How much does it cost to install laminate flooring in a room?

The first question on everyone’s lips when considering buying new flooring is always the same: how much is it going to cost? If you’re on the hunt for budget-friendly flooring that also looks amazing, laminate flooring is a great option. Budgeting for the floor itself is just one of the costs you need to think about - there’s also fitting costs, flooring accessories and removing your old floor to include, too.

In the following guide, we’ll break down in detail the cost to laminate a room. We’ll look at what factors affect the price of laminate flooring and show you both budget and luxury options. Whether you need to lay a laminate floor in one room or you’ve got a whole house to refit, we’ll make sure you can plan your costs down to the last penny.

Find out:

• How much does laminate cost?
• How much does it cost to laminate a room?
• Average cost to laminate a 3-bedroom house
• How much does it cost to fit laminate?
• Additional fitting costs to consider

How much does laminate cost?

Laminate is one of the most popular flooring types because of its budget-friendly price. It has a realistic wood look, but it’s a lot cheaper than using solid wood or engineered wood. Tapi laminate flooring ranges from around £20 to £60 per square metre and is sold by the pack. However, the pack size coverage varies depending on the plank length and width of that particular style of laminate. But don’t worry – there’s a calculator on all of our laminate product pages to help you work out how much laminate you need and how much it’s going to cost.

Factors that affect the cost of laminate flooring

There are a few different factors that can affect the price of laminate:

• The thickness of the plank
• The quality of the design
• The level of texture on the surface
• How durable it is
• Whether it uses sustainable wood
• Whether it’s water resistant
• Whether it has built-in underlay
• Whether it’s straight planks or herringbone installation
• How big your room is

For example, laminate flooring with a high-definition design and an authentic finish will cost more than a budget laminate with basic designs, less texture, and minimal features. Herringbone laminate costs more because it’s more complicated to install than straight planks. We go over all the different styles, designs and features in our laminate flooring buying guide if you need help figuring out which one is right for the room and your lifestyle.

What is the average cost for laminate?

Based on the factors above, the average cost for laminate flooring depends on whether you’re choosing budget, mid-range or luxury laminate:

• Budget laminate – £10-£20 per m²
• Mid-range laminate – £20-£35 per m²
• Luxury laminate - £35-£60+ per m²

How much does it cost to laminate a room?

Measuring a room for laminate flooring is slightly different to measuring up for carpet. This is because laminate comes in different lengths and widths to create different looks, so the pack coverage varies between laminate collections. We always increase the total area needed by 5-15% to account for wastage when cutting. It’s also a good idea to have some spares in case of damage in the future, as well as a choice of plank designs in case some have too many knots for your taste.

Once you’ve chosen your laminate, find out how to measure a room for laminate flooring by following these three steps:

1. Calculate the total area of the room

Width of the room x length of the room = total area of the room
Example: 4x4=16m²

2. Add an extra 5-15% onto your total area of your room then divide by the floor coverage per pack to work out how many packs you need. Round this number up to the next whole number.

(Total area of the room + 5%) ÷ pack coverage = number of packs required
Example: (16m² + 5% =16.8m²) ÷ 2.22m² = 7.56 (round up to 8 packs)

Tapi Top Tip: Don’t spend time doing the maths! Visit any of our laminate flooring products to use the calculator and we’ll do all the sums for you.

3. Multiply the pack coverage by how many packs you need to get the total floor coverage, then times by the price per square metre to get the total flooring cost.

(Pack coverage in metres squared x number of packs) x price per square metre = cost of laminate flooring
Example: (2.22m² x 8 = 17.76m²) x £27.99 = £497.10

Using our popular Richmond laminate priced at £27.99m², the average cost to laminate a room would be just under £500 for the laminate flooring alone.

For a really accurate quote, it’s always best to speak to a Tapi floorologist.

