Flooring calculator
Calculate exactly how much flooring you need for any room. Supports laminate, engineered wood, luxury vinyl plank, ceramic and porcelain tiles, carpet, and natural stone. Includes underlay, adhesive, and cost estimates based on current UK trade prices.
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Frequently asked questions
How much extra flooring should I order for waste?
For a simple rectangular room with straight-lay planks, 10% is usually enough. For diagonal laying (at 45°), add at least 15% because cuts along two walls are all diagonal rather than straight. For complex L-shaped rooms or rooms with alcoves and bay windows, 12–15% is safer. For carpet, always order 15% extra — carpet is cut from a fixed-width roll and you lose more to odd-shaped cuts. Natural stone and tiles should have at least 12–15% allowance because they are more fragile and break during cutting.
Do I need underlay under laminate flooring?
Yes — always fit underlay under laminate. It serves three purposes: sound absorption (laminate on concrete without underlay sounds hollow and echoey), moisture barrier (a vapour-check underlay on concrete prevents damp migrating up through the floor), and comfort underfoot. Some laminate products come with underlay pre-attached, but adding a separate 2mm foam or 3mm comfort underlay on top of the attached layer is not recommended — too much softness under click flooring causes the joints to flex and fail. Many laminate warranties are void without underlay.
Can I lay laminate on top of existing tiles?
Yes, in most cases — provided the tiles are well-bonded, level, and the floor height increase will not cause problems with doors, thresholds, or skirting boards. Loose or cracked tiles must be re-fixed or removed first. The extra floor height from tiles + underlay + laminate (typically 12–18mm total) means door bottoms may need trimming and threshold strips at doorways. Always check the manufacturer's maximum depth guidelines for floating floors before laying over tiles.
What is the difference between laminate and engineered wood flooring?
Laminate is made from a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core with a photographic wood-effect layer and protective wear layer on top — it mimics the look of wood but is not real wood. Engineered wood has a real hardwood top layer (typically 2–6mm thick) bonded to a plywood core. Engineered wood can usually be sanded and refinished 2–3 times and is more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood, making it suitable for underfloor heating. Laminate cannot be refinished. Both are typically fitted as floating floors with click-lock joints.
How long does flooring installation take?
A professional fitter can typically lay 15–25m² of laminate or engineered flooring per day, including preparation. A standard 20m² living room takes one experienced fitter around 4–6 hours once the subfloor is prepared and acclimatised boards are ready. Tiling is significantly slower — 6–10m² per day for a skilled tiler depending on tile size and pattern. Carpet is fastest: a bedroom or living room can usually be gripped and laid in 2–3 hours.
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Start free trialChoosing the right flooring for UK homes and commercial spaces
The UK flooring market has changed significantly over the past decade. Traditional carpet, once the default choice for living rooms and bedrooms, has lost significant ground to laminate, luxury vinyl plank (LVT), and engineered wood. Meanwhile, large-format porcelain tiles have overtaken ceramic tiles as the go-to choice for kitchens and bathrooms. Understanding the options, their costs, and how to calculate quantities accurately saves time and money on every job.
Flooring types and where they work best
Laminate flooring
Laminate remains the most popular choice for living rooms, hallways, and bedrooms on a budget. The core is high-density fibreboard (HDF), topped with a photographic wood effect layer and a hard-wearing overlay. Modern laminate (AC4 or AC5 rated) is surprisingly tough — adequate for most domestic and some light commercial applications. Most comes in pack sizes of 1.5–2.5m² and installs as a floating floor with click-lock edges, meaning most competent DIYers can fit it themselves.
Trade-grade laminate runs from around £12–£20/m² for entry-level 7mm thickness up to £30–£45/m² for premium 12mm products with realistic embossed textures. Always specify AC4 or higher for hallways and areas with heavy foot traffic.
Engineered wood flooring
Engineered wood has a real hardwood top layer — typically 2–6mm of oak, ash, or walnut — bonded to a plywood or HDF core. The layered construction makes it significantly more stable than solid hardwood across variations in temperature and humidity, which matters in UK homes where central heating can take floors from bone-dry in winter to quite humid in summer. It can be fitted as a floating floor or glued / secret-nailed, and the top layer can usually be sanded and refinished two or three times over its life.
Engineered wood is compatible with most underfloor heating systems (solid hardwood generally is not). Prices range from £30–£50/m² for standard products up to £80–£150/m² for wider-board, brushed-and-oiled premium products. Trade-grade mid-market engineered oak typically runs £40–£60/m².
