Laminate Flooring Cost

Want to know how much laminate flooring installation costs?

You can typically expect the laminate flooring fitting cost to be between £320 – £2,000 in the UK.

What else does this article discuss, then?

In this comprehensive guide, we detail all the laminate flooring costs you need to know about — including laminate flooring costs per m², what laminate flooring fitters tend to charge in 2024, and much more!

We cover a full breakdown of what the overall cost includes and how long laminate takes to lay too!

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Want to learn more about laminate flooring costs first?

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How Much to Lay Laminate Flooring?

How much does it cost to lay laminate flooring in your home?

Well, the average cost can vary depending on the size of your space, the material, and the quality of laminate chosen to install.

The price for a small room (measuring approximately 4m by 3m) would begin at around £500 and can increase to £1,500. This price includes material and labour costs.

For a medium-sized room (of around 20m²) the prices begin at around £1,000 and increase to just over £2,500.

Labour costs will also affect the final budget required; however, this varies with the length of time for the installation.

Does the style of laminate you choose affect the cost?

When deciding on which style of laminate floor to install in your home, there are three main styles of laminate available:

• Embossed laminate
• Registered embossed laminate
• Hand scraped laminate

Depending on the finished look you require and your budget restraints, there are multiple varying types within the styles of floor to choose from.

Laminate Flooring Prices

Laminate Flooring Cost by Materials

Faux Wood Laminate Flooring Cost

Did you know...

...By far one of the most common laminate flooring styles is faux wood!

Faux wood flooring mimics a real solid wood floor. With modern advances in laminate flooring, the difference between solid wood and laminated flooring can be hard to tell.

So, how much does faux wood laminate cost?

The price of faux wood laminate flooring will begin at around £8 per m² and can increase to over £45 per m² - depending on the style of wood chosen to mimic.

For example...

Oak faux wood flooring will cost around £25 per m², whereas a Brazilian rosewood will begin at around £33 per m².

Faux Tile Laminate Flooring Cost

Another very common style of laminate flooring is...

...the faux tile floor!

What are they made from?

Real tiles are usually made from a variety of materials, from ceramic to stone or even concrete.

However...

A faux tile laminate floor is made from more cost-effective materials (often pressed wood or composite), allowing for a great reduction in the overall price.

Is faux tile laminate easy to install?

When using faux tile flooring, the installation is as easy as faux wood laminate flooring, with a very similar (if not identical) method.

How much is a faux tiled floor?

The average costs of faux tiles will begin at around £6 – £8 per m² and increase to £25 per m² for more elaborate designs.

For a luxury faux tiled floor, such as mimic marble or stone feel, prices will often begin at around £25 per m² and increase to £35 per m² installed.

Costs by Size

Laminate Flooring Cost for Small Room (15m²)

If you're planning on laying laminate into a single or small room, this work would often be considered a small job.

This is due to it only taking, on average, a single day to complete.

How much will a small room floor cost to laminate?

Prices for a small job begin as low as £250 for a cheap faux wood laminate. This price can increase to £1,000 for more elaborate styles of laminate, depending on the final look and dimensions of the floor required.

As a result, a standard small room measuring around 15m², with installation and finishing costs, would amount to around £320 – £700, on average.

Laminate Flooring Cost for Medium Room (25m²)

Installing laminate flooring into a large room or multiple small rooms (about 25m²+) would normally be classed as a medium job.

How much will this cost?

Prices for a medium job begin as low as £500 for a cost-effective lower quality faux wood laminate. This price will increase to around £2,000 for more luxury styles of laminate (such as faux stone), depending on the final look and specific sizing of the floors in question.

As a result, for a standard large space measuring around 25m² – 30m², with installation and finishing costs, it would amount to around £800 - £1,300 on average.

Laminate Flooring Cost for a Large Room (40m²)

Having laminate flooring fitted into an entire floor within a house is a big job. Providing an extremely high-quality aesthetic and great feel, premium quality laminates would be the recommended choice for the very best look and longevity of this type of installation.

How much is that going to cost?

