Typical 2026 UK costs per m² for suspended and solid floors, the savings, and how to get a fair price.
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Floor insulation is usually quoted per square metre, and the price depends mainly on whether you have a suspended timber floor or a solid floor. As a guide, expect around £70 to £115 per m² installed, and roughly £6,000 for a whole ground floor. Here is the full breakdown, the savings, and how to pay a fair price.
| Floor type | Typical cost per m² (installed) |
|---|---|
| Suspended timber floor | £95 to £115 (around £105) |
| Suspended timber, with new floorboards | Around £258 |
| Solid floor (floating) | Around £70 |
| Solid floor (screed finish) | Around £80 |
Cost figures: Checkatrade (2026); savings from the Energy Saving Trust. Verified August 2026. Typical estimates only, your quote will vary.
Around 10% of a home's heat escapes through the floor, so the savings are smaller than for loft or wall insulation. The Energy Saving Trust suggests a detached home could save in the region of £85 a year. The bigger wins are comfort, fewer draughts and reduced damp, especially in older homes with suspended timber floors.
The main factors are your floor type (suspended timber costs more than solid), the size of the area, the material chosen, and the condition of the floorboards and joists. If rot or water damage is found when boards are lifted, repairs add to the price, so it is often most cost-effective to insulate when floors are up for other work.
For a cold, draughty ground floor, it is well worth it for comfort even though the bill savings are modest. It also helps reduce damp in older homes. For the best value, combine it with loft and wall insulation.
Eligible households may get help through ECO4 or the Warm Homes: Local Grant, and there is 0% VAT on eligible energy-saving measures until March 2027. Check our 2026 insulation grants guide, and compare quotes from several vetted installers to keep costs down.
Floor insulation is usually priced per square metre. A suspended timber floor costs around £95 to £115 per m² installed, and a solid floor around £70 to £80 per m². For a whole ground floor, the average job is roughly £6,000, based on Checkatrade figures for 2026.
Around £105 per m² for a suspended timber floor, or about £70 to £80 per m² for a solid floor (floating or screed finish). If the floorboards need replacing, a suspended timber floor can rise to around £258 per m². Labour is typically £240 to £350 a day.
Savings are modest compared with loft or wall insulation, because only around 10% of a home's heat escapes through the floor. The Energy Saving Trust suggests a detached home could save in the region of £85 a year, but the bigger benefits are a warmer, less draughty floor and reduced damp.
For a cold, draughty ground floor, yes. It improves comfort, cuts draughts and can reduce damp, and it is often most cost-effective to do when floors are already being lifted for other work. It is best combined with loft and wall insulation for a warm home overall.
Possibly. Eligible households may get help through ECO4 or the Warm Homes: Local Grant, and there is 0% VAT on eligible energy-saving measures until March 2027. See our 2026 insulation grants guide and confirm current eligibility.
If you have easy access to a suspended floor via a crawl space, DIY is possible with mineral wool between the joists. Solid-floor insulation and any job needing floorboards lifted is best left to a professional, and you must not block underfloor ventilation.
Tell us about your home and we will match you with vetted installers so you can compare no cost quotes.
Already got some insulation under the floor? Read topping up suspended floor insulation: quick fix, or false economy?
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