How much does laminate flooring cost to install?

The joy of laminate is that it can be laid on top of nearly any surface – providing it’s dry, firm and level. It’s not recommended for kitchens or bathrooms, as the damp in those rooms can cause the laminate to warp and become damaged over time.

How much does laminate flooring fitting cost?

There are two main costs you need to consider when planning laminate flooring installation, the materials and the labour to fit the flooring. Laminate flooring materials usually cost between £15 – £80 per m², depending on the style and quality that you choose.

Fitting laminate flooring can cause issues with noise for neighbours or rooms below. As part of your laminate flooring project, you should ensure the subfloor and underlay are suitable to minimise noise. The average cost of underlay is about £7.50 per m², depending on the type and thickness of material used.

There are a number of factors that will impact the cost of fitting laminate flooring. They include:

• Size of the room/area being covered
• Shape of the room
• Type and quality of laminate
• Thickness of laminate (the thicker the laminate, the more it costs)
• Any prep work needed to ensure the floor is suitable
• Where you live

Laminate versus wood flooring

Solid hardwood flooring is often thought to be the superior choice when it comes to wood flooring. Solid hardwood flooring is exactly as the name suggests – pieces of real wood that are approximately 3/4 inch thick.

Laminate flooring is engineered to look like wood and consists of mainly fibreboard, with the top layer having a printed surface that resembles real wood grain. These boards are much thinner at 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

Laminate vs wood pros and cons

Laminate is easy to install, more affordable and has a lifespan of approximately 10 years. It’s also easy to clean and maintain. Hardwood flooring is more expensive and needs ongoing care and attention, but has a much longer lifespan, and is often a great selling point when a house is up for sale.

When it comes to a cost comparison, solid hardwood flooring can be as much as double the price of laminate flooring, with prices starting at approximately £30 per m². For more information on prices, see our wood flooring cost guide.

Wood laminate flooring installation cost

Wood laminate is one of the most popular types of laminate flooring in the UK. The average prices for the supply and installation of wood laminate flooring vary.

Walnut laminate is roughly £30 – £60 per m², for materials and labour. Oak laminate costs around £30 – £80 per m². The cost of installing maple laminate flooring is around £35 – £105 per m². And one of the more expensive wood laminate flooring options is elm, which costs £37 – £125 per m² for supply and installation.

Laminate flooring installation costs

The cost for fitting the laminate flooring will either be charged per square metre or as a day rate. You’ll be looking at prices of around £20 per m2 or £270 per day. The rates will depend on the tradesperson you hire, so ask them to include details of how they charge as part of their quote.

Laminate flooring labour cost

As well as the cost of the materials, you will also need to factor in the cost for the labour. For a small room of 15m² you can expect to pay an average labour cost of £270, ranging up to £450 for a room of 40m².

This laminate flooring labour cost doesn’t include other additional costs such as underlay. Underlay for laminate flooring comes in various quality options with the cheapest starting at around £5 per m², with a higher quality foam underlay costing £10 per m².

Laminate flooring hourly rates

Typically, most laminate flooring fitters will charge by the day or a total project price. Based on an average daily rate of £270, you can expect to pay approximately £30 per hour.

What’s involved in fitting laminate flooring?

With an idea of the costs involved in fitting laminate flooring, it’s also useful to understand the process. This usually happens in four steps: taking measurements, preparing the subfloor, fitting underlay and installing the laminate.

Taking measurements

The first step is taking exact measurements of the room, which is straightforward for square and rectangular rooms. For rooms with an unusual layout or alcoves, taking measurements can be a little trickier.

Preparing the subfloor

Before you can start laying any materials, you need to make sure that the subfloor is smooth and in a suitable condition. You’ll need to address that and potentially have new concrete laid and smoothed out if it’s not. In some cases, tradespeople will remove skirting boards before fitting the flooring.

Fitting underlay

With your subfloor ready, the underlay is then laid. There are a number of different types of underlay available and your local laminate flooring experts can advise you on the best options for your floor.

Install the laminate flooring

Now that you have a good subfloor with underlay on top, it’s time to install the laminate flooring. At this stage, you’ll need to decide which direction you want the floor to be laid and then the flooring can be laid.

Can I install laminate flooring myself?

Fitting laminate flooring is a relatively straightforward job, but it does require precision as well as being physically fit and mobile. If in doubt, we would always recommend hiring a professional laminate floor installer to do the job.

Due to the nature of laminate flooring materials, professionals know about some tips and tricks to ensure the best finish for the flooring. They’ll also have the tools and experience to cut boards to exact dimensions and fit them faster than an amateur.

Additional laminate flooring fitting costs

In addition to the cost of supplying and fitting the laminate flooring, there are some other costs that you might need to consider.

Carpet removal: Tradespeople will expect the floors to be bare when they install laminate flooring, so you’ll need to have the carpet removed and disposed of. That costs on average around £125.

Installing new skirting boards: This will cost on average £22 per m².

Trimming doors: New flooring can sometimes need a door to be trimmed, at a cost of around £30.

Floor levelling: Using screed, the cost to level the floor is on average £15 per m².

Laminate flooring cost calculator

The total cost of laminate flooring installation depends on a combination of all of the factors we’ve highlighted, including:

• The type and quality of your choice of laminate
• The size of the floor area
• The type of underlay
• The amount of skirting boards or beading required
• Labour charge

You may also need to factor in the cost of removing existing carpet or flooring, or levelling your floor before laminate can be laid.

Laminate floor installation quotes

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably ready to start getting quotes for your laminate floor installation project. We always recommend getting at least three quotes for any project so you can compare the services provided as well as get a price comparison.

Useful laminate flooring installation checklist

• Take exact measurements of the entire room or space that you’ll be laying laminate flooring in – including any alcoves or details of unusual floor layouts.
• Laminate flooring can cause noise issues, so include costs for underlay or subfloor enhancement in your budget.
• Speak to local laminate flooring experts to discuss the laminate and underlay options.
• When hiring a professional, shop around for fair and competitive prices.
• Always hire a tradesperson with laminate flooring experience and ask to see examples of their work.