How Much to Lay Laminate Flooring in 2025?
The average cost of installing laminate flooring (including labour fees) ranges from £500 to £3,500. The final price can depend on the size of the room, the materials used, and any complexities involved in the installation.
If you live in areas such as London or the South East, then expect labour fees to be higher than the national average
What will this cost guide cover?
We will go over the expenses involved with laminate flooring, including the labour costs, types of laminate flooring, and the additional costs involved with this type of job.
Laminate is popular because it can offer a neat finish, is cheap and can be laid over the top of almost any surface - so long as it's dry, level and firm
As great an option as laminated flooring is for most rooms, it's best not to install it in kitchens or bathrooms, due to the damp conditions which can damage and alter the flooring.
What will the overall cost depend on?
The average cost you can expect to pay for laminate flooring will depend on the size of the job and the type of laminate flooring you choose to install.
The price to install laminate flooring in a small room (around 4m x 3m) would fall in between £500-£1,500. A medium-sized room (around 20m²) would cost around £1,000-£2,500, and large room (around 30m²) would typically cost £2,000-£3,500. The final costs will depend on the materials used and if any additional work is required.
Laminate Flooring Fitting Prices
The table below shows the laminate flooring installation costs for different sized rooms:
| Size of Room | Average Cost (Installation & Supplies) |
|---|---|
| Small (10m²) | £500-£1,500 |
| Medium (20m²) | £1,000-£2,500 |
| Large (30m²) | £2,000-£3,500 |
- How Much to Lay Laminate Flooring in 2025?
- What are the Supply Costs of a Laminate Flooring Installation?
- What are the Additional Costs to Lay Laminate Flooring?
- Tradesmen Cost to Install Laminate Flooring
- Choosing Laminate Flooring
- Benefits of Laminate Flooring
- How Long Does It Take to Install Laminate Flooring?
- How much Does It Cost to Remove a Laminate Floor?
- FAQs
What are the Supply Costs of a Laminate Flooring Installation?
The supply cost of a laminate flooring can vary somewhere between £8 and £50 per m², depending on the type of material and design you choose.
This is as if you were to purchase the goods directly from a retailer and will not include any costs for labour or installation, so in this section, we will take a look at the costs for different types of laminate flooring.
There are many different types of laminate flooring, and each type comes with its own average price point.
The type of laminate flooring that you choose will affect the overall cost of installing a laminate floor as there are many different prices for different types of flooring.
The table below highlights the average cost for the seven most popular types of laminate flooring on the market today:
| Type of Laminate Flooring | Average Cost per m² |
|---|---|
| Hickory and Chestnut | £8-£25 |
| Ceramic tile | £10-£50 |
| Stone tile | £10-£50 |
| Marble and Granite | £11-£30 |
| Oak | £13-£39 |
| Walnut | £15-£33 |
| Exotic wood | £25-£50 |
What are the Additional Costs to Lay Laminate Flooring?
When you get laminate flooring installed at your home, there are a number of additional jobs that you may wish to think about at the same time, some of which we have listed below:
- Trims and skirting boards - Trims (£4-£9 each) provide a neat and professional finish to conceal any gaps between surfaces, while a skirting board installation (costing between £300-£500 per room) creates a practical and decorative barrier between floor and wall.
- Laminate Underlay - Improves insulation, reduces noise and adds a protection between the laminate and flooring, costing around £20-£50 depending on the size of your room.
- Door Trimming - In the event the new flooring is raised higher than the previous, the door or door frame may need adjusting, this can cost £20-£70 for door trimming or around £40 to hang a door.
- Painting and Decorating - Before having new laminate flooring, it can also be a chance to carry out other decorating work. Depending on the extent of what's required budget for around £160-£200 per day.
- Underloor Heating - If you are considering having Underfloor heating installed (approximately £40-£150 per metre squared) then ensure you choose a dry underfloor system, such as electric mats, as these help to avoid any unwanted moisture.
Tradesmen Cost to Install Laminate Flooring
If you are looking to hire professional laminate floor fitters to install your laminate flooring, you should expect to pay around £150-£200 per day for a laminate flooring fitter.
Most small to average-sized rooms should be doable within a day's timeframe. However, larger rooms could take up to a week to complete depending on the complexity of the job and the materials used.
