How much flooring installation costs
Quick answer
New flooring in the US usually costs $3 to $25 per square foot installed, depending on the material. Laminate and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) sit at the low end, at about $4 to $16 per square foot installed. Engineered wood runs $7 to $20, solid hardwood $11 to $25, and tile $10 to $50. For a 500-square-foot area, that means roughly $2,000 to $7,000 for LVP and $5,500 to $12,500 for hardwood.
| Job | US average (typical range) | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP), installed | $4–$14/sq ft | $8/sq ft |
| Laminate, installed | $4–$12/sq ft | $7/sq ft |
| Engineered wood, installed | $7–$20/sq ft | $12/sq ft |
| Solid hardwood, installed | $11–$25/sq ft | $16/sq ft |
| Tile, installed | $10–$35/sq ft | $18/sq ft |
| Old floor removal | $1–$4/sq ft | $2/sq ft |
| Subfloor repair or replacement | $2–$9/sq ft | $5/sq ft |
| Luxury vinyl plank, 500 sq ft | $2,000–$7,000 | $4,000 |
| Hardwood, 500 sq ft | $5,500–$12,500 | $8,000 |
US national averages for 2026, labor and standard materials included, from published cost guides (sources at the end of this page). Local prices differ: see the city table below, or enter your ZIP code in the calculator.
Flooring materials compared
HomeGuide's national prices for material alone and installed:
| Material | Material only, per sq ft | Installed, per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet | $1 to $5 | $2 to $8 |
| Sheet vinyl | $1 to $4 | $2 to $7 |
| Laminate | $1 to $6 | $4 to $14 |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | $2 to $10 | $4 to $16 |
| Engineered wood | $2 to $9 | $7 to $20 |
| Bamboo | $3 to $8 | $7 to $17 |
| Solid hardwood | $4 to $15 | $11 to $25 |
| Tile | $2 to $30 | $10 to $50 |
| Marble | $5 to $20 | $10 to $40 |
Find a flooring installer near you
Enter your ZIP code to see local flooring prices and get matched with a vetted, licensed flooring installer for your area. GOLDGCP works in every US ZIP code.
Flooring costs in 50 US metros
This table prices 500 square feet of luxury vinyl plank in each of the 50 largest US metros, using each metro's construction cost factor.
| Metro | Cost factor | Luxury vinyl plank, 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 1.31 | $2,600–$9,150 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 1.28 | $2,550–$8,950 |
| San Jose | 1.28 | $2,550–$8,950 |
| Boston | 1.23 | $2,450–$8,600 |
| Chicago | 1.20 | $2,400–$8,400 |
| San Diego | 1.19 | $2,400–$8,350 |
| Sacramento | 1.17 | $2,350–$8,200 |
| Philadelphia | 1.15 | $2,300–$8,050 |
| Seattle | 1.15 | $2,300–$8,050 |
| Providence | 1.15 | $2,300–$8,050 |
| Los Angeles | 1.14 | $2,300–$8,000 |
| Detroit | 1.13 | $2,250–$7,900 |
| Riverside–San Bernardino | 1.11 | $2,200–$7,750 |
| Portland | 1.10 | $2,200–$7,700 |
| Las Vegas | 1.10 | $2,200–$7,700 |
| Milwaukee | 1.10 | $2,200–$7,700 |
| Hartford | 1.10 | $2,200–$7,700 |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul | 1.06 | $2,100–$7,400 |
| Pittsburgh | 1.06 | $2,100–$7,400 |
| Denver | 1.05 | $2,100–$7,350 |
| Washington DC | 1.04 | $2,100–$7,300 |
| St. Louis | 1.04 | $2,100–$7,300 |
| Cincinnati | 1.02 | $2,050–$7,150 |
| Salt Lake City | 0.99 | $2,000–$6,950 |
| Orlando | 0.98 | $1,950–$6,850 |
| Columbus | 0.98 | $1,950–$6,850 |
| Cleveland | 0.98 | $1,950–$6,850 |
| Baltimore | 0.96 | $1,900–$6,700 |
| Kansas City | 0.96 | $1,900–$6,700 |
| Jacksonville | 0.96 | $1,900–$6,700 |
| Virginia Beach–Norfolk | 0.94 | $1,900–$6,600 |
| Miami | 0.93 | $1,850–$6,500 |
| Tampa | 0.93 | $1,850–$6,500 |
| Indianapolis | 0.93 | $1,850–$6,500 |
| Phoenix | 0.90 | $1,800–$6,300 |
| Rochester | 0.90 | $1,800–$6,300 |
| Oklahoma City | 0.89 | $1,800–$6,250 |
| Buffalo | 0.89 | $1,800–$6,250 |
| Nashville | 0.87 | $1,750–$6,100 |
