By Emily Rivers
Last updated 19th March 2025

There are a number of reasons to replace a radiator in your home. You might have a leak from an old and rusty radiator or you might want to fit a new heated towel rail. Whatever the reason, you will have to either do it yourself (not advisable if you have carpets) or employ the services of a plumber or heating engineer to do it for you.

How do I replace an old radiator myself?

A direct one for one replacement that is the same size and shape is pretty straightforward as long as the connections are the same. You need to turn off the lockshield radiator valves or TRV (thermostatic radiator valve), unbolt the radiator and drain down the radiator to remove the water. If you are decorating your house you might have done this before. The tricky bit for replacing a radiator is making sure the new brackets lineup so the connecting pipes also align and have an airtight seal when you screw them back up.

Getting a modern radiator the same size as a radiator over 40 years old is going to be a task in itself. The likelihood is you will need to extend some pipework and drain the system (not always though). For this, unless you are a plumber yourself, you will need to hire one.

A plumber can change a radiator in your home in a matter of hours. They will be in and out of your house before you have had time to look up how to do it yourself on youtube. Things get a bit more complicated when you want a different type of radiator, like a towel rail, or an additional radiator to heat extra space in a room.

When hiring a plumber to fit a new radiator make sure you get a couple of estimates or quotes so you know you are paying the right amount local to your area.

Cost to fit a radiator

Why do I need to replace my radiator?

Are you radiators cold, not heating up, not working?

Radiators can be cold for many reasons such as;

  • Rust sludge blockages in radiators or pipes

  • Incorrect radiator fitted

  • Pipework issues, microbore, air locks, poor design such as pipes drop down from above

  • Unbalanced systems (see below)

  • Weak or damaged circulator pump

  • Thermostatic radiator valves stuck shut or shut off because overheat behind curtains

So, just because it’s cold, it doesn’t mean it needs replacing. Make sure you check with a plumber or heating engineer before you decide to buy an expensive new radiator, it might be something else that needs changing.

If you are replacing radiators in the house it is also a good time to replace the lockshield valve or fit new TRV’s which will help you regulate the temperature in each room more effectively. It will be cheaper to get this done in one go, drain down the system and repressurise with a new sealed system that is airtight.

Do your radiators need bleeding or balancing?

Bleeding is where there is gas at the top of radiators, this could be air where the system has lost water or the gas could be Hydrogen (burns with a blue flame) which is an indication of corrosion occurring. To bleed radiators you need a bleed key, a rag to catch drips and if a closed system you will need to top up the system pressure during and after bleeding.

Balancing radiators makes sure the circulating heating water reaches and heats up all the radiators, especially the downstairs radiators further away from the boiler. There is an art to balancing radiators requiring the lock shield valves to be open in increments and comparing how fast each radiator heats up. Turning upstairs radiator TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) down to a lower setting means they turn off which will increase circulation downstairs.

If you think you have circulation problems and you want some help, contact a local heating engineer using HaMuch.

Is your radiator leaking?

Radiators leak because they rust internally most commonly dripping where valves connect but sometimes developing pinhole leaks. If you have one radiator leaking then your heating system will all be rusting away and you may need to replace other radiators and you should definitely powerflush your heating system to get rid of the build up of rust and debrid.

How much do radiators cost?

Radiators for heating your home do not need to be expensive. There are many budget radiators on the market and they start from as little as £42 for a mild steel, small radiator. The cheaper radiators are probably not the most pleasing to the eye but they do their job and if you have to get 6 to heat your home they will be kinder on your pocket.

If you have more money to spend then there are radiators that cost upward of £300 and are designed to look great in your home. They can compliment a room and provide additional functionality as towel rails in bathrooms and kitchens. They come in various designs, sizes, materials and colours, including steel, stainless steel, aluminium and traditional cast iron.

The tables below show conventional, flat panel and tubular radiators and their prices. Talk to your plumber or heating engineer before you buy as they will know what is suitable for your home and system, and might be able to get you a trade discount.

K-Rad Kompact convector radiator single / double panel cost

convector radiator

K-Rad Kompact convector radiator single / double panel
Dimensions Cost
Height 400mm x Length 1000mm £42 / £76
Height 500mm x Length 1000mm £50 / £85
Height 600mm x Length 1000mm £61 / £96

Farraday flat panel radiators cost

flat panel radiator

Farraday flat panel radiators cost
Dimensions Cost
Height 400mm x Length 1000mm £159 / £261
Height 500mm x Length 1000mm £161 / £298
Height 600mm x Length 1000mm £189 / £344

Cornel tubular steel 2 and 3 column radiators cost

column radiator

Cornel tubular steel 2 and 3 column radiators
Dimensions Cost
Height 500mm x Length 834mm £214 / £233
Height 600mm x Length 834mm £224 / £239
Height 750mm x Length 834mm £236 / £276

How long does it take to remove and replace a radiator?