Sometimes a tradesperson will charge per square metre rather than per day. This is more common for smaller jobs, where it wouldn't be cost-effective to charge the client for a full day's work. The average installation rate per square metre is around £10–£12."
Choosing Laminate Flooring
We will now take a look at the different types of laminate flooring in a bit more detail. We will discuss the different laminate flooring styles, their advantages and disadvantages, and their average costs.
Below is a list of the seven most popular types of laminate flooring on the market today:
Oak Laminate Flooring Cost
Oak laminate flooring is usually around £13-£39 per m².
Oak laminate flooring is a very popular type of flooring in the UK. The price difference between real oak flooring and laminate oak flooring is quite substantial, so the laminate option is usually a more popular choice.
Laminate oak flooring has the benefits of looking almost as good as oak flooring but comes at a much lower price point.
Pros:
- Durable
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
- Quick installation
Cons:
- Can't be refinished if it becomes damaged
- Not as quiet as carpet
- Can create a slippery surface
Walnut Laminate Flooring Cost
Walnut is also a very popular choice for laminate flooring in the UK. Prices for walnut flooring are usually around £15-£33 per m² depending on the brand and supplier.
Hardwood walnut flooring is typically an expensive type of wood, similar to oak. This is why walnut laminate flooring is such a popular choice in the UK as it provides the elegant walnut look at a fraction of the cost of real wood.
Pros:
- Durable
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
- Quick installation
- Elegant classic look
Cons:
- Can't be refinished if it becomes damaged
- Not as quiet as carpet
- Can create a slippery surface
Hickory and Chestnut Laminate Flooring Cost
The average hickory and chestnut laminate flooring prices are £8-£25 per m².
Hickory and chestnut are two other popular types of laminate flooring. They are designed to look like the real type of wood but in a much more cost-effective and easy-to-lay design. The prices for hickory and chestnut types of laminate flooring are almost the same as each other.
Pros:
- Can replicate a real wood grain and warm tones
- More affordable than the solid wood equivalent
- Durable against scratches and general use
- Easy to clean with little maintenance required
- Straightforward to install
Cons:
- Can't be refined or sanded in the event of any damage
- Moisture sensitive, so not ideal for wet rooms
- Less eco-friendly as made from synthetic materials
Exotic Wood Laminate Flooring Cost
Exotic wood laminate flooring is usually priced at around £25-£50 per m².
There are many types of exotic solid wood floorings that look amazing, but they usually come at a high price. However, many exotic woods come in a laminate flooring alternative. However, even the laminate versions come at a higher price than many other types of laminate flooring as they are rarer.
Pros:
- Durable
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
- Quick installation
Cons:
- Can't be refinished if it becomes damaged
- Not as quiet as carpet
- Can create a slippery surface
- Usually more expensive than other types of laminate
Tile Laminate Flooring Cost
The price for ceramic and stone tile laminate flooring is around £10-£50 per m², depending on the design and style
Tiles are usually extremely difficult to fit and often come at a high price. This is why the laminate version of ceramic tiles is becoming increasingly popular. Laminate ceramic flooring comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours so you can easily find something to suit your aesthetic and your taste.
Real stone tiles are very expensive but create a very unique and aesthetically pleasing look. With this in mind, faux stone laminate flooring is an increasingly popular choice in the UK at a fraction of the price.
Pros:
- Durable
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Easy to clean
- Quick installation in comparison to their real counterparts
Cons:
- Can't be refinished if it becomes damaged
- Not as quiet as carpet
- Can create a slippery surface
Marble and Granite Laminate Flooring Cost
The average cost for marble and granite laminate flooring is usually between £11-£30 per m².
These two styles are almost exactly the same in price and usually come at a higher cost than most other laminate styles of flooring, although remain a very popular choice.
Genuine marble and granite create a beautiful aesthetic and add a very elegant touch to the room. This is why marble and granite laminate flooring is extremely popular, as you can get the same effect for a fraction of the cost of the real thing.
