FLOORING GUIDES
Timber Flooring Cost: How to Compare an Oak Flooring Quote
Compare supply and installation quotes for engineered and solid oak flooring. See which costs to check, how carton quantities affect an order, and what to send for a useful trade quote.
Updated 29 October 2026
A useful timber flooring cost comparison starts with the same product, quantity and scope of work. A supply price per square metre and a price for a completed floor cover different things. Check what is included before deciding which quote offers the right outcome for your project.
Bestwork supplies European oak flooring and provides project-specific trade quotes. This guide explains the items to compare and uses our current carton coverage to show how quantities work. Request a supply quote for the chosen board; ask your installation professional to price the site work separately or identify it clearly within a combined quote.
Start with the scope of the quote
Put the quotes beside one another and check the following headings. If an item is absent, ask whether it is included elsewhere or still needs to be priced.
| Cost item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Flooring supply | Exact product, construction, dimensions, finish, carton quantity and total supplied area |
| Delivery | Destination, access arrangements and the delivery charge for this order |
| Existing floor and subfloor | Removal, disposal, site assessment and any preparation the installer identifies |
| Installation | Selected pattern, setting out, fixing method and the rooms or areas covered |
| Site finishing | For raw solid oak, preparation, the chosen colour and protective coating |
| Edges and details | Skirting, trims, transitions, stairs, borders and other specified details |
Check whether GST is included and compare quote validity dates. Keep any exclusions with the total, so the lowest visible supply figure does not hide work that another quote already includes.
Engineered timber flooring cost: compare the actual board
Our engineered oak collection has a 4 mm European oak surface within a 15 mm board. Straight planks are 1900 × 190 mm and engineered herringbone is 900 × 150 mm. The five finishes are Burnished Java, Latte Tan, Natural Oak, Satin Greige and Washed Sand.
These boards are supplied with a matte finish. That describes the product as supplied; it does not mean delivery, subfloor work or installation is included in a flooring supply price. Confirm the construction, finish and dimensions on each quote. Two products described simply as “engineered oak” may have different specifications.
For an example of the current specifications, compare Natural Oak straight planks with Natural Oak Herringbone. A physical sample helps you assess colour and grain before settling on a quoted finish.
Solid timber flooring cost: include the finishing plan
Bestwork's solid European oak flooring is 18 mm thick and supplied raw and unstained. The final colour and coating are selected for the project. Include the agreed surface preparation and finishing work when comparing the cost of the completed floor.
A raw solid oak supply quote and a factory-finished engineered oak supply quote therefore need an accompanying scope check. Ask the installer or finishing professional which work each option needs on your site. Our solid vs engineered oak guide explains the construction and supplied finish in more detail.
Herringbone and chevron flooring cost
Pattern names alone do not establish an installed price. Ask the installer to quote from the room layout and the selected board size. Setting out, direction changes, borders and the cutting allowance should be considered for that plan.
Our herringbone collection includes finished engineered oak and raw solid oak. Our chevron range is raw solid oak. Check both the construction and the finishing scope before comparing their totals.
The herringbone vs chevron guide shows how the boards meet. The herringbone size guide and chevron 590 vs 850 mm guide help you identify the exact format to put on the quote request.
Convert the measured area into cartons
The order quantity affects the supply total. Ask your installer to confirm the measured area and allowance for cuts, then divide the agreed order area by the selected product's coverage per carton. Round up to a whole carton. Multiply that carton count by the carton coverage to see the total area being purchased.
The table below is an arithmetic example for 20 m² before any cutting allowance. It shows how carton sizes affect rounding, not the final quantity to order.
| Current format | Boards per carton | Coverage per carton | Whole cartons for 20 m² | Area purchased |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineered straight plank | 6 Boards (25% Nested) | 2.166 m² | 10 | 21.66 m² |
| Engineered herringbone | 14 pcs | 1.89 m² | 11 | 20.79 m² |
| Solid herringbone, 610 | 20 pcs | 1.525 m² | 14 | 21.35 m² |
| Solid herringbone, 450 | 28 pcs | 1.134 m² | 18 | 20.412 m² |
| Solid chevron, 590 | 20 pcs | 1.475 m² | 14 | 20.65 m² |
| Solid chevron, 850 | 18 pcs | 1.37 m² | 15 | 20.55 m² |
Confirm the current carton specification before ordering. Room geometry and the laying plan affect cutting requirements, so one allowance should not be applied to every project. Any spare boards you want to retain should also be discussed before the order quantity is finalised.
When checking a per-m² quote, ask whether the supply total is based on the measured floor area or the full carton quantity being purchased. That makes the quantity and total easier to reconcile.
What to send for a Melbourne trade supply quote
Flooring retailers and wholesalers can request trade pricing or samples. Include:
- The preferred product, format and finish, or the options you want to compare.
- The approximate floor area and whether an installer has confirmed the order allowance.
- The delivery suburb or region and any relevant access details.
- Your business name, contact details and intended project timing.
- Whether you need physical samples, specifications or a supply quotation.
Bestwork is based in Melbourne's east. Delivery can be arranged across Victoria, NSW and the ACT, and to Adelaide, South Australia. Confirm freight, availability and timing for the particular order when enquiring.
Questions to resolve before comparing totals
Does a price per square metre include installation?
Check the quote's scope. A material supply figure should not be treated as the cost of a completed floor. Identify delivery, preparation, installation and any site finishing as included, excluded or separately quoted.
Is engineered flooring always cheaper than solid oak?
The construction label does not settle the total. Compare the selected products, actual carton quantities and the work required on site. Raw solid oak also needs an agreed finishing plan; ask the relevant professionals to cost that scope for your project.
Can Bestwork confirm a price for my selected flooring?
Send a trade enquiry with the product, quantity, delivery location and timing, or call 1300 003 988. We can discuss samples and provide the relevant supply details for your business.