How much does new flooring cost in the UK? For many straightforward rooms, a sensible early budget is about £20–£90 per m² supplied and fitted. Basic carpet, laminate and sheet vinyl can sit toward the lower end; premium LVT, engineered wood, solid timber and complex patterns can cost considerably more. The condition of the floor underneath is often the biggest unknown.
For a typical room, multiply the floor area by the supplied-and-fitted rate for your chosen material, then add removal, preparation, trims and a contingency. A 15m² room at £45 per m² starts at £675—but that is not necessarily the final bill if the subfloor needs levelling or old flooring must be taken away.
Basic carpet, laminate or sheet vinyl
Better carpet, LVT or engineered wood
Removal or subfloor preparation
These are UK planning allowances, not quotations. Product quality, room shape, fitting method, subfloor condition, region and VAT can all move the final price.
Already know your room size?
Use the free RenoTally Flooring Calculator for a quick planning estimate.
Flooring cost per m² in the UK
The table below combines typical material and fitting allowances into broad planning ranges. It is designed for comparing options before you request local quotes—not for pricing a contract. Very cheap products, designer finishes and specialist installations can fall outside these ranges.
| Flooring type | Typical supplied-and-fitted allowance | Often suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet | £20–£55/m² | Bedrooms, lounges and stairs | Underlay, grippers, door bars and stair pricing |
| Laminate | £20–£50/m² | Bedrooms, living rooms and home offices | Moisture rating, underlay and damaged subfloors |
| Sheet vinyl | £20–£45/m² | Kitchens, utility rooms and budget refreshes | Smoothing the subfloor and minimum roll widths |
| Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) | £35–£90/m² | Busy family spaces, kitchens and hallways | Glue-down preparation and patterned layouts |
| Engineered wood | £45–£100/m² | Living areas and higher-spec renovations | Product construction, fitting system and moisture |
| Solid wood | £65–£140+/m² | Premium rooms and period properties | Acclimatisation, fixing, finishing and humidity |
Why are the ranges wide? “Laminate” can mean a basic product from a large retailer or a thicker, water-resistant board with a more realistic finish. “Carpet” can mean an entry-level synthetic carpet or a dense wool blend. The name of the flooring type is only the beginning of the specification.
Flooring terms explained simply
If this is your first flooring project, quotations can be difficult to compare because they do not always include the same work. These are the terms that matter most:
- m² (square metre): the standard way flooring area is measured. Multiply a room’s length in metres by its width in metres.
- Supply only: the price of the flooring product, without installation.
- Labour only: the fitter’s installation charge, usually excluding the flooring itself and sometimes excluding preparation.
- Supplied and fitted: normally the product plus installation—but you still need to check whether underlay, adhesive, trims, removal, waste and VAT are included.
- Subfloor: the surface beneath the new finish, such as concrete, screed, plywood or floorboards. It must be sufficiently flat, dry, stable and clean for the chosen flooring.
- Underlay: a separate layer beneath some carpet, laminate and floating wood floors. It can help with comfort, sound and minor imperfections, but it does not repair a seriously uneven floor.
- DPM: a damp-proof membrane used where moisture needs to be controlled. The correct product and installation depend on the floor construction.
- Wastage: extra material allowed for cuts, pattern matching, damaged pieces and unusable offcuts. Straightforward layouts often use around 10%; herringbone or awkward rooms may need more.
Costs and choices by flooring type
Carpet
Carpet remains a practical choice where warmth and softness matter. The headline carpet price rarely tells the whole story: a complete estimate may also contain underlay, gripper rods, thresholds, fitting, uplift of the old carpet and disposal. Stairs are normally priced separately because every tread and riser requires cutting and fitting.
Budget synthetic carpet can keep a bedroom project affordable. Better-quality polypropylene, nylon, wool blends and pure wool can increase the material cost substantially. Ask for the carpet’s suitability rating as well as its appearance—especially for halls and stairs, where wear is concentrated.
Laminate flooring
Laminate is made from a photographic decorative layer over a dense fibreboard core. It can give a timber look without the price of real wood and is usually installed as a “floating” floor, meaning boards click together rather than being fixed directly to the subfloor.
Installation is often relatively quick in a square, empty room, but door frames, radiators, several alcoves and connected spaces add time. Check the manufacturer’s water-resistance claims carefully before choosing laminate for kitchens, entrances or other spill-prone areas.
Sheet vinyl
Sheet vinyl is supplied in rolls and can be economical, easy to clean and useful in kitchens or utility rooms. A small room may still require a wider piece of vinyl than its measured area because the roll must cover the full width without a join. Pattern matching can also increase the quantity required.
