How much does timber flooring cost in Australia in 2026?
Timber flooring is one of those upgrades that quietly lifts a whole house — but the price gap between "cheap laminate special" and "spotted gum throughout" is huge, and most quotes don't explain why. If you're weighing up floors in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth, this guide breaks down the real timber flooring cost Australia homeowners are paying in 2026, supply and install, so you can budget before the tradie turns up.
We'll cover the price per square metre for solid, engineered and laminate boards, what drives the number up or down, and the sneaky extras (subfloor prep, sanding, waste) that catch people out.
Want a fast ballpark for your own place? Try the flooring quote calculator — pop in your floor area and finish, and you'll get an instant estimate.
Last updated: July 2026.
Key takeaways
- Timber flooring costs roughly $80–$320 per square metre supplied and installed in 2026, depending on the board type and species.
- Engineered timber flooring cost sits around $100–$220 per m² installed — the middle ground most Australians choose.
- Solid hardwood flooring price runs about $150–$320 per m² installed, with premium species like blackbutt and spotted gum at the top.
- Laminate is the cheapest at $30–$80 per m² supplied, or roughly $60–$120 installed.
- Labour is the biggest variable — subfloor prep, level of the existing floor and access can swing the total by thousands.
What's in this guide
- Timber flooring cost per square metre in 2026
- Solid vs engineered vs laminate: what you actually pay
- Floorboards cost per square metre by species
- Labour, installation and the extras that add up
- Sanding and polishing existing floors
- What drives your timber flooring cost up or down
- Frequently asked questions
Timber flooring cost per square metre in 2026
Timber flooring costs between roughly $80 and $320 per square metre installed in Australia in 2026, with most homeowners landing around $120–$180 per m² for a mid-range engineered floor. That figure is supply and install combined — the board plus the labour to lay it.
Here's how the main options compare on a per-square-metre basis (GST inclusive, supplied and installed):
| Flooring type | Supply only (per m²) | Installed (per m²) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $30–$80 | $60–$120 | Tight budgets, rentals, high-traffic |
| Engineered timber | $60–$140 | $100–$220 | Most homes, over concrete/slab |
| Solid hardwood | $80–$180 | $150–$320 | Long-term homes, resale value |
| Bamboo | $50–$110 | $90–$170 | Eco-conscious, hard-wearing |
| Parquetry (herringbone) | $90–$200 | $180–$400+ | Feature rooms, heritage homes |
These ranges are based on estimates generated through Leadkit's flooring calculator using current Australian trade rates, cross-checked against typical 2026 supplier and installer pricing. This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
Across the flooring quotes generated through Leadkit, the labour and subfloor line is almost always the part homeowners underestimate — people fixate on the board price per m² and forget the floor underneath has to be flat, dry and sound first.
Want your own number in 30 seconds? Browse the free quote calculator library — no signup, and it's an indication only until a tradie confirms.
Solid vs engineered vs laminate: what you actually pay
The single biggest lever on your bill is the board type, so it's worth understanding the three main choices before you shop.
Solid hardwood is a single piece of timber all the way through — typically 19mm thick. It's the premium option, can be sanded back and re-coated many times over decades, and it's what most buyers picture when they think "real timber floor". You pay for that longevity: the hardwood flooring price is the highest of the three.
Engineered timber has a real timber veneer (the wear layer) bonded over a plywood or HDF core. It looks identical to solid once laid, moves less with humidity, and can go straight over a concrete slab — which is why engineered timber flooring cost is where most Australian renovations land. A thicker wear layer (3–6mm) costs more but can be re-sanded once or twice.
Laminate isn't timber at all — it's a photographic decor layer over a fibreboard core with a clear wear coat. Modern laminate looks convincing and shrugs off scratches, but it can't be sanded and won't add the same resale value. It's the budget pick.
A quick rule of thumb: if you're staying 10-plus years, solid or thick engineered pays off; if you're updating to sell or fitting out a rental, laminate or thin engineered does the job for less.