Premium quality flooring prices begin at around only £1,200 for a 40m² space, then increase to around £4,500+ for larger spaces up to 100m².

This pricing is heavily dependent on the design of the laminate flooring chosen, the dimensions of the floor, the supplier of the laminate, and the chosen contractor undertaking the work.

For example...

Installing a premium style of laminate flooring in a standard medium-sized house (ground floor 45m²), the materials alone will cost around £1,800 – £2,500 and once added the cost of fittings and the installation and finishing, the price will usually be between £3,500 – £5,000.

But on average, you'll pay between £1,120 – £2,000 — especially if you don't choose a premium laminate

The average time for the installation will usually be around 4 days.

Labour Costs and Timescales

Timescale is one of the most important factors in planning a construction job, as the longer a job takes, the longer you will be required to pay your selected tradesman:

Some tradespeople may prefer to quote you a fixed price per m² for installing laminate flooring. If this is the case, you should expect the laminate flooring labour cost to be between £10 – £20 per m² in the UK.

Keep in mind:

• Labour costs will be higher in London and the surrounding areas.
• This might not cover all aspects of the job, so ensure you confirm this.
• More complex jobs might be charged at a higher rate per m², as they will take a tradesperson longer to complete.

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Supply Only Costs

What will the supply costs depend on?

Supply costs with laying a laminate floor will be varied depending on your choices.

Beyond hiring a professional, the differing styles of laminate, quality of material, and even the chosen supplier can also affect the price.

Let's go through the different types of laminate flooring and the average supply costs for them now.

Faux Wood Laminate Flooring Cost

Here's a list of different wood laminate available:

Oak Laminate Flooring Cost

A faux oak laminate floor is one of the most popular styles sold in the UK. This is because the price difference between a real solid oak floor and a laminate oak floor is substantial.

How much does oak laminate cost for supply only?

Usually a solid oak floor (measuring 15m²) can cost into the £1,000+ bracket. However, the laminate equivalent is much more affordable — prices will often begin at around £250 for the flooring materials.

This means can begin as low as £16 per m². Although, depending on the quality of the brand chosen, the price can increase to around £25 per m².

Walnut Laminate Flooring Cost

Next up is walnut laminate!

Also, being an expensive wood, like oak, walnut laminate floors are very popular choices.

What can you expect to pay for walnut laminate materials?

Prices for the flooring alone start at around £17 per m² and increasing to around £30 per m², depending on the chosen brand and supplier.

Therefore, for a small 15m² room it will cost around £255 – £450for the laminate flooring materials.

Hickory and Chestnut Laminate Flooring Costs

Hickory and chestnut are two of the other most popular styles of laminate flooring, and much like the price for the real wood; they are almost the same price as each other for the laminate varieties.

The price of them start at around £16 per m² and increase to around £35 per m², depending heavily on which brand you choose to purchase.

This means for a 15m² floor it will cost around £240 – £525for the materials alone.

Exotic Wood Laminate Flooring Costs

As with solid wood flooring, there are "Exotic Faux Woods" available to buy for your laminate flooring.

However...

...much like the real thing, they come at a much higher price than standard laminate.

For example...

...For Brazilian Cherry wood, prices begin at around £27 per m² for the laminate and can increase to around £50 per m² for more expensive brands.

This means for a 15m² floor Brazilian Cherry wood will cost around £405 to £750 for just the laminate flooring materials.

Faux Tile Laminate Flooring Cost

Here's a list of laminate tiles that are available:

Ceramic Tile Laminate Flooring Cost

Ceramic tiles can be very expensive and difficult to fit, hence why it is becoming increasingly popular to use laminate flooring instead. Faux ceramic laminate comes in a multitude of colours, sizes, and even shapes.

Depending on your choice of style, colour, and design, prices begin at around £9.99 per m² and increase up to £25 per m² for higher quality designs.

This means for a small room measuring 15m² it will cost around £150 – £375 for just the materials.

Stone Tile Laminate Flooring Cost

Stone tiles, being one of the most expensive and sought-after floors, are also very popular to mimic with laminate. Faux stone laminate, like ceramic, come in a multitude of colours, sizes, and even shapes.