Vinyl follows the surface beneath it, so bumps, joints and hollows may remain visible. Smoothing compound or a suitable plywood overlay can therefore be as important as the vinyl itself.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT)
LVT comes as planks or tiles and is usually more rigid and detailed than basic sheet vinyl. It can imitate wood, stone or ceramic finishes. Click LVT is commonly floated; glue-down LVT is bonded to a carefully prepared subfloor. Glue-down products can work well in larger connected areas, but floor preparation must be accurate.
A straight plank layout generally costs less to fit than herringbone, parquet-style or border designs. Checkatrade’s 2026 guide places many LVT products around £15–£60 per m² supply only, with installation and preparation added separately; complex herringbone work can be higher.
Engineered wood
Engineered boards have a real-wood wear layer over a layered core. They provide the look and feel of timber with better dimensional stability than many solid boards. Price varies with the timber species, board width, thickness, wear layer, finish and fitting method.
Some products click together; others are glued or secret-fixed. Do not assume every engineered floor is suitable over underfloor heating—check the exact product limits and the heating manufacturer’s instructions.
Solid wood
Solid timber can be sanded and refinished, but it generally requires more careful acclimatisation, installation and moisture management. It is not automatically the right choice for every ground floor or changing environment. Premium species, wide boards, borders and site-applied finishes can take the installed cost well above an ordinary floating floor.
What adds to a flooring quotation?
A low per-square-metre fitting rate is useful only if you know what sits outside it. Trade2Base’s 2026 installer guide gives labour-only examples of roughly £5–£10/m² for laminate, £6–£12/m² for LVT and £10–£18/m² for engineered wood, while specialist patterns, small jobs and difficult preparation cost more. Retail-facing estimates may bundle different items and therefore show a higher effective labour rate.
| Possible extra | Planning allowance | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Remove existing flooring | About £5–£10/m² | Carpet, laminate, tiles and bonded finishes take different amounts of time to lift |
| Minor floorboard repairs | About £3–£8/m² | Loose or damaged boards may need securing before covering |
| Levelling or smoothing | About £10–£25/m² labour, plus materials | Critical for many vinyl and glue-down installations |
| Damp-proof membrane | About £5–£10/m² | May be needed over certain concrete or screeded floors |
| Underlay | Often £3–£8/m² | Quality and suitability vary by flooring and room |
| Trims and thresholds | Usually priced per item or linear metre | Needed at doorways, steps and changes of finish |
| Skirting or beading | Project-specific | Removing and refitting skirting usually gives a cleaner finish but costs more |
| Waste disposal | Often £100–£350 depending on volume | Ask whether uplift, carrying and licensed disposal are included |
Small rooms and minimum charges
A fitter still has travel time, loading, cutting and setup even when the room is only 6m². That is why a minimum charge or half-day/day rate can make the effective price per m² look high. Joining several rooms into one visit may be more efficient, but only when the property is ready and the sequence makes sense.
Empty room versus occupied room
Quotes may assume that furniture has been removed. Large wardrobes, beds and appliances can prevent continuous installation and add handling time. Agree in writing who empties the room, removes doors, disconnects appliances and reinstalls furniture.
VAT
Ask whether every figure includes VAT. The standard UK VAT rate is 20%, and most building and decorating work is standard-rated, although limited reliefs can apply to qualifying conversions and certain empty homes. Some smaller traders are not VAT-registered. The safest comparison is to place all quotations on the same VAT-inclusive basis and seek professional advice where a relief may apply.
Do flooring costs vary around the UK?
Yes. Labour, parking, travel, disposal and general business costs differ by region. London and much of the South East commonly sit above national averages, but a postcode alone does not set the price. Access, local demand, installer availability and the type of contractor also matter.
As one benchmark, MyBuilder’s laminate-fitter guide gives indicative fitting rates of about £12–£18/m² in London and the South East, compared with £8–£12 in the North West, £7–£10 in the Midlands and £6–£9 in Scotland. These are not fixed tariffs; use them only as context when gathering local quotations.
If you are budgeting in London or the South East, leave more room for labour, parking, congestion and waste handling. In every region, compare the scope—not just the total—because the cheapest quote may exclude preparation, trims or disposal.
Three worked flooring cost examples
The examples below show how a useful budget is assembled. They are not promises of what a local fitter will charge. Each assumes a straightforward room, ordinary access and no serious damp or structural repair.
Laminate supplied and fitted: 12m² × £30–£45 = £360–£540
Old carpet removal and disposal allowance: £60–£120
Thresholds or small trims allowance: £40–£80
Planning subtotal: about £460–£740
Add a 10% contingency: about £510–£815
Check whether underlay is already included and whether the room must be empty.
LVT supplied and fitted: 20m² × £55–£80 = £1,100–£1,600
Removal and ordinary preparation allowance: £200–£500
Trims and thresholds allowance: £60–£120
Planning subtotal: about £1,360–£2,220
Add a 10% contingency: about £1,500–£2,440
Glue-down LVT or herringbone can require more preparation and installation time.
