Fitting a new floor in Ireland typically costs €25–€60 per m² for laminate or vinyl, €70–€120 per m² for engineered or solid wood, and €70–€140 per m² for tiles once both supply and fitting are included (indicative 2026 ranges). Carpet is usually the cheapest at around €15–€40 per m² fitted. The biggest swing factor is rarely the material itself — it is the condition of the subfloor underneath.
Flooring cost per m² by type
The table below splits indicative 2026 ranges into supply (the material) and fitting (labour only). Add levelling, underlay and removal on top where needed.
| Flooring type | Supply per m² | Fitting per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate (click) | €10–€25 | €15–€25 |
| Vinyl / LVT (click) | €20–€45 | €18–€28 |
| Vinyl / LVT (glue-down) | €25–€55 | €35–€55 |
| Engineered wood | €35–€90 | €20–€45 |
| Solid wood | €55–€120+ | €40–€65 |
| Tiles (ceramic) | €15–€30 | €40–€55 |
| Tiles (porcelain) | €30–€95 | €50–€70 |
| Carpet | €10–€30 | €6–€12 |
These are indicative 2026 ranges only. Premium ranges (designer LVT, wide-plank engineered oak, large-format porcelain) sit well above the top figures, and Dublin labour tends to run 10–20% higher than the rest of the country.
Subfloor prep, underlay and removal
The quote you are given for a bare, level subfloor can change a lot once the fitter sees what is underneath. The common extras, as indicative 2026 ranges:
- Levelling / latex screed: €8–€15 per m² for light skimming, €15–€25 per m² for heavier work where floors are badly out of level. Essential under tiles and glue-down LVT.
- Underlay or damp-proof membrane: €5–€12 per m². Basic foam underlay is sometimes bundled into laminate quotes; acoustic and thermal systems cost more.
- Plywood overlay: €10–€20 per m² where a timber subfloor needs a stable base before tiling or gluing.
- Removal and disposal of old flooring: €3–€6 per m² for carpet or laminate, €8–€15 per m² for tiles, which are slow and messy to lift.
- Trims and skirting: scotia or beading at €3–€6 per linear metre, plus €15–€30 per door for trimming doors to clear the new height.
Always ask whether your quote is “supply and fit all in” or just labour, and whether prep is included or extra. This is where surprise costs hide.
Which floor suits which room
Matching the material to the room saves money and headaches later:
- Bathrooms, wet rooms and utility rooms: tiles or quality LVT. Both are waterproof and easy to clean; avoid laminate and timber near standing water. See our wet room cost guide for the full picture.
- Kitchens: tiles, porcelain or click LVT cope best with spills, dropped pans and heavy traffic. These pair naturally with a kitchen renovation.
- Living rooms and bedrooms: engineered wood, laminate or carpet for warmth and comfort. Carpet is still the cheapest way to soften a bedroom.
- Hallways and stairs: durable laminate, engineered wood or tiles stand up to constant footfall and dirt from outside.
- Over underfloor heating: tiles conduct heat best, with engineered wood and LVT also suitable. Solid wood and thick carpet are usually not recommended — see underfloor heating cost.
If you are lifting floors anyway, it is worth checking floor insulation at the same time, as the labour overlaps.
Worked examples
For a typical 20 m² living room, click laminate supplied and fitted lands around €700–€1,200 before extras, while engineered oak is closer to €1,300–€2,800. A 6 m² bathroom in ceramic tiles is often €600–€900 all in, with porcelain pushing higher. Whole-house flooring is usually quoted as part of a full house renovation rather than room by room.
Ways to save
- Buy materials in a sale or end-of-range clearance — flooring suppliers discount discontinued lines heavily, and the spec is often identical.
- Keep the same floor height to avoid trimming every internal door, which adds up fast.
- Group rooms into one job so the fitter only mobilises once and you negotiate a better rate per m².
- Choose click systems (laminate, click LVT, floating engineered) where possible — they are far quicker to fit than glue-down or tile.
- Fix the subfloor properly first. A level, dry base is the single biggest factor in both the price and how long the floor lasts.
Prices vary widely with subfloor condition, room shape and material grade, so get at least three written quotes that itemise supply, fitting and prep separately before you commit.