Australian flooring guide · Reviewed 2026
Best Hybrid Flooring Thickness: 5mm, 6.5mm or 7mm?
There is no single “best” hybrid flooring thickness. In today's Australian market, total builds commonly run from about 5.5 mm through 9.5 mm and above.
There is no single “best” hybrid flooring thickness. In today’s Australian market, total builds commonly run from about 5.5 mm through 9.5 mm and above. The right choice depends on the complete plank system, your subfloor, door and transition heights, acoustic brief and the manufacturer’s installation rules—not the biggest number on the box.
Start with the three thickness numbers
Overall build
Core, surface layers and any attached backing combined. This controls finished-floor height, but it is not a durability score.
Surface specification
Usually shown in millimetres in Australia. It is one useful durability input alongside the coating, embossing and warranty.
Part of a system
IXPE or another backing can change feel and test results. Its thickness alone does not prove apartment acoustic compliance.
How current thickness bands compare
| Typical total build | Where it can make sense | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| About 5–6 mm | Renovations with tight door clearances, suitable flat substrates and a controlled budget. | Click profile, wear layer, backing, warranty and the exact flatness tolerance. |
| About 6–7 mm | A common practical band for detached homes and general living areas. | Do not assume every 6.5 mm product performs alike; compare the complete specification. |
| About 7–9 mm | Projects wanting a more substantial build or a particular plank format and backing. | Door clearance, adjoining floors, stairs, cabinetry and independent acoustic evidence. |
| 9.5 mm+ | Specific premium constructions, long planks or projects selected around a tested system. | Extra height is useful only when the rest of the specification suits the project. |
The Flooring Guys’ current online hybrid range spans these bands, including products around 5.5 mm, 5.8 mm, 6 mm, 6.5 mm, 7 mm, 8–8.5 mm and 9–9.7 mm. Availability changes, so confirm the exact product page and data sheet.
Thicker does not fix an uneven subfloor
A rigid plank needs continuous support. High spots, hollows and abrupt changes can load the click joints, create movement and produce noise regardless of plank thickness. Measure the substrate and prepare it to the selected manufacturer’s limit. Those limits vary: one published rigid-core guide, for example, permits no more than 5 mm deviation under a 3 m straightedge for that particular system. It is not a universal rule for every hybrid.
Select the product first, then prepare the floor to that product’s written instructions. Never reverse-engineer a plank thickness to avoid levelling.
Apartment acoustics: select the tested system
A thicker plank may feel different in the room, but body-corporate approval is about impact sound transmitted through the building. Results depend on the plank, backing or separate underlay, slab, ceiling and test method together. Ask for a relevant laboratory or field report, check the reported construction, and compare it with the building’s acoustic requirement. Do not add a second underlay unless the flooring manufacturer expressly approves that combination.
Underfloor heating: approval beats assumptions
Thinner is not automatically better and thicker is not automatically safer. Check that the exact range and the heating system are compatible, then follow the temperature ramp-up, moisture and maximum interface-temperature instructions. Some current rigid-core installation guides use 27°C as a limit at the product/subfloor interface; other products can differ. Written approval and the current warranty matter more than a generic number.
Wear layer and coating matter more for day-to-day wear
Total thickness mostly describes the build. Scratches, scuffs and visible wear occur at the surface. Compare wear-layer thickness in millimetres, the coating system, the residential or commercial use class where supplied, and the warranty exclusions. A thinner plank with a stronger surface specification can be the better match for pets or a busy hallway than a thicker plank with a lighter-duty finish.
Choose in this order
- Room and approval: confirm the exact product is suitable for the room, sunlight, heating and any strata requirements.
- Subfloor: test flatness and moisture, then price the required preparation.
- Finished height: check doors, trims, stairs, appliances and adjoining floors.
- Performance documents: read the current data sheet, installation guide, warranty and relevant test reports.
- Visual choice: view a physical sample in the room’s daylight before ordering.
Room-by-room starting point
Detached living areas
Start by comparing well-supported mid-band products, then choose by surface specification, board size, warranty and price.
Apartments
Start with the building’s written acoustic requirement and an applicable test report, not a minimum plank thickness.
Renovations
Finished height can decide the shortlist. Measure doors, transitions, stairs and fixed appliances before committing.
Wet or heated rooms
Use only an expressly approved product and follow its wet-area or underfloor-heating details. The floor finish does not replace required waterproofing.
Frequently asked questions
Is 6.5 mm hybrid flooring always the best?
No. It is a common and useful comparison point, but two 6.5 mm floors can have different cores, wear layers, click systems, backings, warranties and test evidence.
Is thicker hybrid quieter?
Not reliably. Perceived sound and downstairs impact sound are different. Use evidence for the complete installed system and the actual building construction.
Can a thicker hybrid go over an uneven slab?
Not when the slab is outside the product’s specified tolerance. Repair high and low areas before installation.
What thickness works over underfloor heating?
Only a range approved for the specific heating type. Follow the written temperature and operating limits; do not choose from total thickness alone.
Sources and verification
- Karndean Australia/NZ 2G rigid-core installation guide — example of product-specific flatness, conditioning and heating limits.
Compare the complete floor, not one headline number.
Bring your room dimensions, subfloor details and any strata requirement. We can help shortlist compatible products and prepare an itemised flooring quote.