| Memphis | 0.87 | $1,750–$6,100 |
| Richmond | 0.87 | $1,750–$6,100 |
| Louisville | 0.86 | $1,700–$6,000 |
| Birmingham | 0.86 | $1,700–$6,000 |
| Atlanta | 0.85 | $1,700–$5,950 |
| Charlotte | 0.85 | $1,700–$5,950 |
| Raleigh–Durham | 0.85 | $1,700–$5,950 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | 0.84 | $1,700–$5,900 |
| Houston | 0.82 | $1,650–$5,750 |
| Austin | 0.82 | $1,650–$5,750 |
| San Antonio | 0.80 | $1,600–$5,600 |
Cost factors from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). Outside these metros, the calculator uses your state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Linked metros have a full local guide.
How to measure a room for flooring
Flooring is sold and installed by the square foot, so the measurement drives the price.
- Measure the length and width of the room in feet, at the longest and widest points.
- Multiply length by width. A 12-by-15-foot room is 180 square feet.
- For an L-shaped or irregular room, split it into rectangles, work out each one, and add them together.
- Add 5% to 10% for waste from cuts, and more for diagonal layouts or patterned tile.
- Include closets and the space under appliances that will be floored.
For a whole floor of the house, add up each room the same way. Installers will measure again before ordering, but your own number lets you check quotes.
Choosing a floor for each room
- Kitchens and bathrooms need water resistance. LVP, tile and sheet vinyl handle spills and mopping; solid hardwood and many laminates do not.
- Basements and slabs below ground level suit LVP, tile and engineered wood rated for those conditions. Solid hardwood can cup and swell over damp concrete.
- Living rooms and bedrooms can take anything. Hardwood and engineered wood add warmth and resale appeal; carpet is quiet and soft underfoot.
- Homes with pets and kids do well with LVP and tile, which resist scratches and stains better than softwoods and carpet.
LVP versus laminate
Both look like wood and cost about the same installed. LVP is made of vinyl layers, so most products are waterproof and work in kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Laminate has a wood-fiber core that can swell if water gets into the seams, though it usually resists scratches better and feels more like wood underfoot. For wet areas, LVP is the safer choice. For dry living spaces, either works well.
Costs beyond the floor itself
Quotes can rise once the old floor comes up. Ask for prices on:
- Removing and disposing of the old flooring, about $1 to $4 per square foot
- Repairing or replacing the subfloor, about $2 to $9 per square foot
- Leveling a concrete slab or uneven subfloor
- Moving furniture and appliances
- New baseboards, quarter round and transitions between rooms
- Stairs, which are priced per step and cost much more per square foot than flat areas
How long flooring installation takes
A crew can usually install LVP or laminate in a 500-square-foot area in one or two days. Tile takes longer because it has to be set, cured and grouted, often three to five days for the same area. Solid hardwood may need to sit in the house for several days before installation so it adjusts to the humidity, and site-finished hardwood needs extra days for sanding and finish coats.
Underlayment and subfloor
What goes under the floor matters as much as the floor itself. The subfloor is the plywood or concrete layer the flooring sits on; it has to be flat, dry and solid, or the new floor will squeak, gap or crack. Underlayment is a thin layer between the subfloor and the flooring that cushions it, reduces noise and, in some products, blocks moisture. Many LVP and laminate products have underlayment attached; others need it added. Over concrete, a moisture barrier is usually required for wood and laminate.