Depending on your choice of style, colour, and design, prices begin at around £15 per m² and increase up to £35 per m² for much higher quality brands and elaborate designs.

This means for a small room measuring 15m² it will cost around £225 – £525 for just the flooring materials.

Marble and Granite Tile Laminate Flooring Cost

The final very popular style of laminate comes in the form of faux marble and granite. These styles are extremely similar in price and are at the top end of faux tile laminate flooring choices.

The cost price for Marble or Granite laminate flooring begins at around £19 per m² and increases to around £55 per m² depending on the styles and brand chosen.

As a result...

...For a small room measuring only 15m² prices start at £285 and increase to £825 for just the laminate flooring.

Additional Costs

Laminate Flooring Underlay Cost

An important consideration, which may get overlooked, is an adequate underlay.

This often comes in the form of a closed cell foam sheet around 5mm – 15mm thick that is designed to insulate the flooring and reduce vibrations.

Sold on the roll, prices for around 20m² of underlay material begin at around £19.99 for the basic types.

However, if a higher quality and more advanced underlay is wanted, the price can increase up to £50 per roll.

Beading and Skirting Boards Cost

Finishing the flooring is not just a matter of laying and fixing it to the desired surface. Edges will also need to be hidden and decorated.

How is this done?

This is usually done with a small strip of wood called "beading". However skirting board can also be used if a more traditional look is desired.

What's the cheapest option?

Beading being the cheapest option costs around £2 – £6 per 2.4m strip. Skirting boards being substantially larger cost more at around £7 – £20 per 2.4m strip.

Therefore...

For a small 15m² room, it would take around four strips. This would mean that beading would cost between £8 – £24 and skirting board would cost around £28 – £80, depending on the styles chosen.

Glues & Fixtures Costs

Laminate Flooring is often not glued directly to the surface it is placed on.

However...

The joints of the board (often called tongue and groove due to their shape) are often glued to create long-lasting bonds.

This, in turn, will turn the floor from a selection of boards to one solid piece.

The glue used in this process is normally standard wood glue, although specialist glues are available at a higher price.

Wood glue prices vary wildly depending on which brand you choose to purchase.

For example...

...For standard 'own brand' wood glue, prices usually begin at around £2 – £5, and for the 'name brand' versions, the price can increase to well over £10 a bottle.

Underfloor Heating Cost

When deciding to fit any style of flooring, it's a good time to consider underfloor heating.

In the past, this was quite an expensive addition to a home in the UK. However, more homes are starting to fit this style of heating due to advancements in technology driving the price down.

Often able to be fitted by your floor specialist, under-floor heating may not be as expensive as expected. The cost of underfloor heating starts at around £59 per m². This means for am area of 15m², it would cost around £900.

Although...

A floor fitting specialist may be able to lay your under-floor heating, it is always best to hire a qualified electrician to connect it up to your home electrical system.

This will often cost around £150 – £250, so should be budgeted for in the plans if underfloor heating is desired.

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What Impacts the Cost of Laminate Flooring?

The cost of materials will usually take the largest chunk out of your laminate flooring budget.

The additional costs of materials such as beading, glues, decorations, and skirting boards will still need to be budgeted for in the pricing phase.

The labour costs will often surpass the price of materials unless higher-priced luxury laminate is chosen for the project.

When deciding on the style of flooring to go with, the choices available are extremely wide ranging, with a choice of style including; colour, shape, material, and even finish.

The desired final look will determine many of these factors.

However...

It's always best to keep a strict budget in mind before beginning preparations and shop around for the best-priced materials.

The overall quality of the final appearance, finish, and size of the space heavily factor into the final cost of a brand-new laminate floor.

For a small-sized room (15m²) with a faux wood oak finish, with medium quality laminate installed, costs will begin at around £450 – £600.

But—

—for the same property, yet with the highest quality faux wood in a walnut style, it would increase the price to around £600 – £1,000.

Another cost to account for is the disposal of waste during the installation process.

Waste disposal will usually consist of simply hiring a skip. A skip is a large metal container used like a bin, for the disposal of building waste.

