Rugs for Underfloor Heating: Can You Put Rugs on Underfloor Heating?

One of the most common questions homeowners ask is “Can you put rugs on underfloor heating?”. The truth is that rugs and underfloor heating can work well together when you choose the right type and place them properly.

Underfloor heating lets you design your home without big radiators. However, many people still wonder if rugs will trap heat or harm the system. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how rugs on underfloor heating really behave, the myths to ignore, and how different floor finishes affect your rug choices. You’ll also learn which rugs are safe, what to avoid and how tog ratings work.

Key Points:

• You can put a rug on underfloor heating as long as the combined tog value stays below the recommended limit.
• Heat passes through most rugs without issues, as long as they’re not too thick.
• Tiles, wood, and laminate all behave differently when paired with rugs.
• The wrong rug can slow heat transfer, but it won’t harm the system if chosen carefully.
• Simple checks help you choose the best rugs for underfloor heating and avoid cold spots.

Common Misconceptions About Rugs On Underfloor Heating

Many myths exist about rugs on underfloor heating. These myths often come from people who have never used an UFH system. Let’s clear up the biggest ones:

1. “Rugs block all the heat” – A rug will slow heat slightly, but not enough to cause problems when it has a low tog rating. Most modern rugs are perfectly compatible with UFH systems and still allow steady warmth to pass through.
2. “Thick rugs will damage the heating system” – A thick rug won’t harm the pipework or electric cables underneath; that’s not how UFH works. The concern is efficiency, not damage. If a rug is too dense, heat can build up beneath it, making that spot feel warmer than the others.
3. “You can’t use natural fibre rugs with underfloor heating” – Wool, jute, cotton, and flat-weave styles all work well. In many cases, natural fibres perform better because they’re breathable and don’t trap heat.
4. “Rugs cause long-term uneven heating in the room” – A rug may create a slightly warmer patch underneath, but the overall room temperature remains stable. Modern UFH systems self-regulate and maintain balance.
5. “You need to avoid underlaying completely” – You can use underlay, you just need the total tog value (rug + underlay) to remain within the recommended level.

If you have carpet flooring and you’re wondering can you have underfloor heating with carpet, for guidance on pairing heating with soft floor coverings, take a look at our guide. 

Impact of Rugs On Underfloor Heating

Research from the Carpet Foundation, conducted with the BEAMA Underfloor Heating Group, found that most carpets and rugs are suitable for UFH, provided the overall thermal resistance does not exceed 2.5 tog. This guideline protects both comfort and efficiency.

When rug tog values stay within this limit, heat passes through at a steady rate. Problems only appear when the rug is extremely thick, foam-backed, or uses a dense underlay that blocks airflow.

Below is a simple breakdown of how rugs on underfloor heating behave on the most common floor finishes.

Rugs with Underfloor Heating and Tiles

Tiles (porcelain, ceramic, or stone) are some of the best heat conductors available. Because of that, pairing rugs and underfloor heating on tiled floors usually works brilliantly. 

Tiles release heat evenly, creating a consistent base under the rug. You won’t notice major cold spots because tile holds and transfers heat efficiently. Lower tog rugs warm up quickly and feel comfortable underfoot.

Keep in mind that a thick rug will still warm slowly because the tile beneath stays cooler than wood, and avoid rugs with rubber or foam-heavy backing, as they block heat and can cause discolouration on some tile sealants.

Best choices for tiled floors:

• Cotton rugs
• Flat-weaves (e.g., kilims)
• Light wool blends
• Low-pile synthetic rugs

These allow underfloor heating to work freely without any performance drop.

Rugs with Underfloor Heating and Wood

Wood floors behave differently because they expand and contract with temperature and humidity, and they don’t conduct heat as quickly as tiles. That doesn’t mean rugs and underfloor heating are a bad match; you just need to choose your rug carefully.

A very thick rug will trap more warmth, making the area under it slightly warmer than the rest of the floor. Persistent hot patches can dry the wood in that spot faster, creating uneven ageing. Keeping the tog value low prevents inconsistent heating.

What to choose:

• Cotton, jute, or flat-woven styles.
• Low-pile wool rugs (breathable and naturally insulating).
• Rugs without heavy latex backing.

Placement tip: Avoid placing a large, dense rug over the area where the floor sensor sits, as it may affect the thermostat’s reading of the room temperature.

Rugs with Underfloor Heating and Laminate

Laminate flooring is designed to work with UFH, but it isn’t as heat-stable as tile or engineered wood. It expands slightly when heated, so rugs need to support even airflow. Rugs and underfloor heating on laminate work best when:

• The rug has a low tog rating.
• You avoid memory foam-backed mats or dense underlay.
• You allow a little space between heavier furniture and rug edges so airflow stays open.

Since laminate doesn’t retain as much natural warmth as wood, rugs feel more comfortable on it when used correctly. Ideal options for laminate:

• Thin woven rugs
• Natural fibre flat-weaves
• Lightweight synthetics
• Rug pads with breathable mesh designs (not foam)

If you’re pairing a rug with furniture in a laminate room, UFHTS has a helpful guide on can you put furniture on underfloor heating, which explains weight distribution and safe placement.

Conclusion

Rugs and underfloor heating work well together when you choose styles with a low tog rating and match them to your floor type. With the right rug, you can enjoy comfortable flooring without reducing warmth or harming your system. 

Whether your home has tiles, wood, or laminate, simple choices will keep the heat flowing as it should. For more guidance on flooring options, explore our range of underfloor heating for carpet.

At Underfloor Heating Trade Supplies, we help homeowners get the most out of their underfloor heating systems by supplying high-quality kits designed to work with a wide range of floor coverings, including carpets and rugs. Whether you’re laying a feature rug in a living room or planning a full soft-floor installation, our hydronic and electric systems are built to deliver consistent warmth with excellent efficiency. If you’re looking to upgrade or redesign your space, explore our full range of underfloor heating systems.

FAQs

Sources

BEAMA Underfloor Heating Group (n.d.) Choosing your floor covering to maximise your underfloor heating efficiency. [Online] Available at: https://www.beama.org.uk/static/cf84f209-83ae-47a4-9dc444a2c382a0ab/bfd95ae9-8740-4c6a-953dc01d04c5456c/BEAMA-Underfloor-guide-Choosing-your-floor-covering-to-maximise-your-underfloor-heating-efficiency.pdf (Accessed: 18 November 2025).