New Flooring Costs (UK Guide 2026)

Planning to install new flooring in 2026?

Whether you're replacing old flooring or renovating a room, our new flooring cost guide will help you budget for the project.

Compare the average costs of carpet, laminate, luxury vinyl, engineered wood and solid wood flooring, find out what affects the overall price, and get free quotes from local flooring fitters.

How Much Does New Flooring Cost?

The cost to fit new flooring is on average between £20 and £250 per m² supplied and fitted. The budget-friendly options are carpet and laminate, which range in price from £6 to £60 per m² to buy, with labour charges at around £14 to £25 per m².

Engineered and solid wood flooring costs more, at around £40-£130 per m² to buy and between £20 and £45 per m² to install.

New Flooring Prices

In general, installation costs will depend on the complexity of the job and the size of the room. But they will also be influenced by where you live. For example, London and the South East of England are more expensive for services than other parts of the UK.

Flooring Cost Per m² by Flooring Type

Carpet

Carpet ranges from £6 per m² for budget options usually made from nylon or polyester, to £60 per m² for carpets with a high-quality wool mix, pure wool or natural and synthetic fibres. Installation costs are typically between £14 and £16 per m².

Ideal for: Lounge, hall, dining area, stairs and bedrooms.

Price Difference Considerations: Material type, the thickness and height of the pile.

Pros

• ✔ Warm underfoot
• ✔ Good for soundproofing

Cons

• ✖ Repairs can be difficult to blend seamlessly
• ✖ Not ideal for households with allergies to dust, pollen or pet hair
• ✖ Budget carpets are more prone to staining

Laminate

Laminate ranges from £10 to £40 per m². It’s important that the subfloor is level and in good condition. Installation costs will be cheaper for straight plank laminate. You should expect to pay between £12 and £25 per m².

Herringbone will require more time to fit because of the pattern and the need to cut the planks at an angle. Installation costs will typically cost between £20 and £35 per m².

Ideal for: Any room in your home. They can be used in bathrooms and kitchens with additional improvements.

Price Difference Considerations: The thickness of the boards. Thicker boards are more expensive because they are of better quality.

The Abrasion Class (AC) rating, which runs from AC1 to AC6. A higher number represents a stronger and longer-lasting material.

Pros

• ✔ Cost-effective
• ✔ Easy to install and suitable for DIY

Cons

• ✖ Less durable than engineered or solid wood
• ✖ Can be damaged by moisture if not properly sealed

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

Luxury Vinyl flooring ranges from £20 to £60 per m². It is stain-proof and water-resistant and available in a large range of patterns and colours. Installation costs are, on average, between £20 and £40 per m², but many householders choose to fit vinyl flooring themselves as a DIY project.

Ideal for: Any room in the house.

Price Difference Considerations: The thickness of the topcoat makes a difference to the price. More expensive LVT options will have a thicker wear layer. For example, a wear layer of 0.5mm is likely to be cheaper than vinyl with a wear layer of 1.2mm.

Pattern and design also make a difference in price. Straightforward, plain designs are generally cheaper than a herringbone or chevron pattern.

Pros

• ✔ Strong and durable
• ✔ Water and stain resistant

Cons

• ✖ Damaged planks or tiles can be difficult to repair
• ✖ Not a natural flooring material

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood flooring costs between £40 and £90 per m². Each plank is usually made up of three to four layers of wood, which are glued together. The top layer is real wood veneer. It is available in a tongue-and-groove version, which needs to be glued into place, or a click-lock, which can be installed without glue.

Installation costs, on average, are between £20 and £45. The tongue-and-groove installation will be more expensive as it takes longer.

Ideal for: All rooms apart from bathrooms.

Price Difference Considerations: Cheaper engineered wood is normally made from softwood as a core and then has a thinner top layer.

It means it cannot be sanded down as many times as the type of wood that’s made with a harder core, using premium wood species with a thicker top layer, which also costs more.

Pros

• ✔ Can last 30 years or more
• ✔ Can be sanded and refinished to restore its appearance
• ✔ Available in a wide range of styles and finishes

Cons

• ✖ Not waterproof
• ✖ More expensive than most flooring options
• ✖ Installation can take longer than click-fit flooring

Solid Wood

Solid wood is on average between £60 and £130 per m². It consists of a solid piece of wood, cut to size, which means every piece is different, with a slight variation in colour.

Installation costs are on average between £25 and £60 per m².

Ideal for: Living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, landings and bedrooms.

Price Difference Considerations: The type of wood you choose. For example, oak is a common mid-range species, whereas walnut is one of the most expensive.

The grade of wood also has a bearing on the cost. Cheaper wood typically contains more knots and colour changes.

Pros

• ✔ Can last for decades
• ✔ Can be sanded and refinished many times
• ✔ Natural appearance that can add value to your home

Cons

• ✖ Prone to scratches and dents
• ✖ Not suitable for kitchens or bathrooms
• ✖ More expensive to buy and install than most other flooring types

Average Cost of New Flooring Per Room:

Supply Only vs Supply and Fit

When you receive quotes for new flooring, check whether the price is for supply only or supply and fit, as this will make a difference to what you’re getting for your money.

