How To Build a Radiator Cover: A Step-by-Step Guide

Radiators may be great for heating, but they’re not exactly stylish. A well-built radiator cover can instantly upgrade the look of your room, protect kids and pets from accidental burns, and even double as a shelf or bench. They’re especially useful in smaller spaces.

Store-bought covers don’t always fit right and often block airflow. Building your own gives you a custom fit and more control over design and function. With basic tools and some medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or decorative metal, most homeowners can tackle this as a weekend DIY project.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to measure your radiator, plan your design, and build a safe, attractive cover that improves both looks and safety — without blocking heat.

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Materials You’ll Need

Gather these materials before you build a radiator cover:

• Decorative sheet metal
• Dowels (optional)
• Medium-density fiberboard
• Protective gloves and eye protection 
• Scissors
• Staple gun
• Paint for touch-ups
• Power drill
• Screws
• Tape measure
• Wood glue 

Building a Radiator Cover: Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps to build an easy DIY radiator cover. If you have a radiator cover already installed, take time to remove it first, and clean your radiator before building the new cover.

Step 1: Measure Your Radiator

You’ll want to begin by measuring your radiator’s height, width, and depth.

Start by placing a straight edge on top of your radiator, then stretch the tape measure from the bottom of the straight edge to the floor. This is the height measurement.

For width, measure in the opposite direction, including the plumbing valves and fittings in this measurement.

Lastly, measure for depth. Hold a straight edge against the radiator’s front, then measure from the wall to the inside portion of the straight edge.

Step 2: Brainstorm Your Design and Cut the Wood

After double-checking your radiator measurements, pick your design. A simple, no-frills design is best for DIY projects.

Visit your local home improvement store and pick up the materials you’ll need for your project. Decide whether you want the home improvement store to cut the materials to size or if you plan on cutting them yourself at home.

Either way, trim your materials before moving on to the next step.

Step 3: Build the Frame

Next, lay out the pieces for the frame on a flat surface so you can easily see how they fit together. Use a pencil to mark where each board intersects with the next.

Step 4: Assemble the Front

Glue the boards together and secure them with screws. Alternatively, you can use dowels and a power drill to attach the MDF pieces together, then use wood glue in the dowel holes to bond the pieces together. The latter gives you a stronger hold, but both are suitable for a DIY radiator cover.

Step 5: Attach the Sides and Top

Attach the sides to the front frame in the same way you constructed the front frame (screws and wood glue or wood glue and dowels). Use a pencil to mark where you’re drilling, inserting the dowels, and dry-fitting the frames together.

Next, lay the top on top of the frame. Depending on your design, you may be able to attach it with wood glue alone if you’re not planning on moving it around. Otherwise, attach it in the same way you did with the previous sides.

Step 6: Fill, Sand, and Paint

Finish the entire piece by priming, sanding, and painting or staining the radiator cover (if you bought a preprimed one, skip this step). Allow the cover plenty of time to dry before proceeding to the next step.

Step 7: Attach the Decorative Sheet Metal

Use the tin snips to cut down the decorative sheet metal and attach it into the inside of your radiator frame using staples or screws. We recommend wearing thick leather gloves to protect your hands when trimming the metal.

Step 8: Finishing Touches

Install the radiator cover. Then, apply any finishing touches, such as touching up the wall paint or painting over the cover’s screws so it seamlessly blends into your home’s decor.

Radiator Cover Design Tips

Wood is one of the most common radiator cover materials, but it’s not necessarily the best because it’s a poor heat conductor and (often) expensive. We recommend medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for those concerned about the safety of kids or pets in the home, or metal if you’re most concerned about losing heat efficiency.

The grille material is one of the easiest ways to customize the look of your radiator cover. Choose between modern metal, cottage cane, traditional lattice, and other designs to elevate the look of the radiator cover. A trim or crown molding adds a polished, refined look to the cover, depending on your comfort level with DIY projects.

Lastly, don’t forget about paint. Paint can transform a bland or out-of-place radiator cover into a statement shelf or bench, or help it blend seamlessly into the room’s backdrop.

Safety and Airflow Considerations

Radiators can get extremely hot, posing a significant danger that many radiator covers can help mitigate. However, you’ll also want to consider airflow, so the radiator can effectively circulate air throughout your home.

“There are plenty of creative ways to build your own radiator cover — whether you want it to double as a shelf or a bench — but first and foremost, it needs to function as a radiator cover, meaning it should give your heater proper airflow underneath and around the unit,” said Jimmy Hiller, founder and president of Happy Hiller, which serves Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama.

“If you build a radiator cover to double as a shelf, seat, or bench, you’ll likely want to use a thicker or solid top for strength, but that solid top can trap heat, preventing the radiator from heating properly. It’s best to use slatted or perforated lightweight material for the front and top,” Hiller added.

Follow these tips so your radiator can properly circulate air, while you maximize safety with the cover:

• Don’t fully enclose sides or top (radiators need ventilation to function properly.)
• Add gaps or vents on the bottom and top panels.
• Use a shallower design or built-in toe kick for baseboard radiators.
• Choose a slatted or perforated top for better airflow.
• Metal radiator covers are great heat conductors, maximizing your home’s energy efficiency, but they get very hot, so skip a metal cover if you have pets or kids.

When To Skip a Radiator Cover

Sometimes, you don’t need a radiator cover, especially if you’re not worried about kids or pets running around near the radiator.

• Don’t use a cover if the radiator is too large or runs very hot, as it may reduce heat efficiency.
• If you’re worried about losing heating efficiency in your home, you can skip one if you’re not concerned about the aesthetics of the space or don’t have kids or pets around.
• Don’t enclose electric baseboard heaters unless the cover is specifically designed for them.
• You can skip one if you don’t need additional storage from a radiator cover shelf.

Next Steps

Building a radiator cover is a DIY weekend project that improves function and style. Radiator covers add character to your home, protect curious kids and pets, and increase usable space in a room if you build a bench or shelf-style cover.

If you’re interested in building a radiator cover, always start by checking that your radiator is compatible with covers (electric baseboard heaters typically shouldn’t be covered), then measure your radiator. Next, choose a design and material that fits your skill level and home decor. We recommend starting with a basic box cover style, then adding decorative elements later if you’re new to DIY projects.

FAQs About Radiator Covers