Floor Sanding Cost Calculator & Price Guide
Use this Floor Sanding Cost Calculator & Price Guide to estimate floor sanding and polishing cost for your home, whether you need a simple refresh or a full restore. In Australia, floor sanding cost typically starts at $50/m² for sand and polish, rises to $65/m² for sand, stain and polish, and can reach $85/m² for full strip and restore, all in AUD.
Estimate floor sanding cost
Indicative sand-and-polish midpoints for Australia. Rates are labour and coating for existing timber or hardwood boards. Stairs, gap filling and stain colour changes are often extra.
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Floor Sanding Price Breakdown
Typical job based on 80 m². Prices are supply-and-install midpoints — actual quotes will vary.
| Type | Cost per m² | Typical 80 m² job |
|---|---|---|
| Sand and polish (clear) | $50 | $4,000 |
| Sand, stain and polish | $65 | $5,200 |
| Full strip and restore | $85 | $6,800 |
What Affects Floor Sanding Cost?
- Type of floor sanding service: The biggest driver of price is the level of work required. Sand and polish (clear) is $50/m², sand, stain and polish is $65/m², and full strip and restore is $85/m².
- Floor condition: Condition changes the total because boards that are not ready to sand take more preparation. Good means sound boards ready to sand, while needs repair means gaps, cupping, old coatings or damaged boards, which adds $8/m².
- Floor area: This is an area-based calculator, so your total floor sanding and polishing cost is worked out by multiplying the square metres by the service rate. Smaller jobs can still be affected by the minimum job charge of $800 AUD.
- Estimate range and minimum charge: Displayed estimates use a range of ±15% around the midpoint to reflect typical pricing variation. If the calculated total comes in under $800 AUD, the minimum job charge applies instead.
Floor Sanding Cost - Frequently Asked Questions
For standard pricing, sand and polish (clear) is $50/m², sand, stain and polish is $65/m², and full strip and restore is $85/m². If the floor needs repair, add $8/m². The displayed estimate range is shown at ±15% around the midpoint, with a minimum job charge of $800 AUD.
The floor sanding and polishing cost per square metre depends on the service level. Clear sand and polish is $50/m², staining plus polishing is $65/m², and full strip and restore is $85/m², all in AUD. If boards are not in good condition, add $8/m².
Using the default 80 m² example, sand and polish (clear) comes to $4,000, sand, stain and polish comes to $5,200, and full strip and restore comes to $6,800. If the floor needs repair, add $640 across 80 m². The estimate range shown would then be ±15% around those midpoint totals.
The main cost factors are the service type, the total floor area, and whether the boards are in good condition. Good means sound boards ready to sand, while needs repair means gaps, cupping, old coatings or damaged boards, which adds $8/m². For example, moving from a $50/m² clear finish to an $85/m² full strip and restore changes the total significantly.
Timber floor sanding starts at $50/m² for sand and polish, $65/m² for sand, stain and polish, or $85/m² for full strip and restore. If the boards need repair, add $8/m² because needs repair means gaps, cupping, old coatings or damaged boards. That means a repaired floor could be $58/m², $73/m² or $93/m² depending on the service.
When sanding hardwood floors, a practical budget is based on the finish you want: $50/m² for clear sand and polish, $65/m² for stain and polish, or $85/m² for full strip and restore. If the floor is not in good condition, add $8/m². Keep in mind that very small jobs may still be charged at the $800 AUD minimum.
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