# Herringbone flooring cost in Australia (2026)

> What herringbone flooring costs in Australia in 2026: supply, labour and installed prices per m² for solid and engineered oak, what drives cost, and GST.

- URL: https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-flooring-cost-australia
- Publisher: Timbo (https://timbo.com.au) – trade supplier of European oak floorboards to partners in Australia and New Zealand
- Last updated: 2026-10-14
- Contact (email only): partnerships@timbo.com.au

## Key facts

- Raw solid French oak herringbone (710 × 126 × 18mm) is listed at $94.99/m² incl. GST by Melbourne retailers.
- Engineered oak herringbone: about $79–$160/m² supply and $160–$320/m² installed (published 2026 guides).
- Herringbone labour: about $60–$100/m² for standard installs and $90–$120+/m² for complex work.
- Sanding and coating adds about $30–$70/m² – relevant for raw (unfinished) parquet.
- Australian GST is 10%; always check whether a quote is GST-inclusive.
- Timbo sells to trade partners at wholesale; homeowners get prices from a Timbo partner.

## Herringbone cost at a glance

**In 2026, most published Australian figures put installed oak herringbone between about $160 and $320 per m², depending on the product, the job and the city.** The table below brings together the ranges published by retailers and installers. Figures are in AUD and generally include GST unless the source says otherwise.

| Cost item | Typical range (per m²) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Raw solid French oak herringbone, 710 × 126 × 18mm – supply | $94.99 incl. GST (retail list price) | [SET Timber Supplies](https://setimbersupplies.com.au/product/raw-herringbone-french-oak-710x126x18mm/), [Melbourne Timber Supplies](https://melbournetimber.com.au/product/raw-herringbone-french-oak-710x126x18mm/) |
| Engineered oak herringbone – supply | About $79–$160 | [Skov](https://www.skov.com.au/herringbone-flooring-prices-australia/), [Artafloor](https://artafloor.com.au/engineered-timber-herringbone-cost/) |
| Engineered oak herringbone – installed | About $160–$320 | [Artistic Wood Floor](https://artisticwoodfloor.com.au/timber-flooring-cost-melbourne-2026/), [Imperial](https://www.imperialflooringaustralia.com.au/post/herringbone-flooring-cost-guide-2026) |
| Herringbone labour – standard | About $60–$100 | [The Flooring Guys](https://theflooringguys.com.au/herringbone-flooring-cost-in-australia-2023-a-comprehensive-guide/) |
| Herringbone labour – complex (borders, angles) | About $90–$120+ | [The Flooring Guys](https://theflooringguys.com.au/herringbone-flooring-cost-in-australia-2023-a-comprehensive-guide/) |
| Sanding and coating | About $30–$70 | [WhatsTheDamage](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost-brisbane/timber-floor-sanding-cost/) |

The labour figures come from a guide first published in 2023, so treat them as a floor rather than a ceiling in 2026. None of these are quotes.

## What a solid oak herringbone floor costs, line by line

**For raw 18mm solid oak herringbone, the core costs are supply plus waste, laying labour and on-site sanding and coating – roughly $195–$300/m² before subfloor preparation and adhesive, using the published ranges above.** This is an illustrative build-up, not a quote:

| Line | Low | High | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Supply (at $94.99/m² retail) | $94.99 | $94.99 | Retail list price incl. GST |
| Waste allowance (10–15%) | +$9.50 | +$14.25 | Rule of thumb; installer confirms |
| Laying labour | $60 | $120 | Standard vs complex |
| Sanding and coating | $30 | $70 | Raw parquet only |
| **Indicative subtotal** | **~$195** | **~$300** | Before prep, adhesive, borders, removal |

Add subfloor preparation, levelling, moisture barrier, adhesive, borders, trims, removal of old flooring and stairs as separate items. Our [parquet installation cost guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/parquet-installation-cost) lists each one.