Pros:
- Durable
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Easy to clean
- Quick installation in comparison to their real counterparts
Cons:
- Can't be refinished if it becomes damaged
- Not as quiet as carpet
- Can create a slippery surface
- Usually more expensive than other types of laminate
Benefits of Laminate Flooring
There are many benefits to choosing laminate flooring over other flooring types. Laminate is ideal for anyone looking for long-lasting, easy-to-maintain flooring at a price that won’t break the budget.
Explore some of the key benefits of laminate flooring below:
- Durability – Laminate flooring is highly durable and designed to withstand high-traffic areas and everyday wear and tear. It’s manufactured to be hardwearing and resistant to dents and scratches.
- Low Maintenance – Thanks to its protective surface layer, laminate flooring is easy to clean. Maintenance typically involves vacuuming or sweeping up any debris, along with the occasional damp mopping (without excess watering) around once a month to keep it looking fresh.
- Economical – Laminate is often more budget-friendly compared to hardwood or tile. It’s also more cost-effective to install, as it generally takes less time to lay, which can help reduce labour costs.
- Water-Resistant Options – Many modern laminate options are either water-resistant or in some cases even waterproof, making them suitable for areas that may become wet or damp such as kitchens and bathrooms, although it is always best to check product specifications before installation.
- Variety of Designs – Laminate flooring comes in a wide range of styles, colours, textures, and patterns. It can closely imitate the look of wood, stone, or tile, making it easy to match your flooring with your chosen room aesthetic.
How Long Does It Take to Install Laminate Flooring?
The time it takes to install laminate flooring will mostly depend on the size of the room, as the process is relatively similar no matter which style of flooring you choose.
Smaller rooms can often be completed within a day, while larger or more complex projects may take up to 5 days to finish. This can vary depending on the size of area and the room layout, as well as if any preparation work is required such as removing old flooring.
DIY Laminate Flooring Installation
Although it is possible to lay laminate flooring yourself, which will of course cut out labour costs, it can be a trickier job than you first realise. Especially if you are not used to DIY or have chosen a laminate floor with a precise pattern.
It's important to match up designs or in some cases even with a sporadic approach it takes a keen eye for detail - for example being able to avoid putting similar pieces next to each other, unless it's intentional.
Laying laminate flooring DIY also requires patience, as although in theory it may only take a day or two to complete, attention to detail is vital.
If you don't install laminate flooring smoothly, then it could cause you problems further down the line. For example, it may start to become unstuck and create a trip hazard or potentially allow moisture to creep in between the joints leading to damp issues.
How much Does It Cost to Remove a Laminate Floor?
It is not always necessary to remove your laminate flooring if you are having new flooring installed as many companies will include this as part of the new flooring job. However, if you would prefer to remove your laminate flooring, you can either do it yourself or get a professional to do it.
If you choose to hire a professional to remove your laminate flooring for you, you can expect to pay them around £12-£15 per hour. The average floor removal job should take less than a day to complete; however, some jobs may take longer.
The length of time that the job will take will depend on several factors, including the size of the flooring being removed, the difficulty of the job, and your property's location.
FAQs
Q: Does the floor need to be level before installing laminate flooring?
Your floor doesn't need to be completely level to install laminate flooring, as it can be somewhat forgiving when it comes to any slight imperfections. However, it is still best practice to ensure the floor is as flat as possible as uneven areas can lead to gaps, movement, or future damage, which may result in repairs or renewing your flooring earlier than planned.
Q: How long do I have to wait before I can walk on new laminate flooring?
A: It is best to leave it at least 24 hours before you walk on any newly installed laminate flooring.
Q: Can I lay laminate flooring on stairs?
A: Yes – laminate flooring can be installed on stairs. It is recommended that you wait 24 hours for the strong adhesive to dry before stepping on the stairs.
Q: Do I need planning permission to install laminate flooring?
A: No, in most case planning permissions isn't required as long as it doesn't affect the structure or external appearance of the property. Although if you live in a listed building or conservation area, you may need to check with your local council first.
Q: Do I need to follow any building regulations?
A: With laminate flooring you don’t usually need to follow building regulations. However, if it's in a flat or leasehold property, sound insulation rules may also apply, so using an acoustic underlay is often recommended.
Q: Can I install laminate flooring on a patio?
A: No – laminate flooring should be installed indoors only. It is not suitable for outdoor use.