This depends on what you are planning to replace the radiator with. If you are replacing one radiator, like for like, in a room and there is no need to drain down the system, it will take 1 to 2 hours to fit a new radiator by a qualified plumber or heating engineer.

If you want to fit multiple radiators that are different from the ones removed, drain down the system, fit new lockshield and thermostatic radiator valves expect the plumber to be there all day and maybe longer if there are differences with the pipework between radiators.

Also you should expect some disturbance with a major change, including plastering/filling walls and repainting or wallpapering. The plumber might have to lift carpets and floorboards to gain access so all of these additional things take time.

To get quotes from qualified plumbers and heating engineers listed on HaMuch by posting your job to local companies in your area. Check out the hourly rate local to you and select the plumber that fits your budget.


Estimates for common heating engineer jobs;

Rates for other trades

Fit a radiator cost in the UK
Fit a radiator cost in the UK (excluding VAT or callout charges)
Location in UKFit a radiator cost
Fit a radiator near London£178
Fit a radiator near Birmingham£144
Fit a radiator near Leeds£138
Fit a radiator near Glasgow£148
Fit a radiator near Sheffield£140
Fit a radiator near Bradford£140
Fit a radiator near Liverpool£146
Fit a radiator near Edinburgh£148
Fit a radiator near Manchester£144
Fit a radiator near Bristol£144
Fit a radiator near Kirklees£138
Fit a radiator near Fife£146
Fit a radiator near Wirral£144
Fit a radiator near North Lanarkshire£148
Fit a radiator near Wakefield£140
Fit a radiator near Cardiff£136
Fit a radiator near Dudley£144
Fit a radiator near Wigan£146
Fit a radiator near East Riding£136
Fit a radiator near South Lanarkshire£146
Fit a radiator near Coventry£144
Fit a radiator near Belfast£130
Fit a radiator near Leicester£144
Fit a radiator near Sunderland£148
Fit a radiator near Sandwell£144
Fit a radiator near Doncaster£140
Fit a radiator near Stockport£144
Fit a radiator near Sefton£144
Fit a radiator near Nottingham£142
Fit a radiator near Newcastle Upon Tyne£150
Fit a radiator near Kingston-upon-Hull£136
Fit a radiator near Bolton£144
Fit a radiator near Walsall£144
Fit a radiator near Plymouth£132
Fit a radiator near Rotherham£140
Fit a radiator near Stoke-on-Trent£140
Fit a radiator near Wolverhampton£146
Fit a radiator near Rhondda, Cynon, Taff£136
Fit a radiator near South Gloucestershire£144
Fit a radiator near Derby£142
Fit a radiator near Swansea£136
Fit a radiator near Salford£144
Fit a radiator near Barnsley£140
Fit a radiator near Tameside£144
Fit a radiator near Oldham£144
Fit a radiator near Trafford£146
Fit a radiator near Aberdeen£142
Fit a radiator near Southampton£154
Fit a radiator near Highland£136
Fit a radiator near Rochdale£142
Fit a radiator near Solihull£144
Fit a radiator near Gateshead£150
Fit a radiator near Milton Keynes£164
Fit a radiator near North Tyneside£150
Fit a radiator near Calderdale£138
Fit a radiator near Northampton£160
Fit a radiator near Portsmouth£152
Fit a radiator near Warrington£146
Fit a radiator near North Somerset£142
Fit a radiator near Bury£144
Fit a radiator near Luton£172
Fit a radiator near St Helens£146
Fit a radiator near Stockton-on-Tees£146
Fit a radiator near Renfrewshire£146
Fit a radiator near York£136
Fit a radiator near Thamesdown£162
Fit a radiator near Southend-on-Sea£156
Fit a radiator near New Forest£152
Fit a radiator near Caerphilly£134
Fit a radiator near Carmarthenshire£126
Fit a radiator near Bath£146
Fit a radiator near Wycombe£176
Fit a radiator near Basildon£160
Fit a radiator near Bournemouth£152
Fit a radiator near Peterborough£148
Fit a radiator near North East Lincolnshire£136
Fit a radiator near Chelmsford£158
Fit a radiator near Brighton£162
Fit a radiator near South Tyneside£150
Fit a radiator near Charnwood£144
Fit a radiator near Aylesbury Vale£168
Fit a radiator near Colchester£154
Fit a radiator near Knowsley£146
Fit a radiator near North Lincolnshire£136
