Laminate flooring is skyrocketing in popularity.
According to a 2023 report by Floor Covering News, laminate flooring sales spiked by 6% year-on-year, a trend that looks set to continue into 2025 and beyond.
It’s easy to see why. Laminate flooring is affordable, durable, scratch and water-resistant. This makes it a favourite for parents and pet owners, especially as it’s easy to clean. Available in a diverse range of colours and styles, you can let your inner designer run wild knowing you won’t break the bank.
Before investing in your dream laminate, it’s worth considering the cost of your chosen flooring, and what can influence it.
That’s where we come in. Read on for our handy guide to the cost of laminate flooring and installation. It’s co-written by our product team to give you the best advice.
Laminate Flooring Costs: Things to Consider
There are three main things to consider when reviewing the cost of Laminate flooring:
- Quality
- Installation
- Design and Features
A complete renovation of your home could be costly if you pick a top of the range laminate floor, for example. While there are finance options available to help with this, you may wish to work room-by-room.
Quality and Thickness
When choosing your floor, it is best to identify your needs to know which laminate flooring will be right for you. A more premium product will offer you durability, scratch resistance, water resistant and a real wood-like look floor.
The thickness of the floor can affect its durability, comfort and noise levels. Consider your budget and condition of your subfloor along with where you will be installing the floor to understand what thickness is right for you.
We offer a range from 7mm to 12mm thickness with and without underlay providing additional sound proofing qualities. As an example, you may look to install a 7mm laminate in a downstairs toilet where the floor sees less use, and a 12mm laminate flooring in your hallway which is used every day.
Opting for a higher quality product has several benefits including:
- Soundproofing- A 10mm to 12mm thick laminate typically provides better noise absorption with improved soundproofing. Additionally, our acoustic Series Woods range include a 12dB rating underlay for even better acoustic effects.
- Stability- Thicker planks are less likely to warp over time as they have a stronger locking system offering your laminate floor a much longer lifespan.
- Design- Thicker laminates can have a more detailed design etched in, which provides the look of real wood with less plank repetitions.
Installation
As you’re eying up your dream floor, it’s important to consider the costs of laminate flooring and installation together. If you’re working to a budget, the last thing you want is to overspend on the flooring itself, leaving you in installation hell.
Fortunately, there are several options for reducing laminate flooring installation costs. For example, you might consider:
DIY Installation
The easiest way to reduce laminate flooring installation costs is also the most rewarding. DIY installation shrinks labour costs as all you’ll need are the tools, flooring itself, and any other necessary accessories such as glues, scotia and edging strips depending on the room.
You may need to spend some time teaching yourself the process, but there are several in-depth tutorials available online. Several of our products also have installation PDF guides on our product listing pages.
That said, it’s worth noting that any mistakes you make could incur more costs if you need to buy more materials or even replace flooring damaged in the installation process.
Ensure you always follow an installation guide when fitting DIY friendly options to keep your warranty intact.
Professional Installation
As you can imagine, opting for professional installation can greatly affect the cost of laminate flooring, but there’s much to consider.
For example, hiring a professional to lay your laminate flooring will mean covering costs, including labour rates and removal of existing flooring. Professional fitters may also charge higher rates for complex room shapes, moving furniture, and disposal of old flooring.
As such, it’s wise to include as much detail as possible when consulting a professional for an accurate quote.
Design and Features
The design of the flooring you choose will impact the cost of laminate flooring, perhaps more so than any other factor.
For example, laminate with realistic textures and more intricate patterns (such as a wood or stone look) will come at a higher price point than less detailed alternatives.
Why?
Creating these authentic looks requires higher-quality materials and more complex printing techniques.
Looking for a quality real wood effect laminate design will affect the cost of the floor. Embossed in Register (EIR), is the term given to laminate flooring where the top resin layer is embossed to give a premium wood look and feel of a real wood grain floor. Whereas a Free Embossed finish or Authentic Texture gives the planks a textured feel and detail of a wood floor. But these embossing techniques do not follow the grain of the floor as precisely as an EIR finish.
Our Series Woods range offers the timeless look of real wood with a warm oak tone and textured finish. With an AC4 rating, it’s highly durable and ideal for high-traffic areas, making it a good choice for the entire home. The Aqualock range is water-resistant and has the same AC4 durability rating, making it also ideal for busy households. Similarly, Audacity combines the beauty of traditional oak with a durable, water-resistant finish that’s spill, splash, and pet-proof, making it perfect for kitchens and bathrooms.
Tips for Keeping Laminate Flooring Costs Down
If you’re working to a budget, you can still enjoy the style and sophistication of laminate flooring without breaking the bank. You might consider:
Opt for neutral colours
Laminate flooring in neutral colours (i.e. grey, beige, or brown) can be cheaper than their textured or patterned cousins. This is a fantastic option for keeping laminate flooring costs low—especially if you’re fitting in several rooms at once.
Choose lower grade laminate
The thickness of the board is not the only factor to consider for durability. The grading depends on the wear layer that is sprayed over the photographic layer and the quality of the materials used for its manufacturing.
Laminate flooring grades are based on durability, quality and appearance. AC4 laminate is a higher grade and is used for heavy domestic and commercial flooring. It is slightly higher in cost and designed for busy areas of your home, such as bathrooms and kitchens. If you’re more concerned with durability, AC3 lower-grade laminate is tough enough for the average home.
AC3 laminate flooring starts at £9.99 per square metre, while AC4 laminate flooring starts at £11.99 per square metre.
Choose laminate with built-in underlay
Our Laminate Flooring with Built-In Underlay has realistic textures like marble effect and natural rustic oak. This removes the need for the extra costs that would come with buying a separate underlay. It is also compatible with water-based underfloor heating systems.
And there you have it! The costs of laminate flooring can vary depending on the quality of the flooring, the volume you require, and the installation process you choose. With careful planning and consideration, you can enjoy the style and durability of laminate flooring without overstretching your budget.
Need more tips and tricks for revitalising your home? Check out our advice centre. Yet to decide on your next project? Visit our inspiration centre.
