Quick answer: luxury vinyl plank (LVP), the most popular vinyl in Australian homes, costs about $55–$110 per m² supplied and installed: roughly $1,400–$2,800 for a 25 m² living room. Sheet vinyl is usually cheaper per m², and doing it yourself cuts the cost to materials only.
This guide brings together our vinyl flooring guides for Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, our cheap vinyl guides and our DIY-vs-professional guide. For your own room, use our free flooring cost calculator.
Vinyl flooring cost by room
Luxury vinyl plank, supplied and installed over a sound, level subfloor:
| Area | Supplied and installed |
|---|---|
| Bedroom (≈12 m²) | $650–$1,300 |
| Living room (≈25 m²) | $1,400–$2,800 |
| Open-plan living (≈50 m²) | $2,800–$5,500 |
| Whole single-level home (≈120 m²) | $6,600–$13,200 |
Types of vinyl flooring
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) — realistic timber-look planks, usually click-lock and floating. See our luxury vinyl plank guide.
- Vinyl tiles — stone- or tile-look squares and rectangles. See our vinyl tile guide.
- Sheet vinyl — supplied on rolls, with few or no seams; usually the cheapest vinyl per m² and good for laundries and bathrooms. See our sheet vinyl guide.
- Glue-down vinyl — thinner planks or tiles stuck to the subfloor; very stable and good for high-traffic or commercial areas. See our glue-down vinyl guide.
How vinyl compares
Supplied and installed, per m²:
| Flooring | Per m² installed |
|---|---|
| Laminate | $45–$95 |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | $55–$110 |
| Hybrid | $65–$120 |
| Engineered timber | $100–$190 |
Vinyl is water-resistant to waterproof, quiet, and softer and warmer underfoot than tiles. It’s less scratch-resistant than hybrid and can dent under heavy furniture.
Cheap vinyl flooring: where to save
- Choose the wear layer for the room. A thinner wear layer is fine for bedrooms; spend more on kitchens, hallways and living areas.
- Consider sheet vinyl for laundries, bathrooms and rentals.
- Buy about 10% extra for cuts and future repairs from the same batch; running short later is costlier than a spare box.
- Prepare the floor properly. Vinyl shows every bump in the subfloor, so levelling is money well spent.
DIY vs professional installation
Click-lock vinyl planks are one of the most DIY-friendly floors: you save the installation cost and pay only for materials, underlay if needed, and basic tools. Professionals are worth it for glue-down vinyl, sheet vinyl (which needs precise cutting and seam work), uneven subfloors, wet areas and large open-plan spaces, where a poor result is costly to fix.
Vinyl flooring cost by city
Luxury vinyl plank, supplied and installed:
| City | Per m² installed | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $61–$121 | +10% |
| Darwin | $61–$121 | +10% |
| Melbourne | $58–$116 | +5% |
| Canberra | $58–$116 | +5% |
| Brisbane | $55–$110 | national average |
| Perth | $55–$110 | national average |
| Gold Coast | $55–$110 | national average |
| Adelaide | $52–$105 | −5% |
| Hobart | $52–$105 | −5% |
Local tips
Sydney: test concrete slabs for moisture before laying, especially in coastal suburbs, and use a moisture barrier if needed. Melbourne: leave planks to acclimatise in the room for at least 48 hours; older homes can have damp subfloors. Perth: big temperature swings make expansion gaps around every room essential. Brisbane: in flood-prone areas, fully waterproof vinyl with glue-down installation holds up better than floating floors; Queenslander timber floors need a stable, level base first.
What’s not in the price
Installed prices usually cover the flooring and standard installation only. Ask quotes to itemise these, as they’re often extra:
- Removing old flooring — carpet is quick; glued tiles or old timber take much longer.
- Subfloor preparation — levelling compound, grinding high spots or fixing loose boards.
- Moisture barriers — often needed over concrete slabs.
- Trims and finishing — scotia or new skirting, door trims and transition strips.
- Stairs — priced per step, not per m².
- Moving furniture, delivery and waste removal.
FAQ
How much does vinyl flooring cost per square metre?
Luxury vinyl plank typically costs $55–$110 per m² supplied and installed. Sheet vinyl is usually cheaper.
Is vinyl flooring waterproof?
Most modern vinyl is water-resistant or waterproof on top, but water can still get under floating floors at the edges. Sheet vinyl and glue-down vinyl handle wet areas best.
Can vinyl go over existing tiles?
Often yes, if the tiles are sound and level and the grout lines are filled so they don’t show through.
Estimate your own floor
Our free flooring cost calculator gives an instant range for vinyl and other floors by room size and city, using the same figures as this guide.