Quick answer: laminate flooring costs about $45–$95 per m² supplied and installed in Australia, or roughly $1,150–$2,400 for a 25 m² living room. It’s one of the cheapest timber-look floors, and click-lock laminate is easy to lay yourself.
This guide brings together our laminate installation cost, cheap laminate, and Sydney and Perth laminate guides. For your own room, use our free flooring cost calculator.
Laminate flooring cost by room
| Area | Supplied and installed |
|---|---|
| Bedroom (≈12 m²) | $550–$1,150 |
| Living room (≈25 m²) | $1,150–$2,400 |
| Open-plan living (≈50 m²) | $2,300–$4,800 |
| Whole single-level home (≈120 m²) | $5,400–$11,400 |
Supply vs installation
Laminate is roughly half material and half labour. Doing it yourself removes most of the labour cost, leaving the boards, underlay, trims and tools. Professional installation is worth it for large open areas, awkward rooms, stairs and uneven subfloors.
Choosing laminate
- AC rating — measures wear resistance. AC3 suits most homes; AC4 or higher is better for busy living areas, hallways and homes with pets.
- Thickness — thicker boards (10–12 mm) feel more solid and are quieter underfoot.
- Water resistance — standard laminate has a wood-fibre core that swells if water gets in. For kitchens and laundries, choose a water-resistant or waterproof product; see our waterproof laminate guide.
- Underlay — needed unless it’s pre-attached; it affects comfort, noise and moisture protection. See our laminate underlay guide.
How laminate compares
| Flooring | Per m² installed |
|---|---|
| Laminate | $45–$95 |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | $55–$110 |
| Hybrid | $65–$120 |
| Engineered timber | $100–$190 |
Laminate is the cheapest of these and very scratch-resistant, but it’s less water-tolerant than vinyl or hybrid. See our laminate vs hybrid guide.
Cheap laminate: where to save
- Choose AC3 for bedrooms and save the higher ratings for high-traffic areas.
- Lay it yourself if the subfloor is flat and the room is simple.
- Keep the existing skirting and add scotia instead of replacing skirting boards.
- Buy about 10% extra for cuts, from the same batch.
Laminate flooring cost by city
| City | Per m² installed | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $50–$105 | +10% |
| Darwin | $50–$105 | +10% |
| Melbourne | $47–$100 | +5% |
| Canberra | $47–$100 | +5% |
| Brisbane | $45–$95 | national average |
| Perth | $45–$95 | national average |
| Gold Coast | $45–$95 | national average |
| Adelaide | $43–$90 | −5% |
| Hobart | $43–$90 | −5% |
Local tips
Sydney: humidity swings make expansion gaps essential, and older terraces with poor subfloor ventilation need a moisture barrier. Perth: strong sun on floors near west-facing windows can overheat standard laminate; choose an AC4 product with a quality wear layer, and remember beach sand scratches, so use mats at entries.
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 it cost to install laminate flooring?
About $45–$95 per m² supplied and installed; installation alone is roughly half of that.
Can you put laminate in a kitchen?
Yes, if it’s a water-resistant or waterproof laminate and spills are wiped up promptly.
How do you clean laminate?
Sweep or vacuum and use a barely damp mop; never flood it with water. See our laminate cleaning guide.
Estimate your own floor
Our free flooring cost calculator gives an instant range for laminate and other floors by room size and city, using the same figures as this guide.