Fit a radiator near Huntingdonshire£152
Fit a radiator near Macclesfield£142
Fit a radiator near Blackpool£140
Fit a radiator near West Lothian£154
Fit a radiator near South Somerset£132
Fit a radiator near Dundee£148
Fit a radiator near Basingstoke & Deane£182
Fit a radiator near Harrogate£138
Fit a radiator near Dumfries & Galloway£130
Fit a radiator near Middlesbrough£146
Fit a radiator near Flintshire£140
Fit a radiator near Rochester-upon-Medway£148
Fit a radiator near The Wrekin£146
Fit a radiator near Newbury£180
Fit a radiator near Falkirk£150
Fit a radiator near Reading£180
Fit a radiator near Wokingham£180
Fit a radiator near Windsor & Maidenhead£176
Fit a radiator near Maidstone£158
Fit a radiator near Redcar & Cleveland£146
Fit a radiator near North Ayrshire£144
Fit a radiator near Blackburn£140
Fit a radiator near Neath Port Talbot£140
Fit a radiator near Poole£152
Fit a radiator near Wealden£160
Fit a radiator near Arun£158
Fit a radiator near Bedford£162
Fit a radiator near Oxford£162
Fit a radiator near Lancaster£142
Fit a radiator near Newport£136
Fit a radiator near Canterbury£154
Fit a radiator near Preston£140
Fit a radiator near Dacorum£174
Fit a radiator near Cherwell£162
Fit a radiator near Perth & Kinross£142
Fit a radiator near Thurrock£164
Fit a radiator near Tendring£172
Fit a radiator near Kings Lynn & West Norfolk£136
Fit a radiator near St Albans£174
Fit a radiator near Bridgend£136
Fit a radiator near South Cambridgeshire£156
Fit a radiator near Braintree£158
Fit a radiator near Norwich£150
Fit a radiator near Thanet£152
Fit a radiator near Isle of Wight£150
Fit a radiator near Mid Sussex£170
Fit a radiator near South Oxfordshire£170
Fit a radiator near Guildford£178
Fit a radiator near Elmbridge£180
Fit a radiator near Stafford£142
Fit a radiator near Powys£152
Fit a radiator near East Hertfordshire£168
Fit a radiator near Torbay£140
Fit a radiator near Wrexham Maelor£146
Fit a radiator near East Devon£134
Fit a radiator near East Lindsey£134
Fit a radiator near Halton£146
Fit a radiator near Warwick£146
Fit a radiator near East Ayrshire£142
Fit a radiator near Newcastle-under-Lyme£140
Fit a radiator near North Wiltshire£158
Fit a radiator near South Kesteven£146
Fit a radiator near Epping Forest£178
Fit a radiator near Vale of Glamorgan£140
Fit a radiator near Reigate & Banstead£180
Fit a radiator near Chester£144
Fit a radiator near Mid Bedfordshire£166
Fit a radiator near Suffolk Coastal£186
Fit a radiator near Horsham£172
Fit a radiator near Nuneaton & Bedworth£144
Fit a radiator near Gwynedd£124
Fit a radiator near Swale£154
Fit a radiator near Havant & Waterloo£150
Fit a radiator near Teignbridge£140
Fit a radiator near Cambridge£154
Fit a radiator near Vale Royal£140
Fit a radiator near Amber Valley£144
Fit a radiator near North Hertfordshire£170
Fit a radiator near South Ayrshire£144
Fit a radiator near Waverley£176
Fit a radiator near Broadland£150
Fit a radiator near Crewe & Nantwich£142
Fit a radiator near Breckland£138
Fit a radiator near Ipswich£178
Fit a radiator near Pembrokeshire£118
Fit a radiator near Vale of White Horse£158
Fit a radiator near Salisbury£154
Fit a radiator near Gedling£142
Fit a radiator near Eastleigh£154
Fit a radiator near Broxtowe£142
Fit a radiator near Stratford-on-Avon£150
Fit a radiator near South Bedfordshire£162
Fit a radiator near Angus£146
Fit a radiator near East Hampshire£156
Fit a radiator near East Dunbartonshire£148
Fit a radiator near Conway£132
Fit a radiator near Sevenoaks£170
Fit a radiator near Slough£176
Fit a radiator near Bracknell Forest£180
Fit a radiator near West Lancashire£144
Fit a radiator near West Wiltshire£158
Fit a radiator near Ashfield£142
Fit a radiator near Lisburn£130
Fit a radiator near Scarborough£136
Fit a radiator near Stroud£146
Fit a radiator near Wychavon£150
Fit a radiator near Waveney£150
Fit a radiator near Exeter£138
Fit a radiator near Dover£156
Fit a radiator near Test Valley£154
Fit a radiator near Gloucester£176
Fit a radiator near Erewash£142
Fit a radiator near Cheltenham£150
Fit a radiator near Bassetlaw£136
Fit a radiator near Scottish Borders£156