February 11, 2026
How much does flooring cost? It depends on the floor you choose, the size and shape of your rooms, and the work needed before the new floor goes down. This flooring cost guide explains what affects the price, shows you how to work out your square metres, and how to compare quotes so you can plan your budget with confidence.
Every flooring quote is built from the same handful of items. Knowing them helps you read a quote and spot anything missing.
| Cost factor | Why it matters | What to check on your quote |
|---|---|---|
| Floor type and range | Carpet, vinyl, hybrid, laminate, timber and bamboo all differ, and so do ranges within each type | The exact range and colour |
| Room size and shape | More square metres means more material; L-shapes, angles and many doorways add cuts and labour | The area measured for each room |
| Wastage | Boards, tiles and rolls come in set sizes, so some material is lost to cuts | That the quantity includes an allowance for cuts |
| Subfloor preparation | A new floor needs a clean, flat, dry base | Levelling, repairs or moisture work listed separately |
| Removing old floors | Old carpet, tiles or boards have to be lifted and taken away | Removal and disposal included or excluded |
| Underlay | Carpet and floating floors sit on underlay | The underlay type for your floor |
| Stairs | Each step is fitted by hand | The number of stairs and how they are finished |
| Trims and thresholds | Edges meet doorways, tiles and other floors | Trims, ramps and finishing pieces |
| Furniture moving | Rooms need to be clear before installation | Whether furniture moving is included |
The biggest choice is the type of floor. Browse our carpet, vinyl flooring, hybrid flooring, laminate flooring, timber flooring and bamboo flooring ranges to see the options. Within each type, the range matters too. A herringbone floor such as Royal Hybrid Herringbone is laid from 625 x 125mm blocks, which takes more cutting and laying time than long boards like Royal Procore Laminate at 2265 x 192mm.
Subfloor flatness matters for every hard floor. Thin glue-down vinyl, such as the Royal 3mm Vinyl Plank, needs an especially smooth base because bumps can show through. A concrete slab may need levelling or moisture checks, and a timber subfloor may need loose boards fixed. If old tiles or glued carpet have to come up, that adds time as well. These items are easy to miss when you estimate yourself, which is why we check the subfloor on site.
If you want to compare carpet prices, look past the carpet itself. A carpet quote should list the underlay, installation, stairs and any removal of old carpet. Carpet also comes on rolls of a set width, and the room’s width decides how much you need and where any joins fall. Some ranges come on a 3.66m roll, while Carramar 4M comes on a 4m roll for fewer joins. Fibre makes a difference too: Freedom is a 100% triexta carpet in 30 colours with a 25 year triexta limited residential warranty. Our wool vs nylon carpet guide explains how fibres compare.
You can get a good idea of how much flooring you need with a tape measure and a sketch.
| Area | Measurements | Floor area |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom 1 | 4.0m x 3.6m | 14.4 m² |
| Bedroom 2 | 3.4m x 3.0m | 10.2 m² |
| Bedroom 3 | 3.2m x 3.0m | 9.6 m² |
| Living (L-shape, part A) | 6.0m x 4.0m | 24.0 m² |
| Living (L-shape, part B) | 3.0m x 2.5m | 7.5 m² |
| Hallway | 5.0m x 1.1m | 5.5 m² |
| Total | 71.2 m² |
In this example the bedrooms add up to 34.2 m² and the living area and hallway add up to 37.0 m². If you want carpet in the bedrooms and a hard floor in the living areas, you now know the size of each part. The final quantity on your quote will be a little higher, because it includes an allowance for cuts that depends on the room shapes, the board or roll size and the layout.
There is no single average, because two three-bedroom homes can need very different work. One may have a flat slab and open rooms. Another may have stairs, old tiles to remove and a subfloor that needs levelling. The mix of floors also changes the total, such as carpet in the bedrooms and hybrid or vinyl in the living areas. The most reliable way to budget is to measure your rooms as shown above, choose a shortlist of ranges, then get a measured quote. Ready for an exact figure? Book a free measure and quote.
Quotes only compare fairly when they cover the same job. Check each one for:
Choosing between floor types as well? Read hybrid vs laminate flooring or vinyl vs hybrid flooring.
A home estimate gets you close. A measured quote gets you the real number. When you book a free measure and quote, we measure every room, check the subfloor, count the stairs and note the doorways and trims. We then work out the quantity for your chosen range, including the allowance for cuts, and give you a quote that lists each part of the job. Royal Floors has over 20 years of experience, and you can see the ranges in person in our Penrith, Campbelltown, Hornsby and Logan showrooms.
It depends on the type of floor and range, the size and shape of your rooms, wastage, subfloor preparation, removal of old floors, underlay, stairs, trims and furniture moving. A free measure and quote gives you an exact figure for your home.
Measure the length and width of each room in metres and multiply them. Split L-shaped rooms into rectangles and add them up. Count stairs separately. Your quote then adds an allowance for cuts.
There is no single average, because homes differ in size, layout, stairs, subfloor condition and the mix of floors chosen. Measure your rooms, pick a shortlist of ranges, then book a free measure and quote for an exact figure.
It should. A clear carpet quote lists the carpet, underlay, installation, stairs and any removal of old carpet, so you can compare quotes fairly.
Visit us in Penrith, Campbelltown, Hornsby or Logan, book your free measure and quote online, or call us on 1300 980 501.
Four showrooms across Sydney & Brisbane
