Timber Flooring Cost Guide Australia 2026

Timber flooring is one of those purchases where the price range is genuinely all over the place. Ask five people what they paid and you’ll get five very different answers.

That’s not just suppliers being vague. There are real reasons why timber flooring costs in Australia vary so much — type of timber, the Grade of timber supplied, installation method, subfloor condition, location, access to the site and a handful of extras that most people don’t think about until the quote lands.

This guide breaks it all down clearly. Figures here are indicative for 2026 — always get local quotes before making any decisions.

First Up — Which Type of Timber Floor?

There are three main options. They look similar but perform very differently — and sit at different price points.

Solid Hardwood – Parquet or Strip?

• A solid piece of timber all the way through

• Can be sanded and refinished multiple times — a quality solid timber floor can literally last a lifetime.

• More sensitive to moisture — not ideal over concrete slabs without proper preparation and moisture seal protection.

• Supply cost: roughly $90 – $200+ per m², plus GST, depending on species, grade and availability.

Engineered Timber

• Real hardwood timber veneer on top, layered core underneath

• Handles humidity and temperature changes far better than solid — the most popular choice in Australia right now

• Works well over concrete slabs — common in most Australian homes

• Supply cost: roughly $85  – $180 per m² plus GST, depending on veneer thickness and species

Laninate & Hybid

• Not actual timber, but looks like it — and gets compared to it constantly

• Waterproof, durable, and significantly cheaper than real timber

• Great for rental properties, wet-adjacent areas, or tighter budgets

Supply cost:    LANINATE :   100% Waterproof Laminate    roughlt $ 30.00 m2 – $80.00 m2 Plus GST                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Hybrid :      roughly $60 – $85 per m², plus GST

Installation Costs — What to Expect

Supply is only half the cost. Installation is where a lot of people get caught out.

Standard straight-lay install

• Roughly $50  – $85 per m² in labour, plus GST

• LAMINATE has the advantage of being able to use some excellent Acoustical Blankets which can deliver 6 Star Structure Borne Sound Isolation Ratings.  These cannot be used with Hybrid Floors.

• Sydney and Melbourne tend to sit at the higher end — regional areas are often cheaper

Patterned install (Herringbone parquet is available in a Hybrid)

• Add $30 – $60 per m² on top of standard rates Plus GST

• Takes longer, needs more skill, and produces more offcuts — costs more for good reason

Installation methods

• T & G Boards over concrete require a structural plywood sub-floor to be installed first, to enable the glue and nailing required with boards.

• Parquet, is generally directly bonded over concrete or timber sub-floors.

• Engineered – generally installed as a “Floating floor” over an Acoustical Blanket.

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• Your installer will tell you which method best suits your subfloor — don’t let anyone skip this conversation

Subfloor Prep — The Cost Most People Forget

This catches more homeowners off guard than almost anything else. The floor can’t go down until the subfloor is right.

Levelling

• Uneven concrete needs self-levelling compound before anything goes down

• Can add a few hundred dollars for a small room or well over a thousand for a large area with significant dips

Moisture testing

• Standard practice before any timber goes over concrete

• If moisture is too high, a barrier or Liquid Membrane is needed — extra cost, but skipping it causes real problems down the track

What to watch for

• A good installer will inspect the subfloor before quoting and include prep in their estimate

• If a quote never mentions the subfloor at all — ask about it before anything is signed

Other Costs That Add Up

A few things most quotes don’t automatically include:

Removing the old floor

• Old tiles, carpet, or vinyl needs to come up first

• Usually charged separately — ask for this to be included in the quote upfront

Stairs

• Priced per step, not per m² — costs add up faster than most people expect

• Always get stairs quoted separately so you can see the full picture

Skirting, trims, and transitions

• New skirting boards, threshold strips between rooms — often listed as extras. Confirm what’s included

On-site sanding and finishing

• Raw timber that gets sanded and sealed on-site costs more in labour

• Prefinished boards skip this step — often the more practical and cost-effective choice

Wastage allowance

• Always order 10% more than your measured area for cuts and waste

• For Herringbone or Chevron patterns, budget closer to 15% extra

Real-World Cost Examples for a 40m² Room

Here’s a rough idea of what a 40m² living area might cost all in, in 2026. These are ballpark figures only.

• Hybrid & Laminate floating, standard install: $3,000 – $5,500 plus GST

Budget-friendly entry point. Good for rentals or lower-traffic spaces

• Engineered timber, straight-lay: $5,000 – $9,500 plus GST

The sweet spot for most Australian homeowners — real timber look, practical performance

• Solid hardwood, straight-lay: $13,000 – $15,000 plus gst

Higher upfront cost but can last decades longer than other options if maintained well

• Engineered Herringbone parquet: $8,600 – $12,000 plus GST

Premium result, higher labour cost — needs an experienced installer to look right

Subfloor prep, old floor removal, and stairs are not included in the above. Always build a buffer into your budget for surprises.

Getting the Best Value — Practical Tips

• Match the product to the space

A main living area with heavy daily use deserves a better product than a spare bedroom. Don’t over-spend where it won’t be noticed and don’t under-spend where it will.

• Get three quotes minimum

Make sure they’re quoting the same product, same scope. Cheap quotes often leave things out — ask what’s included line by line.

• Ask about subfloor preparation works before anything else

It’s the most common source of budget blowouts. Get clarity on this upfront rather than finding out mid-job.

• Don’t cut corners on installation

A $150 per m² floor installed badly will look worse in three years than a $90 floor installed properly. The installer matters as much as the product.

Bottom Line

Wood floor installation is a “Specialist” trade.   Sure, any carpenter can thrown in a wood floor, but every specie is different. Where it is being installed, the sub-floor over which it is installed and the environment under which it must live and be “guaranteed” are all different and require applied wisdom. Make sure you use only “qualified” and Licenced Wood Floor Experts.  Remember, these floors are meant to last you a life time of wear.

 

Timber flooring cost in Australia in 2026 covers a wide range of options — and that’s not a dodge. The range is real because the variables are real.

Know your subfloor. Know your budget. Be honest about how much traffic the space gets. Then pick the best product that fits all three.

And use someone who actually knows what they’re doing. A floor that’s been in your home for 20 years is only worth having if it was done right from day one.