Underfloor heating floor height calculator

In short: an electric mat on 6mm backer board adds about 14mm plus the tiles. Overlay boards for water UFH add 15mm to 25mm. Pipe in screed adds the most, usually 140mm or more with the insulation. On a joisted floor, grooved chipboard replaces the floor deck, so the rise can be very small. Pick a system below and add your floor finish.

Your build-up

Every system with your finish

Want the whole system worked out? Design your UFH system yourself in 3 minutes with MaxHeatUFH ProLoop and get an instant quick design and quote. Open MaxHeatUFH ProLoop

Board and panel heights

Product Height Pipe
MaxHeatFix 15mm 12mm
MaxHeatPanel 18mm or 25mm 12mm or 16mm
MaxHeatDeck 20mm 16mm
MaxHeatPro 16mm or 20mm 12mm or 16mm
MaxHeatCrate 20mm panel 15, 16 or 17mm
MaxHeatChip 22mm, plus 6mm top board 12mm or 16mm
XPS tile backer board 6, 10 or 20mm Electric mat or cable
Electric heating mat 3 to 4mm Sits in the tile adhesive

Choosing a system when height is tight

For the lowest rise in a single room, an electric mat on 6mm board is hard to beat. For water UFH across a whole floor without screed, MaxHeatFix at 15mm is our lowest overlay panel, then MaxHeatPanel 18mm. If you can lift the floor, pipe in screed or grooved chipboard on joists keeps the finished level close to where it was. Once you have picked a system, design your UFH system yourself in 3 minutes with MaxHeatUFH ProLoop and get an instant quick design and quote.

Frequently asked questions

How much does underfloor heating raise the floor?

An electric mat on 6mm backer board raises it by about 14mm plus the tiles. Water UFH overlay boards add 15mm to 25mm plus the finish. Pipe in screed adds the most, often 140mm or more including insulation.

What is the lowest profile water underfloor heating?

Of our panels, MaxHeatFix at 15mm for 12mm pipe, which you can tile straight onto. MaxHeatPanel at 18mm is next.

Do I need to trim doors after fitting underfloor heating?

Usually yes once the floor rises by about 20mm or more, and you may need threshold strips where the new floor meets the old one.

Can I put underfloor heating in a joisted floor without raising it?

Yes. MaxHeatChip grooved chipboard replaces the existing floor deck, so the rise is only the difference in board thickness plus the top board.

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