We are asked for a price per square metre every day, and we understand why. The trouble is that a square metre price on its own tells you very little. Two floors of the same size can cost very different amounts depending on depth, screed type, access and what needs doing before the screed goes down. This guide explains the factors so you can budget sensibly and compare quotes fairly.
Below are typical UK prices published by independent cost guides in 2026, so you know what to expect. They are market averages, not our price list. Every floor is different, so we give a fixed quotation within 24 hours, and the price we agree at the start is the price you pay.
Typical floor screeding prices in 2026
Short answer: most domestic floors cost between £18 and £31 per m² supplied and laid, depending on the screed type. A standard 20m² room typically costs £360 to £620.
| Screed type | Typical price per m², supplied and laid | Typical 20m² room |
|---|---|---|
| Sand and cement screed | £18 to £25 | £360 to £500 |
| Fast drying screed | £20 to £28 | £400 to £560 |
| Liquid (flowing) screed | £24 to £31 | £480 to £620 |
| Liquid screed over underfloor heating | £20 to £35 | not quoted |
| Bonded sand and cement screed (25 to 40mm) | £12 to £18 | £240 to £360 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Figures for the first three rows are from the MyJobQuote floor screeding cost guide, updated August 2026. The underfloor heating and bonded screed rows are from the trade2base floor screed cost guide, June 2026. trade2base gives its figures excluding VAT; MyJobQuote does not say whether its figures include VAT, so ask any contractor whether their quotation includes VAT.
Other typical costs from the same guides:
- Labour on its own: about £10 to £12 per m², or £120 to £200 per day for a screeder (MyJobQuote).
- Screed pump hire: about £300 to £600 per day, which is why very small liquid screed jobs cost more per m² (trade2base).
- Minimum charge: many contractors charge a minimum of £300 to £500 for jobs under about 20m² (trade2base).
- Fibre reinforcement: usually adds about £1 to £3 per m² (trade2base).
- Garage floors: about £325 to £450 for a single garage and £650 to £900 for a double (MyJobQuote).
Prices in London and the South East are often higher than the national average, and depth, access and preparation can move a price well outside these ranges. That is why we price every floor individually. For a quick estimate of quantities and a typical price for your own floor, try our screed calculator.
Cost per m³, levelling compound and underfloor heating screed
Short answer: screed is mostly quoted per m², but the material is ordered by volume. We found 2026 published figures for screed over underfloor heating, but not for screed per m³ or for latex and self levelling compound, so we do not quote averages for those.
Working in m³
Screed volume is area multiplied by depth. One cubic metre covers about 20m² at 50mm, 40m² at 25mm and just over 15m² at 65mm. That is why a deeper floor costs more even when the area is the same, and why liquid screed suppliers and contractors talk in m³ while homeowners compare prices in m². We did not find a reliable 2025 or 2026 published UK average for screed per m³, so we price the volume your floor needs when we quote.
Underfloor heating screed
Two 2026 trade2base guides give figures for screed over underfloor heating pipes: about £20 to £35 per m² for liquid screed laid 25 to 40mm over the pipes (floor screed costs, June 2026), and about £15 to £25 per m² for liquid anhydrite screed from a screed contractor (underfloor heating installation costs, June 2026). The screed is a separate cost from the heating system itself. See underfloor heating screed.
Latex and self levelling compound
We have not found published 2025 or 2026 UK averages per m² for latex or self levelling compound. The price depends mostly on preparation, the depth needed and the product, so we quote each floor once we have seen it. Our guide to latex, self levelling compound or a new screed explains what drives the cost of each.
What affects the cost of floor screeding
Floor area
Larger areas usually cost less per square metre, because fixed costs such as travel, set up, the pump and minimum loads are spread over more floor. Very small jobs cost more per square metre for the same reason.
Depth
Screed is priced largely by volume, so depth matters as much as area. A 75mm screed uses half as much material again as a 50mm screed. Our screed thickness guide explains the depths different floors need.
Screed type
- Sand and cement is often the most economical on small and fragmented areas.
- Liquid screed can be very competitive on larger areas because it is fast to lay and can be thinner.
- Quick drying and high strength screeds cost more in materials but can save time or extend the life of heavily used floors.
See liquid screed, sand and cement screed and our comparison of liquid screed vs sand and cement.
Access
Pumping through a house to a rear extension, working on upper floors, restricted parking and long carries all affect time and cost. We check access when we quote.
Preparation and build-up
If we are also installing insulation, damp proof and slip membranes and edge strip, or preparing an old floor by shot blasting, grinding or breaking out defective screed, that is part of the price. See insulation and membranes and floor preparation.
Underfloor heating
Screeding over heating pipes needs extra care around the pipes and attention to depth, and liquid screed pipes are usually filled with water before pouring.
Finish and flatness
A floor that must reach SR1 for thin sheet flooring may need a levelling compound on top. See floor levelling.
Location and programme
Distance from our base, out of hours working and phased pours on commercial projects all affect the price.
Cost factors at a glance
| Factor | Tends to increase cost | Tends to reduce cost |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Small or fragmented areas | Large, open areas |
| Depth | Deep screeds | Thinner specified depths |
| Access | Long hose runs, upper floors, no parking | Easy access close to the road |
| Screed type | Rapid drying or high strength products | Standard mixes where suitable |
| Preparation | Breaking out, grinding, damp remedies | A clean, ready base |
| Programme | Out of hours or many phases | A single, planned visit |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Hidden costs to watch for
The cheapest quote can become the most expensive floor. Watch out for:
- Exclusions. Is edge strip, membrane or preparation included, or extra on the day?
- Minimum charges and pump charges not shown in the headline price.
- Depth assumptions. A quote based on a thinner screed than your floor needs.
- Remedial work later. A cracked, hollow or uneven screed costs far more to fix than to lay properly. See screed repairs.
- Programme delays. A screed that dries slowly can hold up flooring and handover.
We quote exactly what is included, and if additional work turns out to be needed, we agree it with you before starting it. No hidden fees.
How to get an accurate quote
Send us as much of the following as you can:
- The floor area, or drawings, and the rooms involved.
- The depth available from the base to the finished floor level.
- Whether underfloor heating, insulation or membranes are going in, and who is installing them.
- The floor finish you plan to use.
- When you need the floor ready for flooring.
- Access details and your postcode.
We call back the same day and your quotation will be ready within 24 hours.
Is it worth paying more for a better screed?
Almost always. The screed is the part of the floor you never see, but everything above it depends on it. Tiles, LVT, engineered wood and underfloor heating all cost far more than the screed beneath them, and they are only as good as the base they sit on. Paying a little more for correct depth, proper preparation and good workmanship protects everything that goes on top.
Get a fixed price for your floor
Published ranges are a guide; a fixed price for your own floor is better. Send us the floor area in m², the depth you have to work with, what is going on top and the site postcode. We call back the same day and give you a fixed written price within 24 hours. Ask for a quotation or call 07466 650936.
Sources
- MyJobQuote: floor screeding cost guide, updated August 2026
- trade2base: floor screed costs UK, June 2026
- trade2base: underfloor heating installation costs UK, June 2026
