the manufacturers' published product information, installation guidance and the fit of each system for common UK projects.

The quick recommendation

Start with the system format first, then compare brands:

• Bathroom or en-suite with tiles: a pre-spaced mesh mat, usually 150W/m², is the simplest sensible route. Look at ProWarm, Fastwarm and Warmup.
• Irregular room: loose cable gives you more layout freedom, but it needs a proper design and an installer who understands cable spacing. ProGrid and similar grid systems can reduce the guesswork.
• Laminate, engineered wood or LVT: use a system specifically approved for that floor finish. A foil mat may suit a floating floor, while a cable or mesh mat may need levelling compound or a suitable overlay system.
• Primary heating for a large room or ground floor: pause and compare against wet underfloor heating. Electric can work, but the electricity demand and running cost need a proper design.
• Premium controls and smart-home integration: compare Warmup's controls with the thermostat supplied with your chosen mat. App features vary and should not be assumed to be interchangeable.
• Technical support and a planned layout: Fastwarm and ProWarm both offer useful support, but the exact design service, thermostat and installation terms need checking before you order.

What matters when choosing an electric system?

1. The heated area, not the room area

Measure the floor that will actually be heated, then remove permanent obstructions such as a bath, shower tray, toilet pedestal, kitchen units and built-in wardrobes. Don't heat beneath an item that will block heat or make future repairs harder.

The room's heat loss also matters. A small, well-insulated bathroom has a very different requirement from a large, draughty ground-floor room. A higher wattage mat does not solve poor insulation, so decide between 150W/m² and 200W/m² after checking the room design and heat loss.

Our underfloor heating design and planning guide explains why zone layout, floor construction and heat loss need to be considered together.

2. Mat or loose cable?

A mesh mat has the heating cable already fixed to a backing at a consistent spacing. You roll it out, cut the mesh between cable runs to turn corners, and bed it in compatible adhesive or levelling compound. It is the most straightforward option for a regular room and a regular installer.

A loose cable system is more flexible. The installer fixes cable at planned intervals around a bath, island, doorway or awkward corner. That flexibility is valuable, but the spacing determines the output. A cable fixed too close together can create a hotspot, while poor fixing or accidental damage can make the installation impossible to cover safely.

The trade-off is simple: choose a mat for speed and repeatability, and loose cable for a layout that a mat cannot accommodate. Never bend, cut, splice or overlap a heating cable. The manufacturer's installation instructions and resistance checks are not optional extras.

3. Floor build-up and insulation

The visible floor finish is only one layer of the decision. Below the mat you may need:

• a suitable subfloor, such as concrete, screed or an approved timber base;
• rigid insulation to reduce downward heat loss, especially over a ground floor or slab;
• a decoupling or tile-back board where the floor construction requires it;
• flexible tile adhesive, or a compatible levelling compound;
• a replaceable floor sensor conduit;
• enough space for the mat, adhesive and final floor finish without creating a trip hazard at doorways.

On a ground floor, omitting insulation can send a significant share of the heat into the slab. On a suspended timber floor, the structure, ventilation, deflection and moisture conditions need checking before adding a build-up. Our existing concrete floor guide and suspended timber floor guide cover those constraints in more detail.

4. Output and floor covering

The manufacturer's mat or cable output is only one part of the design. The floor covering affects how quickly heat reaches the surface. Tile and stone generally transfer heat efficiently. Carpet and thick underlay slow it down. Timber, laminate and vinyl can be compatible, but only when the specific product states its underfloor-heating limits and the correct installation method is used.

Check the floor manufacturer's maximum surface temperature and any restrictions on insulation, underlay or adhesive. A floor sensor is not an accessory to ignore. It gives the thermostat a way to limit floor temperature, which is particularly important with sensitive finishes.

The detailed underfloor heating flooring guide is the right next read before choosing a finish.

Brand and system comparison

ProWarm: flexible mid-range choice

ProWarm offers a conventional 2mm electric mat, loose cable, a foil mat and the ProGrid+ grid system. Its range is useful because it covers both regular tiled rooms and awkward layouts without forcing every project into the same mat format.

The standard mat is a sensible option for tile and stone installations. ProGrid+ gives an installer a pre-spaced route for more complex shapes, while loose cable offers maximum freedom where a bespoke layout is needed. The trade-off is that you still need to select the correct output, sensor, thermostat and floor covering.

ProWarm also publishes technical support and conditional warranty information. Check the current terms carefully. A headline lifetime guarantee may depend on qualified installation, correct installation and timely registration. Our ProWarm review covers the range and the small print without treating a warranty headline as a substitute for correct installation.

Choose ProWarm when: you want choice between mats, loose cable and water systems, value matters, and you value direct technical support.

Fastwarm: strong online support and thin electric cable

Fastwarm's electric range is centred on 2mm cable mats, with loose-wire and water options also available. The thin cable profile is useful where floor height or finished-floor tolerances are tight. Fastwarm also offers design support, which is particularly helpful for a room with an unusual shape or a tiled floor where cable positions matter.

The main question is the thermostat. Fastwarm's WiFi control uses a general smart-home app and requires a compatible 2.4GHz network. That can be perfectly sensible, but it isn't the same thing as a dedicated heating platform with detailed energy data. Confirm the app, network, floor probe and wiring requirements before ordering.

Read the full Fastwarm underfloor heating review for the mat formats, thermostat tradeoffs and installation details.

Choose Fastwarm when: you are buying online, want a thin mat, and value phone or design support more than a premium proprietary controls ecosystem.

