Budgeting: How much does new flooring cost? Carpet, laminate and wood
New flooring cost depends on the material, the size of the room and the fitting, plus extras like underlay and removing the old floor. In a worked example, new laminate in a living room costs about 900 fitted.
By Wealtie Team · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- New flooring cost depends on the material, the room size and the fitting.
- In a worked example, new laminate in a living room costs about 900 fitted.
- Fitting, underlay and removing old floors add a lot to the price.
- The cheapest floor isn't always the best value if it wears out quickly.
How much does new flooring cost?
New floors can change how a room looks and feels, but the cost varies a lot with the material. Carpet and vinyl are usually the cheapest. Laminate sits in the middle. Solid wood and natural stone cost the most. On top of the flooring itself, you'll pay for underlay, fitting, trims and often removing the old floor. In a worked example, new laminate in a living room costs about 900 fitted.
Room size matters most. A small bedroom costs far less than an open-plan living space, so measure carefully before getting quotes.
What does flooring a room cost?
Here's a worked example for a living room of about 20 square metres, fitted, in round numbers that work in any currency:
| Floor | Fitted cost |
|---|---|
| Carpet | 700 |
| Vinyl | 750 |
| Laminate | 900 |
| Solid wood | 2,000 |
The laminate figure breaks down as 500 for the flooring, 100 for underlay, 250 for fitting and 50 for removing the old floor.
What are the main flooring options?
Carpet
Warm, soft and quiet, carpet suits bedrooms and living rooms. It's often the cheapest option, but it stains and wears faster in busy areas. Good underlay makes cheaper carpet feel better and last longer. Wool carpets last well but cost more, while synthetic ones are cheaper and resist stains, which suits homes with children or pets.
Vinyl
Waterproof and easy to clean, vinyl suits kitchens, bathrooms and hallways. Modern vinyl can look like wood or stone. It's affordable and quick to fit.
Laminate
Laminate looks like wood at a lower price. It's hard-wearing and easy to clean, but it can be noisy without good underlay and doesn't cope well with water.
Solid and engineered wood
Real wood looks beautiful and can last decades, since it can be sanded and refinished. It costs the most to buy and fit. Engineered wood, a wood layer on a stable base, is cheaper than solid wood and still looks like real wood.
What else adds to the new flooring cost?
Underlay, door bars and trims are small items that add up. Removing and disposing of old flooring costs extra if the fitter does it. Uneven floors may need levelling, which can be a big extra cost. Doors sometimes need trimming to clear a new, thicker floor. Moving furniture out of the room, and back again, may be charged too. Ask for a quote that lists every item, so you can compare fitters fairly.
Choose the right floor for each room
You don't need the same floor everywhere. Many homes use carpet in bedrooms for warmth, vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom for water resistance, and laminate or wood in living areas. Matching the floor to how each room is used means you spend more only where it makes a difference. A hallway takes the most wear, so a tougher floor there saves money over time, while a spare bedroom used a few times a year can have a cheaper option without any problem.
How can you save on new flooring?
- Measure carefully and buy a little extra: running short means paying for a second order, and colours can vary between batches.
- Lift the old floor yourself: it saves on labour if you're happy to do the work.
- Fit it yourself: click-together laminate and vinyl are manageable for confident DIYers.
- Buy end-of-line stock: often much cheaper, as long as there's enough for your room.
- Choose good underlay: it makes cheaper flooring feel better and last longer.
- Refresh instead of replace: sanding and refinishing wood floors costs far less than new ones.
Think about cost per year
A cheap carpet in a busy hallway that needs replacing in a few years can cost more over time than a tougher floor that lasts decades. Work out the cost per year of use, not just the price today. Cost per use explains the idea.
How does flooring fit into a bigger project?
If you're redecorating or renovating, plan the floors alongside everything else, so you don't damage new floors with later work. Floors usually go in near the end, after painting. How to save money on decorating and the home renovation budget cover planning a bigger project. If you're furnishing a new home, furnish a home on a budget has more ideas.
How do you track flooring costs in Wealtie?
Add a home improvement category to your expense categories and set a budget for it, so you can see how flooring, fitting and extras compare with your plan.
Questions people ask
In a worked example, new laminate in a living room costs about 900 fitted. Carpet costs about 700 and solid wood about 2,000.
Carpet and vinyl are usually the cheapest to buy and fit, though they may wear faster in busy areas.
Click-together laminate and vinyl are manageable for confident DIYers. Carpet and solid wood are usually best left to professionals.
Underlay, trims, removing the old floor, levelling uneven floors and trimming doors.
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.