Engineered wood supplied and fitted: 45m² × £60–£95 = £2,700–£4,275
Removal and preparation allowance: £450–£1,125
Door trimming, profiles and finishing allowance: £150–£350
Planning subtotal: about £3,300–£5,750
Add a 10% contingency: about £3,630–£6,325
Large connected spaces need a confirmed expansion, threshold and fitting plan before ordering.
How to calculate your own early budget
- Measure the room in square metres.
- Add the product’s wastage allowance—often around 10% for simple layouts, more for patterns.
- Multiply by a realistic supplied-and-fitted rate.
- Add removal, preparation, underlay, trims and disposal where excluded.
- Check whether VAT is included.
- Add a contingency of roughly 10–15% until the subfloor has been inspected.
If you need help measuring the area and packs, use our separate guide: How Much Flooring Do I Need?
DIY fitting or a professional installer?
Click laminate and some click LVT products are marketed for DIY installation. A capable DIYer may save labour costs in a simple square room, but the result still depends on correct moisture checks, expansion gaps, cutting, transitions and subfloor preparation. Manufacturer warranties may also require specific conditions or methods.
Professional fitting is especially worth considering for glue-down LVT, herringbone, sheet vinyl, stairs, solid wood, large connected areas and any floor with damp or level concerns. If poor preparation causes movement or visible joints, replacing the finish can cost much more than the original labour saving.
How to compare flooring quotes properly
Ask each installer to quote against the same written scope. A useful quotation should make clear:
- the exact flooring brand, range, colour, grade and quantity;
- the wastage allowance and who keeps unopened surplus packs;
- whether underlay, adhesive, DPM and smoothing products are included;
- what inspection or moisture testing has been carried out;
- how much removal, subfloor preparation and waste disposal are allowed for;
- the layout direction, pattern, expansion details and position of thresholds;
- whether skirting, beading, doors and appliances are included;
- the expected programme and who must empty each room;
- the product and workmanship guarantees; and
- whether the total includes VAT.
Do not choose on the per-m² figure alone. A £10/m² installation price plus several excluded extras may cost more than a £16/m² quote with preparation and finishing clearly included.
Planning more than one room?
Combine flooring with kitchen, bathroom, decorating and other renovation budgets in RenoTally Pro.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for flooring in one room?
For a straightforward 12–15m² room, an early supplied-and-fitted budget might start around £400–£800 for basic carpet, laminate or vinyl. Mid-range LVT or engineered wood can be £900–£1,800 or more once preparation and finishing are included. Room condition and product choice matter more than the room name.
Does a flooring price per m² include fitting?
Not always. Product listings are often supply only, while installers may quote labour only. Even “supplied and fitted” may exclude removal, underlay, preparation, trims, disposal or VAT. Ask for an itemised written scope.
What is the cheapest flooring to have fitted?
Basic carpet, laminate and sheet vinyl are commonly among the lower-cost choices. The cheapest finish can stop being cheap if the subfloor needs extensive work, the room is awkward or the product wears out quickly in a busy area.
How much extra flooring should I buy?
Around 10% is a common starting allowance for a simple straight layout. Herringbone, diagonal patterns, irregular rooms and natural products may need around 15% or a project-specific figure. Always follow the manufacturer’s and fitter’s advice.
Why does subfloor preparation cost so much?
The finished floor can only perform as well as the surface beneath it. Levelling, drying, stabilising boards or controlling moisture takes materials and skilled time, but skipping it can cause visible ridges, failed adhesive, movement or damaged joints.
Is underlay always required?
No. Some carpet, laminate and floating wood floors use a separate underlay; some products have one attached; glue-down LVT normally uses adhesive rather than ordinary underlay. Use the system specified for the exact product and subfloor.
Should I remove skirting boards before fitting?
Removing and refitting skirting can produce a clean edge without added beading, but it adds carpentry and decorating work. Leaving skirting in place and using a suitable trim is often cheaper. Agree the finish before work begins.
Are London flooring prices higher?
They often are, particularly for labour, parking, travel and disposal, but there is no single London surcharge. Obtain comparable local quotations and make sure each includes the same work.
Get your flooring estimate
Use the free RenoTally Flooring Calculator to create a quick planning range for your room. If you are still working out quantities, our flooring measurement and wastage guide explains the calculation step by step.
For context on what our calculators include—and what they do not—read How Our Estimates Work. Planning a wider refurbishment? See the UK renovation and refurbishment cost guide.
RenoTally provides budgeting guidance, not a quotation, survey or installation specification. Check product instructions and obtain written local quotes before ordering or appointing a contractor.
Sources and methodology: Planning ranges were cross-checked against 2026 UK consumer and trade guidance from Trade2Base, MyBuilder and Checkatrade. VAT context was checked against GOV.UK guidance for builders. Where sources bundle costs differently, RenoTally uses a broad comparison range rather than presenting one figure as a market price. Last reviewed: 12 September 2026.