Floor Installation Costs

Floor Installation Costs 2021 (Installation, Replacement, Pricing)

Everyone knows that the flooring in a home can significantly increase or decrease the home's value. Yet, it’s about more than aesthetics. You need to keep in mind that new flooring can be expensive. 

If you’re looking for accurate cost information for floor installation, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, you'll learn about:

• The average cost of flooring per square foot
• Which flooring materials are the ideal option for your home
• What expenses can affect your floor installation costs
• How to save money in the installation process
• Whether you need to hire a professional to install your floor

What Is The Average Cost Of Flooring Installation Per Square Foot?

In general, the average cost of installing new flooring averages between $6 to $10 per square foot. However, some homeowners have spent from as little as $3 to as high as $18 per square foot. 

Of course, the average cost of your new flooring installation will often depend on the materials you choose. That’s why it’s essential to verify the prices of the different types of flooring you are considering before making a final decision.

What Is The Average Cost Based On Flooring Material?

There are numerous flooring options that you can choose from. However, it’s important to remember that not all flooring is created equal. That’s why understanding your selection is about more than just picking your preferred color and style. 

At the end of the day, you need to find the flooring that works for your needs, the aesthetics of your home, and your budget.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are not only impressionable, but they are, as the name implies, thick and sturdy. Plus, today, these floors are widely available and can significantly increase your home's resale value. If you’re considering wood flooring that features solid wood all the way through, this option may be best for your living room, bedrooms, and areas where moisture won’t accumulate. 

However, for apartments with concrete subfloors or basements, engineered wood may be a good alternative. Engineered wood planks contain a thinner top layer of hardwood that are bonded to other layers and designed to prevent the floor from shifting during contraction or expansion cycles. 

Engineered wood is just as durable as traditional hardwood, and they provide the same timeless and classic hardwood look. 

Typically, hardwood flooring is sold in narrow strips, narrow planks, or broader planks, and it can be laid on existing floors. However, you’ll want to choose wood flooring that’s at least 18 mm thick to get an even installation over old flooring. 

Costs: When it comes to material costs, pricing can range from $4 to $12 per sq.ft. While floor installation costs will vary between $3 and $10 per sq.ft. This cost will often depend on the type of wood (hickory, red oak, real wood, or engineered wood) you choose and whether floors have irregular shapes or vents. 

Laminate Flooring

If you’re looking for a flooring option that’s more affordable but still has unique qualities, then laminate flooring may be the way to go. 

Besides being affordable, certain types of laminate flooring can help make your house quieter by reducing noise levels. Additionally, they are durable and can handle an immense amount of traffic. Because of their water-resistant nature, liquid spills will be easier to clean up. 

Laminates can often look like distressed wood, travertine, or stone tile. And, they can be shaped according to your choosing. 

Even though laminate flooring can’t be repaired, the durability of this type of flooring and its low cost can make it perfect for replacing your existing flooring. 

Costs: If you are looking for a DIY flooring project, laminate flooring can be a great choice, especially with the right instructions. However, if you prefer the professionals to take over, labor costs run between $2.50 and $4.50 per sq. ft. and materials range anywhere from $2 to $5 per sq.ft.

Check out the video below for instructions on installing laminate flooring: 

Carpeting Flooring

Carpet flooring is both trendy and super durable. It’s perfect for high traffic areas such as staircases or hallways.

What makes carpet flooring stand out among the competition is the options available to you. Carpeting can come in all types of textures, designs, and colors. Plus, it’s one of the few flooring options that offer both comfort and aesthetic beauty.

Cost: The cost per square footage for carpet can range anywhere from $1 to $12. Padding costs will average $0.25 to $0.65 per square foot, and labor costs will usually run in the neighborhood of $1 to $2 per sq. ft. However, certain places, such as Home Depot or Lowe's, may offer free carpet installations. 

Natural Stone Flooring

Natural stone is extraordinarily beautiful and provides the home with the look of strength. Better yet, because natural stone is mined, each piece is unique, allowing your floor to look like a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. 

This material is heat and fire resistant, stain and etch-resistant, and scratch and chip resistant. In addition, it can also last a lifetime with proper care. 

Costs: Natural stone pricing can range anywhere from $10 to $25 per square foot, and installation costs usually average between $5.50 and $10.00 per square foot.

Ceramic Tile Flooring

If you’re looking for a luxurious and modern look for an affordable price, then ceramic tile flooring may be just what you need.

