Swapping a radiator is one of the more affordable heating jobs, but the price swings a lot depending on whether it is a straight like-for-like change or a brand-new run of pipework - and designer radiators can cost more than the labour to fit them.
A like-for-like swap is usually £150-£300 including the radiator. Adding a brand-new radiator with fresh pipework runs £200-£450, and a designer or vertical unit can be £350-£800+.
Typical UK Prices
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Like-for-like swap (standard rad) | £150-£300 |
| Add a new radiator + pipework | £200-£450 |
| Designer / vertical radiator | £350-£800+ |
| Remove a radiator permanently | £80-£150 |
| Fit a thermostatic valve (TRV) | £30-£60 |
What Drives the Price
- Like-for-like vs new run
- Reusing the existing valves and pipe tails is quick. A radiator in a new spot needs pipework run to it, which is most of the cost.
- The radiator itself
- A standard panel rad is inexpensive; column, designer and vertical radiators can cost several times more.
- Valves and extras
- Fitting thermostatic valves at the same time is cheap to add and worth doing while the system is drained.
- Draining the system
- Most swaps mean draining and refilling, so it is efficient to do several radiators in one visit.
Swap, or Try a Fix First?
- Cold only at the top - it is trapped air, just bleed it, no need to replace
- Cold only at the bottom - that is sludge; a power flush may save the radiator
- Leaking from a valve - often a new valve, not a new radiator
- Rusty, cold throughout, or pinholing - replacement is the right call
Getting the Size Right
A replacement radiator has to put out enough heat for the room, measured in BTUs, which depends on the room size, window area and insulation. A like-for-like swap usually matches the old output, but if a room was always cold the new radiator is your chance to size up. A heating engineer can work out the right output quickly - fitting one that is too small is the most common reason a "new" radiator disappoints.
If several radiators are underperforming rather than one, the issue is likely the wider system - see radiator not heating up and our power flush cost guide. A radiator leaking badly and you cannot stop it? Get an emergency heating engineer on the way.