Hybrid Flooring.

The ultimate all-rounder. Hybrid flooring is durable, water-resistant, and DIY-friendly. A floating floor with pre-attached underlay for easy installation and quieter, softer steps underfoot.

Hybrid flooring FAQs.

The things people most want to know before they buy.

Very. It handles water far better than most timber-look floors, which is why it's a go-to for kitchens, laundries and spill-prone rooms. Wipe up standing water rather than leaving it to sit and it takes everyday life in its stride. It's water resistant rather than a sealed wet-area surface, so it's not built to sit underwater for days.

In most cases, yes. It's a floating floor, so it goes straight over most existing hard surfaces — tiles, floorboards or concrete — as long as they're sound and level. Less ripping up, less prep, less cost.

One of the best floors going for a house full of animals. It's tough, scratch-resistant and water resistant, so muddy paws, the odd accident and skating claws are no drama.

Usually not. Most hybrid boards come with the underlay already attached, so there's nothing extra to lay underneath — it keeps the cost and the install time down. If a board doesn't have it, we'll flag that.

With a quality board and basic care, many years — ours is backed by a 25-year residential warranty to match. Keep felt pads under the furniture and it'll go the distance in a busy home.

We don't recommend it for bathrooms or other wet areas. Hybrid is water resistant, not a sealed, tanked wet-area surface — a bathroom needs proper waterproofing under a fully sealed floor like tiles. Where hybrid shines is kitchens and laundries: it easily handles spills, splashes and everyday humidity in those rooms. For a bathroom, choose a tiled, tanked finish instead.

Easy: a dry or barely-damp microfibre mop and a pH-neutral cleaner. Skip steam mops and harsh chemicals, pop felt pads under chair and table legs, and that's about it.

Very — it's one of the main reasons people choose it. The planks click together with no glue or nails, and the trick is all in the prep: get the subfloor clean and level and the boards more or less go down themselves.

Hybrid flooring vs the alternatives.

Hybrid is the best all-rounder on the market — it does pretty much everything well, which is exactly why so many people land on it. If you want a reliable floor that lasts for years and looks good doing it, hybrid is hard to beat. Once it's fully installed it tends to come in cheaper than a lot of the alternatives, while still giving you great colour options.

That said, no floor is the best at absolutely everything, so here's an honest look at where the alternatives might suit you better:

What matters most to you	Best pick
All-round value, durability and water resistance	Hybrid flooring
Maximum surface scratch resistance	Laminate
Real timber underfoot	Engineered timber
Avoiding levelling an uneven floor	Carpet or vinyl

If outright scratch resistance is your top priority, laminate can have the edge on the surface. If you've got your heart set on real timber underfoot, engineered timber is the better pick. And if your floor is uneven and you'd rather not level it, carpet or vinyl can be a more forgiving option.

For most people, in most homes, hybrid still comes out on top — it's the floor that does everything well without forcing you to pay a premium for it.

Both ranges install with a simple click-lock system — no glue, no nails, no special tools. Float them over concrete, timber, or existing hard floors and you’re done. Make sure you have everything you need with our flooring tools checklist. Not sure which thickness is right? Order free samples to compare, or use our instant quote tool to price your project.

Looking for the designer herringbone pattern? Our 9.

Perspective view of Pacific Spotted Gum SPC Hybrid Floorboards Herringbone 7.5+2mm in Pacific Spotted colour warm tone herringbone flooring sample

How to install hybrid flooring.

Hybrid flooring is designed to be installed by just about anyone, which is a big part of why it's so popular with DIYers. Doing it yourself is one of the easiest ways to save money on the whole job.

The one thing you can never skip is subfloor prep. An uneven floor is the number one reason a hybrid install goes wrong — if the surface isn't level, the boards won't click together properly and you'll fight it the whole way. Get the floor flat and clean first, and everything after that gets a lot easier.

From there it's straightforward. The planks click together seamlessly, and because the underlay is already attached to most boards, you don't need to lay a separate underlay underneath. Work across the room row by row, keep that expansion gap around the edges as you go, and finish off with your trims and transitions to tidy the whole thing up. Honestly, clicking the boards together is the easy part — almost all the real work is in the prep. Get that right and the floor more or less goes down itself.

Unlike solid timber, hybrid flooring won’t expand, cup, or gap with seasonal humidity changes. Unlike laminate, it won’t swell if water sits on the surface. And unlike tiles, it’s warm underfoot, quiet to walk on, and installs in a fraction of the time. For families with kids, pets, or busy households, hybrid is the practical choice that doesn’t sacrifice style. See how hybrid compares to engineered timber and vinyl plank in our detailed comparisons.

It’s also the most versatile flooring option we sell: hybrid works in every room of the house — bedrooms, living areas, kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, and even commercial spaces. That means one floor type can run continuously through your entire home for a seamless, spacious look.

How much does hybrid flooring cost?

Price varies a fair bit depending on quality, plank size and the brand you go with. As a guide, the product itself runs anywhere from $20 to $80 per square metre. Be a little careful at the very cheap end — bargain hybrid can be a false economy if it wears out early and you end up paying to replace it down the track.

Installation usually sits around $35 per square metre, plus the extras like floor levelling, trims and transitions. As a rough rule of thumb, budget around $100 per square metre all up for product and install combined. If your floor needs a lot of levelling work first, expect to go a bit over that.

