2026 Pricing Guide

Flooring Installation Cost Calculator

Real 2026 pricing data for hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, and carpet installation. Includes material costs, labor rates, and production speeds.

2026 Flooring Costs Per Square Foot

Flooring Type	Material Only	Installed	Best For
Solid Hardwood Oak, maple, cherry	$4-$13	$11-$25	Living rooms, bedrooms, high-end homes
Engineered Hardwood Wood veneer over plywood	$3-$11	$8-$18	Basements, over concrete, humid areas
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) (Popular) Waterproof, wood look	$3-$7	$5-$12	Kitchens, bathrooms, rentals, high traffic
Laminate Photo layer over fiberboard	$1-$5	$4-$14	Budget projects, DIY, low moisture areas
Vinyl Plank/Sheet Standard vinyl	$2-$5	$4-$10	Budget-friendly, moisture-prone areas
Ceramic/Porcelain Tile Stone, wood, or pattern looks	$2-$15	$7-$25	Bathrooms, kitchens, entryways
Carpet With pad	$1-$5	$3-$11	Bedrooms, basements, comfort

Prices are national averages. Actual costs vary by region, subfloor condition, and material quality.

Additional Costs to Include

Don't forget these line items when building your estimate.

Old flooring removal

$1-$3/sq ft

Subfloor repair

$3-$10/sq ft

Baseboard removal

$1-$2/LF

Baseboard install

$2-$4/LF

Furniture moving

$50-$150/room

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Pro tip: Always inspect the subfloor before quoting. Water damage, squeaks, or unevenness can add 20-50% to labor costs. Budget 10% waste for materials (15% for diagonal or complex patterns).

Installation Speed by Material

How much flooring one installer can complete per day.

Hardwood

80-120 sq ft/day

Nail-down method

Laminate

200-400 sq ft/day

Click-lock floating

Vinyl/LVP

200-500 sq ft/day

Click or glue-down

Tile

50-100 sq ft/day

Including grout

Carpet

300-500 sq ft/day

Stretch-in with pad

Quick Reference: Common Job Prices

Bedroom (150 sq ft)

$600 - $2,500

Laminate to hardwood range

Living room (300 sq ft)

$1,200 - $6,000

Vinyl to premium hardwood

Whole house (1,500 sq ft)

$6,000 - $25,000

Depends on material choice

Kitchen (200 sq ft)

$1,000 - $4,000

LVP or tile recommended

Bathroom (50 sq ft)

$400 - $1,500

Tile or waterproof vinyl

Stairs (15 steps)

$1,000 - $3,000

Hardwood or LVP treads

How to Estimate a Flooring Job

Measure the space

Calculate square footage (length × width). For irregular rooms, break into rectangles and add them up.

Total sq ft = Room 1 + Room 2 + Hallways + Closets

Add waste factor

Budget extra material for cuts, mistakes, and future repairs.

Standard rooms: +10% waste
Diagonal/herringbone: +15% waste
Complex layouts: +20% waste

Calculate materials

Include flooring, underlayment, transitions, baseboards, and adhesive/nails if needed.

Estimate labor

Divide square footage by daily production rate, then multiply by your day rate.

Labor days = Sq ft ÷ Production rate
Labor cost = Days × Day rate

Add markup

Most flooring contractors add 20-35% markup to cover overhead and profit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does flooring installation cost per square foot?

Flooring installation costs $4 to $15 per square foot on average, depending on the material. Laminate costs $4-$14/sq ft installed, vinyl plank $4-$10/sq ft, hardwood $11-$25/sq ft, and tile $7-$25/sq ft. Labor typically runs $2-$8 per square foot depending on complexity and material.

What is the cheapest flooring to install?

Laminate and vinyl plank flooring are the most affordable options at $4-$14 per square foot installed. Carpet is also budget-friendly at $3-$11 per square foot installed. These materials are faster to install (200-500 sq ft/day vs 50-120 for hardwood/tile), which reduces labor costs.

How long does it take to install flooring?

Installation speed varies by material. Laminate and vinyl can be installed at 200-500 sq ft per day per installer. Hardwood takes longer at 80-120 sq ft per day (nail-down). Tile is slowest at 50-100 sq ft per day including grout time. A typical 500 sq ft room takes 1-2 days for vinyl, 4-6 days for hardwood, or 5-10 days for tile.

Should I charge for old flooring removal?

Yes. Removal is a separate line item, typically $1-$3 per square foot depending on the existing material. Carpet is easiest to remove, tile and glued-down flooring take longer. Also include disposal fees if you're hauling away the old material.