Laminate Flooring Cost Guide in 2023

If you are looking for a hardwearing floor covering which won’t break your bank, laminate flooring may just be your holy grail for two big reasons:

Laminate flooring is the strongest and the most affordable of flooring available in the market. This article will break down the cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining laminate flooring. 

What is Laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring was first introduced as a method of reusing waste wood for economical purposes. Buyers were found to favour its significantly cheaper price while being able to retain an authentic look, just like a real hardwood flooring. You can get laminate flooring for your home from only $20 per square meter ( supply only)! 

There are floors to suit every budget. However, costs will vary depending on their thickness, abrasion class rate, water resistance  and brand of flooring. If you are wondering if laminate flooring is any good, we have a full guide to answer your questions!

Here are some popular examples of laminate flooring from the Luxflor Hugo range:

Blackbutt	Spotted Gum	Oak Champagne

Factors Influencing The Cost of Laminate Flooring

The three main factors that will influence cost the most when you choose your floor are its thickness, abrasion class rating, water resistance and origin of production.

1. How Thickness Affects Cost

Laminate flooring can come in thickness sizes ranging from 8mm – 14mm. Prices will increase as the planks get thicker. 

A thicker plank makes the flooring feel more solid underfoot and reduces the sound transmission from both direct impacts and ambient noise. Most importantly, thicker planks have higher tolerance against subfloor unevenness.

At FloorVenue, we offer laminate flooring ranges from 8mm to 14mm. For example, our Everfloor Luxflor laminate flooring range in 8mm thickness costs around $20 per square metre for supply only. The same flooring in 12mm can increase the cost by $6 – $12 per square metre.

2. How AC Rating Affects Cost

Abrasion class rating is a ranking system for the scratch and dent resistance of your laminate floor, where 1 is the lowest and 6 is the highest. The higher the abrasion rating is, the higher the cost of the plank will be. 

AC1 – Not recommended in any area

AC2 – Only advisable in low traffic areas like bedrooms

AC3 – Suitable for all residential settings

AC4 – Suitable for light commercial settings

AC5 – Suitable for most commercial areas including shopping centres

AC6 – Suitable for all areas including airports and trains stations

Most floorboards for residential homes are equipped with an AC rating between 3 and 4. These generally cost anywhere between $50 – $60 fully installed. At the upper end, AC5 and AC6 options can go up to $75 per square meter.  

FloorVenue does not stock AC1 or AC2 laminate flooring as they do not meet the stringent quality standards across our product ranges.

3. How Water Resistance Affects Cost

Most laminate flooring ranges are water resistant (not waterproof) to varying extents from a few hours up to and even beyond 72 hours. Higher water resistance means that the laminate floorboards will absorb water at a slower rate than the lower quality ones. This gives you more time to prevent water damage, e.g by wiping up spills. Keep in mind that by that time the water resistance duration has been exceeded, the planks have already been damaged and may need to be replaced. 

Water resistance is a very important feature when purchasing laminate flooring and will definitely affect the price. Higher grade laminate flooring ranges with 72 hours of water resistance generally cost upwards of $50 per square metre. 

Waterproof Laminate Flooring

Leading edge waterproofing technology has brought 100% waterproof laminate flooring into the Australian market for your ultimate peace of mind when it comes to wetter areas. Since there is low data on waterproof laminate flooring prices, we will provide our own costs. As one of the first waterproof laminate retailers, we charge between $45 – $55(+GST) per square metre for supply only. These premium grade floors tend to come with light commercial (AC4) or heavy commercial (AC5) abrasion resistance.

Interested in learning more? Check out our Guide to Waterproof Laminate Flooring!

4. Origin of Material & Production

Fun fact: Australia does not manufacture laminate flooring themselves and outsources the entire production process overseas.

The origin of material and production has a significant contribution to the cost of laminate flooring. Most are made in China, which is a major industrial centre for flooring production. 

China – Flooring from China tends to be more affordable as they specialise in manufacturing and have unlocked economies of scale through sheer quantity. Note that the cheaper price tag does not necessarily correlate with lower quality.

• Luxflor Laminates are sourced and manufactured in China and can be found for as low as $20 per square metre for supply only. Even the most affordable Luxflor options offer AC3 abrasion ratings and 24 hours of water resistance.

Europe – Many laminate flooring options also come from European nations including Belgium and Switzerland. They aim to provide a good quality flooring, aimed at the middle to high class for a reasonable price.

• Kronoswiss Laminate flooring is a reputable flooring supplier from Switzerland. Their high quality laminate flooring options easily surpass $50 per square metre for supply only. Their upper range offers AC5 abrasion ratings and 72 hours of water resistance.

Whilst paying more usually brings better options to the table, keep in mind that the pricing of floors do not always directly translate to higher quality. Always compare the AC ratings, water resistance and warranties between products to make sure you are getting your money’s worth.

Cost to Install Laminate Flooring (Per Square Metre)

Straight Forward New Installation – Laminate floor installations will typically cost $25 to $30 per square metre according to Sydney statistics from 2021. Cost will also depend on any design requirements you may have, such as a parquetry layout.

Renovation or Repairs – Replacing any existing flooring will add significant cost to your installation expenses. Note that you don’t always have to remove and dispose of old flooring, many prefer to lay laminate flooring over the existing flooring to save costs. This is definitely a viable option provided the existing floors aren’t in need of repair.

• The removal cost of any existing floorboards ranges between $10 to $40 per square metre. The price varies depending on the material and installation method used. Floating floors will be much less expensive to remove than solid timber floorboards which have been nailed and glued onto the subfloor.
• Removal of carpet should also cost around $4 – $10 per square metre.

Cost Comparisons – Laminate Flooring

Laminate Flooring vs Hybrid Flooring

Hybrid flooring is 100% waterproof, whereas laminate flooring is water resistant, meaning excessive water exposure will damage the floor. Laminate and hybrid flooring also does not need to be installed with glue with an innovative click lock system, making the installation process easier.

In terms of pricing, Hybrid flooring has a similar at approximately $35 to $50 per square meter. Installation of hybrid flooring is slightly more difficult and hence installers may charge a slightly higher fee per square metre of laying.

Overall, it is more about what the aims for your floor are, taking into account individual circumstances in order to make an informed decision between the two floor types. 

Laminate Flooring vs Engineered Wood Flooring

Both floor’s main selling points include their abilities to retain an authentic timber look and feel. The expected lifespan of engineered wood flooring is around 30 years, whereas it is 10 to 20 years on average for laminate flooring. 

In terms of pricing, Engineered wood flooring definitely sits at the higher end of the market, at between $70 to $120 per square meter. Laminate flooring’s price ranges are significantly lower at between $20 to $50 per square meter. Installation costs of engineered timber is also higher than laminate flooring as it is more complicated.

Conclusion – Cost of Laminate Flooring

To sum it all up, laminate flooring is a very cost effective option for consumers who are looking to bring a timber look and feel flooring to their home without having to break the bank. These planks are a low maintenance, technologically advanced solution which are also budget friendly at $40 to $75 per square meter fully installed. It is important, however, to note installation costs, type of laminate flooring and size of your home are also major determinants in the final price. 

FloorVenue offers a free no obligation consultation so you can be assured of certainty on prices when installing your floor.