The average cost of laminate flooring in the UK is between £5-£35 per m2
How much does Laminate Flooring cost?
Average cost in UK: £400 per day
Get local prices
£200
LOW COST
£800
HIGH COST
£400
AVG COST
The average cost to install Laminate Flooring is £400. You are likely to spend between £200 to £800 per day. The exact price may vary depending on your area and project details.
Next Step: Find out exactly how much your project will cost.
How much does it cost to install Laminate Flooring?
Average cost in UK: £400 per day
Get local prices
£240
LOW COST
£5000
HIGH COST
£1695
AVG COST
Exact price may vary depending on your area and project details.
In this cost guide, we’ll be looking at the costs associated with having laminate flooring installed in your home. First, we will look at the prices of various laminate flooring styles, then discuss the major factors that affect the cost of laminate flooring. Finally, we will provide simple DIY steps for installing laminate flooring for those that want to save labour costs. This cost guide discusses everything you need to know about the costs involved in installing laminate flooring, so continue reading!
Laminate flooring is a covering made of MDF, topped with a layer of plastic, and usually printed with a wood, stone, or slate effect to give an impression of a wood, stone, or slate. Compared with other flooring materials, laminate flooring is long-lasting (it can withstand items being dropped from a great height, scratches, and bumps from child’s battering, and is not subjected to stiletto heel damage), affordable, and easy to maintain. And because it’s also a cost-effective and versatile flooring material, laminate flooring remains one of the popular choices among UK homeowners.
If you’re considering laminate flooring for your home you’ll want to know the costs and prices you’ll have to pay, so you can plan your budget before starting the project.
How much does laminate flooring cost?
The costs a homeowner in the UK pays for laminate flooring depends on several factors. Two major factors are the size of the room and the style/quality of the laminate flooring material. For instance, faux wood laminate prices from £16 per m2 for the cheap materials, while high-quality laminate flooring could cost as much as £50 per m2. Some ceramic tiles cost between £10 to £25 per m2, and faux stone tiles prices range from £15 m2 to £35 m2. The average cost of installing laminate flooring also depends on the shape of the room, where you live, the thickness of each laminate board, the surface you are placing it on, and many more.
Laminate flooring styles
Laminate flooring is made from two different materials: faux wood and faux tile.
Cost of faux wood laminate flooring
Faux wood is made from different types such as Oak, Walnut, Hickory, Chestnut, and Brazilian cherry.
Faux Oak: The oak faux wood laminate is the most popular laminate style in the UK. While natural oak flooring costs around £65 per m2, faux oak laminates cost just about £16 per m2 for the cheaper ones, and £25 per m2 for the more expensive brands.
Faux Walnut: This is often used as an alternative to walnut wood, which is a rather expensive wood. The cost of faux walnut laminates is between £17 per m2 and £30 per m2 .
Faux Hickory and Chestnut: The price of these laminates is usually between £16 per m2 for the budget brands and £35 per m2 for the more expensive but better quality brands.
Faux Brazilian cherry: Faux Brazilian cherry flooring laminates are generally expensive laminates. The price of these laminates is usually around £27 per m2 and £50 per m2
Cost of faux tile laminate flooring
Faux tile laminate flooring is very easy to install and has the effect of ceramic or stone tiles. They are produced in different shapes, sizes, and colour. While faux ceramic laminate flooring gives the impression of glazed ceramic tile, faux stone tiles have the effect of granite, marble, slate, and sandstone. Faux ceramic tiles cost between £10 per m2 to £25 per m2. The price of faux stone tiles is usually between £15 per m2 and £35 per m2.
Size of the room/area being covered
Small room
Using the cost range of laminate flooring styles mentioned above, the cost of installing laminate flooring in a small room of 15 m2 will be from £240 to £750 for a faux wood effect, £150 to £375 for a faux ceramic tile effect, and £225 to £525 for a faux stone effect.
