A heating element (1) featuring at least two electrodes (5, 5') for supplying the heating element (1) with current, containing a multitude of heating sections (11, 11', 11'') that, coating at least one part of a base surface to be heated (4), are arranged between the electrodes (5, 5') and are connected with them by electrical conduction. The heating element (1) has at least two bundles (9, 9', 9'', 9'') of heating sections (11, 11', 11''), with the bundles (9, 9', 9'') being arranged at a distance from one another to avoid electrical contact between the bundles.