Flooring cost by material: laminate, LVT, tiles, oak and microcement
What a new 25 m² floor costs in the UK in each material, from carpet and laminate to porcelain, stone, oak and 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 natural stone, solid oak and microcement the dearest. Our mid-range benchmark, porcelain tiles, typically costs £2,600 including VAT. Laminate is about £1,850, solid oak about £2,600. The material matters, but so does everything under it: preparation is the same whichever floor you choose, and often decides whether a quote is fair.
Every floor on the same room
The table prices the same 25 m² room and the same preparation - taking up the old floor and skirting, clearing the debris and restoring a level screed - changing only the finished floor. Figures include 20% VAT.
| Material | Typical | Usual range | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet vinyl | £1,300 | £1,000 – £1,650 | 10-20 years |
| Carpet with underlay | £1,350 | £1,050 – £1,750 | 8-15 years |
| Laminate | £1,850 | £1,450 – £2,400 | 15-25 years |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP/LVT) | £1,850 | £1,450 – £2,400 | 15-25 years |
| Engineered wood | £2,200 | £1,750 – £2,900 | 25-40 years |
| Porcelain / ceramic tile | £2,600 | £2,050 – £3,400 | 40+ years |
| Solid oak | £2,600 | £2,050 – £3,400 | 50+ years |
| Large-format porcelain | £2,700 | £2,100 – £3,500 | 40+ years |
| Natural stone (marble, travertine) | £3,250 | £2,500 – £4,200 | 50+ years |
| Microcement / polished concrete | £3,850 | £3,000 – £5,000 | 20-30 years |
The difference between two rows is what the change of material costs you, supplied and fitted. Change the floor area and see every line in our New flooring.
The options
Carpet, sheet vinyl and laminate
Carpet with underlay (£1,350) is the cheapest way to cover a bedroom, but also the shortest-lived at 8-15 years. Sheet vinyl (£1,300) is cheap, waterproof and seamless, which suits bathrooms and utility rooms, and lasts 10-20 years. Laminate (£1,850) clicks together over an underlay and is quick to fit; 15-25 years is typical. It does not like standing water, so avoid it in bathrooms.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT)
LVT and vinyl plank (£1,850) cost a little more than laminate but are water-resistant, warmer and quieter underfoot, and suit kitchens and bathrooms. Glue-down LVT needs a very flat subfloor, since every bump shows through; click systems are more forgiving. Expect 15-25 years.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles
Porcelain tiles (£2,600) last 40 years or more, cope with water and underfloor heating, and are easy to clean. They take longer to lay than planks: adhesive, levelling, cutting and grouting are all labour. Large-format porcelain (£2,700) gives fewer grout lines, but big tiles need a flatter floor and two people to handle, so fitting costs more.
Natural stone
Marble, limestone and travertine (£3,250) last 50 years or more but need sealing, and some stones mark with acids. Expect a higher price for material and for fitting, as stone varies in thickness and needs careful setting.
Engineered and solid oak
Engineered wood (£2,200) has a real oak wear layer on a stable core, so it copes better with central heating and can go over underfloor heating. It lasts 25-40 years and can usually be sanded once or twice. Solid oak (£2,600) is the most expensive wood option but can be sanded many times and lasts 50 years or more.
Microcement
Microcement (£3,850) is a thin, seamless cement-based coating trowelled on in several layers and sealed. It gives the polished concrete look without pouring a new slab, and works well with underfloor heating and in open-plan spaces. It is almost all skilled labour, needs a sound, stable base and takes several days of work and drying. Expect 20-30 years before it needs recoating. Ask how many coats and what sealer are included, as that is where cheaper quotes cut corners.
Preparation: the part people forget
Most of the difference between two quotes for the same material is usually preparation. Our estimate includes:
- Removing the old skirting and breaking out the old tiled floor and its bed
- Carrying the debris out and taking it away
- A new screed to restore the level
- A levelling compound where the finish needs it
- New skirting and a threshold strip at the door
If you are replacing carpet or laminate rather than tiles, there is less to take up, and the job costs less. If your subfloor is timber boards that move, some finishes, especially tiles and microcement, need overboarding 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
- Waste disposal fees at the tip
- Trimming doors, underfloor heating, damp-proof membranes or acoustic underlay
- Drying time for a new screed, which can hold up wood and microcement for weeks
Which to choose
- Tight budget, bedrooms: carpet or laminate.
- Kitchens and bathrooms: LVT, porcelain or microcement.
- Longest life: porcelain, natural stone or solid oak.
- Underfloor heating: porcelain, engineered wood or microcement.
Think per year, not per square metre: a floor that lasts three times as long is often the cheaper one.
Check your quote
Ask for quotes that list the material, preparation, levelling and skirting separately. Then compare the total with typical prices where you live using our "Is my quote fair?" tool: Is my quote fair?.