Average cost to laminate a 3-bedroom house

Now you know how much it costs to laminate a room, perhaps you want to find out the average price to fit laminate flooring in a 3-bedroom house? We’ll assume that there are two smaller bedrooms and one large double bedroom upstairs, plus a large living room, a dining room, as well as the hallway and stairs.

These costs can be higher or lower depending on the exact measurements. To find out how much to laminate a room step-by-step, we'll use the average room sizes for a British 3-bed house to help us work it out:

Bedrooms

Bedroom 1 - 4x4=16m²  
Bedroom 2 - 4x4=16m²  
Bedroom 3 - 5x6=30m²  

Total = 62 m²  

Downstairs

Living room - 5x6=30m²  
Dining room - 5x6=30m²  

Total = 60m²  

Stairs and Hallway

While people usually choose carpet for stairs to reduce sound from footsteps, Quick-Step laminate can be fitted on stairs. It’s a great choice for a modern home because of its durability in high-traffic areas like stairs and hallways. Bear in mind, you’ll need to use special laminate stair covers with a combined step and bullnose on your stairs or include a stair profile to finish the edge of each tread. Both of these will increase the overall cost of the laminate; however, they create a beautifully seamless look for your staircase.

Depending on the shape, width, and length of your staircase, measuring your stairs can be tricky. Our guide on how to measure your stairs and hallway has easy to follow instructions or book a free home visit and we’ll measure it for you.

Here are some average measurements. Based on a straight set of stairs with 13 steps, you’d need approximately 6.5m x 90cm. This doesn’t account for landings or winding staircases.

Stairs – (0.5m wide x 0.9m long) x 13 stairs = 6.5m x 0.9m = 5.85 m²  
Upper hallway – 2x3=6m²  
Lower hallway – 6x3=18m²  

Total – 29.85m²

How much does it cost to fit laminate?

After calculating how much the floor itself is going to cost, you’ll also need to think about laminate fitting costs. The reason why laminate is so popular is because the click fit locking mechanism makes it really straightforward for DIYers to install themselves. If you’re looking to reduce costs, fitting it yourself using our laminate flooring fitting guide is one way keeping within budget without compromising on the flooring you want.

However, smooth flooring (like laminate) is only as good as the subfloor so it’s much better to let professional flooring fitters install it. Laying laminate on an uneven floor will put stress on the joints and may cause the planks to lift and separate. At Tapi, we have a network of highly experienced fitting partners who can install your laminate quickly, efficiently, and perfectly.

Laminate fitting costs vary depending on the type of laminate. Straight laminate planks are £15 per m² to fit while herringbone laminate (which is a bit more complicated and takes longer to fit) costs £28.50 per m². Minimum fitting costs apply which vary depending on your location and there would also be a small fee for arranging the fitting.

Using our 16m² example, the average cost to fit laminate in a room would start from around £240.

Additional fitting costs to consider

There are lots of other costs to remember when considering a laminate floor. Taking up and disposing of the old flooring is an additional cost that you might not have thought about. You’ll also probably want matching scotias and door bars for a seamless look from room to room, so add these to your shopping list, too.

• Uplift and removal: starts from £6.50 per m²
• Accessories: Door bars are £11.99 each; scotias start from £9.99 for 2.4m
• Underlay: Between £3.99 and £10.99 per m² (some laminates come with built-in underlay so double check if you need this)

These numbers are just examples to give you an approximate idea of what to budget for laminate flooring if you’re doing a renovation. We can give you a much more accurate quote in a matter of minutes – just book a free home visit and we’ll measure up and bring samples along for you to try. We keep telling you how amazing laminate is, but it really has to be seen to be believed! Book a one-to-one appointment in-store to experience our supersized samples, or order free flooring samples online and get them posted to you in days.

*The prices quoted in this article were correct at the time of publication and are for illustrative purposes only. Fitting prices can vary dependent on location, minimum fitting fee applies. Please visit your local Tapi store for a more personalised quote from our expert floorologists.