Often, ceramic tile is used by buyers who have allergies or are looking for a way to modernize their home and improve its overall beauty. 

This is because you can get incredibly creative with ceramic tile by choosing unique colors and textures and criss-crossing opposing borders to create gorgeous designs. 

Even though ceramic tile is ideal for many living spaces, including living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms, it isn’t recommended for outdoor areas — the tiles can get very cold in the winter. 

Costs: Ceramic tile can run anywhere between $1 and $3 per square foot, while installers often charge $7 to $14 per square foot for labor costs.

Porcelain Tile Flooring

If you’re looking for options to complete your outdoor flooring project, then porcelain tile is an excellent choice. 

Porcelain tiles are heavier than ceramic tiles and should be installed on top of hard surfaces. Due to their firm surfaces, they don’t suffer damage like other tiles when objects fall on them.

The only issue with porcelain tiling is that the installation process is slightly more complicated. Since the tile is not perfectly flat, you’ll want to work with installers who know how to “float” the tile.

Costs: On average, porcelain tile will range anywhere from $0.15 to $15.00 per square foot, and installation costs will start at about $4.00 per square foot. However, these costs can significantly increase due to the time spent on cutting the tile. 

Plus, when you factor in the extra prep work needed with porcelain installation, you may be looking at an overall installation price increase from $1.00 to $5.00 per square foot. 

Vinyl or Linoleum Flooring 

When many people think about vinyl flooring, images of their grandmother's house tend to pop into their minds. However, times have changed and so have the vinyl floors. 

Today, vinyl flooring has not only been revised but also comes with gorgeous finishes. 

What has made this flooring so popular is that it’s economical, versatile, durable, and comes in many designer-friendly options. 

Plus, if you’re looking for that high-end finish, then luxury vinyl tile can be the ideal alternative to costly flooring materials such as wood or natural stone. 

Costs: Decent quality vinyl tiles can range in price from $2.50 to $5.50 per sq. ft. While installation costs can run between $2.50 and $4.50 per sq.ft. depending on the project scope.

What Are The Other Cost Factors? 

Even though materials and installation costs are often the largest factors that determine the price of your flooring, other factors can also impact overall costs. These factors include:

• The cost to remove old floors
• If you need help moving furniture out of the room before the flooring installation 
• If you need to pour concrete down before installing your new floors

DIY Flooring Installation Cost vs. Hiring A Pro

One of the most common questions homeowners have when it comes to their home improvement projects is whether they need to hire a professional or take on the project themselves. However, before you make this critical decision, there are a few factors you need to consider.

• Flooring Products: The first thing you need to look at is the type of flooring you’ll be installing. Will you be updating your flooring with hardwood or carpet? What’s the size of the space you’ll be working with? What types of tools and other materials will you need? 
• Do You Understand The Installation Process: Flooring contractors know that installing a floor is about more than just laying planks down. They need to measure the amount of materials needed, determine whether they need to put down underlayment, cut down plank sizes, and then assemble the different pieces to make sure everything fits perfectly.
• Benefits of a Flooring Contractor: When you hire a contractor to take on your flooring project, many of these professionals guarantee their work and provide assurance that the quality of the job will meet your expectations. If you aren’t happy with the results, they will come back and fix the issue at no charge to you. 

How To Save Money On Flooring Installation Cost?

Take some time to plan before you start picking out your flooring materials and begin the installation process. This prep work can not only end up saving you money and time, but it can also help you avoid numerous costly mistakes. So, before you start the floor installation process, consider the following tips:

• Figure out Your Home's Traffic Patterns: High-traffic areas like kitchens, entryways, or bathrooms need resilient flooring. You’ll want to choose materials such as vinyl planks, solid wood, or laminate for these areas. For less high-traffic areas like your office, carpet or engineered wood may be a great option.
• Buy the Right Amount: Working with an installer can help you calculate exactly how much flooring your home will need. Often, it may also be beneficial to buy up to 10% extra to allow for mistakes. However, these professionals will provide you with a good ballpark figure, so you don’t overspend on materials.
• Install it Properly: If you’d like to save money, you want to make sure that you install your flooring properly — the first time. This is important if you’re having laminate or wood flooring installed. Make sure you allow it to sit unpackaged for one to three days to adjust to the moisture and temperature levels in your home. This can keep the flooring from buckling or creating ugly gaps between boards.