Flooring cost by material: carpet, hybrid, tiles, timber, microcement
What a new floor costs in a 25 m² room in Australia: carpet, laminate, hybrid, tiles, engineered or solid timber, or microcement, and how long each lasts.
For a 25 m² room where the old tiled floor comes up and a new one goes down, carpet and laminate are the cheapest options and solid timber and microcement the dearest. Our mid-range benchmark, porcelain tiles, typically costs $4,500 including GST. Laminate is about $3,400, and solid oak about $6,600. Whatever you choose, the preparation underneath is much the same, and it is often what separates a cheap quote from a fair one.
Every floor in the same room
The table prices the same 25 m² room and the same preparation - pulling up the old floor and skirting, carting away the rubbish and restoring a level screed - changing only the finished floor. Figures include 10% GST.
| Material | Typical | Usual range | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microcement / polished concrete | $3,300 | $2,550 – $4,250 | 20-30 years |
| Laminate | $3,400 | $2,650 – $4,400 | 15-25 years |
| Carpet with underlay | $3,500 | $2,750 – $4,600 | 8-15 years |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP/LVT) | $3,600 | $2,800 – $4,700 | 15-25 years |
| Porcelain / ceramic tile | $4,500 | $3,500 – $5,850 | 40+ years |
| Engineered wood | $4,750 | $3,700 – $6,150 | 25-40 years |
| Solid oak | $6,600 | $5,150 – $8,550 | 50+ years |
The gap between two rows is what the change of material costs you, supplied and laid. Change the floor area and see every line in our New flooring.
The options
Carpet
Carpet with underlay ($3,500) is the cheapest way to cover bedrooms and is warm underfoot in winter. It has the shortest life, typically 8-15 years, and holds dust, which matters for allergy sufferers.
Laminate
Laminate ($3,400) floats over an underlay and is quick to lay. Expect 15-25 years. It does not like standing water, so it is a poor choice for bathrooms and laundries.
Vinyl plank and hybrid
Vinyl plank ($3,600), including the rigid-core "hybrid" boards now common in Australian homes, costs a little more than laminate but copes with water, making it popular in kitchens, living areas and rentals. It is quieter and softer underfoot than tiles, and lasts 15-25 years. Hybrid boards can fade and move in strong direct sun, so ask about expansion gaps near big north- and west-facing windows.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles
Tiles ($4,500) last 40 years or more, stay cool in summer, handle water and are easy to clean. They cost more to lay than planks: levelling, adhesive, cutting and grouting are all labour. Larger tiles need a flatter floor.
Engineered timber
Engineered timber ($4,750) has a real hardwood or oak wear layer on a stable core, so it moves less with humidity than solid boards. It lasts 25-40 years and can usually be sanded once or twice.
Solid timber
Solid boards ($6,600) are the dearest timber option but can be sanded and re-coated many times, giving a life of 50 years or more. Our figure is for oak; Australian hardwoods such as spotted gum and blackbutt vary in price with species, grade and board width.
Microcement
Microcement ($3,300) is a thin, seamless cement-based coating trowelled on in layers and sealed. It gives a polished concrete look without a new slab and suits open-plan living and bathrooms. It is almost all skilled labour and needs a sound, stable base and several days of work and drying. Expect 20-30 years before it needs resealing or recoating. Ask how many coats and which sealer are included.
Preparation: where quotes differ
Our estimate includes:
- Removing old skirting and breaking up the old tiled floor and its bed
- Carting away the rubbish
- A new screed to restore the level
- Self-levelling compound where the finish needs it
- New skirting and a threshold strip at the doorway
If you are replacing carpet or floating floors rather than tiles, there is less to pull up and the job costs less. On a timber subfloor that moves, tiles and microcement need a stable underlay first.
We build these prices from the hours each task takes at local labour rates, plus materials, and check them against market prices and real quotes.
What is not included
- Moving furniture and protecting other rooms
- Tip fees
- Trimming doors, underfloor heating, moisture barriers or acoustic underlay (often required in apartments by strata rules)
- Drying time for a new screed, which can hold up timber and microcement
Which to choose
- Bedrooms on a budget: carpet or laminate.
- Kitchens, living areas and rentals: hybrid or vinyl plank.
- Wet areas and hot climates: porcelain tiles or microcement.
- Longest life: tiles or solid timber.
Think per year, not per square metre: a floor that lasts three times as long often costs less over the time you own the home.
Check your quote
Ask for quotes that list the material, preparation, levelling and skirting separately, and include the price per square metre. Then compare the total with typical prices in your state using our "Is my quote fair?" tool: Is my quote fair?. Quotes to households include 10% GST, and so do our figures.