Cost to Move a Radiator

Trying to find out how much it costs to move a radiator?

In this price guide, we look at the average costs for moving a radiator, including radiator prices depending on the type, plumber costs and any additional costs that might be incurred.

An average price to take a radiator off the wall and reposition it is usually around £275.

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How Much Does It Cost to Move a Radiator?

Moving a radiator won’t hurt your budget hugely - in the majority of cases, moving a radiator is a straightforward job that most plumbers can complete in a short space of time.

So, what's the cost of moving a radiator?

You can expect to pay around £275 to move a radiator.

The ease of relocation is going to play a big part in the length of time that it takes to move the radiator, as well as the overall cost of the job.

Does the pipework need to go through plaster, coving, skirting, or brickwork?

Every obstacle that sits in the way makes the job a bit more complex, and these are the things that will add cost and time to the job.

Moving a Radiator Prices

Supply Only Costs

When it comes to moving a radiator, you don’t need a whole lot of supplies since you already have the radiator.

However, you may decide to choose a new or different type of radiator to install in the new position. If this is the case, you will need to purchase a new radiator.

Radiator prices can vary depending on the size or type of radiator. Below is a list of the different types of radiators, and the average cost for each:

Central Heating Radiator Costs

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Additional Costs

When moving a radiator to a new location in the room, there may be some other costs that you may need to think about:

• Smart thermostat cost - £265
• Power flush cost - £400
• New boiler cost - £2,400
• Thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) cost - £8 to 33
• Pipework cost - £350 to £700
• Hot water cylinder cost - £120 to £230

Labour Costs and Timescales

The labour costs of moving a radiator usually fall somewhere between £80 and £120.

The cost can vary depending on the size of the radiator, the difficulty of the job or the location of your property.

If your radiator is particularly large, or if the position you’re moving it to is quite difficult, then you may find that the cost of labour increases as the job will take longer.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £20 to £40 per hour more for labour than those based in other parts of the UK.

On average, moving a radiator will usually take around 2 to 5 hours to complete.

However, if the job is more complex or requires any extra work, then you should expect the time to take a little longer.

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Cost Factors of Moving a Radiator

There are a number of factors that can affect the cost of having your radiator moved - let's go through them now.

Number of Radiators

The number of radiators that need to be moved can affect the cost of your radiator moving job.

The more radiators that need to be moved, the longer the job is going to take.

Plumbers in the UK will charge around £40 to £60 per hour, and between £60 to £80 per hour in London, so any additional hours can cause the overall cost to add up.

Size of Radiator

Larger radiators will usually take a little longer to move since the job can sometimes be a bit more difficult.

This can result in extra labour costs due to the additional time.

Type of Radiator

Some radiators are more complex to move than others, and plumbers will often charge more for these jobs.

These types of jobs will also take more time, which can result in extra labour costs.

For example, cast iron radiators can take a lot longer to install than classic radiators as they are much heavier, and therefore more difficult to move.

Extra Plumbing Work

If any extra plumbing is needed to complete the job, this will result in extra costs.

Extra plumbing work may also require the use of extra materials, and so the overall cost of the job will rise.

Location of Property

Those based in London can expect to pay £20 to £40 more for labour per hour than those based in the north of the UK.

With this in mind, people who are based in and around London can expect to pay more for the overall job than people based elsewhere in the UK.

Existing or New Radiator

If you are moving an existing radiator, the overall cost of the job will be much cheaper than if you were to buy a new radiator.

The cost of changing a radiator can work out much higher than if you were to use your existing radiator.

What's Involved in Moving a Radiator?

You should always hire a plumber or heating engineer if you're planning on moving a radiator in your home.

Here are the steps your contractor is likely to take:

• Plan and measure the radiator - Your contractor will start by measuring the existing radiator to ensure it’s going to fit in the new location, making sure there's room for the necessary pipework.
• Drain the system - Your boiler will be turned off, and the system will be drained.
• Cap the pipework - The original radiator pipes will then be cut, rerouted, and capped.
• Move and install the radiator - The radiator will then be mounted, checking that the pipes are fitted correctly before refilling the system.
• Refill and test - The system will then be refilled, the radiators bled to remove air, and the boiler will be switched on to check correct operation.

Types of Radiator

Below is a list of the different types of radiators that are available to buy:

Central Heating Radiators

Central heating radiators have the highest heat output, and also benefit from having the greatest heating efficiency of any type of plumbed radiator style.

This makes them a very popular choice in many homes in the UK. These radiators use corrugated panels to radiate heat out into the room.

You can get single-panel styles of central heating radiators for small rooms, or you can get double-panel ones for larger rooms, as these produce more heat.

Central heating radiators cost £100 to £300.

Pros

• ✔ Extremely efficient, and quick to heat
• ✔ Comes in single panel or double-panel models

Cons

• ✖ Double-panel central heating radiators can be bulky
• ✖ May look less aesthetically pleasing compared to designer radiators

Column Radiators

If you're looking to add - or retain - period charm within your home, a column radiator can be the perfect option for you. These radiators give a traditional feel to your home.

They are very similar in style to cast-iron radiators, which originated during the Victorian era. These modern column radiators keep the traditional look, but offer much greater heat efficiency than the older models.

Column radiators cost £150 to £800.

Pros

• ✔ Traditional style
• ✔ Better heat efficiency compared to traditional cast-iron radiators

Cons

• ✖ May look old fashioned in modern properties
• ✖ Can be bulky

Designer Radiators

A designer radiator can bring a wide range of benefits to your home, including space-saving technologies, bespoke designs, and even dual-purpose radiators that double up as mirrors, memo boards, and more.

