Cost guides › New flooring
United Kingdom
How much does new flooring cost?
Replacing a 25 m² tiled floor with new porcelain tiles typically costs £2,600 including VAT, with most quotes between £2,050 and £3,400. The price covers breaking out the old tiles and bedding, re-screeding and levelling, and laying 30x60 porcelain with matching skirting. Plain ceramic tiles bring it down to about £1,700, while engineered oak glued to a levelled screed is around £3,300.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,800 | £2,750 | £3,500 |
| Scotland | £1,700 | £2,650 | £3,350 |
| East | £1,700 | £2,600 | £3,250 |
| North West | £1,650 | £2,600 | £3,250 |
| South East | £1,700 | £2,600 | £3,300 |
| East Midlands | £1,650 | £2,550 | £3,200 |
| North East | £1,650 | £2,550 | £3,200 |
| South West | £1,650 | £2,550 | £3,250 |
| Wales | £1,650 | £2,550 | £3,200 |
| West Midlands | £1,650 | £2,550 | £3,250 |
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| Yorkshire and The Humber | £1,650 | £2,550 | £3,200 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Removal of the old skirting
- Breaking up the old tiled floor and its bedding mortar, with the rubble taken away
- New screed up to 5 cm to bring the floor back to level
- Self-levelling compound so large tiles sit flat without lipping
- Porcelain 30x60 or 40x40 tiles, with 10% allowed for cuts and waste
- Tiles laid with rapid-set flexible adhesive and grouted
- Tile skirting cut from the same tiles and fixed around the room
- A brass threshold strip at the doorway
What affects the cost
What comes up first
Lifting carpet or laminate takes a couple of hours; breaking out old tiles and a sand-and-cement bed is heavy work that produces a lot of rubble. If the old floor is sound and level, tiling or overlaying on top can remove this cost altogether.
Subfloor type
Concrete ground floors take tiles directly once level. Suspended timber floors, common upstairs and in older houses, usually need overboarding with plywood or tile backer board before tiling, which adds materials and a day of labour.
Tile size and pattern
Large-format tiles need a flatter base and more careful laying, and herringbone or diagonal layouts add cutting time and waste. A straight lay with mid-sized tiles is the cheapest to fit.
Floor material
Porcelain is hard-wearing and suits kitchens, halls and bathrooms. Engineered oak costs more to buy and needs a very flat, dry base, especially if glued down. Laminate and vinyl click floors are cheaper alternatives not covered by this estimate.
Underfloor heating
Adding electric or wet underfloor heating under tiles is a common upgrade in UK kitchens and bathrooms, but it is not in this price. An electric mat also needs a registered electrician to connect it.
Room shape and doorways
Lots of doorways, corners, a fitted kitchen to work around or pipes coming through the floor all increase cutting time. Trimming doors to clear the new floor height is usually extra.
How to save
- Ask whether the existing floor can be overlaid rather than broken out; it saves demolition, rubble and screed.
- Choose a standard tile size and a straight lay rather than herringbone or diagonal.
- Clear the room and remove old carpet and grippers yourself before the fitter arrives.
- Do several rooms in one booking so the fitter prices the levelling and set-up once.
Grants, tax and rules
VAT
Our figures include 20% VAT on labour and materials. Flooring does not qualify for the reduced rate that applies to energy-saving materials.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to tile a floor per square metre in the UK?
For a complete job including removal of the old floor, levelling, porcelain tiles and skirting, a 25 m² room comes to about £2,600 including VAT. Laying tiles on an already prepared floor costs considerably less, which is why quotes per square metre vary so much.
Can you tile over existing floor tiles?
Sometimes, if the old tiles are firmly bonded, level and not cracked, and the extra height does not cause problems with doors or appliances. A primer for tile-on-tile is needed. Hollow-sounding or cracked tiles have to come up.
Is engineered wood more expensive than porcelain tiles?
Usually yes, once you include the levelling a glued wood floor needs; our premium engineered oak option is about £3,300 against £2,600 for porcelain. Wood is warmer underfoot but is not a good choice for bathrooms.
How long does it take to lay a new tiled floor?
For a typical room, allow two to four days: a day to break out the old floor, drying time for the screed and levelling compound, then a day or two to tile and grout. A thick new screed can need longer to dry before tiling.
Do I need to level the floor before tiling?
Yes, for tiles over about 30 cm long. Uneven floors cause lipping, where tile edges stand proud, and cracked tiles over time. Self-levelling compound is quick and relatively cheap compared with fixing a failed floor.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 37.8 · Labour: £1,136 · Materials: £1,038
Sources: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, tables 14 and 15; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.