Vinyl and linoleum are two affordable flooring options that can last for years when theyre well-maintained. The costs will vary according to the quality and type of product you select. Overall, the typical cost to install sheet vinyl or linoleum falls between $715 and $2,100, while the national average is $1,408.
The cost of these materials differs slightly. Sheet linoleum costs about $4 per sq. ft. to install while sheet vinyl costs around $3/sf. Installing luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) or planks (LVP) costs considerably more, hovering at $7 per sq. ft.. Linoleum tile averages just under $5.50 per square foot, including installation. For more details about these prices, consult our flooring installation guide.
Both are common hard-flooring materials that share various similarities. In some cases, they are even thought to be interchangeable terms, and some stores will even list them as such. However, they're distinctly different, beginning with the materials used in their production.
Since both materials are light and easy to work with, they can be a DIY project for homeowners with some experience. However, measuring the materials correctly and laying them out properly to prevent bubbles or accommodating odd-shapes and spaces will be done right the first time by a professional.
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Vinyl Costs per Square Foot
This synthetic material comes in three different forms, ranging from ultra-affordable to high-end, even approaching the cost of natural wood. Its durability will depend on the quality of materials and the strength of the top wear layer.| Type | Per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Sheet | $0.50 - $2.00 |
| LVP | $2.50 - $5.00 |
| LVT | $2.50 - $5.00 |
| Commercial Sheet | $1.00 - $2.00 |
| Commercial Luxury | $3.00 - $5.00 |
- Pros: It's the most affordable of your vinyl options. Highly scratch and stain resistant. Waterproof, which makes it excellent for high-moisture areas. Has fewer seams during installation.
- Cons: Due to its affordability, it's generally not good for your home's value. When damaged, entire sheets must be replaced. Potentially high VOC emission ratings.
- Pros: Makes a great faux wood floor. Can be reinforced with urethane, making it stain and scratch-resistant. Can also be installed over an existing floor without needing to be nailed or glued down.
- Cons: Cant be refinished. Long planks are harder to replace than LVT. Could have high VOC emissions.
- Pros: Great for moisture-prone areas. Tile shape is ideal to replicate stone tiles. Also comes as faux wood tiles. The top layer can be reinforced with urethane, making it even more resistant to stains and scratches. Its smaller tiles are easier to replace than LVP or sheet vinyl.
- Cons: This material cant be refinished. Check each product for VOC emission scores.
If you're deciding between luxury vinyl and laminate wood flooring, consult our Comparison Guide to see which material is right for your home.
- Pros: Specifically designed to withstand high traffic. Uses a special coating that can take a lot of beating. The photographic layer contains exquisite Hi-Fi printed images. Comes in ultra-realistic designs.
- Cons: Generally, the most expensive option. Once the top layer wears down, it cant be refinished.
This material has been around since the 1880s and readily available to the public since the 1940s. Here are the costs broken down per product type.
| Type | Per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Tiles | $3.50 |
| Sheet/Roll | $2.00 - $2.50 |
| Commercial Grade | $3.50 - $5.00 |
- Pros: Can click and snap together for easy installation. Can be installed without glue or nails over an existing floor. Warmer and softer than vinyl. Different colored tiles can be arranged into attractive patterns. Doesn't emit VOCs, which makes them better for the environment. Tiles are also easier to replace.
- Cons: The linseed oil in the tiles has a strong smell that can last for a few weeks after installation.
- Pros: Eco-friendly flooring is made of renewable components. Water-resistant, durable, and has fewer seams. The most affordable type of linoleum.
- Cons: If it gets damaged, entire sheets must be replaced. Linseed oil emits a strong smell for a few weeks after installation.
- Pros: More affordable than commercial vinyl. Designed to hold up to high traffic, scratches, and stains. Made of renewable components that make it eco-friendly and free of VOC emissions.
- Cons: It cant be refinished. The linseed oil smells.
Consult with a pro before purchasing materials
How Much will a Contractor Charge?
They can charge $36/hour, or by the project. This cost averages to an extra $3.00-$10.00 per square foot.What Can a Contractor Do?
- Shop for all your materials, sometimes at a discount.
- Remove your old floor (if applicable).
- Install your new floor.
- Dispose of old construction materials.
Though the costs of hiring a contractor may seem high, its preferable to use a professional if you have any doubt in successfully completing the project on your own.
How Much will a Contractor Charge?
Labor costs around $36/hour, but projects can also be priced by the job. Removing and disposing of an old floor, laying underlayment, and measuring the tiles, and caulking will add hours to the job.
