As of October 2026, What’s The Damage puts supplied and installed flooring in Sydney at about $170 to $320 per m² for solid hardwood (typical $230), $125 to $230 for engineered timber (typical $160) and $63 to $140 for hybrid (typical $92), including GST. hipages’ January 2026 guides come in lower because they price materials and labour separately.
- What’s The Damage (October 2026), Sydney, supply and install, including GST: solid hardwood $170–$320/m², engineered $125–$230/m², hybrid $63–$140/m², laminate $57–$115/m².
- hipages (January 2026): solid timber materials from about $50 to $150 or more per m², plus about $40 to $80 per m² to install, before sanding and polishing.
- Subfloor levelling and preparation adds about $23 to $105 per m² in Sydney, and removing an old floor about $9 to $29 per m² (What’s The Damage).
- In NSW strata buildings, installing hard floors is a minor renovation, and owners must provide an acoustic certificate.
- The NCC requires floors between apartments in new Class 2 and 3 buildings to have an impact rating (Ln,w) of no more than 62.
How much does timber flooring cost per m² in Sydney?
Expect about $125 to $320 per m² for real timber floors supplied and installed in Sydney, and less for hybrid or laminate.
| Floor type | What’s The Damage, Sydney (low / typical / high) | What’s The Damage, national | hipages (January 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid hardwood | $170 / $230 / $320 | $150 / $200 / $280 | Materials about $50 to $150+, plus $40 to $80 to install, plus sanding and polishing |
| Engineered timber | $125 / $160 / $230 | $110 / $140 / $200 | Materials about $40 to $100, plus about $30 to $40 to install pre-finished boards |
| Hybrid | $63 / $92 / $140 | $55 / $80 / $120 | About $60 to $90 all up |
| Laminate | $57 / $75 / $115 | $50 / $65 / $100 | Not split out |
What’s The Damage figures updated October 2026, Sydney prices include GST. hipages splits materials from installation. Indicative only.
hipages gives these material prices for solid hardwood species: Blackbutt about $65 per m², Jarrah about $72 and Ironbark $90 or more. Grade matters too: boards with fewer features or defects cost more.
The two sources do not fully agree. hipages’ split figures add up to less than What’s The Damage’s Sydney totals, partly because hipages prices sanding and polishing separately for solid timber. Use the higher Sydney figures for budgeting.
Solid vs engineered vs hybrid: what do you get for the money?
Solid timber costs most because the boards are thicker, are fixed to the subfloor and are usually sanded and coated on site. hipages says pre-finished floors cost about $30 to $40 per m² to install, while solid timber costs much more because it also has to be sanded and polished.
Engineered timber gives you a real timber surface at a lower installed price, and it is often floated or glued over a slab. Hybrid and laminate are the budget options, with a printed timber look.
Think about the long run as well as the price today. A solid floor can be sanded many times; the US National Wood Flooring Association says six to eight times over its life for most solid wood floors. Embelton says most engineered boards can be sanded one to three times, depending on the top layer. Hybrid and laminate cannot be sanded, so worn or damaged planks are replaced instead.
For how they differ on water, sanding, underfloor heating and noise, read our guide Engineered vs Solid vs Hybrid Flooring: Which Suits You?
What else adds to the cost of a new floor?
The floor itself is only part of the price. What’s The Damage lists these Sydney extras, including GST:
| Item | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subfloor levelling and preparation (per m²) | $23 | $46 | $105 |
| Removing and disposing of the old floor (per m²) | $9 | $17 | $29 |
| Floating floor, labour only (per m²) | $29 | $40 | $63 |
| Sanding and polishing new solid boards (per m²) | $34 | $52 | $80 |
Source: What’s The Damage flooring cost Sydney, updated October 2026. Indicative only.
What’s The Damage notes carpet is cheap to remove, while tiles and glued-down vinyl take more labour. Other items to ask about:
- Moisture barrier: Godfrey Hirst’s hybrid instructions say that if a slab has not been moisture tested, a continuous damp-proof membrane, such as 200 micron plastic sheet, must be laid
- Underlay, including acoustic underlay in apartments
- Skirting boards or scotia, door trims and threshold strips
- Stairs, which are priced separately
- Moving furniture and appliances
What changes the price per m²?
Several things move a timber flooring quote up or down:
- Species and grade: hipages gives Blackbutt at about $65 per m², Jarrah about $72 and Ironbark $90 or more, for materials only. Boards with fewer features cost more.
- Board size: wider and longer boards usually cost more per m² and can take longer to lay.
- Subfloor: a level slab or sound timber subfloor is quicker. Uneven slabs need levelling, and old joists may need packing or repairs.
- Fixing method: floating floors are usually quicker than gluing down or nailing to joists or battens.
