How Much Does Flooring Installation Cost?

Flooring Installation Cost Breakdown

New flooring costs depend on several different factors. Are you installing flooring in one room or throughout your home? Do you want a less expensive material like vinyl, or are you ready to purchase hardwood flooring? Let’s take a look at the cost factors to consider.

New flooring costs about $12.50 per square foot, so the larger the project, the more the installation will cost.

You may get a discount on the rate per square foot for larger projects, while some companies may charge a higher flooring cost per square foot for a small job to meet their minimum project cost requirements.

Flooring Type

The price of your new flooring heavily depends on the type of materials you choose. Generally speaking, natural materials are pricier, while synthetic materials are more affordable. For instance, hardwood flooring costs between $6 and $25 per square foot, while linoleum flooring costs $3 to $12 per square foot.

Labor 

Hiring a flooring installer costs about $0.60 to $4 per square foot. Keep in mind that the pro’s hourly rate doesn’t include materials or extra work, like replacing subfloors, removing old flooring, or moving furniture before starting the job.

Moving Furniture

The flooring installation company may charge an additional rate, around $60 to $120 per hour, to remove furniture from the room or home before installing the floors. Save money on your flooring installation costs by moving furniture and other objects prior to the project’s start date.

Removing Old Flooring

Removing old flooring costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot, depending on the type of floor and how it was installed. For example, tile removal costs can range from $2 to $7 per square foot, while removing carpet that is nailed or stapled to the floor costs around $1 to $1.50 per square foot.

Subflooring 

Subflooring replacement costs $3 to $10 per square foot. Subfloors help support your flooring, whether you choose carpet, tile, or hardwood. You need this base layer to be in good condition, so if your subfloors are too weak or have water damage, you’ll need to repair or replace them before installing new flooring.

Underlayment

If your floor type needs underlayment, it will add $0.50 to $5.40 per square foot to the flooring installation cost. Not all floors need underlayment, but you likely need it if you install carpet or laminate flooring.

Stairs

Installing flooring on stairs costs $11 to $160 per step, depending on the type of flooring you choose. The cost of adding carpet to stairs falls on the lower end of the scale because it’s easier to install over the curves and ridges of steps than a rigid material like hardwood, which may cost up to $160 per step due to the complexity of installation and higher cost of the material.

Mold Remediation

Mold remediation costs $10 to $25 per square foot and, if a mold removal pro detects mold, it is a crucial step before laying down new flooring. If a flood or leaky plumbing left mold or water damage under the flooring, you’ll need to factor in the additional costs for a local mold removal service to keep your family safe.

Finishes 

Finishes, like polyurethane, urethane, or wax, cost $0.85 to $7 per square foot. Consider adding a finish to hardwood, natural stone, or concrete flooring to help the material last longer. Finishes are also a good idea for entryways, living rooms, or other high-traffic spaces in your home.

Add-Ons

When you’re putting down new floors, you might look around the room and decide to add some other projects at the same time. Here are the average costs for common floor installation add-ons:

• Baseboards cost: $800–$2,250

• Floor paint costs: $1,000–$2,000

• Radiant floor heating costs: $1,700–$6,000

• Floor joist replacements cost: $4,000–$12,000

• Professional floor cleaning costs: $200–$300

• Hardwood floor refinishing costs: $1,100–$2,600

Location

Like many home improvement projects, the cost of new flooring and its installation depends on the cost of living in your area.

Finding a flooring contractor near you can be simple, but you’ll want to ask questions, such as if they have worked with the type of flooring you’re using before, whether they’ll handle the prep work and clean-up, and if they offer warranties for their parts and labor.

So, how much does new flooring cost for a 500-square-foot area in your region? Here are some ranges from the East Coast to the West Coast:

How Much Does It Cost to Install Flooring Yourself?

Installing new flooring yourself can seem fairly simple, especially if you’re handy and you have a small, regularly shaped room (think basic square or rectangle).

Installing flooring yourself costs from $0.50 to $15 per square foot for materials, not including your prep and labor time. Hiring a local flooring company will run around $3 to $22 per square foot, including labor and materials. 

Benefits of New Flooring 

There are a number of benefits of installing new flooring. Here are just a few. 

• Resale value: Many flooring types increase a home’s resale value.

• Durability: Brand-new flooring refreshes your space and resets the life span of your floors. 

• Improved air quality: Carpet traps dust and other allergens. Installing hard flooring instead leads to better air quality and reduced allergens in the home. 

• Easier maintenance: Carpet stains and can be tough to maintain, but hard flooring can be mopped and swept easily.

• Better aesthetics: You can start from scratch and match the flooring to the rest of the home decor.

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