Floorboards cost per square metre by species
With solid and engineered timber, the species you choose can shift the floorboards cost per square metre by $60 or more. Australian hardwoods are dense, durable and priced accordingly; imported oak sits in the middle.
| Species | Typical supply (per m²) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tasmanian oak | $80–$120 | Softer hardwood, lighter tone, budget-friendly |
| European oak (engineered) | $90–$150 | Hugely popular, wide boards, neutral colour |
| Blackbutt | $110–$160 | Pale, hard-wearing, bushfire-rated (BAL) options |
| Spotted gum | $120–$180 | Rich grain, very hard, premium look |
| Jarrah | $120–$190 | Deep red WA classic, dense |
| Bamboo (strand-woven) | $50–$110 | Technically a grass, harder than many hardwoods |
Species matters for more than looks. The Janka hardness rating — the industry measure of how well a timber resists denting — is why spotted gum and blackbutt survive kids, dogs and dropped saucepans better than softer Tasmanian oak. If you've got a busy household, ask your supplier for the Janka number, not just the colour.
Timber species and grading standards in Australia are governed under the Australian Standards administered through bodies like Standards Australia, and reputable suppliers will state the grade (select, standard or rustic) on the invoice.
For related outdoor timber pricing, our decking cost per square metre guide covers the same species from an outdoor angle.
Labour, installation and the extras that add up
Installation labour for timber flooring typically runs $30–$70 per square metre, but the extras around it are where budgets blow out. A bare board price is never the whole story.
The common add-ons a proper quote should list:
- Subfloor preparation — grinding a slab flat, moisture testing, or sheeting over joists. Budget $15–$40 per m² if the floor isn't ready.
- Underlay and moisture barrier — $5–$15 per m², essential over concrete.
- Removal and disposal of old carpet, tiles or floorboards — $10–$30 per m² plus tip fees.
- Skirting, scotia and trims — $10–$25 per linear metre.
- Waste factor — you'll buy 5–10% more board than your floor area for cuts and offcuts.
A term worth knowing: acclimatisation. Timber and engineered boards need to sit in the room for several days before laying so they adjust to the home's humidity — skip it and the floor can cup or gap later. A good installer will build this into the schedule, not rush it.
Access and layout matter too. Herringbone and parquetry patterns take far longer to lay than straight boards, and stairs, thresholds and awkward rooms all add labour. This is exactly the kind of detail a manual measure-up catches, which is why complex jobs often use an enquiry-style flooring quote so the installer can price it properly after seeing the space.
For a sense of how flooring sits alongside a wider fit-out, the carpentry cost guide is a useful companion.
Sanding and polishing existing floors
If you've got original hardwood hiding under carpet, sanding and re-coating costs roughly $30–$55 per square metre — a fraction of replacement. For many older homes in the inner suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, lifting the carpet reveals reclaimable baltic pine or hardwood that just needs a refresh.
The process is a drum sand back to bare timber, then two or three coats of finish. Your finish choice changes both the price and the look:
- Water-based polyurethane — low odour, fast-drying, clear finish; the popular modern choice.
- Solvent-based poly — tougher and cheaper per litre but ambers over time and smells strong.
- Hard-wax oil — natural matte look, easy to spot-repair, needs occasional re-oiling.
Sanding is dusty, disruptive work, and the coating needs curing time before you can move furniture back — usually a few days. It's messy but it's the cheapest way to get a real timber floor if the boards are already there.
Sanding is often one line in a bigger renovation, so price it alongside the rest of the work rather than in isolation.
What drives your timber flooring cost up or down
The final figure comes down to five things: board type, species, floor area, subfloor condition and installation complexity. Get clear on these and you can predict your quote surprisingly well.
Levers that push the price up: premium Australian hardwoods, wide or long boards, herringbone patterns, a slab that needs grinding, upstairs access, and removing old tiles. Levers that pull it down: laminate or thin engineered, standard-width straight-lay boards, a flat and dry existing subfloor, and doing whole-house runs (installers price per m² more keenly on bigger jobs).
One cost-of-living note for 2026: material and labour prices have tracked construction inflation, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics construction cost data shows steady rises through 2025 into 2026, so quotes from even a year ago will read low. Always get a current measure-up.
If you're comparing hard floor options, our tiling cost per square metre guide is worth a look for wet areas where timber isn't ideal.
Before you sign anything, check your installer is licensed where your state requires it — NSW Fair Trading and its state equivalents (VBA in Victoria, QBCC in Queensland) set the rules on building work and written contracts, and a legally binding written quote protects you if the job goes sideways.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How much does timber flooring cost per square metre in Australia in 2026?