- Finishing: solid timber is usually sanded and coated on site after laying, which adds time and cost. Engineered, hybrid and laminate come pre-finished.
- The space: stairs, lots of doorways, odd-shaped rooms and small areas take more labour per m².
How long does a new timber floor take to install?
Pre-finished floors such as engineered timber, hybrid and laminate can often be laid in a few days for a typical home, once the subfloor is ready. Solid timber takes longer, because the boards are usually sanded and coated on site after laying.
hipages says sanding and polishing an average home usually takes 2 to 3 days, and the finish then needs time to cure before furniture goes back. Many suppliers also ask for boards to settle in the home before laying, so check the product’s instructions when you plan the dates.
How much does it cost to floor a whole house?
It depends on the floor area and type. As an illustration only, 60 m² of engineered timber at What’s The Damage’s Sydney range of $125 to $230 per m² comes to about $7,500 to $13,800. Removing old carpet at $9 to $29 per m² adds about $540 to $1,740. Levelling, if needed, could add about $1,380 to $6,300 at $23 to $105 per m².
The same 60 m² in solid hardwood at $170 to $320 per m² would be about $10,200 to $19,200, before extras. Hybrid at $63 to $140 per m² would be about $3,780 to $8,400.
Jobs over $20,000 come with extra NSW protections, including Home Building Compensation cover and a cooling-off period of five clear business days.
What are the strata rules for timber floors in apartments?
In NSW, putting in hard floors in a strata apartment needs approval first. The NSW Government lists installing or replacing wood, tile or other hard flooring, including removing carpet, as a minor renovation. Owners must show the owners corporation an acoustic certificate to show sound insulation, and approval usually needs more than 50% of votes cast at a meeting.
The National Construction Code sets minimum sound ratings for floors between apartments in new Class 2 and 3 buildings. NCC 2022 says these floors need an airborne rating (Rw + Ctr) of at least 50 and an impact rating (Ln,w) of no more than 62. Many buildings set their own, tougher by-law targets for replacement floors.
Acoustic consultants often use the AAAC star ratings to describe floor impact noise. Lower numbers are quieter.
| AAAC star rating | Impact isolation (LnT,w less than) |
|---|---|
| 2 star | 65 |
| 3 star | 55 |
| 4 star | 50 |
| 5 star | 45 |
| 6 star | 40 |
Source: Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants, apartment and townhouse acoustic rating guideline (2017). Check what your by-laws require.
Do not buy flooring before your owners corporation approves it. Ask the supplier for an acoustic test report for the same floor, underlay and slab build-up as your apartment, and check it meets your building’s by-law target.
Licences, contracts and quotes
In NSW, residential building work worth more than $5,000 including GST needs a licensed contractor and a written contract, and the deposit can be no more than 10%. Check the licence on Verify NSW. A good timber flooring quote lists the product, the area, subfloor preparation, underlay, moisture barrier, trims, removal of the old floor and, for solid timber, the sanding and coating system.
Get quotes from vetted flooring trades
Describe your floor job to MyTradeCrew: the rooms and rough size in m², what is on the floor now, what is underneath if you know, and whether you live in a strata building. We will send it to up to three vetted, licensed and insured local flooring trades from our crew. They quote and contract with you directly, and it is free for homeowners.
Frequently asked questions
Is engineered timber cheaper than solid timber?
Usually, once installed. What’s The Damage puts Sydney engineered timber at a typical $160 per m² supplied and installed, against $230 for solid hardwood. Engineered boards come pre-finished, so there is no on-site sanding and coating. Very high-grade engineered boards with thick top layers can cost as much as some solid floors.
Which timber species cost the most?
In hipages’ January 2026 guide, Ironbark is the dearest of the common species at $90 or more per m² for materials, against about $72 for Jarrah and $65 for Blackbutt. Grade also changes the price: hipages says boards with few defects can cost $100 to $150 or more per m². Installation and finishing are extra.
Can timber flooring go on a concrete slab?
Yes. Engineered boards are often floated or glued to concrete, and solid timber can be glued down or fixed to battens. The slab must be dry, flat and clean, so installers test its moisture first. Godfrey Hirst says that if the slab has not been tested, a damp-proof membrane such as 200 micron plastic sheet must be laid. Levelling may add to the cost.
Is hybrid flooring cheaper than timber?
Yes, in most cases. What’s The Damage puts Sydney hybrid at a typical $92 per m² supplied and installed, against $160 for engineered timber and $230 for solid hardwood. hipages puts hybrid at about $60 to $90 per m² all up. Hybrid has a printed timber look rather than real wood, and it cannot be sanded.
Why do timber flooring quotes vary so much?
Quotes differ in what they include. One may include subfloor levelling, underlay, trims, removal of the old floor and furniture moving, while another lists these as extras. Board grade, width and length also change the price. Ask every installer to quote the same product and list each item separately.
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