Choosing between tile and laminate is one of the most common flooring decisions in UK homes. Both are popular, both look sharp in the right setting — but they behave very differently underfoot, and the cost gap is real. This guide sets out honest 2026 price ranges so you can budget accurately before committing.
For most dry rooms, laminate wins on cost and speed. For kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, and anywhere water is likely, tile is the safer long-term bet. The right answer depends on the room, your budget, and how long you plan to stay.
Cost at a Glance
The table below covers typical UK ranges for materials and fitting as of mid-2026. Costs assume a straightforward rectangular room, no significant subfloor prep, and standard-format tiles or planks.
| Type | Material Cost | Fitting Cost | Total (Supplied & Fitted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget laminate (7–8 mm AC3) | £5–£12/m² | £8–£14/m² | £13–£26/m² |
| Mid-range laminate (10–12 mm AC4) | £12–£22/m² | £10–£16/m² | £22–£38/m² |
| Premium laminate (12 mm+ AC5, waterproof) | £20–£35/m² | £12–£18/m² | £32–£53/m² |
| Budget ceramic floor tile (300×300 mm) | £8–£18/m² | £25–£40/m² | £33–£58/m² |
| Mid-range porcelain tile (600×600 mm) | £18–£40/m² | £30–£50/m² | £48–£90/m² |
| Large-format tile (900×900 mm+) | £30–£60/m² | £40–£65/m² | £70–£125/m² |
| Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) | £15–£35/m² | £10–£18/m² | £25–£53/m² |
All figures exclude VAT. Fitting costs include adhesive, grout or underlay, and basic edge trims.
Why Tile Costs More to Fit
The labour cost gap is the single biggest surprise. A flooring fitter can lay 15–25 m² of laminate in a day; tile work typically runs at 6–12 m² per day because you’re mixing adhesive, setting tiles individually, waiting for adhesive to go off, then grouting. Expect to pay a tiler £180–£280 per day in 2026, versus £150–£220/day for a laminate fitter.
Subfloor preparation also has a bigger impact with tile. Tiles need a solid, flat base — any flex and grout cracks. A screed patch or plyboard overlay can add £5–£15/m² to the bill, which rarely shows up in early quotes.
Laminate: What to Know
Modern laminate has improved enormously. The wear layer is rated by AC class (AC1 to AC5), and for domestic use you should look for at least AC4 in high-traffic areas. The thickness (typically 7–12 mm) affects feel underfoot and acoustic performance.
Laminate is a floating floor — it clicks together over a foam or combined underlay and is not glued down. This makes it fast to lay and easy to replace section by section if damaged. It cannot be refinished like solid wood.
Key limitations:
- Most standard laminate swells if water sits on it. Even AC4 boards can delaminate around leaking dishwashers or where condensation pools.
- Laminate can sound hollow without good underlay. Budget at least £3–£6/m² for a decent foam + acoustic underlay.
- Under Building Regs Part E, additional acoustic underlay may be required in flats — check your lease before specifying a thin product.
Tile: What to Know
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are dense, inert, and can last 30–50 years with minimal maintenance. They’re the right choice for bathrooms, wet rooms, kitchens, and utility rooms. They also suit underfloor heating (UFH) well — thermal conductivity is far better than laminate.
Porcelain is denser and less porous than ceramic. For floor tiles, look for a PEI rating of at least III (domestic light traffic) or IV (general domestic use). Slip resistance is rated R9 to R13 — R10 or above is recommended for kitchens and bathrooms.
Key limitations:
- Cold and hard underfoot. Bare tile in a bedroom in January is not pleasant without UFH.
- Grout needs sealing and will discolour over time in kitchens. Epoxy grout reduces staining but costs more and is harder to apply.
- Cracked tiles are difficult to replace perfectly — tile batch variation means an exact match years later is unlikely.
Worked Example: 20 m² Living Room vs 8 m² Kitchen
Living room (20 m²) — mid-range laminate:
- Material (AC4, 10 mm): 20 m² × £17 = £340
- Underlay: 20 m² × £4 = £80
- Fitting (1 day): £190
- Total: approximately £610 (ex. VAT)
Kitchen (8 m²) — mid-range porcelain:
- Tiles: 8 m² × £28 = £224
- Adhesive + grout: £45
- Plyboard overlay (new build skip if solid slab): £70
- Fitting (1.5 days): £285
- Total: approximately £624 (ex. VAT)
The per-m² cost is higher for tile, but in a small kitchen the total is comparable. The payoff is durability — quality porcelain tiles in a kitchen should outlast the kitchen itself.
Which Rooms Suit Which Floor?
| Room | Recommended | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Living room / lounge | Laminate or LVT | Warm, fast, cost-effective |
| Bedroom | Laminate or carpet | Soft, warm, budget-friendly |
| Kitchen | Porcelain tile or LVT | Water-resistant, hard-wearing |
| Bathroom / wet room | Porcelain tile | Fully waterproof, slip-rated |
| Hallway | Porcelain tile or LVT | Withstands heavy foot traffic |
| Conservatory | Porcelain tile | Handles temperature swings |
| Home gym | Rubber or LVT | Shock-absorbing; not laminate |
Don’t Overlook LVT
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) sits in a middle ground that makes it attractive for many homes. It’s 100% waterproof, warm underfoot, quiet, and significantly cheaper to fit than ceramic tile. Quality LVT with a 0.55 mm wear layer is durable enough for most domestic use and is approved for use over underfloor heating up to 27°C surface temperature.
If you’re torn between tile and laminate specifically because of water risk, LVT is worth pricing — it often removes the dilemma.
Getting Quotes
When comparing fitters’ quotes, always check whether:
- Subfloor preparation is included (or costed separately)
- Disposal of old flooring is included
- Adhesive, grout, and trims are included in the tile quote
- Underlay is included in the laminate quote
- Movement joints (required at doorways and over structural joints) are accounted for
A quote that appears low but excludes prep and materials can end up more expensive than a higher headline figure that covers everything.
Aim for at least two or three quotes. For jobs over 30 m², the variation between trades can be £300–£600 on labour alone.
