Radiator cover cost in 2023

Bespoke radiator covers are perfect for covering an unsightly radiator without reducing its heat output too much. They can even give you some extra storage space if you need it.

It costs around £250 to make and fit a bespoke radiator cover, but there are other costs to consider too. Find out how much bespoke radiator covers cost in our guide.

How much do bespoke radiator covers cost?

How much bespoke radiator covers cost will depend on the size of the cover, how intricate it is and whether you need a decorator or not, but here are the average costs:

Job / item	Average cost
Make and fit a bespoke radiator cover	£250
Decorator to paint a radiator cover	£200
Fit ready-made radiator cover	£90
Carpenter hourly rate	£16-£40 per hour

How much you pay for a bespoke radiator cover to be fitted will depend on your location. Rates vary across the country, with carpenters charging the most in major cities and the south east.

HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for carpenters across the entire UK, and we’ve compiled them to offer average costs to fit bespoke radiator covers in almost every town and city in the country. Take a look at our table further down the page to get a more accurate idea of how much a carpenter will charge in your area.

Bespoke vs off-the-shelf radiator covers

Generally, it’s cheaper to buy an off-the-shelf radiator cover than having a bespoke one. But if you have a non-standard size radiator or you have specific storage needs, you might not find the radiator cover you want.

You can buy ready-made radiator covers online for between £20-£150, but you’ll have to make them work for you. If they need cuts to fit around unusual pipework or you need adjustments made for uneven floors, a carpenter might charge you close to what they would to make you a radiator cover from scratch.

A carpenter will charge an average of £90 to fit each radiator cover, so you can see how it may pay to have one made for you if it will need alterations anyway.

Make a radiator cover video

Are radiator covers worth it?

Radiator covers are certainly worth it for a lot of homeowners. There are lots of benefits to radiator covers:

Aesthetics: Radiator covers usually have a great look that can complement the overall decoration of your home. They’re a good way of hiding unsightly radiators rather than spending a lot of money on buying and fitting a new one.

Childproofing: If you have young children, you might be worried about them touching the hot radiator. Radiator covers are ideal for creating a barrier to keep your child safe.

Storage: The benefit to having a bespoke radiator cover is that you can ask your carpenter to add any storage features you need to make your life easier. You could add drawers or shelves to make the radiator cover more useful – the possibilities are endless.

Reduce noise: If you have noisy radiators, a radiator cover can be a great option as it will muffle any sounds they make. However, you may want to look into getting your boiler serviced or having a powerflush in case your radiators are noisy because they are filled with air or metallic debris.

Do you lose much heat with radiator covers?

No, you won’t notice a reduction in heat with radiator covers – as long as they are fitted correctly and have adequate vents. This is why it’s a good idea to have a bespoke radiator cover.

If you ask a carpenter to make your radiator cover, you can ensure that they add in the right amount of gaps and vents to allow eat to escape. If you buy a ready-made one without enough gaps, you may find that your room doesn’t heat up as quickly.

We’ll always recommend at least asking a carpenter to fit a radiator cover so they can make adjustments that allow for the best air flow. But a bespoke radiator cover will be best at ensuring you don’t lose heat output from your radiator, as the carpenter can add vents in exactly the right places.

Top tip: If you have a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) on your radiator, make sure your carpenter leaves this uncovered. Otherwise, the TRV won’t be able to detect an accurate room temperature, meaning that it could take longer for your radiator to turn on and heat up.

Do radiator covers need a gap at the bottom?

Ideally, your radiator covers should have a gap or holes on the bottom to allow for cold air to be drawn in at the base. You’ll also need gaps at the top and sides to allow warm air to rise up and out.

Ideally, your radiator cover should be wider than the radiator by at least 5cm in width, 3cm in height and 3cm in depth to allow for the best air flow.

Radiator covers should not touch the radiator. If the radiator cover is too close, it will prevent heat from being distributed around your room, and you may notice that it feels colder.

Do radiator covers need to be fixed to the wall?

Whether your radiator cover needs to be fixed to the wall depends on what type it is. If it’s an off-the-shelf radiator cover, most of these come ready made and simply require sliding over the radiator, so they don’t need to be fixed to the wall.

However, if you need adjustments made to your cover or you’re having a bespoke radiator cover, you probably will need to have it fixed to the wall. Your carpenter will ensure they use the right brackets and fixings to keep it safe and prevent it from toppling over.

If you’re ready to have a bespoke radiator cover made for you, post your job on HaMuch. We’ll put you in touch with reliable carpenters in your area that can give you a free, no-obligation quote.

Estimates for common carpenter & joiner jobs;

Rates for other trades