Warmup: premium controls and established specification

Warmup is a strong option where controls, documentation and a broad established range matter. Its electric products are commonly considered for tiled floors, while its smart thermostats are the main reason many buyers look at the brand. A Warmup system can make sense when you want a coordinated control setup and the installer already knows the products.

The downside is straightforward: a premium position can cost more, and the brand's full electric, water and controls range is more than a simple bathroom job needs. Don't pay for premium controls if you only need a reliable scheduled thermostat with a floor sensor.

Choose Warmup when: the control system is a priority, the floor is a straightforward tile installation, and you want support from a long-established supplier. Compare the exact current mat, thermostat and warranty terms before ordering.

Other brands and the wider range

The UK market also includes options from Underfloor Heating Store, Klima, Devi, Sunstone and other specialist suppliers. A brand is not automatically better because it appears in a merchant's top-selling list. Compare the system format, available sizes, cable or mat construction, thermostat, sensor, technical documents and warranty conditions for the exact kit.

For a broader look at suppliers and water-system brands, read our UK underfloor heating brands guide. If your project may involve a larger renovation, compare the electric and water systems before finalising the brand. A whole-floor project may be better served by a low-profile wet system, even if you are comfortable installing an electric mat in a smaller room.

Controls and thermostats

A thermostat is part of the heating system, not a cheap add-on. For a small room, look for:

• a floor sensor and air-temperature sensing;
• a weekly schedule;
• adjustable floor temperature limits;
• a suitable load rating for the mat;
• clear wiring instructions and replacement parts.

For smart controls, check the actual app and ecosystem rather than buying on the word WiFi. Confirm whether remote control needs a cloud account, which mobile app is used, whether the thermostat works on a 2.4GHz network, and what happens when the internet is unavailable. Integration with a broader smart-home system is not automatically included.

Our smart thermostat guide covers the control choices in more detail. A thermostat cannot rescue a badly designed system, but the right one will reduce unnecessary heating and help protect the floor finish.

Installation support and electrical work

An experienced DIY installer can lay many electric mats, but the final electrical connection and testing should be handled by a competent electrician. In England and Wales, Part P requirements apply to electrical work in many domestic settings. Scotland has its own requirements. A qualified professional should confirm the circuit, protective devices, thermostat connection, floor sensor, earthing and testing.

Ask the supplier for a layout before anything is covered. For a mat, confirm the heated area, perimeter clearances, thermostat position, sensor position, cable route and floor finish. For loose cable, get the spacing and fixing method documented. A manufacturer can offer guidance, but the installer remains responsible for the work carried out on site.

The underfloor heating installation guide and quotation guide are useful before you compare quotes.

Tradeoffs to accept before choosing

• Electric is fast to install, but not automatically economical. A bathroom used for short periods can make sense. A large room heated regularly needs a proper running-cost comparison.
• A mat is quicker, but less flexible. Loose cable is better for awkward rooms and less forgiving of poor planning.
• A thin system can still need a substantial preparation layer. Insulation, adhesive, levelling compound and floor finish all contribute to the final height.
• Smart controls are convenient, not automatically better. A simple reliable thermostat may be all a small room needs.
• Long warranties depend on conditions. Installation method, electrical work, registration and maintenance matter.
• Brand support is not a substitute for design. A supplier cannot size a system properly without the room dimensions, floor construction and expected use.

Clear recommendation framework

Use this sequence when comparing quotes:

1. Decide the system type. Choose electric for a targeted, relatively small or intermittently heated space. Compare wet underfloor heating for larger, regularly heated areas.
2. Choose the format. Use a mesh mat for a regular tiled room. Use loose cable or a grid system for an awkward layout. Use a floor-specific foil or overlay system for floating floors only when the flooring manufacturer permits it.
3. Specify the heat output. Use the room's heat loss, insulation and floor finish to decide between available wattages. Don't select 200W/m² simply because it sounds more powerful.
4. Set the controls early. Budget for a thermostat, floor sensor, circuit requirements and any smart-app limitations.
5. Price the complete installation. Compare mat or cable, thermostat, insulation, preparation, electrical work, floor finish, floor repair and any design or commissioning work.
6. Check support and terms in writing. Keep the layout, test readings, product invoices, warranty conditions and installer details.

My shortlist by project type

• Best fit for a straightforward tiled bathroom: ProWarm or Fastwarm mesh mat, with the supplier's layout checked before purchase.
• Best fit when floor height is tight: a 2mm electric mat from Fastwarm or ProWarm, subject to the complete floor build-up.
• Best fit for an awkward room: ProWarm ProGrid+ or a properly designed loose-cable system.
• Best fit when smart controls are the priority: Warmup, with the current thermostat and app confirmed before purchase.
• Best fit for a large primary-heating project: don't force the issue with electric. Get a wet-system design and a whole-project running-cost comparison.

Source notes

This roundup uses official manufacturer and UK technical sources for product formats, controls and installation considerations. Product specifications, availability, prices, app requirements and warranty terms can change, so check the current pages and the documents supplied with your chosen kit.

• Warmup electric underfloor heating
• ProWarm electric underfloor heating products
• Fastwarm electric underfloor heating range
• Wunda underfloor heating systems
• Electrical Safety First: electrics in the home
• GOV.UK: Building regulations, electrical installation and Part P
• Underfloor Heating Store electric systems

The best electric underfloor heating system is the one that matches the floor, controls the room properly and remains affordable to run. Shortlist the product format first, then compare the brand on support, documentation, installation terms and total project fit. Don't choose from a single specification, customer rating or warranty headline alone.