Example: flooring one room
For a 12-by-15-foot bedroom, 180 square feet, plus about 10% for waste, you need roughly 200 square feet of flooring. At national installed prices, that comes to about $800 to $3,200 for luxury vinyl plank, $800 to $2,800 for laminate, and $2,200 to $5,000 for solid hardwood, before removal of the old floor, subfloor repairs and new baseboards.
Refinishing hardwood instead of replacing it
Solid hardwood floors can usually be sanded and refinished several times over their life, which costs much less than new flooring and can make a worn floor look new. Refinishing makes sense when the boards are solid and flat, and the damage is in the finish: scratches, dull spots and gray worn paths. Replacement makes more sense when boards are cupped from water damage, loose throughout, or too thin from past sanding.
Flooring for basements and concrete slabs
Concrete holds moisture, and below ground it often stays damp. The safest choices over a slab are luxury vinyl plank, tile and sheet vinyl, which aren't harmed by moisture. Engineered wood rated for concrete can work with a proper moisture barrier. Solid hardwood is a poor choice below grade because it absorbs moisture and can cup or buckle. Before installing any floor on concrete, the installer should test the slab's moisture level and check that it is flat, since dips and humps show through thin floors.
How long different floors last
With normal care, quality tile and solid hardwood can last for decades, and hardwood can be refinished when the surface wears. Engineered wood lasts a long time if its top layer is thick enough to be sanded. Luxury vinyl plank and laminate wear more slowly with a thicker wear layer, so compare wear-layer thickness when choosing products, not just the look. Carpet in busy areas usually needs replacing soonest.
How to hire a flooring installer
- Check the contractor's license and insurance where your state requires them.
- Make sure the quote states the exact product, the square footage including waste, and what prep and removal are included.
- Ask how they check moisture in a concrete slab before installing wood or laminate.
- Ask about the warranty on installation as well as the manufacturer's product warranty.
- Pay in stages, with the final payment after the floors and trim are finished.
Every installer in the GOLDGCP network passes a license check, insurance verification, a background check and reference calls before getting a job, and you pay in milestones as the work gets done.
Frequently asked questions
How much does flooring installation cost?
Usually $3 to $25 per square foot installed in the US, depending on the material. Laminate and LVP cost about $4 to $16, engineered wood $7 to $20, hardwood $11 to $25 and tile $10 to $50 per square foot.
How much does laminate flooring installation cost?
About $4 to $14 per square foot installed, or $1 to $6 for the material alone. Removal of old flooring and subfloor repairs cost extra.
How much does it cost to install luxury vinyl plank?
About $4 to $16 per square foot installed. A 500-square-foot room or floor costs roughly $2,000 to $7,000 at national prices.
How do I calculate the square footage of a room?
Multiply the length of the room by its width in feet. For irregular rooms, split them into rectangles and add the results, then add 5% to 10% for waste.
What is the best flooring for kitchens and bathrooms?
Water-resistant flooring: luxury vinyl plank, tile or sheet vinyl. Solid hardwood and many laminates can be damaged by standing water.
Is LVP better than laminate?
For wet areas, yes, because most LVP is waterproof. Laminate often resists scratches better and feels more like wood, so it suits dry living areas well.
How long does it take to install new floors?
LVP or laminate in a 500-square-foot area usually takes one or two days. Tile takes three to five days for the same area because of curing and grouting.
Can new flooring go over an existing floor?
Sometimes. Floating floors such as LVP and laminate can often go over flat, solid vinyl or tile, which saves removal costs. Carpet always has to come out, and installing over an uneven or damaged floor causes problems later. Raising the floor height can also affect doors, appliances and transitions, so the installer should check before deciding.
How we calculate these prices
GOLDGCP starts from national price ranges for each job, taken from published 2026 cost guides and checked against local price guides where they exist. To get a local price, we multiply the national range by the construction cost factor for the metro from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). For ZIP codes outside the 50 largest metros, the calculator uses the state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. Ranges include labor and standard materials but not unusual site conditions, so a written quote after an inspection is always the final price.
Sources
- How much does flooring installation cost? · HomeGuide
- Area Cost Factors, PAX Newsletter 3.2.1 (2024) · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Regional Price Parities by State · U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.