Skirting Board Heating - Worth The Cost And Effort?
Posted by Skirting World on 24th Apr 2025
Skirting board heating systems replace your regular skirting boards with ones that contain embedded heating elements. They sit along your walls and heat the room from the perimeter, promising a way to free up wall space and provide even heat distribution.
Note: This is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with any manufacturers of skirting board heating, and we aim to provide an objective, unbiased view.
What is skirting board heating?
Skirting board heating systems replace your regular skirting boards with ones that contain heating elements. They run along the bottom of your walls and heat your room from the perimeter.
These systems sit low to the ground, acting like a mix between radiators and underfloor heating. They release a combination of radiant heat (directly warming people and objects) and some gentle convection heat (warming the air).
The main appeal of skirting heating is that it frees up wall space. Since it replaces your existing skirting boards, you don't need radiators sticking out from the wall. This gives you more freedom to arrange furniture and can make rooms feel bigger.
These systems have been around for a while now, with several companies marketing them in the UK since the early 2000s.
"Skirting is meant to take knocks easily from furniture, feet, kids toys, vacuum cleaners etc. I don't think making it out of aluminium and filling it with water is a good idea."
— Home renovator, online forum
How skirting board heating works
Skirting heating works by running hot water or electricity through elements hidden within what looks like a normal skirting board. The heat spreads out from the base of all your walls, creating an even warmth throughout the room.
Most systems use aluminium profiles that conduct heat well - about five times better than steel. The aluminium gets warm and radiates heat into your room, like a very long, thin radiator running around the edges.
Since the heating element runs around much of the room's perimeter, it gives off heat more evenly than a single radiator. This can reduce cold spots and drafts near external walls and windows.
These systems heat up quite quickly - usually within 15-30 minutes from cold - which is much faster than underfloor heating but similar to regular radiators.
Heat output
The heat output of skirting board heating is measured per metre of length. Typically:
- Water-based systems put out around 100-180 watts per metre, depending on water temperature
- Electric systems usually produce about 150-200 watts per metre
For comparison, a standard double panel radiator (about 1m wide) might give off 1,700-1,800 watts. So you'd need around 10 metres of skirting heating to match that - which is usually enough to go around most of a room's perimeter.
"I love mine! We have skirting heating all upstairs and no radiators. We also have a heat pump with very low flow temps (37C). We don't get any creaking, but that could be due to the low flow temperatures."
— Homeowner with heat pump system
Types of skirting board heating
There are two main types of skirting board heating systems:
Wet vs dry: which to choose?
Wet systems are usually best if:
- You already have central heating
- You want lower running costs
- You're doing a full room or house renovation
Electric systems might be better if:
- You don't have existing central heating
- You need heating in just one room
- You want a simpler installation
- You have solar panels that might offset electricity costs
Skirting heating vs radiators
How does skirting heating compare to traditional radiators? Here's a straightforward comparison:
"I installed skirting heating in my bedroom in my last house and regretted it. Firstly, it was more expensive than a nice radiator and I could've found some wall space for a tall vertical radiator if nothing else. Secondly, it was incredibly noisy. You could hear all this cracking and popping when the heating came on, it sounded like being onboard a ship or something. Anyway, that woke me up in the morning, so the upshot was no heating until my alarm went off."
— Former skirting heating user
How about underfloor heating?
Skirting heating sits somewhere between radiators and underfloor heating in terms of advantages:
| Feature | Skirting Heating | Radiators | Underfloor Heating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall space | Saves most wall space | Takes up wall space | Saves all wall space |
| Retrofit ease | Moderate disruption | Minimal disruption | Major disruption |
| Response time | Quick (15-30 mins) | Quick (10-20 mins) | Slow (hours) |
| Heat distribution | Even (from perimeter) | Uneven (hot spots) | Very even (whole floor) |
| Cost | High (£100-160/m) | Lowest (£200-300 each) | Highest (£75-120/m²) |
Costs and installation
How much does skirting heating cost?
Skirting board heating isn't cheap. For 2025, expect to pay:
- Materials: About £40-£80 per metre for the skirting boards themselves
- Installation: Around £50-£70 per metre for labour
- Total installed cost: Roughly £100-£160 per metre
For context, a medium-sized room with 15 metres of skirting would cost about £1,500-£2,400 to fit with heated skirting, compared to perhaps £200-£300 for a couple of radiators.
While the upfront cost is high, some users report saving money on their heating bills by using skirting heating. This is because it can work efficiently with lower water temperatures, which helps boilers run more efficiently.
"I've installed it per customer request. It is awful in retrofit. I'm sure it has a place on new builds but my experience of it was it looks ugly, it was noisy and the customer wished they hadn't bothered."
— Professional tradesman
Installation process
Installing skirting heating typically involves:
Removing your existing skirting boards
Fitting brackets to the wall to hold the new heated skirting
Cutting the heated skirting to fit your room dimensions
Connecting the sections with special fittings for corners and joints
Connecting to your heating system (plumbing for wet systems, electrical connections for dry systems)
While manufacturers sometimes suggest it's a DIY-friendly job, most homeowners hire professionals. The plumbing or electrical work needs to be done properly, and the cutting and fitting require precision for a neat finish.
"Thirdly, I had carpet laid after installing and it ended up pivoting the skirting away from the wall and so I never ended up with a neat finish. Finally, the rubber seal strip you put along the edge discoloured to an off-white and looked pretty naff."
— Former skirting heating user
Installation tip: Older houses often have uneven walls, which can make fitting skirting heating tricky. Make sure your installer has experience with this type of work, especially if you have an older property.
Who is skirting board heating good for?
Skirting board heating isn't for everyone. Here's our take on who might benefit from it and who should think twice:
✓ Worth considering if:
- You want to free up wall space for furniture or artwork
- You're planning to install a heat pump (which works better with lower temperature systems)
- You have a modern, well-insulated home
- You're doing a full renovation anyway
- You have allergies and want to reduce dust circulation
✗ Think twice if:
- You have a tight budget (standard radiators are much cheaper)
- You live in an older, draughty house with poor insulation
- Your home has very uneven walls
- You have ornate period skirting you want to preserve
- You need very high heat output in a small room
"Yeah I imagine in a new build that's been insulated properly you could get away with it."
— Comment on skirting heating effectiveness
In real-world use, customers have mixed experiences. Many love the clean look and even heat distribution. Others find the initial cost hard to justify. Users in older properties sometimes report the system struggles to heat their space adequately in very cold weather.
Interestingly, some homeowners mix and match - using skirting heating in living spaces where wall space is valuable, but keeping radiators in bathrooms for towel warming.
So, is skirting board heating worth it?
Skirting board heating is a premium option that works well in the right circumstances. It's not a miracle solution, but it does offer real benefits that some homeowners will appreciate.
The biggest hurdle is cost. You're paying a lot for the ability to remove radiators from your walls. For some people, particularly in modern, well-insulated homes with heat pumps, that extra cost brings noticeable benefits in terms of room layout, aesthetics, and potentially more efficient heating.
For others, especially those in older properties with higher heat requirements, sticking with efficient modern radiators might be the more practical choice.