Installing this material is a project thats best reserved for experienced DIYers or professional contractors. It requires precision cutting, special tools, accurate measurements, the right materials, and expertise to install it correctly the first time.
Hire a flooring pro for your installation
If you have an existing floor that needs to be replaced, youll need to remove and properly dispose of it.
- Removing a floor generally costs $32/hour and can take as long as 16 hours to take care of a 2,500-sf area, totaling $512.
- Installing a new floor costs around $36/hour. To do a thorough job for a 2,500-sf area, it can take a few days even for an experienced contractor. If the floor isn't "floating" or requires some extra steps to make right, the job can take up to 130 hours, totaling about $4,700.
Therefore, the labor costs for a 2,500-sf area can cost up to $5,000, and that's without figuring the cost of the materials themselves. However, if youre doing smaller rooms or individual areas of the house or install floating floors, you wont spend nearly as much.
Accuracy and expertise are key when working with your floors. All materials must be measured well to fit the dimensions of your interior. You'll need to use a jigsaw to cut irregular shapes and corners. You'll also need to seal and secure these floors well with caulk, adhesives, an underlayment, insulation, flooring trim, molding, and whatever else the project requires.
Aesthetic Concerns
Both materials come in a wide variety of prints and colors. However, the designs on vinyl are only on the surface layer. Over time, the colors and designs wear down and fade. Linoleum is colorfast, which means that the colors and designs go through multiple layers. This allows the material to wear easily without losing its vibrancy.
Both types are easy to clean with some sweeping, vacuuming or some in-depth TLC with a manufacturer-approved cleaner. The only difference is that vinyl can be mopped and scrubbed at will, but linoleum should never be immersed in water. Scrubbing it is discouraged as well. Instead, linoleum can be gently mopped with a special cleaner, which costs around $25/gallon. After mopping, the material must be dried to prevent any moisture damage.
Water Concerns
Vinyl is completely waterproof and is ideal for any room. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. It also means that flooring installed on a second level will not get saturated and leak onto the floors below. Linoleum is considered water-resistant but not waterproof. Therefore, flooding can easily ruin linoleum. It's also susceptible to moisture damage and thus needs to be resealed every year. Humidity is another possible cause of damage and excessive amounts can cause it to curl and warp. The potential maintenance and repair costs of these two materials should also be considered. Linoleum tiles that are damaged must be removed and replaced individually, while the other tiles should be checked for damage to be safe.
Kitchens, Bathrooms & Basements
Since vinyl is waterproof, you can install it in moisture-prone places like the kitchen, bathroom, and basement with confidence. Since basements get cold, you should consider adding an insulated underlayment to keep it from feeling uncomfortable under bare feet.
Linoleum isnt waterproof, which means that it isn't the best floor for bathrooms or basements, where water is likely to cause problems. Kitchens are less likely to deal with water seeping up from below. Therefore, if you clean up spills as soon as they happen and reseal the floor annually, linoleum should stand up to the demands of a moderately used kitchen. It is up to your discretion if you'd rather use waterproof vinyl instead, however.
Eco-Friendly
Because vinyl is made of PVC, its considered a petrochemical product, which is generally considered a nonrenewable resource. However, recent developments in manufacturing have made PVC, which is a #3 plastic, recyclable. You can check with your local recycling centers to see if PVC is an approved plastic, or you can also contact Armstrong Floorings On&On LVT/LVP recycling program. On the other hand, linoleum is considered eco-friendlier as its made of more natural materials like linseed oil and other organic components.
In the past, there have been concerns about VOCs released after the installation as well as concerns about the plants that manufacture vinyl. Thankfully, manufacturers have listened to the voices of consumers and have been developing types of vinyl floors that emit little to no VOCs. For more information, check the products Floorscore before purchasing. Linoleum is biodegradable and made from both natural and renewable resources, so it doesn't have any significant manufacturing concerns.
Additional Costs
Vinyl requires a smooth surface for adhesive purposes. Many vinyl floor applications are self-adhesive, but if the installation is to be over an existing floor or another surface that is not smooth, an underlayment will be required. This is usually about one layer of 1/4-inch plywood. The vinyl is installed over that. Underlay or extra adhesive can add costs to vinyl installations.
The extra costs in linoleum usually come from the sealant. Linoleum needs to be sealed after installation and will need to be sealed regularly in the years after to protect it from moisture.
Talk to a pro about which flooring is right for you
The primary difference between vinyl and linoleum is the base material. Vinyl is a wholly man-made product that's manufactured with PVC plastic. PVC is not only difficult to recycle, but the energy required to extract it is significant.