Hybrid flooring product costs

Installation costs (professional)

Additional costs to factor in

Transition strips & scotia: varies by room layout

Example: 50m² living area with 9.5mm hybrid

For a full cost breakdown including underlay, installation, and accessories, see our hybrid flooring cost guide. Not sure whether to go with 6.5mm or 9.5mm? Our thickness comparison explains the differences. Use our instant quote tool for an accurate estimate based on your exact room measurements.

Three tips for buying and laying hybrid flooring

Three things that make the biggest difference when installing hybrid flooring in your home.

1

Always leave expansion gaps

Hybrid expands and contracts a little as the temperature swings between hot and cold, so leave an expansion joint around the edges of the room. Skip it and the floor has nowhere to move — which is exactly where buckling and lifting come from.

2

Don't forget your accessories

Buying the planks is the main job, but a floor isn't finished until the trims and transitions are in. Budget for them and order them at the same time, so you're not held up at the end waiting on a skirting or a doorway trim.

3

Pick the right thickness

Stick to a good brand between 6mm and 10mm. Thinner tends to feel flimsy underfoot; thicker gets bulky and can actually make the acoustics worse, not better. That 6–10mm range is the sweet spot for most homes.

Hybrid flooring colours and styles.

One of the best things about hybrid is the sheer choice. Because the timber look is printed onto the board, you're not limited to whatever happened to grow — you can get everything from pale, washed-out oaks to warm honey tones and deep, dramatic charcoals, all in the same hard-wearing board.

Lighter floors keep a room feeling open and are brilliant at hiding dust and the odd scratch, which makes them a safe bet for busy homes. Darker boards feel warmer and more premium but show the dust more, so they suit lower-traffic spaces. Plank sizes vary too — wider, longer boards give a modern, seamless look, while a herringbone lay adds a bit of classic character if you want the floor to be a feature. Order a sample or two and stand them up in the actual room before you decide; colour can read completely differently under your own light.

Consider the alternatives:

Laminate (see our range) — cheaper per plank, but not waterproof and generally less durable long-term.
Tiles — waterproof and durable, but cold underfoot, expensive to install, and grout lines need maintenance.

For the vast majority of renovations, it’s the best balance of price and performance available in Australia today. Browse our best hybrid flooring picks for 2026, or learn more about the technology behind it in our SPC flooring guide.

Your complete hybrid flooring guide.

Whether you’re just starting your research or ready to install, we’ve put together everything you need to know about hybrid flooring in one place. Start with our buyer’s guide to find the right product, compare 6.5mm vs 9.5mm thickness, or see how hybrid stacks up against laminate, vinyl plank and engineered timber. For installation, check our guides for concrete subfloors, timber subfloors and tiling over tiles. Planning your budget? See our hybrid flooring cost guide or get an instant quote.

Learn more from our blogs.

How to Clean and Maintain Laminate Flooring

June 23, 2026|Hippo Floors

Laminate is easy to keep looking great, as long as you avoid a few things. Here's how to clean and care for it the right way.

How to Install Laminate Flooring: A Step-by-Step DIY Guide

June 23, 2026|Hippo Floors

Laminate is one of the most DIY-friendly floors there is. Here's how to lay it properly, from subfloor prep to the final trim.

Underlay for Laminate Flooring: Why You Need It and How to Choose

June 23, 2026|Hippo Floors

Laminate needs a separate underlay underneath it. Here's what it does, why it's not optional, and how to pick the right one.

What Our Customers Say.

5.0 out of 5

Absolutely love the flooring

“The quality exceeded my expectations. Installation was straightforward and the finished result looks incredible. Would highly recommend to anyone renovating.”

Best value for money

“Compared dozens of options and nothing came close to the value here. SPC flooring is durable, waterproof, and looks like real timber. Couldn't be happier.”

Great product, fast delivery

“Ordered on Monday, arrived Wednesday. The planks are solid and the click system makes installation a breeze. Took me a weekend for the whole living room.”

Really happy

“Really happy with the selection of flooring, made it hard to choose! Floor came undamaged and looks even better in person. Will definitely use them again.”

Great Flooring

“Great flooring & wonderful service. Definitely recommend!!”

Amazing experience

“Amazing experience with Hippo Floors! Couldn’t be happier with how our floors turned out!”

Ordering again soon

“Ordered the hybrid SPC in the ash grey colour and it arrived faster than expected. Packaging was solid, no damage. Laid it myself over a long weekend and it clicked together really easily. Looks amazing, my partner couldn't believe we did it ourselves. Will be ordering for the second bedroom soon.”

Highly Recommend

“Had a few questions before ordering and Jordan got back to me same day with actually useful answers. Ended up going with the herringbone SPC for our entryway and it's a showstopper. Highly recommend.”

Flooring quality is genuinely good

“Third time ordering from Hippo Floors now. Prices are the best I've found online and the flooring quality is genuinely good. Had one plank arrive with a slight chip on an edge, sent a photo and they sorted it out no drama.”

Would buy again

“Good range, decent prices, fast shipping to regional QLD which I didn't expect. Took off one star only because the colour looked slightly different on my screen vs in person, but honestly once it was down I was happy with it. Would buy again.”

Great product

“Renovating our entire ground floor and went with Hippo Floors after getting quotes from a few places. Saved a decent chunk going direct online and the product is exactly what they describe. Installation team they referred us to was great too.”