These types of radiators are the ideal way to add a contemporary and modern feel to any room. They can create incredibly stylish and attractive features that you won’t want to hide.

Designer radiators cost £200 to £700+.

Pros

• ✔ Space-saving designs
• ✔ Modern aesthetic, stylish

Cons

• ✖ May not be as energy-efficient as some models
• ✖ Can be expensive compared to other radiator styles

Vertical Radiators

Vertical radiators are convenient for small spaces where traditional horizontal radiators might not be able to fit.

Vertical radiators cost £150 to £500.

Pros

• ✔ Space-saving, perfect for narrow spaces and rooms
• ✔ Stylish, modern look

Cons

• ✖ Potentially more expensive than traditional horizontal radiators
• ✖ Always visible

Towel Radiators

With a towel radiator, you can dry your towels whilst also adding some extra warmth to your bathroom. They're a great, practical option for bathrooms.

Towel radiators cost £80 to £500.

Pros

• ✔ Adds extra warmth to the bathroom
• ✔ Dries towels

Cons

• ✖ Can take up a lot of room
• ✖ Not always enough to heat the whole room alone

Cast Iron Radiators

A cast iron radiator takes longer to heat up and cool down than modern radiators. This means that they keep warm for longer after turning your heating off. With this in mind, these are great radiators for large rooms with high ceilings.

This model of radiator would be best suited in an older period home. However, they can be a beautiful feature in contemporary décor.

Cast iron radiators cost £200 to £700+.

Pros

• ✔ Keeps warmth in longer
• ✔ Great for larger rooms or rooms with high ceilings

Cons

• ✖ Takes longer to heat up
• ✖ May corrode over time, and are very heavy to manoeuvre

Flat Panel Radiators

Flat panel radiators are designed to be light and compact, meaning they can fit into almost any room without taking up a big amount of space.

Flat panel radiators cost £100 to £300.

Pros

• ✔ Light and compact
• ✔ Don’t take up a lot of space

Cons

• ✖ Often small, so don’t produce as much heat
• ✖ You may need more radiators to get adequate heating

Stainless Steel Radiators

Stainless steel radiators are very efficient, but they are also a stunning room feature. They are available in a variety of beautiful finishes that are both easy to maintain and easy to keep clean.

Stainless steel radiators cost £250 to £600.

Pros

• ✔ Great heat retention
• ✔ Easy to keep clean

Cons

• ✖ Not to everyone’s taste
• ✖ Can cost more than traditional radiators

Mirror Radiators

Mirror radiators can be a great choice for bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways, because they give the perception of a bigger space. They also double up as a stylish décor item, whilst giving off heat to warm the room.

Mirror radiators cost £200 to £400.

Pros

• ✔ Useful for smaller rooms where a traditional radiator may not fit
• ✔ Stylish, modern aesthetic

Cons

• ✖ Gives off less heat than standard radiators
• ✖ More expensive than a regular horizontal radiator

Space Saving Radiators

A space-saving radiator is a perfect option if you want to make the most of the space in your room. They can fit into narrow spaces, wrap around corners, and easily blend into the décor.

Space-saving radiators cost £200 to £400.

Pros

• ✔ Able to fit into small spaces
• ✔ Stylish, modern designs

Cons

• ✖ Often small, so don’t give off much heat
• ✖ May require multiple units to heat large rooms

Where Can I Move a Radiator To?

You can usually move your radiator to any internal wall in the room where there is no electrical or plumbing work in the way behind the wall.

You also need to ensure that the wall you want to move your radiator to is big enough to house your existing radiator.

It’s always best to thoroughly measure each aspect, so you can be certain the radiator is going to fit into its new position in your home.

You should also check where your water pipes are located. The further away your radiator is from the existing pipework, the more it is going to cost, as it will take longer to reposition the radiator.

Adding new pipework is a time-consuming task, so you should be aware of this beforehand.

Can I Move a Radiator Myself?

Unless you feel that you are fully competent to do so and that you have the required plumbing knowledge needed to move a radiator, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals.

If you attempt to move your radiator yourself without the basic knowledge needed to do so, you could cause damage to your heating system that may result in some hefty costs down the line.

You may also cause leaks within your system, which could cost a lot to fix or could even cause damage to other parts of your property.

Building Regulations for Moving Radiators

In most cases, you do not need Building Regulations approval in order to move an existing radiator to a new position.

However, Building Regulations may apply if you complete any of the following as part of the job:

• Installing a new or replacement heating system or boiler.
• Installing an additional radiator to your existing heating system.

If you're unsure whether you need approval for your job, it's best to seek advice from a professional before going ahead with the work.

Cost of Moving a Radiator

If you are renovating your home or redecorating a room, you may want to move your radiator so that it fits in with the new layout of the room. You may also want to move a radiator in cases where it is not heating the room efficiently.

The total cost of moving a radiator is typically £275.

Checklist: How To Find and Hire a Plumber to Move a Radiator in the UK

When you are looking to hire a plumber to move your radiator for you, there are a few things that you need to consider first.

Below is what you should consider when trying to find the right contractor for the job:

• Be sure to obtain at least 3 quotes from various contractors with costs to move a radiator to compare prices.
• Ask for a breakdown of costs on the quote so that you know you’re getting a good price for each different element of the job.
• Take a look at the contractor's testimonials for their previous work - are past customers happy?
• How much experience does the contractor have in moving radiators?
• Make sure you ask if the contractor offers any guarantees on their work.

FAQs

Sources

https://heatingforce.co.uk/blog/radiator-installation-costs
https://www.real-fix.com/general/how-much-to-move-a-radiator
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433759/150604_Building_Work_Leaflet_amended_version.pdf