Original data · updated September 2026
Australian Flooring Statistics 2026.
What flooring costs in Australia right now, and what Australians are actually choosing — compiled from our live retail pricing and 633 flooring sample requests through our free-sample program. Journalists and researchers: free to cite with attribution.
60%.
of flooring sample requests are for hybrid (SPC) — Australia's default floor in 2026
46%.
of sample requests are Australian native species looks — spotted gum, blackbutt, iron bark
$34/m².
entry price for water-resistant hybrid flooring (supply, live retail)
~40%.
of a typical installed-flooring quote is labour — the DIY saving on click-lock floors
Flooring prices in Australia, per square metre (2026)
Supply lows are live Hippo Floors retail prices; installed figures add typical quoted Australian trade rates. Full breakdown and a working calculator on the flooring cost guide.
| Floor type | Supply /m² | Installed /m² |
|---|---|---|
| Glue-down vinyl plank | $22.95 – $50 | $48 – $85 |
| Laminate | $25 – $60 | $50 – $95 |
| Hybrid (SPC) | $34 – $50 | $59 – $90 |
| Herringbone / parquetry | $40 – $114 | $85 – $184 |
| Engineered timber | $93 – $150 | $128 – $210 |
| Solid hardwood | $109 – $180 | $159 – $260 |
| Carpet (incl. underlay) | $30 – $85 | $45 – $110 |
| Tiles | $30 – $120 | $75 – $220 |
What Australians are choosing: sample demand by floor type
Share of 633 sample-plank requests through our free-sample program (all-time to September 2026). Samples are ordered at the decision-making stage, so this is a live read on where Australian flooring demand is heading.
Hybrid (SPC)
60%.
including 9% specifically for herringbone patterns
Engineered timber
16%.
real-wood surface, engineered core
Australian solid hardwood
14%.
spotted gum, blackbutt, iron bark
Laminate
1%.
newest range — launched mid-2026
- Native species looks dominate colour choice: 46% of all sample requests are Australian species — spotted gum alone accounts for roughly one in five requests across its variants.
- Light beats dark: light and coastal tones draw 32% of requests versus 20% for greys and charcoals — the mid-2010s grey wave has clearly passed its peak.
- Patterns are mainstream: 9% of requests are specifically for herringbone — designer patterns are no longer a niche ask.
- Laminate is the one to watch: at 1% of requests it barely registers — but the range only launched in mid-2026, so that share reflects recency, not rejection.
Australia’s most-requested flooring colours (2026)
| # | Colour / range | Share of requests |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QLD Spotted Gum (hybrid 6.5mm) | 7.6% |
| 2 | Charcoal (hybrid 6.5mm) | 5.8% |
| 3 | Coastal Blackbutt (hybrid 6.5mm) | 5.4% |
| 4 | Pale Sand (hybrid 6.5mm) | 5.2% |
| 5 | Natural Spotted Gum (hybrid 9.5mm) | 4.4% |
| 6 | Raw Neutral (hybrid 6.5mm) | 3.8% |
| 7 | Natural Blackbutt (hybrid 9.5mm) | 3.8% |
| 8 | French Oak (hybrid 9.5mm) | 3.5% |
| 9 | NSW Spotted Gum (hybrid 6.5mm) | 3.3% |
| 10 | Grey Iron Bark (hardwood 14mm) | 3.3% |
Share of 633 sample-plank requests, all-time to September 2026. Colour trends in depth: 2026 flooring colour trends.
Flooring & property value: the renovation numbers
- Refinishing timber floors recovers around 147% of its cost at sale, and new timber-look flooring around 118% — two of the only renovations that return more than they cost (US National Association of Realtors, Remodeling Impact Report; kitchens and bathrooms typically recover 50–75%).
- Property managers we work with put the rental uplift of upgrade features — hard flooring, air conditioning, modern kitchens — at roughly $10–$50 per week per feature, with hard flooring also widening the tenant pool (families, pet owners) so properties let faster.
- Installation is typically ~40% of an installed flooring quote — on a 70m² living area at $30/m², laying a click-lock floor yourself keeps roughly $2,100.
More on the resale case: Does new flooring increase property value?
Methodology & how to cite this data
Pricingis Hippo Floors’ live, publicly listed Australian retail pricing as of September 2026; installed ranges add typical quoted Australian trade rates. Demand data is first-party: 633 sample-plank requests across 250 orders through our free-sample program (all-time to September 2026), expressed as shares of requests, not sales. Third-party figures are attributed inline.
Journalists, bloggers and researchers: this data is free to use with attribution to Hippo Floors and a link to this page. For commentary, custom cuts of the data, or an interview, contact Jordan (founder) via the contact page — media enquiries welcome.