Skip hire costs begin at around £150 for a single skip hired for a week. Included in the price of the hire, is usually the cost of collection and disposal of the waste.

Finally...

Finish and decoration are very important considerations which should not be overlooked within the planning stages of a project.

Finish and Decoration

Once the floor has been fitted, it will often require edging decoration to be carried out.

Decorations such as an edge beading strip or even a skirting board tile will not really increase the build time considerably.

Often, when laminate flooring is fitted, it'll be required to finish the edges - decorated to match the room in which it is fitter.

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a man-made, durable, composite flooring material designed to look like wood or stone. Created to be resilient, hardwearing, and easy to clean, laminate flooring is a great choice for anyone looking for an easy-to-install, cost-effective alternative for wood or stone.

Laminate floor is constructed of four layers, the first being a hardwearing resin topcoat. On more expensive laminate, the topcoat can be textured to make it look more similar to the material it mimics.

Next...

Is a printed decor layer featuring a high-definition digital reproduction of the wood or stone. Underneath the decor layer is a strong and stable HDF (high-density fibreboard) core. This core is available in a multitude of thicknesses depending on the quality of the laminate.

Finally...

The base layer of the laminate is made of the same resin from the top layer. This forms a strong and resilient foundation for the laminate to sit upon, helping to reduce the possible damage to the floor while fitting.

What Are the Benefits of Laminate Flooring?

Here is a list of benefits of laminate flooring:

Life Expectancy

Laminate flooring has a life expectancy of 10 – 30 years.

This will depend largely on whether the floor has been maintained properly, installed correctly, received high traffic, and is of a high-quality brand. The standard life span of laminate is often around the 20-year mark.

However...

If proper care is taken it's possible to have it last up to 30 years.

Easy Installation

Another benefit of laminate flooring is how easy it is to install — especially compared to other flooring, such as solid wood or tile.

Often it can be installed by DIY-inclined homeowners with zero specialist skills or training. The tools required to install a laminate floor can be as simple as a wooden block, hammer, and a wood saw.

Resilient

Being constructed of a high-density fibreboard core coated in a UV-stable resin, laminate flooring is UV stable.

What does this mean?

This means it will not become faded from sunlight, nor will it change colour over time. As a result of the resin top layer, laminate flooring will not only retain its aesthetic appeal over a long period of time but it will also be protected to a high standard from knocks and chips.

Cost Efficiency

When comparing the prices of solid wood, or even tile, taking into account the labour costs for installation, you cannot beat the cost savings of using laminate.

On average, laminate is around 50% the price of the solid wood alternative. If not installed using the DIY route, tile laminate is up to 70% cheaper than real tiles.

Can I Lay Laminate Flooring Myself?

Is it possible to DIY a laminate floor?

In short? Yes, installing laminate flooring is an extremely common DIY project in the UK.

Tools

Using only simple tools such as a tape measure (£5), a hammer (£10), a wood saw (£6), and a scrap piece of wood (free), installing laminate flooring yourself is entirely possible.

The main concern that you need to bear in mind is that your measurements need to be precise.

Safety Concerns

There are very few safety concerns when dealing with laminate flooring. Mainly, if you wear correct working clothing, a strong pair of shoes (to protect your toes), and maybe even get hold of safety goggles and a mask, there isn't much that can go wrong.

Obviously, cutting wood can be dangerous if not performed carefully. Measuring also needs to be done carefully as you don't want to waste flooring planks.

DIY Savings

The savings you will likely make by taking the DIY route can often be substantial.

For example...

For a 15m² flooring space, if you take two days to fit in (a normal weekend), then you could look at saving £200 – £400 in labour costs. Taking into account the price of the tools, you will likely save between £150 – £350.

How to Lay Laminate Flooring

Want to learn how to lay laminate flooring yourself?

Our in-depth and easy-to-follow guide about how to lay laminate flooring shows you how to correctly fit a laminate floor (even with no experience), as well as what tools and safety equipment you'll need to get beforehand.

Do I Need Underlay?