## What drives herringbone cost

**The biggest cost drivers are the product (solid or engineered, grade, finish), the condition of the subfloor and the complexity of the layout.**

| Driver | Effect on price |
| --- | --- |
| Solid vs engineered | Solid can be sanded many times; raw solid needs on-site finishing. See [solid vs engineered herringbone](https://timbo.com.au/compare/solid-vs-engineered-herringbone) |
| Grade | Prime grade (cleanest look) usually costs more than rustic grades. See [oak flooring grades](https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-flooring-grades) |
| Raw vs pre-finished | Raw adds sanding and coating but gives a seamless, site-finished surface |
| Block size | Larger blocks can lay faster per m² but may cost more to supply |
| Subfloor | Grinding, levelling and moisture control can add significantly |
| Layout | Borders, diagonals, many rooms and doorways add labour and waste |
| Location and access | Labour rates vary by city; apartments and upper floors add handling |

## Herringbone vs other floors

**Herringbone costs more to install than straight-laid floors because of the extra labour and waste, but solid oak herringbone can last for decades with resanding.**

| Floor type | Typical installed cost (per m²) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hybrid / SPC | About $55–$120 | [WhatsTheDamage](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost/) |
| Solid Australian hardwood boards (e.g. spotted gum, blackbutt) | About $120–$367, by city | [HH Timber Floors](https://hhtimberfloors.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-sydney/), [D&G](https://dgfloors.com/spotted-gum-flooring/) |
| Engineered oak herringbone | About $160–$320 | See table above |
| Raw solid oak herringbone, sanded and coated | Build up from supply + labour + finishing | See table above |

For a broader comparison of all floor types, see [timber flooring cost in Australia](https://timbo.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-australia).

## Getting an accurate herringbone quote

**An accurate quote needs a site measure, a subfloor check and a clear finish specification – a per-m² figure alone is not enough.** When you request or prepare a quote, make sure it covers:

1. **Measured area and waste allowance**, with the pattern direction and any borders shown on a plan.
2. **Subfloor condition** – slab moisture readings and flatness, or the state of the existing timber subfloor.
3. **Product details** – species, grade, block size (for example 710 × 123 × 18mm), solid or engineered, raw or pre-finished.
4. **Finish system** – oil, hardwax oil or polyurethane, number of coats and sheen.
5. **Exclusions** – furniture moving, skirting, stairs, appliance disconnection and disposal.

Note that retail list prices for "710mm" herringbone can refer to different widths – the benchmark above is 126mm wide, while Timbo's block is 123mm – so compare products on the same specification.

## A note on GST

**Australian GST is 10%. Retail flooring prices are usually shown including GST; trade and installer quotes are often shown excluding GST.** When comparing quotes, put them on the same basis – a $100/m² ex-GST price is $110/m² including GST. Ask each supplier to state GST treatment on every line.

## How Timbo pricing works

**Timbo is a trade supplier, so its prices are not published.** Flooring businesses get **wholesale pricing** once they accept the partner terms – see [trade pricing](https://timbo.com.au/partners/trade-pricing). Homeowners get a supply-and-install price from a [Timbo partner](https://timbo.com.au/partners/find-a-partner), who measures the job, confirms quantities and quotes the full scope.

To estimate quantities before quoting, use [how many boxes of flooring](https://timbo.com.au/guides/how-many-boxes-of-flooring). Timbo's [Solid Oak Herringbone Parquet](https://timbo.com.au/products/f11-solid-oak-herringbone-parquet) comes in 710 × 123 × 18mm (about 1.4 m² per box) and 820 × 123 × 18mm. For the design side, read the [herringbone flooring guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-flooring-guide).

