Event Flooring Cost Guide (Artificial Grass vs Carpet vs Vinyl)

Whether you’re hosting a corporate activation, brand pop-up, festival zone or VIP hospitality area, the flooring you choose sets the tone for the entire event. It affects safety, comfort, durability, cost – and even how well your campaign photographs.

This guide compares the real costs of artificial grass vs event carpet vs vinyl flooring, including per m² prices, hire vs buy, outdoor suitability and which option delivers the best value for your event type.

Looking for ready-to-hire event flooring? Explore our Artificial Grass Hire options.

Jump to:

• Event Flooring Cost per m² (Comparison Table)
• Artificial Grass Event Flooring Costs
• Event Carpet Costs
• Vinyl Event Flooring Costs
• Outdoor Event Flooring Options
• What Affects Event Flooring Cost?
• Hire vs Buy
• Real Event Cost Examples
• Which Flooring Is Best?
• Event Flooring FAQs

Event Flooring Cost per m² (Comparison Table)

The table below shows typical industry costs for temporary event flooring. Prices vary depending on installation time, location, access and weather plans.

Flooring Type	Cost per m²	Best For	Pros	Cons
Artificial Grass (Hire)	£8–£18	Outdoor events, brand activations, VIP areas	Weather-proof, premium look, reusable, safe	Slightly higher cost than carpet
Event Carpet	£5–£12	Indoor corporate spaces, short events	Cheap, soft, quick install	Poor outdoors, single-use waste
Vinyl Flooring	£15–£35	Exhibitions, branded indoor spaces	Brandable, durable, clean finish	Slippery, difficult outdoors, adhesives needed

Artificial Grass Event Flooring Costs

Artificial grass is one of the most premium and versatile event flooring options – especially for brand showcases, VIP areas, outdoor activations and high-footfall spaces.

Artificial Grass Hire Costs:

• £8–£18 per m² (including installation, cleaning and removal)

Artificial Grass Purchase Costs:

• £15–£25 per m² (turf only)

Ideal for:

• Corporate events & sponsorship zones
• Festivals & outdoor hospitality
• Exhibitions needing natural aesthetics
• Sports brand activations
• Product launches & photo areas

Explore our event flooring services:

Artificial Grass Hire • Corporate Event Flooring

Event Carpet Costs

Event carpet is the go-to choice for indoor exhibitions. It’s affordable and simple – but rarely suitable for outdoor use.

Typical Carpet Costs:

• £5–£12 per m²

Pros:

• Cheap for short events
• Soft underfoot & comfortable
• Wide colour choices

Cons:

• Not waterproof
• Single-use waste
• Wears down quickly

Vinyl Event Flooring Costs

Vinyl flooring is popular in indoor exhibitions where a clean, modern look is needed – or when branding is required.

Typical Vinyl Costs:

• £15–£35 per m²

Pros:

• Brandable surface
• Durable for indoor events
• Easy to wipe clean

Cons:

• Slippery when wet
• Not suitable outdoors
• Needs adhesive (extra labour)

Outdoor Event Flooring Options

Outdoor flooring must deal with rain, mud, ground movement and uneven surfaces – where artificial grass performs exceptionally well.

Best outdoor option: Commercial-grade artificial grass

Because it is:

• Weather-proof
• Non-slip
• Fast-draining
• Reusable
• Camera-ready

What Affects Event Flooring Cost?

Several real-world factors change the final price:

• Access & loading (stairs, lifts, long distances)
• Subfloor condition (uneven, soft ground requires prep)
• Weather planning for outdoor installs
• Branding requirements
• Installation window (overnight or rapid builds cost more)
• Hire duration
• Waste & removal requirements

Hire vs Buy – Which Is Cheaper?

Choosing between hiring and buying event flooring comes down to how often you use it and how much storage or transport you have. Here’s how the costs typically stack up.

Hire is cheaper for:

• One-off events
• Short installations
• Large multi-day activations

Buying may be cheaper for:

• Brands who attend multiple events per year
• Repeated exhibition layouts
• Permanent commercial displays

Event Flooring Cost Examples

To give you a realistic idea of budgeting, here are two real-world scenarios showing how artificial grass, carpet and vinyl compare at different event sizes.

Example 1: 100m² Corporate Pop-Up

A 100m² footprint is common for branded pop-ups, product launches and sponsorship zones. Here’s what different flooring types typically cost:

• Artificial Grass Hire: £1,000–£1,800
• Event Carpet: £500–£1,200
• Vinyl: £1,500–£3,000

Example 2: 200m² Outdoor Hospitality Space

Double the space, double the pressure on flooring choice. Here’s how costs change outdoors:

• Artificial Grass Hire: £1,600–£3,600
• Carpet unsuitable
• Vinyl unsuitable

Which Event Flooring Is Best?

The right flooring depends on your location, budget and event style.

Choose Artificial Grass If:

• Your event is outdoors
• You want a premium or branded aesthetic
• You need fast installation and removal
• You want safe, non-slip surfaces
• You need clean visuals for photography

Choose Carpet If:

• Event is fully indoors
• Short duration (1–2 days)
• You are working with a tight budget

Choose Vinyl If:

• You’re in an exhibition hall
• You need a printable or branded surface
• You want a modern, clean look

Event Flooring FAQs

These are the questions we’re asked most often when planning indoor and outdoor event flooring across the UK.

What’s the cheapest event flooring?

Event carpet is typically the cheapest at £5–£12 per m². For outdoor events, artificial grass usually offers the best value over the full lifecycle of the event.

Can artificial grass be used indoors?

Yes – we regularly install artificial grass inside exhibition halls, hospitality suites and corporate venues.

How long does event flooring take to install?

Most 100–200 m² installs are completed within 1–3 hours depending on access and layout.

Is artificial grass safe for high heels?

Yes – event-grade turf is dense and stable, making it suitable for heels, heavy footfall and walkways.

Do you handle installation and derig?

Yes – we manage the full service: delivery, install, cleaning, derig and collection.

Can artificial grass be branded?

Yes – we offer coloured turf options and cut-in logos for brand experiences.