Underfloor heating in Belgium: what does it cost per m² in 2026?
Short answer: Conventional water-based underfloor heating in Belgium costs about €40 to €100 per m² fitted, excluding the boiler or heat pump. In renovation, Facq quotes €80–€120 per m² for thin-bed and €90–€140 for dry systems; milling into the existing screed is cheaper. Electric: €40–€80 per m² according to Facq; AVS quotes €55–€120 incl. VAT. To run, electric is 3 to 4 times dearer than gas. Prices vary by source and by whether VAT is included.
Prices in this article are indicative Belgian market ranges, not Alpha Services Benelux's price list. Your fixed price is in the quote.
Price per m² by type of underfloor heating
Expect roughly €40 to €100 per m² for conventional water-based underfloor heating, fitted and without the heat source. Low-build systems for renovation cost more, milling often less. Belgian price guides differ because they do not all count VAT or the same scope of work.
| System | Indicative price per m² | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hydronic, conventional (wet screed, new build) | €40–€100 | Some guides quote €30–€50 excl. VAT, others up to €100 |
| Hydronic, thin-bed (renovation) | €80–€120 | Facq; 30–45 mm build-up |
| Hydronic, dry system | €90–€140 | Facq; AVS: €100–€150 incl. VAT; Vloerman: €35–€65 excl. VAT |
| Milled into existing screed | €30–€45 excl. VAT (Vloerman) | Economie-energie.be: €50–€80; AVS: €36–€66 incl. VAT. Only if the screed is sound and stable |
| Electric | €40–€80 (Facq) | AVS: €55–€120 incl. VAT |
| Reversible (heating and cooling) | up to €150 | Only with a reversible heat pump |
As overall budgets (Facq): a 100 m² home comes to about €6,000–€8,000 with a conventional system and €8,000–€12,000 with a thin-bed system, heat source not included. A 20 m² room with a dry system costs around €1,800–€2,800. These are market ranges, not Alpha Services Benelux's price list.
Electric or water-based: which suits you?
Electric suits a small room used occasionally; from about 20 m² and daily use, water-based is the logical choice.
- Electric: only 1.5 to 4 cm build-up, cheap to fit, ideal for a bathroom. Lifespan around 15–25 years. It cannot be combined with a heat pump and runs entirely on electricity.
- Water-based (hydronic): runs at 30–45 °C water temperature, lasts 35–50 years and can be fed by a heat pump, a condensing boiler or solar thermal.
Electric avoids a manifold and boiler connection, but over ten years the electricity bill often outweighs the saving at installation.
Screed, build height and floor covering: new build versus renovation
In a new build the conventional 10–15 cm build-up is the standard route; in renovation, the height you have decides which system is possible. With less than 10 cm, conventional is ruled out; below 4 cm a thin-bed system is still possible, and below 3 cm only an ultra-thin dry system or electric fits (Facq).
| System | Build height | Weight | Drying time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional (wet screed) | 10–15 cm (screed 6–8 cm) | 100–120 kg/m² | 3–4 weeks |
| Thin-bed | 30–45 mm | 50–70 kg/m² | 1–2 weeks |
| Dry system | 25–35 mm | 15–20 kg/m² | none |
| Electric | 1.5–4 cm | low | depends on the method |
Milling adds no height but needs a stable concrete screed of at least 7 cm; it is not suited to wooden floors or poor screeds. On a wooden floor a professional should first check the load capacity; a dry system usually works best there. In a house built before 2001, an asbestos survey belongs before any old tiles or screed are broken out.
Floor covering: tiles and natural stone conduct heat best. Vinyl, LVT and parquet work if rated for underfloor heating, with thermal resistance below 0.15 m²K/W; solid parquet is often limited to 15 mm. Avoid thick carpet and insulating underlays. Surface temperature stays capped at 28 °C. See also our renovation page.
Running costs and heat source: condensing boiler or heat pump?
Water-based underfloor heating runs at low temperature, so it pairs best with a heat pump; a condensing boiler also works. Guides cite a saving of 10–15% compared with radiators.
The real difference is the energy carrier. With electricity at about €0.35/kWh and gas at about €0.09/kWh (indicative), electric heating costs 3 to 4 times more per kWh of heat than gas. Our own calculation on those rates, ignoring boiler losses:
| Heat source | Efficiency | Cost per 1,000 kWh of heat |
|---|---|---|
| Electric underfloor heating | 1 kWh power = 1 kWh heat | ≈ €350 |
| Gas condensing boiler | simplified 1:1 | ≈ €90 |
| Heat pump, SCOP 3.5 | 3.5 kWh heat per kWh power | ≈ €100 |
| Heat pump, SCOP 5 | 5 kWh heat per kWh power | ≈ €70 |
Paired with underfloor heating, a heat pump reaches a SCOP of 3.5 to 5. Your actual tariff, insulation and habits decide the outcome. More on boiler and heating options.