Though it's not a necessity, underlay is a very good idea when fitting laminate flooring.

Why is underlay a good idea?

Underlay has three main purposes:

• The first is increasing the life span of the flooring. By creating a layer between the concrete underfloor and the laminate flooring, if any small stones, sand or other material gets in the gap, it does not create bumps and lumps in the floor.
• The next purpose is to reduce any creaking, squeaking, or noises coming from the laminate hitting the concrete. Over time, this will become a bigger concern if an underlay is not installed. The acoustic reduction can be as high a 20 dlb drop.
• The final concern is the insulation property of the laminate. Being made with high density fibreboard, laminate does not retain heat very well. As a result, the cold from a concrete floor can easily penetrate the laminate flooring layer if an underlay is not installed.

Laminate flooring underlay is a closed cell foam sheet around 5mm - 15mm. Sold on rolls around 2m long and up to an average of 10m long. Prices for around 20m² of underlay will often start around £19.99 for the basic types.

However, if a higher quality, more advanced underlay is wanted, the price can increase up to £50 per roll.

Laminate Plank Edging Cost

When it comes to laminate flooring, there are three main options for the edges of the planks. The edge style will make the final aesthetic differ from style to style:

Square Edge Laminate

A square edge laminate board has flat edges on each board, these then meet cleanly to create a smooth, near-invisible finish.

This, in turn, helps the edges blend away and create a floor surface which can appear to be one solid piece. This is the most common form of laminate flooring as it gives a very hardwearing and upmarket final look.

Bevelled Edge Laminate

If you choose a laminate floor that has bevelled edges it will help to show off each individual plank. This, in turn, gives a very traditional feel, much like floorboards or solid wood flooring.

This bevelled look is created with a very deep v-groove between the boards when fitted. If you desire a more country feel, or just want to hide some tiny gaps, bevelled edge laminate is often the right way to go.

Micro-bevelled Edge Laminate

Micro-bevelled Edge Laminate, much like bevelled edge laminate, have a v-groove between boards when fitted. However, in micro-bevelled the groove is much smaller. This size reduction was originally created because a lot of people found bevelled edges to be dust and dirt traps.

Also, just the bevelled edges will help to show off the edges of the boards.

However, with micro-bevelled laminate, this difference will be a lot smaller.

Price Differences

Between the bevelled and square varieties of laminate, there are very few differences in price. More often than not, the edge style is just a choice in final finishes.

Although with the micro-bevelled edges, due to the newer nature of the choice, the price can increase compared to the standard two other edges.

For example...

For standard square edges, or bevelled edges, the standard faux Oak laminate will cost around £15 per m², yet with the micro-bevelled edges will increase to £19 per m².

Cost of Laminate Flooring Finishes

Due to laminate flooring being constructed of a clear resin top layer, it is possible to offer a variety of surface finishes. These finishes come in three main options.

Often used to either recreate the natural register of the wood or surface it is mimicking, the surface finish can be more than just aesthetic, it can also help to increase the durability of the laminate:

Embossed Laminate Cost

If you're looking for a realistic feel to the laminate, mainly when mimicking real wood, then an embossed finish may be the surface you require.

This will allow you to feel the grain of the wood under your feet

However...

It should be noted the grain is unlikely to match with the pattern of the laminate itself.

Embossed is the most common form of finish to have on faux wood laminate, after smooth unfinished styles. Therefore, as a result, the overall price of the laminate will often not increase by any noticeable amount.

Registered Embossed Laminate Cost

The next step in quality and realism for texture is a registered embossed finish.

This style of finish is much like the embossed style; however, the texture will normally follow along with the pattern on the laminate.

This, in turn, will make the entire floor feel more authentic and can help to mimic even tile and stone to a higher level of quality.

This option will, unlike embossing, increase the over price of your flooring. As a good rule of thumb, it is always best to expect a 10% – 15% increase in the price.

For example: For a floor measuring 15m², which will normally cost around £240, will cost around £270 when using registered emboss finishes.

