How much does flooring installation cost?
New flooring costs $1,600 to $6,500 for a typical 500 square foot project, about $3,500 on average. Installed pricing runs $3 to $25 per square foot depending on material.
National average
$3,500
Typical low
$1,600
Typical high
$6,500
Per square foot
$3 – $25
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Estimated project cost
$1,500 – $5,500
Most homeowners pay around $3,500
Compare flooring material
Cost by material
Installed pricing per square foot.
| Option | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Carpet | $3 – $11 |
| Laminate | $4 – $10 |
| Luxury vinyl plank | $5 – $14 |
| Engineered hardwood | $8 – $18 |
| Solid hardwood | $9 – $25 |
| Ceramic or porcelain tile | $10 – $25 |
| Natural stone | $15 – $35 |
Cost by project size
| Area | Laminate or LVP | Hardwood | Tile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 sq ft (bedroom) | $800 – $2,800 | $1,800 – $5,000 | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 – $12,500 | $5,000 – $12,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $4,000 – $14,000 | $9,000 – $25,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $6,000 – $21,000 | $13,500 – $37,500 | $15,000 – $37,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft (whole home) | $10,000 – $35,000 | $22,500 – $62,500 | $25,000 – $62,500 |
Best material by room
| Room | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | LVP or tile | Waterproof and easy to clean |
| Bathroom | Tile | Handles standing water |
| Basement | LVP | Tolerates moisture and slab movement |
| Bedrooms | Carpet or engineered wood | Comfort and warmth |
| Living areas | Hardwood or LVP | Best resale and durability |
Where the money goes
A typical project budget, broken down by line item.
- Materials50% · $1,750
- Labor33% · $1,155
- Removal and disposal9% · $315
- Underlayment and trim8% · $280
Cost by region
Labor markets move the number more than any other single factor.
Northeast metro
$1,888 – $7,670
+18% vs. national average
West Coast metro
$1,856 – $7,540
+16% vs. national average
Mountain West
$1,664 – $6,760
+4% vs. national average
Midwest
$1,600 – $6,500
At the national average
South & Southeast
$1,488 – $6,045
-7% vs. national average
Rural nationwide
$1,440 – $5,850
-10% vs. national average
Common add-ons
Line items that show up on most quotes but rarely in the headline price.
Old flooring removal
Per square foot
Subfloor leveling
Per square foot
Stair treads
Per stair
Baseboard and quarter round
Per linear foot
Furniture moving
DIY vs. hiring a pro
Hire a pro
$1,600 – $6,500
Do it yourself
$600 – $3,000
Floating laminate and click LVP are genuinely DIY-friendly and save the $2-$5 per square foot labor. Tile, glue-down and nail-down hardwood are not.
Ways to save
Practical levers that lower the bill without cutting quality.
- Choose click-lock LVP or laminate and install it yourself in low-traffic rooms.
- Buy material during holiday flooring sales and have the retailer store it.
- Keep the same material throughout to avoid transition strips and extra cuts.
- Remove old carpet and haul it yourself — that alone saves $1 to $2 per square foot.
- Order 7% to 10% overage, not 20%; excess material is money left on the floor.
Questions to ask your contractor
- 01Is removal and disposal of the old floor included?
- 02How will you check and correct the subfloor, and what does that cost?
- 03What underlayment and moisture barrier are you using?
- 04Who moves and returns the furniture and appliances?
- 05How much waste factor is in the material quote?
- 06What is the labor warranty if boards cup or gap?
Frequently asked questions
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Get flooring quotesFlooring Installation cost by city
Local labor rates, permits and climate change the number. Pick your city for prices near you.
Flooring Installation cost in Los Angeles, CA
$1,984 – $8,060
Flooring Installation cost in San Diego, CA
$1,888 – $7,670
Flooring Installation cost in San Jose, CA
$2,208 – $8,970
Flooring Installation cost in San Francisco, CA
$2,320 – $9,425
Flooring Installation cost in Oakland, CA
$2,112 – $8,580
Flooring Installation cost in Sacramento, CA
$1,728 – $7,020
Flooring Installation cost in Fresno, CA
$1,568 – $6,370
Flooring Installation cost in Long Beach, CA
$1,952 – $7,930
Flooring Installation cost in Anaheim, CA
$1,920 – $7,800
Flooring Installation cost in Santa Ana, CA
$1,904 – $7,735
Flooring Installation cost in Irvine, CA
$2,016 – $8,190
Flooring Installation cost in Riverside, CA
$1,696 – $6,890
Flooring Installation cost in San Bernardino, CA
$1,648 – $6,695
Flooring Installation cost in Bakersfield, CA
$1,552 – $6,305
Flooring Installation cost in Stockton, CA
$1,632 – $6,630
Flooring Installation cost in Modesto, CA
$1,600 – $6,500
Flooring Installation cost in Chula Vista, CA
$1,840 – $7,475
Flooring Installation cost in Fremont, CA
$2,160 – $8,775
Flooring Installation cost in Pasadena, CA
$2,048 – $8,320
Flooring Installation cost in Glendale, CA
$2,000 – $8,125
Flooring Installation cost in Santa Clarita, CA
$1,856 – $7,540
Flooring Installation cost in Torrance, CA
$1,968 – $7,995
Flooring Installation cost in Oxnard, CA
$1,824 – $7,410
Flooring Installation cost in San Mateo, CA
$2,240 – $9,100