What Temperature Should Underfloor Heating Be Set At Night?
07/09/2025
Keeping your underfloor heating system (UFH) on 24/7 is considered one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Not only does it provide a consistent temperature throughout, but it also helps maintain the performance of your UFH system and is a more energy-efficient and cost-effective option.
But is it safe to keep your underfloor heating on overnight? This article answers precisely that, as well as the best temperatures to set your electric or water underfloor heating system to at night for different rooms and types of flooring.
Should Underfloor Heating Be Turned Off At Night?
Underfloor heating systems are designed to be left on overnight. This is to create a consistent temperature in your home throughout the day and night. Nighttime often brings cooler temperatures. So, if the temperature significantly dips, your thermostat can control temperature levels and maintain a warm, comfortable environment. So yes, underfloor heating can and should be left on overnight.
What Is the Ideal Temperature for Underfloor Heating In General?
For the average family home, a floor temperature setting of 22-26°C is ideal for your underfloor heating system. Whether you have water-based UFH or electric UFH, this will create a comfortable and consistent temperature throughout your home, via a balanced distribution of underfloor heat.
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What Temperature Should I Set My Underfloor Heating To at Night?
Rather than turn your underfloor heating off, reduce the floor temperature slightly by 2-3°C below the daytime temperature. This will help maintain a warm environment without wasting excessive energy. For a comfortable night, the recommended underfloor heating floor temperature for each room at night is:
Bedrooms: 16–18 °C – Bedrooms are often carpeted and retain more heat. Unless someone vulnerable is sleeping in the room, you can keep bedroom temperatures cooler at night.
Living Areas: 17–18 °C – As these spaces are usually unoccupied at night, they can be set to a lower temperature. If you have a tiled floor, it can lose heat quickly – aim for a temperature of 18 °C to help retain the heat.
Bathrooms: 18 °C – Bathrooms are still used overnight, and a cold floor can be a shock. Set your temperature to a comfortable 18 °C for a cosy morning routine.
The great thing about underfloor heating systems is that you can optimise programmable thermostats for zonal formatting. This means you can set different rooms to different temperatures depending on the type of room, who’s sleeping in there, and the floor type.
Overnight Temperatures for Electric Underfloor Heating Systems
Electric underfloor heating and heating mats are designed to heat up quickly, making them ideal for on-demand purposes to provide instant warmth. These features mean they don’t have to be left on overnight, and you can use a thermostat to set a time in the morning for them to switch on. If you prefer to leave your electric UFH system on throughout the night, lower the temperature by 3–4 °C for optimum comfort.
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Overnight Temperatures for Water Underfloor Heating Systems
Water underfloor heating systems operate by circulating warm water through pipes located beneath your floor. Powered by a boiler or heat pump, they operate most efficiently at a low, consistent temperature. You can therefore reduce your floor temperature by 2-3°C.
Wet UFH systems usually take longer to warm up. So, switching them on and off can impact their performance or even shock the system if left for too long. By keeping your water underfloor heating on overnight, your system works more efficiently to deliver a warm, cosy environment.
Read more: How Does Water Underfloor Heating Work?
Is There A Max Overnight Temperature for Underfloor Heating?
The maximum temperature for electric or water underfloor heating systems depends on a few factors, including the manufacturer’s recommendations and the type of flooring being heated. Each type of flooring material can withstand different temperatures, such as:
Tile or Stone – These take a while to warm up but can lose heat rapidly. Daytime temperatures can go up to 23 °C. For nighttime temperatures, we recommend 18 to 20 °C
Manmade or Real Timber – Similar to tiles, wood and timber flooring can lose heat quickly. Set your floor temperature to 22°C in these instances.
Carpet – Carpet is the best type of flooring to retain heat; you can therefore afford to lower your floor temperature to 18°C and be comfortable.
Vinyl or LVT – Daytime floor temperatures for vinyl and LVT average 27°C; we therefore recommend setting the temperature to 22°C at night.
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Achieve the Best Floor Temperature with a Thermostat
Most underfloor heating systems are installed with an integrated thermostat to prevent temperatures exceeding safe limits. This means that UFH systems are safe to leave on overnight.
To help control the temperature of your underfloor heating overnight, choose a WiFi thermostat or programmable thermostat that allows you to adjust the temperatures from room to room and at different times of the day.
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Benefits of Leaving Underfloor Heating on Overnight
Faster Warm-up Times – By keeping your underfloor heating system running at a low, consistent temperature, when you need to increase the heat, it won’t take as long.
Maintains Comfort – A consistent floor temperature maintains a warm, comfortable environment while minimising energy usage and energy costs.
Energy Efficient – Switching your heating systems on and off daily can result in energy spikes and possibly increase costs. A set temperature helps reduce energy waste.
System Health – Steady, low temperatures help extend the condition and lifespan of your underfloor heating system for better performance and lower maintenance.
Better for Older Homes – Older properties that are poorly insulated or have solid brickwork take longer to warm up. By leaving your underfloor heating on overnight, you can help keep your property warm throughout the year.
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Leaving your underfloor heating system on overnight ultimately comes down to personal preference. But we hope that this guide provides some insight, reassurance, and the benefits of keeping your underfloor heating on throughout the day and night. If you have any questions about your electric or wet underfloor heating system, contact our experienced sales team today at 01604 815711.