Hand Scraped Laminate Cost

For a more traditional, country feel, there is always the option of purchasing laminate with a hand-scraped finish. By far the most expensive option for finishes, hand scraping has increased in popularity in recent years.

This is mainly due to the process of construction becoming more refined, allowing for greater quality and realism in the final product. Many people say that the underfoot feel is indistinguishable from an old distressed hardwood floor.

This realism comes at a cost!

The price will increase sharply depending on the style of the laminate you are purchasing and also the brand which you choose. For example, for a basic style of faux Oak laminate, instead of £240 for a 15m² room, you will be looking at the cost of at least £300 when choosing a hand scraped finish.

How Much Is Laminate Flooring Maintenance and Repair?

The maintenance of laminate flooring is much like any other floor within your home, with a few exceptions.

Faults with laminate are not all that common — as long as it was fitted correctly, it should last for years with no issues. Laminate can, however, be susceptible to scratches if not treated correctly or if a lower-quality brand was purchased.

If you spot a scratch, there is a remedy for the issue:

• Firstly, you will need to clean the area with a damp cloth and then leave it to dry thoroughly.
• Then using a specialist "laminate crayon" (£5 for a pack of three), colour in the crack, split, or scratch. This will in turn leave the scratch unnoticeable.

The specialist wax laminate crayons are widely available from most stockists of laminate flooring and even in some hardware stores.

How Do You Clean Laminate Flooring?

The way laminate flooring is cleaned is actually the reason most people will opt for it in the first place — as it's one of the easiest floor styles to clean.

Much like a varnished wood floor, laminate flooring can be mopped and washed. It's always a good idea to use a vacuum cleaner on the floor before mopping, to pick up any small dirt or grit that may scratch the floor.

It's not a good idea to use any harsh or corrosive chemicals on the laminate flooring. If in doubt, you should consider consulting the manufacturer (or supplier), of your specific floor.

A good rule of thumb is to only use washing up liquids or mild liquid soap when mopping. Then, once the area has been thoroughly mopped with soap, it can be rinsed and left to dry.

What Is the Cost of Laminate Flooring Removal?

The removal of laminate flooring is not often a necessary consideration before you have it installed.

However, if you have an old laminate floor already in the room, you may wish to replace it with a newer, nicer-looking piece.

Normally when removing laminate flooring, unless the joints are glued, it's a very simple and straightforward process:

• Start by removing the edging beading (or skirting boards).
• Then, beginning with the end boards, pull up and lever out. This is then repeated for the entire floor. Unless you are looking to salvage the old flooring, this process can be done with little care and maybe even used to relieve a little tension.
• Depending on the size of the room in which the laminate has been removed, you may be able to load a car and take the old pieces to the local recycling centre.

Remember: These planks are not constructed of plain wood and, due to the resin layer, should NOT be burned in your garden — as the fumes produced can often be toxic.

Checklist: Hiring a Flooring Installation Specialist

• Depending on the tradesman hired, these can be in the form of CSCS certification, City and Guild levels, or even college gained qualifications such as HNC’s.
• The most important consideration when hiring any tradesman is insurance. Make sure they possess, at the least, third-party liability, which covers building work. At best, you want to find a tradesman who has personal injury, property damage, and work guarantee cover.
• Evidence of previous work is also a good consideration when hiring any tradesman. If they have references from previous clients, photos, or a portfolio of their work, it will prove they are proud of the level of skill they can provide.
• Does the tradesman offer any form of guarantee for the work they are going to undertake? Most will offer in some form or another to make sure you are happy with the job before they finish. However, it can be worth looking for a tradesman who offers a five-year guarantee or greater. Then, if any problems arise in the future due to any faults in the building process, you are covered, and they will fix their mistakes at no expense to you.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.wickes.co.uk/how-to-guides/flooring/lay-laminate-flooring
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1481097/How-pick-laminate-wood-floor-save-money-evg
https://www.tilesuperstore.co.uk/help-and-advice/product-guides/laminate-flooring/laminate-buyers-guide/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a19621951/how-to-clean-laminate-floors/
https://www.vileda.co.uk/cleanspiration/cleaning-tips/how-to-clean-laminates-floor