A: Timber flooring costs roughly $60 to $320 per square metre installed in 2026, depending on the type. Laminate is cheapest at $60–$120 per m², engineered timber sits at $100–$220 per m², and solid hardwood runs $150–$320 per m². Premium Australian species like spotted gum and blackbutt sit at the top of the solid range. The board price is only half the story — subfloor prep, underlay and labour make up the rest. For a number tailored to your floor area and finish, run a flooring quote calculator; it's an indication only until a tradie measures up.
Q: Is engineered timber cheaper than solid hardwood?
A: Yes. Engineered timber flooring cost typically runs $100–$220 per square metre installed, while solid hardwood flooring price sits at $150–$320 per m². Engineered boards use a real timber veneer over a stable plywood core, so you get the same look for less, and they can go straight over a concrete slab without the extra subfloor work solid timber often needs. The trade-off is that engineered can only be re-sanded once or twice (or not at all if the wear layer is thin), whereas solid timber can be refinished for decades. For most Australian homes, engineered is the sweet spot on price and practicality.
Q: What is the cheapest timber-look flooring?
A: Laminate is the cheapest timber-look option, at around $30–$80 per square metre to supply or $60–$120 installed. It's a photographic decor layer over a fibreboard core, not real timber, so it can't be sanded and won't add the resale value of a genuine timber floor. That said, modern laminate is very scratch-resistant and looks convincing, making it a smart pick for rentals, high-traffic areas or a quick pre-sale refresh. Strand-woven bamboo is the next step up and gives you a real natural product for a similar spend.
Q: Does timber flooring add value to a house?
A: Real timber flooring generally adds value and helps a home sell faster, because buyers see it as a quality, low-maintenance finish. Solid and quality engineered floors read as premium in listing photos and inspections, especially in the Sydney and Melbourne markets. Laminate is neutral — it looks tidy but rarely adds a premium. The value comes from durability and appeal: a well-laid timber floor can last decades and be re-coated rather than replaced. As always, spend in proportion to your home's price bracket so you don't over-capitalise.
Q: How much does it cost to sand and polish existing floorboards?
A: Sanding and re-coating existing floorboards costs roughly $30–$55 per square metre in 2026 — far less than laying a new floor. The job is a full sand back to bare timber followed by two or three coats of finish. It's the cheapest way to get a genuine timber floor if you've got reclaimable boards under old carpet, which is common in older homes. Water-based polyurethane is the popular finish for its low odour and fast drying. Factor in a few days of curing time before moving furniture back in.
Q: How long does timber flooring installation take?
A: A standard timber floor for an average home takes about two to five days to install, plus acclimatisation time beforehand. The boards need to sit in the room for several days first so they adjust to the home's humidity — skip that and the floor can cup or gap later. Straight-lay boards go down fastest; herringbone, parquetry and jobs with lots of cuts, stairs or awkward rooms take longer. Subfloor prep, like grinding a slab flat or laying a moisture barrier, adds time up front. Your installer should give you a day-by-day schedule in the quote.
Q: Is bamboo flooring the same as timber?
A: Not exactly — bamboo is technically a fast-growing grass, but strand-woven bamboo flooring performs like a hardwood and is often harder than many timber species. It costs around $90–$170 per square metre installed, sitting between laminate and solid timber. Bamboo appeals to eco-conscious buyers because it regrows far faster than hardwood trees, and it handles high traffic well. The look is more uniform than natural timber grain, which some love and others don't. If sustainability matters to you, ask the supplier about the adhesives and finishes used, as these vary.
Final tips before you buy
The smartest thing you can do before getting quotes is measure your floor area and decide on a board type and finish — that's 80% of the price locked in. Once you know you want, say, engineered European oak over a slab, quotes become easy to compare apples to apples.
A few parting pointers: always get the waste factor in writing, ask for the species and grade on the invoice, confirm who's removing the old floor, and make sure the quote is a proper written one (legally binding in Australia) rather than a verbal ballpark. Get three quotes and be wary of any that skip the subfloor line — that's usually where a cheap number is hiding a nasty variation later.
Want an instant timber flooring price estimate? Try the construction and building quote calculators — takes 30 seconds, no signup. Remember it's a price indication only; your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
And if you're a flooring installer reading this, that same calculator can live on your own website capturing leads while you're on the tools — see how Leadkit works and embed one free in 60 seconds.