Get quotes to fit a radiator from £54

HaMuch is Excellent
By Emily Rivers
Last updated 18th July 2022

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 Aberdeen£78
Fit a radiator near Amber Valley£80
Fit a radiator near Angus£72
Fit a radiator near Arun£92
Fit a radiator near Ashfield£76
Fit a radiator near Aylesbury Vale£102
Fit a radiator near Barnsley£76
Fit a radiator near Basildon£94
Fit a radiator near Basingstoke & Deane£116
Fit a radiator near Bassetlaw£72
Fit a radiator near Bath & North East Somerset£82
Fit a radiator near Bedford£96
Fit a radiator near Belfast£68
Fit a radiator near Birmingham£80
Fit a radiator near Blackburn£74
Fit a radiator near Blackpool£74
Fit a radiator near Bolton£80
Fit a radiator near Bournemouth£88
Fit a radiator near Bracknell Forest£114
Fit a radiator near Bradford£74
Fit a radiator near Braintree£92
Fit a radiator near Breckland£72
Fit a radiator near Bridgend£72
Fit a radiator near Brighton£96
Fit a radiator near Bristol£78
Fit a radiator near Broadland£88
Fit a radiator near Broxtowe£78
Fit a radiator near Bury£80
Fit a radiator near Caerphilly£68
Fit a radiator near Calderdale£72
Fit a radiator near Cambridge£92
Fit a radiator near Canterbury£90
Fit a radiator near Cardiff£70
Fit a radiator near Carmarthenshire£56
Fit a radiator near Charnwood£80
Fit a radiator near Chelmsford£92
Fit a radiator near Cheltenham£88
Fit a radiator near Cherwell£94
Fit a radiator near Chester£78
Fit a radiator near Colchester£90
Fit a radiator near Conway£64
Fit a radiator near Coventry£80
Fit a radiator near Crewe & Nantwich£76
Fit a radiator near Dacorum£106
Fit a radiator near Derby£76
Fit a radiator near Doncaster£76
Fit a radiator near Dover£90
Fit a radiator near Dudley£82
Fit a radiator near Dumfries & Galloway£70
Fit a radiator near Dundee£82
Fit a radiator near East Ayrshire£74
Fit a radiator near East Devon£70
Fit a radiator near East Dunbartonshire£84
Fit a radiator near East Hampshire£90
Fit a radiator near East Hertfordshire£100
Fit a radiator near East Lindsey£68
Fit a radiator near East Riding£70
Fit a radiator near Eastleigh£90
Fit a radiator near Edinburgh£84
Fit a radiator near Elmbridge£116
Fit a radiator near Epping Forest£112
Fit a radiator near Erewash£78
Fit a radiator near Exeter£74
Fit a radiator near Falkirk£84
Fit a radiator near Fife£80
Fit a radiator near Flintshire£74
Fit a radiator near Gateshead£84
Fit a radiator near Gedling£78
Fit a radiator near Glasgow£84
Fit a radiator near Gloucester£132
Fit a radiator near Guildford£112
Fit a radiator near Gwynedd£58
Fit a radiator near Halton£80
Fit a radiator near Harrogate£72
Fit a radiator near Havant & Waterloo£86
Fit a radiator near Highland£80
Fit a radiator near Horsham£106
Fit a radiator near Huntingdonshire£86
Fit a radiator near Ipswich£130
Fit a radiator near Isle of Wight£84
Fit a radiator near Kings Lynn & West Norfolk£78
Fit a radiator near Kingston-upon-Hull£70
Fit a radiator near Kirklees£74
Fit a radiator near Knowsley£80
Fit a radiator near Lancaster£76
Fit a radiator near Leeds£74
Fit a radiator near Leicester£80
Fit a radiator near Lisburn£66
Fit a radiator near Liverpool£80
Fit a radiator near London£114
Fit a radiator near Luton£104
Fit a radiator near Macclesfield£76
Fit a radiator near Maidstone£92
Fit a radiator near Manchester£80
Fit a radiator near Mid Bedfordshire£100
Fit a radiator near Mid Sussex£104
Fit a radiator near Middlesbrough£80
Fit a radiator near Milton Keynes£100
Fit a radiator near Neath Port Talbot£76
Fit a radiator near New Forest£88