**Buying floorboards for your home?:** Timbo partners supply and install our European oak floorboards. Find one near you. → https://timbo.com.au/partners/find-a-partner

## Sources

- SET Timber Supplies – Raw herringbone French oak 710×126×18mm: [setimbersupplies.com.au](https://setimbersupplies.com.au/product/raw-herringbone-french-oak-710x126x18mm/)
- Melbourne Timber Supplies – Raw herringbone French oak 710×126×18mm: [melbournetimber.com.au](https://melbournetimber.com.au/product/raw-herringbone-french-oak-710x126x18mm/)
- Skov – Herringbone flooring prices Australia: [skov.com.au](https://www.skov.com.au/herringbone-flooring-prices-australia/)
- Artafloor – Engineered timber herringbone cost: [artafloor.com.au](https://artafloor.com.au/engineered-timber-herringbone-cost/)
- Artistic Wood Floor – Timber flooring cost Melbourne 2026: [artisticwoodfloor.com.au](https://artisticwoodfloor.com.au/timber-flooring-cost-melbourne-2026/)
- Imperial Flooring Australia – Herringbone flooring cost guide 2026: [imperialflooringaustralia.com.au](https://www.imperialflooringaustralia.com.au/post/herringbone-flooring-cost-guide-2026)
- The Flooring Guys – Herringbone flooring cost in Australia (2023): [theflooringguys.com.au](https://theflooringguys.com.au/herringbone-flooring-cost-in-australia-2023-a-comprehensive-guide/)
- WhatsTheDamage – Flooring cost and timber floor sanding cost: [whatsthedamage.com.au](https://whatsthedamage.com.au/flooring-cost/)
- HH Timber Floors – Timber flooring cost Sydney: [hhtimberfloors.com.au](https://hhtimberfloors.com.au/guides/timber-flooring-cost-sydney/)
- D&G Floors – Spotted gum flooring: [dgfloors.com](https://dgfloors.com/spotted-gum-flooring/)

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does herringbone flooring cost per m² in Australia?

Published 2026 guides put engineered oak herringbone at roughly $160–$320/m² installed ([Skov](https://www.skov.com.au/herringbone-flooring-prices-australia/), [Imperial](https://www.imperialflooringaustralia.com.au/post/herringbone-flooring-cost-guide-2026)). Solid oak herringbone that is sanded and coated on site adds finishing costs on top of supply and labour.

### Why is herringbone more expensive to install than floorboards?

Each block is laid individually, the pattern must be set out from a centre line, and every perimeter block is cut at an angle. That takes more time and produces more waste than straight-laid boards.

### Is solid oak herringbone more expensive than engineered?

Not always on supply price – raw solid French oak herringbone is listed at $94.99/m² incl. GST, within the engineered range. But raw solid parquet needs sanding and coating after installation, which adds about $30–$70/m².

### Do herringbone prices include GST?

Retail prices in Australia are usually quoted including 10% GST, while trade prices are often quoted excluding GST. Always check the quote.

### How much waste should I budget for herringbone?

As a rule of thumb, about 10–15% for herringbone, and more for borders and awkward rooms. Your installer confirms the allowance after measuring.

### Can I buy herringbone direct from Timbo?

Timbo is a trade supplier and doesn't sell direct to homeowners. Homeowners buy through a [Timbo partner](https://timbo.com.au/partners/find-a-partner); flooring businesses can [apply for wholesale pricing](https://timbo.com.au/pages/be-our-business-partner).

### What is the cheapest way to get a herringbone look?

Hybrid or laminate products printed or laid in herringbone cost less upfront, but they can't be sanded and refinished like solid oak. Compare lifespan, not just the first price.

## Related pages

- [Parquet installation cost – a quoting guide for flooring businesses](https://timbo.com.au/guides/parquet-installation-cost) – How to quote parquet installation in Australia line by line: removal, slab prep, levelling, adhesive, labour, borders, sanding and coating, with cited ranges.
- [Herringbone flooring guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-flooring-guide) – Herringbone flooring guide for Australia and NZ: how the pattern works, block sizes, solid vs engineered, installation over slab, finishes and 2026 costs.
- [Solid vs engineered herringbone: 18mm solid oak vs 14/15mm engineered parquet](https://timbo.com.au/compare/solid-vs-engineered-herringbone) – 18mm solid oak herringbone vs 14/15mm engineered herringbone compared – sanding life, stability, slab and heating, cost per m² and which to specify in AU or NZ.