How Much Does Flooring Installation Cost in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

Flooring installation costs $3,162 on average, but it can range quite a bit, from as $200 to as much as $12,000. Your total square footage and chosen material drive the final price tag. You could pay as little as $3 per square foot for budget-friendly vinyl flooring or as high as $22 per square foot for high-end hardwood flooring installation.

Your total square footage and chosen material drive the final price tag. For a typical 320-square-foot living room, expect to invest about $4,000. A budget pick can run as low as $960, while a high-end makeover can climb to $7,000 or more.

Flooring Installation Cost Factors

Because flooring is labor-intensive, plan on putting most of your budget toward the local flooring pro you hire—roughly 60% of the total. Materials generally cover the remaining 40%. The good news is that today’s market offers nearly every style, color, and price point, so you can match your design goals without stretching your wallet.

Area Size

Square footage is the single biggest driver of cost. The larger the room, the more materials and labor hours you’ll pay for. Some pros discount bigger jobs, while very small spaces can push the per-square-foot rate higher. Most projects fall between $3 and $22 per square foot, though premium materials or tricky layouts can boost the price.

Flooring prices include ripping up and disposing of old material, but do not include replacing subflooring, underlayment, baseboards, or trim. If you only need to refloor a portion of your home, the cost breakdown by room may be a helpful guide.

Materials

The cost of replacing flooring varies substantially based on material quality, availability, and aesthetics. Material costs start at $1.50 per square foot for budget-friendly vinyl or linoleum. Hardwood, on the other hand, can run up to $29 per square foot, including installation fees.

Vinyl and Linoleum

Installing linoleum or vinyl flooring costs $1.50 to $20 per square foot. Expect to pay $2,000 to $14,000 for 1,000 square feet of vinyl flooring and $3,000 to $12,000 for the same area of linoleum flooring. Both vinyl and linoleum are low maintenance, available in a variety of colors, and offer a soft feel. However, they are not considered an eco-friendly option and can gouge more easily than harder flooring materials.

Wood Tile

Wood tile flooring can cost from $1.50 to $21.50 per square foot. Expect to pay $15,000 to $20,000 for tile that looks like hardwood but at a much more affordable price. It’s waterproof, easy to clean, and will not warp. However, wood tiles can be slippery when wet, and they cannot be refinished.

Laminate

Installing laminate flooring costs $1.70 to $17 per square foot, or between $3,000 and $13,000 for 1,000 square feet. The biggest advantage of laminate flooring is that it can be installed over existing floors. This low-maintenance option is durable and affordable. However, it is not possible to refinish or sand laminate, and some varieties may also be slippery.

Carpet

Carpet installation costs $3 to $22 per square foot. For 1,000 square feet, carpet installation costs range from $3,500 to $11,000. Builder-grade olefin and polyester materials are less expensive than high-end wool carpets or specialty materials. Carpeting provides good insulation, dampens noise, and is fairly low maintenance, but it can trap moisture, leading to mold and mildew.

Tile

Tile installation costs vary widely but can run from $3 to $30 per square foot. For 1,000 square feet, tile installation costs typically range from $15,000 to $20,000 or more. Some specialty tiles, like agate, abalone, and mother of pearl, are more expensive. While tile flooring is durable and easy to maintain, it is difficult to install, can be broken by heavy objects, and may be slippery when wet.

Hardwood

Installing hardwood flooring costs an average of $4 to $29 per square foot. For 1,000 square feet, hardwood flooring installation costs range from $6,000 to $25,000, though most homeowners run from $3,000 to $14,000 between several types of hardwood flooring, including parquet and various species of wood. Engineered hardwood flooring costs less to achieve a similar look.

You can refinish real hardwood flooring several times for a refresh. It does not attract or retain dirt and microbes like carpeting, but hardwood can warp from excess moisture or humidity.

Stone

Natural stone flooring costs $7 to $27 per square foot. For 1,000 square feet, stone flooring costs range from $6,000 to $20,000, including installation. For materials alone, expect to pay between $4,000 and $20,000. Slate and travertine tiles, which are naturally textured and non-slip, can cost as little as $4 per square foot, while marble and granite can cost up to $20 per square foot.

Natural stone flooring is durable, easy to maintain, and works well with radiant heating systems. While it comes in a broad array of styles, colors, and finishes, stone flooring can be costly. Some types are easy to chip, and most types need regular sealing.

Prep

Clear the room before the crew arrives. Pros usually charge $60 to $120 an hour to move furniture, so a packed space can quickly inflate your bill. If you can slide couches and bookcases out on your own—or recruit a friend—you’ll keep more cash in your budget.

Underlayment and Subfloor Replacement

Sub-floor replacement costs $3 to $10 per square foot, and installing underlayment costs $0.50 to $5.40 per square foot. Both include the removal and disposal of the old material.

The subfloor is the layer below the flooring. Common subfloor problems can include water damage and broken or sunken floorboards. Underlayment is sandwiched between the flooring and the subfloor. While not strictly necessary with tiles or hardwood, it is necessary for vinyl, laminate, and carpet.

Other Flooring Installation Cost Factors

The type of flooring you choose impacts the cost of replacing it in your home. Labor rates in your area, old flooring removal and disposal, asbestos testing, and mold remediation are also substantial cost factors to consider.

Labor

Labor rates vary between $1 and $15 per square foot. The cost range varies widely because the various types of flooring have differing difficulty, complexity, and time requirements. Flooring installers charge $60 to $120 per hour, depending on their skill, the difficulty of the job, and your location.

Removal and Disposal

Removing old flooring costs an additional $1 to $6 per square foot. Vinyl, laminate, and carpet removal cost less because the job is more straightforward. Hardwood and tile flooring are comparatively more challenging and priced higher to remove.

Asbestos and Mold Remediation

Asbestos removal costs $5 to $20 per square foot, and mold removal costs $10 to $25 per square foot. If your flooring installation pro identifies mold or asbestos, you'll need to hire an asbestos removal specialist or a mold remediation pro to take care of the problem.

Flooring Installation vs. Repair

Are you unsure whether to patch or start fresh? As a rule of thumb, if repairs cost more than 50% of a full replacement, you’ll save money in the long haul by installing new floors. Factor in the floor’s age and overall condition before you commit.

Hardwood floor repair costs $1 to $100 per square foot, depending on the type of damage. Minor scratches are easier to repair than mold, mildew, or water damage. Carpet repair costs considerably less, at about $210 for a typical repair job, but can get up to $1,000 or more for water damage.

Complete floor replacement usually makes more sense if you have subfloor issues, widespread staining, structural problems, or significant wear across multiple areas. Before making a final decision, it’s a good idea to get a professional opinion and detailed quotes.

Budgeting for Flooring Installation

Want to keep your flooring project on budget? Try these practical money-saving moves:

• Ensure competitive pricing by comparing multiple contractor quotes.

• Choose materials during seasonal sales or clearance events.

• Consider alternative materials with similar aesthetics but lower costs.

• Prepare the space yourself by moving furniture out of the way.

• Negotiate material costs by buying in bulk from wholesale suppliers.

• Use overage materials for smaller spaces or accent areas.

• Maintain a contingency budget of 15% for unexpected expenses.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed over 30,000 real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.