Fit a radiator near Newbury£116
Fit a radiator near Newcastle-under-Lyme£74
Fit a radiator near Newcastle-upon-Tyne£84
Fit a radiator near Newport£70
Fit a radiator near North Ayrshire£76
Fit a radiator near North East Lincolnshire£72
Fit a radiator near North Hertfordshire£102
Fit a radiator near North Lanarkshire£84
Fit a radiator near North Lincolnshire£72
Fit a radiator near North Somerset£78
Fit a radiator near North Tyneside£84
Fit a radiator near North Wiltshire£98
Fit a radiator near Northampton£92
Fit a radiator near Norwich£86
Fit a radiator near Nottingham£78
Fit a radiator near Nuneaton & Bedworth£80
Fit a radiator near Oldham£78
Fit a radiator near Oxford£96
Fit a radiator near Pembrokeshire£54
Fit a radiator near Perth & Kinross£76
Fit a radiator near Peterborough£84
Fit a radiator near Plymouth£68
Fit a radiator near Poole£88
Fit a radiator near Portsmouth£86
Fit a radiator near Powys£88
Fit a radiator near Preston£74
Fit a radiator near Reading£116
Fit a radiator near Redcar & Cleveland£82
Fit a radiator near Reigate & Banstead£118
Fit a radiator near Renfrewshire£80
Fit a radiator near Rhondda, Cynon, Taff£72
Fit a radiator near Rochdale£78
Fit a radiator near Rochester-upon-Medway£90
Fit a radiator near Rotherham£74
Fit a radiator near Salford£80
Fit a radiator near Salisbury£88
Fit a radiator near Sandwell£82
Fit a radiator near Scarborough£74
Fit a radiator near Scottish Borders£92
Fit a radiator near Sefton£78
Fit a radiator near Sevenoaks£104
Fit a radiator near Sheffield£74
Fit a radiator near Slough£110
Fit a radiator near Solihull£80
Fit a radiator near South Ayrshire£76
Fit a radiator near South Bedfordshire£96
Fit a radiator near South Cambridgeshire£92
Fit a radiator near South Gloucestershire£80
Fit a radiator near South Kesteven£82
Fit a radiator near South Lanarkshire£78
Fit a radiator near South Oxfordshire£104
Fit a radiator near South Somerset£66
Fit a radiator near South Tyneside£84
Fit a radiator near Southampton£88
Fit a radiator near Southend-on-Sea£90
Fit a radiator near St Albans£108
Fit a radiator near St Helens£80
Fit a radiator near Stafford£78
Fit a radiator near Stockport£80
Fit a radiator near Stockton-on-Tees£80
Fit a radiator near Stoke-on-Trent£74
Fit a radiator near Stratford-on-Avon£88
Fit a radiator near Stroud£82
Fit a radiator near Suffolk Coastal£142
Fit a radiator near Sunderland£84
Fit a radiator near Swale£90
Fit a radiator near Swansea£70
Fit a radiator near Tameside£80
Fit a radiator near Teignbridge£76
Fit a radiator near Tendring£114
Fit a radiator near Test Valley£86
Fit a radiator near Thamesdown£96
Fit a radiator near Thanet£88
Fit a radiator near The Wrekin£82
Fit a radiator near Thurrock£96
Fit a radiator near Torbay£76
Fit a radiator near Trafford£82
Fit a radiator near Vale of Glamorgan£76
Fit a radiator near Vale of White Horse£92
Fit a radiator near Vale Royal£74
Fit a radiator near Wakefield£74
Fit a radiator near Walsall£80
Fit a radiator near Warrington£82
Fit a radiator near Warwick£82
Fit a radiator near Waveney£84
Fit a radiator near Waverley£108
Fit a radiator near Wealden£96
Fit a radiator near West Lancashire£80
Fit a radiator near West Lothian£90
Fit a radiator near West Wiltshire£98
Fit a radiator near Wigan£80
Fit a radiator near Windsor & Maidenhead£110
Fit a radiator near Wirral£78
Fit a radiator near Wokingham£116
Fit a radiator near Wolverhampton£82
Fit a radiator near Wrexham Maelor£82
Fit a radiator near Wychavon£84
Fit a radiator near Wycombe£114
Fit a radiator near York£72