A supply-only purchase is when you buy the flooring material yourself and then look for an installer to fit the floor. Any quotes you receive from an installer will only be for the labour costs of the installation.

The advantages of supply only are that you can find bargain prices. But it means you are responsible for measuring and ordering the correct amount of flooring, and you need to find the time to shop around and wait for a delivery.

A supply and fit quotation includes the flooring and the installation. The fitter will measure up and give you a choice of available flooring options.

Although it might be a slightly more expensive option, it does save you time. If there are any problems with the materials or the installation, they are both dealt with by the flooring installer, rather than you having to deal with the matter yourself.

What Affects the Cost of New Flooring?

Because flooring installation costs in the UK vary, the type of flooring you choose has the biggest impact on the price. But there are other factors which influence the final price, and they include:

Flooring Material and Quality

The type of flooring material and quality you choose will impact your budget. Prices vary depending on the finish, design, durability and thickness. Affordable options include carpet and laminate, which you can buy for between £6 and £100 per m².

Vinyl and engineered wood are mid-range at between £20 and £90 per m², while you should expect to pay a premium for solid wood, especially if you pick a tropical species like walnut. Average prices range from £60 to £130 per m².

Room Size and Shape

Many floor installers charge per m², which means you’ll pay more for a larger room. But increased labour costs are also influenced by the room’s shape.

If you have awkward corners, a bay window or a staircase, labour costs will increase because the work will take longer to complete.

Subfloor Condition

If your subfloor needs repairs or isn’t level, you may need to get this work done before you can lay a new floor. This will mean an additional cost.

Installation Method

Some flooring, like floating laminate or luxury vinyl, only requires cutting to size with a cutting tool and laying with a click-to-fit system, which is straightforward.

Other flooring types need to be glued or nailed and cut to size with a jigsaw, which is more labour-intensive and will therefore cost more.

Removing Existing Floor

If old flooring needs to be removed, this will be an additional cost. Carpet is usually easy to take up, but tiles or wooden flooring can take some time. Typical removal costs for a wooden floor could be between £40 and £180 for between 2 and 6 hours' work. Disposal charges will also need to be taken into consideration. Hiring a skip that has the capacity for around 40 bin bags costs around £175.

Underlay

Some flooring materials can be laid directly onto an existing floor. Carpet will need underlay, and most other flooring, such as laminate and engineered wood, will benefit from underlay.

Underlay will reduce noise and moisture penetration (if waterproof underlay is used in a kitchen or bathroom) and also retain heat. Underlay costs on average between £2 and £7 per m².

Your Location

Labour rates vary across the UK. Homeowners in London and the South East will generally pay more. We recommend getting at least three quotes from flooring fitters so that you can compare prices.

Subfloor Preparation: The Hidden Cost

One of the most common hidden costs when laying new flooring is the condition of the floor underneath.

It should be dry, level and suitable for the flooring you have chosen. A subfloor in good condition is especially important if you are using engineered wood or luxury vinyl.

Houses with concrete floors can use a levelling compound if the ground isn’t too unstable. The cost of the compound is around £1-£2 per kilo and is often sold in bags of 20 kilos at between £20 and £30.

Timber floors, which are more common in older properties, can be repaired by laying hardboard sheets on top of floorboards. Any loose floorboards will need to be screwed down, and rotten floorboards will need to be replaced. Hardboard sheets cost on average between £7 and £16 per m².

If your subfloor needs screeding, then you could be looking at between £18 and £25 per m² for materials and labour.

Old Flooring Removal and Disposal

Carpet doesn’t usually take long to take up and should be at the cheaper end of the scale. Wood flooring might take almost half a day. The average cost to remove old flooring is usually between £40 and £180 and takes between 2 and 6 hours.

Disposal charges may be included in a quote for flooring removal, but if they aren’t, then you may need to hire a skip, which will cost, on average, between £60 and £300.

Which Flooring Is Right for Which Room?

How Long Does New Flooring Last?

How long flooring will last will depend on how much wear it has, the quality of the material and whether it’s well maintained.

• Carpet: 8-15 years
• Laminate: 10-25 years
• Luxury vinyl: 15-30 years
• Engineered wood: 40-50 years
• Solid wood: 50-100 years

As you can see, more expensive flooring has a longer lifespan, which can mean you are actually paying less per year of use. This often works out cheaper in the end than replacing budget options.

Tips to Keep Flooring Costs Down

• Check your subfloor before you choose your flooring, as what you want might not be a realistic option if you need a major repair and don’t have the budget
• Get at least 3 quotes to compare prices and services
• Choose your own flooring and hire an installer separately

Checklist: Hiring a Flooring Fitter

Before you accept a quote, check the following:

• Do I have more than one quote to compare prices and services?
• Does the price include removing and disposing of the old floor?
• Is subfloor preparation included, or is that a separate charge?
• Does the quote include underlay if it’s needed?
• Does the floor fitter have public liability insurance?
• Are the materials and installation guaranteed?

FAQs