What drives the price
System type, installation method, floor area and job difficulty explain most of the gap between two quotes.
- Main or supplementary heating: pipes at 10 cm instead of 20 cm spacing cost 10–20% more but give more output.
- Renovation: 10–40% dearer than new build because of breaking out, waste removal and finishing.
- Area: larger areas lower the price per m².
- Preparation: removing tiles or parquet (€15–€30/m²), levelling (€10–€20/m²), extra PUR insulation (€15–€25/m²).
- Components: manifold (€250–€650), thermostats (€100–€300 each for electric).
- Heat source: a boiler or heat pump always comes on top.
Amounts come from price guides and are partly excl. VAT.
VAT and grants
For work in a private home older than 10 years, 6% VAT applies in principle, provided the contractor invoices the work. Materials you buy yourself stay at 21%. Since the 2025 change (Circular 2025/C/47), only the part of the installation that runs on fossil fuel (gas or oil boiler and related parts) moves to 21%; the underfloor heating itself, with its pipes and thermostats, remains eligible for 6%. Ask for the VAT rate to be stated item by item on the quote.
Underfloor heating itself is usually not subsidised on its own. In Flanders, the heat pump may qualify for the Mijn VerbouwPremie (vlaanderen.be/mijn-verbouwpremie). For Brussels and Wallonia: check Homegrade/your municipality or energie.wallonie.be for current support. Conditions and amounts change regularly.
Comparing quotes without surprises
Compare only quotes for the same system, area and finish, and get everything in writing after a site visit.
- Check whether the price is incl. or excl. VAT and which rate (6% or 21%) applies.
- Ask what is included: boiler or heat pump, manifold, thermostats, insulation, screed.
- Have the total build height noted, including under doors and at glazed openings.
- Ask about breaking out, waste removal and levelling.
- Ask for a heat-loss calculation or output per room.
- Check drying time and the schedule before the floor covering goes down.
If you want a contractor with its own team, Alpha Services Benelux (active since 2014) can draw up a fixed written quote after a site visit.
Fixed quote after a site visit
Alpha Services Benelux does the work with its own team, active since 2014. VAT BE 0541.320.178.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
How much does underfloor heating cost per m² in Belgium?
Conventional water-based systems cost about €40–€100 per m² fitted, excluding the boiler or heat pump. For renovation, Facq quotes €80–€120 per m² for thin-bed and €90–€140 for dry systems; for milling, Vloerman gives €30–€45 excl. VAT. Electric: €40–€80 per m² according to Facq; AVS quotes €55–€120 incl. VAT. Sources disagree, so treat these as ranges.
How much does underfloor heating cost for 100 m²?
Facq gives about €6,000–€8,000 for a conventional system and €8,000–€12,000 for a thin-bed renovation system. The heat source, a boiler or heat pump, comes on top. A full installation with a heat pump is clearly higher.
How much does underfloor heating cost to run?
It depends mainly on the energy carrier. Electric costs 3 to 4 times more per kWh than gas. Water-based systems run at 30–45 °C and can save 10–15% against radiators, especially with a heat pump (SCOP 3.5–5).
Can underfloor heating be fitted in an existing home?
Yes. Conventional needs 10–15 cm of height. With less than 10 cm it is ruled out, and thin-bed (30–45 mm), dry (25–35 mm), milling or electric remain; below 3 cm only an ultra-thin dry system or electric fits (Facq). Wooden floors need a load check by a professional first.
Is underfloor heating dearer than radiators?
To install, usually yes, especially in renovation because the floor and finishes are reworked. To run, water-based underfloor heating is comparable or slightly cheaper thanks to the low flow temperature. Ask for quotes on both options side by side.
Sources
- Hydraulic vs electric underfloor heating: comparison, prices and grants (Belgium 2026) — Facq
- Underfloor heating in renovation projects in Belgium: feasibility, thickness and actual cost (2026) — Facq
- Prijs vloerverwarming: kosten per m² & factoren — Vloerman
- Prijs vloerverwarming 2026: kosten per m², soorten, installatie — AVS Service
- Chauffage au sol : prix au m² en Belgique (2026) — Economie-energie.be
- Vloerverwarming kostprijs: prijs per m² & type — Bobex
- Verbouwen – btw-tarief / Bouwen en verbouwen — FOD Financiën (fin.belgium.be)
- BTW-wijziging voor verwarmingsinstallaties op fossiele brandstoffen (Circulaire 2025/C/47) — Cerga
- Programme law and circulars published on demolition and reconstruction, heating plants and coal (Circular 2025/C/47) — BDO Belgium