Want to know how much it would cost to install wood flooring?
On average, the cost to install wood flooring is between £600 and £1,200 for a 20m² room (labour only).
Are you thinking about upgrading your flooring? Solid wood flooring has many benefits, but people choose this type of flooring mainly because of its character and charm. It is also low maintenance, easy to clean, durable and adds value to your home.
However, it can be expensive. To choose the right flooring for your home, it is important to understand how much it costs to install wood flooring and the factors that affect the cost. That’s why we have created this cost guide to make it easier for you.
Want accurate quotes for your project?
Post a job and local floor fitters will get in touch to provide a quote. It’s free, fast and no obligation.
Contents
How much does it cost to lay wood flooring?
You can pay typically between £30 and £120 per m² for solid wood flooring plus, between £20 and £60 per m² for the labour.
However, the cost to install wood flooring can vary depending on different factors, such as the:
- Type of wood you choose
- Size and shape of your room
- Condition of your subfloor
- Location
We will discuss these factors later, but here, we give approximate average costs to have wood flooring fitted. These are ballpark figures – post a job to get accurate quotes from floor fitters near you.
Costs to lay wood flooring
| Cost element | Unit | Price – low | Price – high |
| Solid wood floor (materials only) | Per m² | £30 | £120 |
| Engineered wood floor (materials only) | Per m² | £20 | £100 |
| Labour cost | Per day | £180 | £330 |
| Labour cost | Per m² | £20 | £60 |
| Labour cost | Per room | £300 | £2,400 |
| Get quotes | |||
Additional costs
| Cost element | Unit | Price – low | Price – high |
| Carpet or old flooring removal | Per m² | £6 | £15 |
| Floor screeding (levelling) | Per m² | £6 | £30 |
| Underlay | Per m² | £1.20 | £10 |
| Replacing skirting boards | Per 1m length | £7 | £20 |
| Scotia or beading | Per 2.4m length | £2 | £6 |
| Wood finish | Per m² | £4 | £8 |
| Door trimming | Per door | £25 | £55 |
| Get quotes | |||
What factors affect the cost to install wood flooring?
Labour costs
The installation cost of wood flooring can be influenced by where you live. If you live in London or the south-east, you will generally pay more for a floor fitter than in the north.
Wood flooring installation is more complex than other flooring types like laminate and vinyl, so it is advisable to hire a professional flooring specialist. If you live in a town where wood floor fitters are in high demand, you can expect to pay a premium price.
Labour costs for solid wood flooring are usually higher than those for engineered wood flooring as the wood has to be glued or nailed down. Engineered wood can be installed by floating it over an underlay so the process is easier and cheaper, therefore cheaper labour costs (approximately £15-20 per m²).
Size and shape of the room
The size and shape of the room will affect the cost of laying wood flooring. If your room has alcoves, bay windows or a chimney breast, it will be a more complex task for the floor fitter. They will have to cut around the edges, which will take longer and result in a higher labour cost.
Free Service
Type of wood flooring
The type of solid wood you choose will impact the total flooring cost. It depends on your intended use and budget. Here are things to consider when choosing your solid wood flooring:
Softwood vs hardwood: People in the UK do not commonly use softwood for flooring. Pine is softwood and light in colour, so it is prone to dents and scratches and less durable; therefore, it is typically more affordable.
People generally prefer hardwoods for flooring because of their durability and resistance to wear.
Common hardwoods used for flooring in the UK include oak, maple, ash, and beech. These hardwoods are denser, offering greater resistance to indentation, making them more suitable for homes. However they can come at a price. Some hardwoods cost upwards of £100 per m², depending on the brand.
Species of wood: The species of wood you choose can also affect the price. Here are some of the most popular species used for wood flooring in the UK:
- Oak: Popular in the UK for its durability and aesthetic appeal, this wood has a broad array of product choices and pricing options.
- Maple: Maple is a dense hardwood making it highly durable and resistant to wear and tear. It has a light creamy colour with subtle grain patterns but it can be stained or finished in various ways to achieve certain looks. Generally moderately priced compared to other hardwood options.
- Walnut: Walnut wood flooring is popular for its rich, dark tones and distinctive grain patterns, adding warmth and character to interiors. It is often regarded as luxurious so it can be expensive.
| Type of wood | Price – low (per m²) | Price – high (per m²) |
| Pine | £30 | £60 |
| Oak | £35 | £60 |
| Cherry | £70 | £150 |
| Ash | £40 | £170 |
| Walnut | £30 | £135 |
| Maple | £60 | £150 |
| Engineered wood | £20 | £90 |
| Parquet | £30 | £120 |
| Get quotes | ||
Grade of wood: When choosing your wood you might want to check which grade it is. The quality of wood is determined by its grade.
Each grade demonstrates different characteristics, and generally, the higher the grade the higher the price. The highest grade is prime or select grade and these woods have very few knots with no variation in colour, and have an even and clean appearance.
Style of wood flooring
The style of wood flooring you choose will affect the labour costs to install wood flooring.
For instance, parquet flooring is made by arranging small slats of solid wood or engineered wood in distinct, repeating patterns such as herringbone, chevron or basketweave.
The labour cost is usually higher for this style of flooring because it is a more complex design to install.
Size of the boards
The wider and longer the boards, or the thicker they are, the more expensive they will be.
Floor preparation
Before installing your wooden floor, the subfloor needs to be clean, dry and level. The condition of your subfloor will affect the wood floor fitting cost.
Wooden subfloors might need repairing or replacing. Concrete flooring may need levelling out with a levelling compound.
You will also incur additional costs if you need the floor fitter to remove any carpet or old flooring.
What additional costs affect the wood floor installation cost?
Underlay
Underlay is optional with solid wood flooring because it is usually nailed or glued down directly to the subfloor to provide stability. However, underlay can protect the flooring if it is being laid over concrete, so you will need to factor this into the wood floor fitting cost.
Underlay costs range widely, from £1.20 per m² for basic polyfoam to £3 – 10 per m² for premium thick underlay providing optimal thermal and soundproof insulation. It is advisable to have a damp-proof membrane or an underlay with a built-in moisture barrier to protect the wood from any moisture.
Depending on the subfloor and your budget, your flooring specialist can advise you on which underlay to choose.
Finish
All wooden floors must have a finish applied to them to protect them from damage and increase their longevity. Most hardwood flooring is already prefinished; however if you opt for unfinished raw wood, you must apply a finish once you have had it installed.
To apply a finish, a floor fitter charges approximately £6 per m².
Beading / skirting boards
It’s essential to leave an expansion gap around the perimeter of the rooms because wood tends to expand and contract with changes in temperature and moisture.
Your floor fitter must hide this gap by placing skirting boards on top of the flooring. This costs around £14 per metre. A cheaper option is beading (also known as scotia) which costs approximately £4 per 2.4m strip and is usually included in the day rate. However, some floor fitters may do this free of charge, if you make enough cups of tea for them!
Wood flooring installation cost FAQ
What is engineered wood flooring?
Engineered wood flooring consists of a top layer of solid hardwood bonded with modern adhesives to a plywood base. It is a good alternative to solid wood flooring as you get the authentic look, but it is more moisture-resistant and stable.
Want to get accurate quotes for your flooring project? Post a job now to compare quotes from floor fitters near you.