Luxury vinyl plank (LVT)
Luxury vinyl plank has grown from a niche product to one of the most specified flooring types in the UK. The combination of 100% waterproof construction, realistic wood or stone visuals, and ease of installation makes it the dominant choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas. Brands like Karndean, Amtico, and Polyflor command premium prices (£35–£80/m²), while rigid-core LVT from merchant ranges runs £18–£30/m².
Most LVT products do not require a separate underlay — the built-in pad layer provides sufficient cushioning and some acoustic reduction. However, the subfloor must be exceptionally flat (within 3mm over 1.8m) or imperfections will telegraph through over time.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles
Porcelain has largely replaced ceramic for floor tiling in new-build and refurbishment work. Porcelain's lower water absorption, greater hardness, and availability in large formats (600×600mm, 600×1200mm, and even 800×1600mm slabs) have made it the default for kitchens, bathrooms, and open-plan ground floors. Trade pricing for standard porcelain runs £25–£60/m², with large-format slabs from £50–£120/m².
Tiling is the most labour-intensive floor covering to install. A skilled tiler working alone can typically lay 6–10m² per day for standard-size tiles, dropping to 3–5m² for large-format slabs that require full mortar beds and careful levelling with a wedge-and-clip levelling system. Use our tiling calculator for a more detailed breakdown of tile quantities, grout, and adhesive.
Natural stone
Limestone, slate, travertine, and marble remain popular for hallways, conservatories, and high-end kitchen extensions. Natural stone requires sealing before and after grouting to prevent staining, and the installation is more demanding than porcelain — stone is typically heavier, more variable in thickness (requiring full mortar beds rather than thin-bed adhesive), and more susceptible to cracking if the substrate flexes. Expect materials from £60–£200/m² depending on stone type and source country, with labour at £45–£70/m².
Waste allowances explained
Every flooring job generates waste — off-cuts from room edges, unusable pieces from boards that crack during installation, and material sacrificed to pattern matching. Getting the waste allowance right is critical: under-order and you risk a second delivery (and the risk that the new batch has a slightly different shade), over-order too generously and you are left with expensive off-cuts you cannot use.
| Flooring type | Standard waste | Complex room / diagonal |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate / engineered plank | 10% | 15% |
| Solid hardwood | 12% | 18% |
| Luxury vinyl plank | 10% | 15% |
| Carpet | 15% | 20% |
| Ceramic / porcelain tile (straight) | 10% | 15% |
| Tile (diagonal / herringbone) | 15% | 20% |
| Natural stone | 15% | 20% |
Subfloor preparation
The most common cause of flooring failure in the UK is an inadequate subfloor. Regardless of the flooring type, the subfloor must be:
- Dry. Concrete subfloors must have a moisture reading below the flooring manufacturer's specified limit — typically 75% relative humidity (RH) for most products, 65% RH for some engineered wood. Use a hygrometer (digital moisture meter) before laying any floor.
- Flat. BS 8203 (resilient floor coverings) and BS 8425 (laminate) both specify a maximum deviation of 3mm under a 1.8m straight edge for floating floors, and 5mm under a 3m straight edge for tiles. Use self-levelling compound to address dips and grinding or filler to address high spots.
- Sound. Loose floorboards must be screwed down (not nailed — nails back out over time). Tongue-and-groove joints that have opened up on suspended timber floors need to be infilled with ply before laying floating floors or tiles.
- Clean. Remove dust, debris, adhesive residue from previous floors, and any contaminants that could reduce adhesive bond or cause lumps under the new floor.
Good subfloor prep is the difference between a floor that lasts 20 years and one that starts creaking, clicking, or lifting within 12 months. Budget 15–30% of the flooring cost for subfloor preparation on older UK properties where concrete screeds are often uneven or timber floors have significant movement.
Flooring costs in the UK 2025–2026
Labour costs for floor fitting in the UK have risen sharply since 2021. Based on 2025 data, typical rates per m² for supply and fit (mid-range materials, professional installer):
| Flooring type | Materials (m²) | Labour (m²) | Total (m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate (mid-range) | £18–28 | £10–15 | £28–43 |
| Engineered wood | £40–65 | £15–22 | £55–87 |
| LVT / luxury vinyl | £20–40 | £8–14 | £28–54 |
| Ceramic floor tiles | £20–40 | £28–40 | £48–80 |
| Porcelain tiles | £30–60 | £35–50 | £65–110 |
| Carpet (mid-range) | £15–28 | £5–8 | £20–36 |
Use our quote generator to turn these figures into a professional itemised quote for your client. Adding materials, waste allowance, underlay, and labour as separate line items looks more professional and makes your pricing easier for the client to understand.