The most common question before a home visit is “how much does it cost?” The final figure depends on the product, the existing floor, the room configuration and the installation required. This guide sets out the typical ranges and the factors that shape the scope.
These prices are indicative ranges for supply and installation on the Gold Coast as of 2025. Fixed-price quotes are provided after measuring your specific space. Prices vary based on product selection, slab condition, room configuration, and access.
Carpet: What You will Pay Per Square Metre
Carpet pricing on the Gold Coast varies with fibre type, pile construction and underlay specification. Here is how the main product categories sit:
| Product | Supply & Install | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Solution-Dyed Polypropylene | $35–55/m² | Rentals, high-traffic areas, budget renovations |
| Solution-Dyed Nylon | $55–80/m² | Family homes, apartments, premium rentals |
| Wool Blend (80/20) | $85–130/m² | Premium homes, master bedrooms, forever floors |
| Pure New Wool | $120–180/m² | Luxury homes, prestige apartments, custom projects |
These prices include supply of the carpet, standard underlay, and installation. They assume a reasonably straightforward room with standard access and no significant subfloor issues. Stairs are quoted separately, typically $20–35 per stair depending on the carpet and the stair configuration.
What Drives Carpet Price Variation
The biggest driver of carpet price is fibre type. Polypropylene is the cheapest fibre to manufacture and the most widely available. Nylon costs more but performs better under sustained foot traffic. It has a higher resilience and holds its texture for longer. Wool is the most expensive fibre, but it is also the most durable, the most comfortable underfoot, and the only fibre that naturally regulates temperature and humidity. In a Gold Coast home, wool carpet in the bedrooms is a genuine luxury that pays for itself over 20+ years of use.
Pile construction also affects price. Loop pile (Berber) carpets are generally cheaper to manufacture than cut pile (plush, saxony) carpets, but they are less forgiving of snags and pet claws. Cut pile carpets feel softer underfoot and are more popular in residential settings. Textured cut pile (twist pile) is the most popular choice for Gold Coast homes. It hides footprints and vacuum marks better than a flat cut pile, and it is more durable than a plush saxony.
Underlay is the component most often compromised to reduce cost. A cheap foam underlay will compress and break down within 5–7 years, making the carpet feel flat and lifeless. We use quality rebonded foam underlay (8mm, 130kg/m³ density) as our standard. It provides the right combination of cushioning and support, and it lasts the life of the carpet. For acoustic applications in apartments, we use a denser rubber-based underlay.
Vinyl Plank: What You will Pay Per Square Metre
Vinyl plank pricing is driven by wear layer thickness, product quality, and installation method. Direct-stick installation (our preferred method) costs more than floating click-lock installation, but it delivers a significantly better result, particularly in Gold Coast's humid climate.
| Product / Method | Supply & Install | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct-Stick, 0.5mm Wear Layer | $55–75/m² | Standard residential, straight-lay |
| Direct-Stick, 0.7mm Wear Layer | $75–100/m² | Premium residential, high-traffic areas |
| Herringbone Pattern | $85–120/m² | Add $15–25/m² for pattern laying |
| Acoustic Vinyl Plank (Apartments) | $75–95/m² | Bonded acoustic underlay, Body Corporate docs included |
| Dual-Bond Acoustic System | $95–130/m² | Maximum IIC performance for premium buildings |
Subfloor Preparation: The Cost Most Quotes Leave Out
For vinyl plank, the slab is assessed before the flooring scope is set. Grinding, levelling or moisture treatment may be required to prepare it for direct stick installation.
For vinyl plank, subfloor preparation is not optional. It is essential. The industry standard for flatness is 3mm over 3 metres. Anything more than that will telegraph through the 4.5mm plank and be visible in the finished floor. Typical subfloor preparation costs:
| Preparation Type | Indicative Cost | When Required |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond Grinding | $8–15/m² | High spots, adhesive residue, surface contamination |
| Self-Levelling Compound | $15–30/m² | Low spots, undulations, uneven slabs |
| DPM (Damp-Proof Membrane) | $10–20/m² | Elevated moisture readings, older slabs without vapour barriers |
For carpet, subfloor preparation is less critical. Carpet and underlay are more forgiving of minor slab imperfections. But significant cracks, hollow areas, or contaminated surfaces still need to be addressed before carpet goes down.
What a Typical Gold Coast Job Costs
To give you a sense of real-world costs, here are three typical scenarios:
Scenario 1: 3-Bedroom Investment Property, Carpet Throughout
80m² of solution-dyed polypropylene carpet with standard underlay, three bedrooms and a lounge. Straightforward slab, no significant preparation required.
Indicative total: $3,200–4,400
Scenario 2: Open-Plan Living Area, Vinyl Plank
60m² of direct-stick vinyl plank (0.5mm wear layer, straight-lay) in an open-plan kitchen and living area. Slab required diamond grinding and minor levelling.
Indicative total: $4,200–5,500
Scenario 3: High-Rise Apartment, Acoustic Vinyl Plank
75m² of acoustic vinyl plank in a Surfers Paradise apartment. Includes Body Corporate documentation, slab preparation, and installation. Bedrooms in solution-dyed nylon carpet.
Indicative total: $7,500–10,000
Why the Cheapest Quote Is Usually the Most Expensive Floor
We see it regularly: a client gets three quotes, takes the cheapest, and calls us 18 months later when the floor is failing. The failure is almost always one of three things: wrong product for the application, inadequate subfloor preparation, or a cheap adhesive that is broken down in Gold Coast humidity.
The economics are straightforward. A floor that fails in 3 years and needs to be replaced costs twice as much as a floor that lasts 15–20 years. The difference in upfront cost between a quality installation and a cheap one is typically $5–15 per square metre. Over the life of the floor, that is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Product choice, floor preparation and installation all affect how a floor performs over time. The right scope is the one that suits the room, the slab and the way the property will be used.
Get a Fixed-Price Quote
We measure across the Gold Coast. You get one figure in writing, not a range.