Thermostat for electric heating: which one do you need?
The thermostat is dictated by the way you heat: heating under a floor covering (heating mat, heating film) needs a thermostat with a floor sensor, a plug-in heater needs only a socket thermostat, and outdoor heating needs an outdoor controller with a sensor. With a separate thermostat for each room, heating runs only where and when it is needed.
In brief
- The type of thermostat is dictated by the way you heat: a floor-sensor thermostat for heating under a floor covering, a socket thermostat for a plug-in heater, an outdoor controller with a sensor for outdoor heating.
- If electric heating is your main heating, we recommend a programmable digital or WiFi thermostat.
- A thermostat measures where it is mounted: keep it away from heaters, windows and direct sunlight.
- A wall-mounted 230 V thermostat must be connected by a qualified electrician; a socket thermostat needs no wiring.
- Choose the load rating to match the heating output: the BHT-12E, for example, switches up to 3,680 W.
Which thermostat do you need for electric heating?
| Heating | Thermostat | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Heating mat, heating cable or heating film in the floor | wall-mounted room thermostat with a floor sensor | the temperature of the floor covering must also be limited |
| Infrared panel, dark radiator | a thermostat without a floor probe may be suitable | the appliance does not heat the floor |
| Plug-in heater, heating pad | socket thermostat, for example the BHT-12E WiFi (up to 3,680 W) | no wiring needed, but the load rating must be observed |
| Panel heater | the panel's built-in thermostat | panel heaters come with a thermostat from the factory |
| Outdoor frost protection, de-icing | outdoor thermostat with an external probe (Elektra ETN4) or a controller with temperature and moisture sensors (ETO2) | heats only when there is a risk of frost; more economical with a moisture sensor |
Sources: the manufacturers' product descriptions in the web shop (BHT-12E, Elektra ETN4, ETO2-4550); the role of the floor sensor according to the installation guide of the heating mats.
Room thermostats in our web shop
Room thermostats, including WiFi thermostats you can control from your phone, are available in our web shop. All thermostats in the web shop · WiFi thermostats (Hungarian-language shop, delivery within Hungary).
Manual, programmable or WiFi?
Manual
Holds one set temperature, with a dial or push buttons. It has no timer: enough for supplementary, background heating.
Programmable digital
Switches between a comfort and an economy temperature on a schedule. If electric heating is your main heating, this is what we recommend.
WiFi
Can be set remotely from your phone, with a weekly schedule. Some models, such as the BHT-12E, also work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Where should you put the thermostat?
A thermostat measures where it is mounted, so its position matters at least as much as its type.
- Keep it away from heaters, windows, fireplaces, ovens and heat-producing electronics, and out of direct sunlight.
- Put it in the room whose heating it controls, at a point that reflects the general temperature of the room.
- The floor sensor goes in a protective conduit between two heating strands, so it can be replaced later.
- The built-in probe of a socket thermostat measures near the socket: do not plug it in next to a heater, right above the floor or behind a door.
- For retrofits, a surface-mount frame means you do not have to chase the wall.
Thermostat user manuals
- Premium glass thermostat B1000 (PDF, in Hungarian)
- Luxury WiFi thermostat B8000 (PDF, in Hungarian)
- Room thermostat B002 (PDF, in Hungarian)
- A6 WiFi thermostat (PDF, in Hungarian)
- Push-button thermostat (PDF, in Hungarian)
On setting the floor sensor: Setting the floor sensor on a digital thermostat.
Questions about thermostats
Which thermostat do you need for electric heating?
The thermostat for electric heating is dictated by the way you heat: a heating mat, heating cable or heating film built into the floor needs a wall-mounted room thermostat with a floor sensor, an infrared panel needs a thermostat without a floor probe, a plug-in heater needs a socket thermostat, and outdoor frost protection needs an outdoor controller with a sensor. Panel heaters come with a thermostat from the factory. On the types of heating: electric heating: which one for what.
Which thermostat should I buy: manual, programmable or WiFi?
A manual thermostat is enough for supplementary, background heating, because it holds one set temperature with no timer. If electric heating is your main heating, we recommend a programmable digital thermostat, which switches between a comfort and an economy temperature on a schedule. A WiFi thermostat does this too and can also be set remotely from your phone; some models, such as the BHT-12E, also work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Range: WiFi thermostats (Hungarian-language shop, delivery within Hungary).
Which thermostat does a heating mat need?
A heating mat needs a wall-mounted room thermostat with a floor sensor, because besides the air temperature, the temperature of the floor covering must also be monitored and limited; the same applies to heating cable and to heating film built into the floor. The floor sensor goes in a protective conduit between two heating strands, so it can be replaced later. Settings: setting the floor sensor on a digital thermostat.
Does an infrared panel need a separate thermostat?
In most cases an infrared panel needs a separate thermostat, because most panels have no built-in one. For a plug-in panel a WiFi socket thermostat is convenient; for a fixed connection you need a wall-mounted thermostat, which may be suitable without a floor probe, since an infrared panel does not heat the floor. Panels: infrared panels: what size and which one to choose.
How much does a thermostat cost?
The price of a thermostat depends on its type (manual, programmable digital or WiFi); current web shop prices are shown in the product grids of the shop. Having an electrician connect a wall-mounted thermostat is a separate item; a socket thermostat needs no wiring, but the heater connected to it must not exceed the stated output. Full range: thermostats in the web shop (Hungarian-language shop, delivery within Hungary).
How much power can a thermostat switch?
The switching capacity differs by model and is given on the product page: the BHT-12E WiFi socket thermostat switches up to 3,680 W, and the Elektra ETN4 outdoor thermostat up to 16 A, i.e. 3,600 W. Choose the thermostat's load rating to match the heating output; for higher outputs the electrician specifies a contactor. Products: thermostats in the web shop (Hungarian-language shop, delivery within Hungary).
Where should a thermostat be installed?
Install the thermostat in the room whose heating it controls, at a point that reflects the general temperature of the room: away from heaters, windows, fireplaces, ovens and direct sunlight. Do not plug a socket thermostat in next to a heater, right above the floor or behind a door either, because its built-in probe measures near the socket. In detail: which room thermostat is the right one.
Is a programmable thermostat worth it?
A programmable thermostat pays off most when electric heating is your main heating: with a timer, the heating holds the comfort temperature only when it is needed and switches to an economy temperature the rest of the time. With a separate thermostat for each room, heating runs only where and when it is needed. More: 5 reasons for a programmable thermostat.
Infrared heating: the complete guide
How does radiant heating work, and why is it controlled differently from a radiator?
5 reasons for a programmable thermostat
When a timer pays off.
Which room thermostat is the right one?
Types and placement in detail.
Heating mat
The most important partner of a floor-sensor thermostat.
Request a quote — installation anywhere in Hungary
We survey, design and install heating film and infrared heating throughout Hungary. Tell us about your home and we will get back to you.
Sources
- BHT-12E WiFi socket thermostat — manufacturer's data sheet (3,680 W, IP20) (September 2026)
- Elektra ETN4 outdoor thermostat — manufacturer's data sheet (16 A, 3,600 W)
- Elektra ETO2-4550 snow and ice melting controller — manufacturer's description
- LIKEWARM heating cable installation guide — position of the floor sensor
- Earlier /termosztat/ page of futofolia.hu — thermostat types and placement (2022)