Medium room
Using the price range mentioned above, if you want to install laminate flooring in a 25 m2 medium-sized room, the cost you’ll pay will be around £400 to £1,250 for a faux wood aesthetic, between £250 and £625 for a faux ceramic tile effect, and from £375 to £875 for a faux stone effect.
Large room
To have laminate flooring installed in a large room of 40 m2 –using the price ranges mentioned above—a homeowner will have to pay from £640 to £2,000 for a faux wood effect, between £400 and £1,000 for a faux ceramic tile effect, and from £600 to £1,400 for a faux stone aesthetic.
Labour costs of laminate flooring installation
In the UK, tradespeople and laminate fitters typically charge around £200 per day. And since an average small room takes around a day to install, a homeowner having laminate flooring installed in that size of a room will have to bear a labour cost of about £200. For a medium-sized room that takes three days, the labour cost will be £600; while a large room that takes four days will cost £800 in labour charges.
| Job type/Size | Detail | Cost Range | Time | Labour Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Install laminate flooring—Small room | Approx. room size 15 m2 | £240 to £750 | 1 day | 200 |
| Install laminate flooring—Medium room | Approx. room size 25 m2 | £400-£1,250 | 2 days | 600 |
| Install laminate flooring—Large room | Approx. room size 40 m2 | £640-£2,000 | 3 days | 800 |
Other laminate flooring costs to consider
Aside from laminate flooring styles and labour costs, there are additional costs to consider in having laminate flooring installed. Other costs that homeowners need to think about include:
Glues
To install laminate flooring, a bead of glue is applied along the grooved edges of the boards. The glue usually used is PVA wood adhesive, which costs around £10 per bottle, although other cheaper brands sell for between £2 to £5 per bottle.
Underlays
Over the years, underlays have become an important part of laminate flooring installation. Usually between 5mm and 15mm thick, underlays reduce vibrations when the floors are walked on, and also serve as heat insulation. Underlays prices start from £20 per 20 m2.
Underfloor heating
Some homeowners prefer to have underfloor heating installed under their floors. The cost of heating systems starts from around £60 m2. And regardless of the type of underfloor heating system chosen, the installation process will most likely require hiring an electrician or a plumber.
DIY laminate flooring installation
If you are considering saving labour charges and other associated costs, and are planning to install the laminate floor yourself, then it’s possible, especially if you have the right tools. Some of the tools you’ll need to install the laminate floor include:
- Hammer
- Pencil (for marking)
- Measuring tape
- Handsaw (or Circular saw)
- Safety goggles
- Jigsaw (for cutting around doors, pipes, etc.)
- Other installation kits (spacers, laminate flooring pull bars, etc.)
Following is a general DIY guide to installing laminate flooring:
- Determine whether or not the floor is uneven by removing the floor covering and checking to see whether the floor has any lumps or holes that could cause unevenness.
- Leave the boards in the room. Gently remove the plastic wrapping, then arrange the plastics so they remain flat. Next, allow the boards to adjust to the surrounding humidity for 48 hours.
- Make sure to apply the underlay directly to the sub-floor, as a turn-up of around 25mm is desired around the walls.
- Let the board begin in a corner and span the length of the wall. The tongue should be firmly planted against the wall. Make sure to keep a 5mm gap around the edge using spacers.
- Continue laying boards for this row, and then attach them using adhesive. To finish the board length at the other side, cut the board so that it is the correct length.
- Stagger the joints in the next row, and maintain the space against the wall.
- In the final row of the room, the space is likely to be narrower than in the rest of the rows. To complete the job, you’ll have to cut each board lengthwise.
If a DIY laminate flooring installation seems like an uphill task for you, you should hire a capable tradesperson to do the job. These contractors will help you get the job done neatly and professionally. Installing laminate flooring is one of the best ways to beautify your home’s floor. And aside from being relatively cheap, installing laminate flooring in your home allows you and everyone in your home to own an expensive-looking hardwood or stone floor.
Note: The costs given in this guide are estimates, they may vary significantly. Use the figures as a starting place for your research.