On the other hand, linoleum is made from a variety of natural and renewable materials. The primary ingredient is linseed oil, which is a flaxseed extract. The rest of the materials can be comprised of a variety of natural resources such as cork, tree resin, and wood flour. Despite these differences, part of the reason the two get confused at home improvement stores is that the costs of the raw materials are roughly the same.
Of the two types of flooring, vinyl is probably the easiest to install for a homeowner without professional help. For small areas, the LVTs can easily be laid next to each other and do not require much aftercare. However, larger areas can get more difficult for the DIY homeowner as they require larger sheets that need to be measured and precisely cut.
Applying linoleum is similar. Tiles are easier to install than sheets. However, it's extremely susceptible to moisture damage during the initial installation. This means that it needs to be treated with a surface sealer after installation and before anything heavy is placed on top of it. These are important steps that often require a professional's expertise.
One of the hidden costs of flooring installation is the trim and molding. These thin pieces cover any gaps and conceal imperfections after the floor has been secured. They also create a continuous look by uniting the floor with the rest of the interior. You have two options for dealing with trim:
- You can remove and reinstall your current trim. This is naturally the cheapest option and only costs the labor to reinstall, which is roughly $36/hour.
- You can install new trim to maximize the beauty of your new floor. Costs average at $320 for a 100-200 sf area, and up to $620 for a 400-500 sf space. However, prices will fluctuate depending on the type of trim you use and how much area youre covering.
Here are just a few of the trim options you have:
- Threshold/Baby Molding - Covers the gap between one floor to the next, floors of different heights, and doorways.
- Flush Stair Nose - Used to wrap around the edges of stairs or around elevated floors.
- Reducer Strip - Serves as a transitioning piece thats like the threshold/baby molding.
- Quarter Round Molding - Covers unsightly seams between and baseboards or any other vertical fixture.
- T-Molding - Another piece that makes smoother transitions.
Each homeowner may have different needs and preferences for the area where the flooring is being installed. Talk to a contractor about the price difference for each option and what each trim has to offer your home.
Decorative Trim
The primary reason for installing trim is to hold a flooring installation in place, but that doesn't mean decorative trim won't add a nice touch to your home. Decorative trims come in many colors, textures, and finishes. Finding the right one can act as an aesthetic transition from your floor to a door, another room, or improve its appearance against the wall.
Note: Since you may need to replace the trim anyway, this is the perfect time to consider installing wainscoting or ornamental molding!
Get quotes from local flooring pros
If you have enough experience, you can save on labor costs by installing the floor yourself. With labor amounting to as much as $36/hour, this can make up a savings of $5,000 if youre talking about a 2,500-square foot area. However, there are other considerations that you should note such as safety, the availability of the right tools, and the quality of the job. Doing the project alone also means youll probably be taking a longer time compared to hiring a contractor (unless you get some help).
When you hire a pro, you can get a team to help you that brings all the right tools on-site. Theyll install everything correctly the first time and give a convenient means to remove and dispose of any previous materials. Ultimately, its up to you if you want to save some money at the expense of time spent and the risk of an improper installation.
DIY Tools & Materials
The right tools make all the difference if you want your DIY job to be successful. As always, it's best to contact a flooring professional to make sure the job is done right.
Sheet Vinyl/Linoleum Tools & Materials:
- Putty knife set - $7
- Notched trowel- used to spread embossing leveler - $20
- Steel hand roller- to press down flooring - $20
- Utility knife - $5
- Tape measure - $15
- Handsaw - $18
- Masking tape - $11
- Average cost of flooring ($2/sf) - $1,000 for 500 sf
- Adhesive - $26 for 500 sf worth
- Underlayment - $26.97/roll that covers 500 sf
- Caulking/patching compound - $52 for 2 gallons. Cover 2,000 linear feet
- Total Cost of DIY Materials and Tools: about $1,200
LVP, LVT, or linoleum tiles Tools & Materials:
- Hammer - $10
- Utility Knife - $5
- Notched Trowel- To spread embossing leveler - $20
- Carpenter's Square- measures right angles - $10
- Tape Measure - $15
- Goggles - $10
- Sponge - $5
- Pencil - $1
- LVT, LVP or linoleum tile average cost ($5/sf) - $2,500 for 500 sf
- Solvent- to remove old adhesive - $15
- Cleaner - $20/gallon
- Underlayment - $26/roll for 500 sf
- Embossing leveler- to even out subfloor - $600 ($24/gallon, 25 gallons for 500 sf)
- Total Cost of DIY Materials and Tools - around $3,300
DIY Cost vs. Hiring a Contractor
- Cost of hiring a contractor for sheet vinyl or linoleum about $2,200
- DIY cost of installing sheet vinyl or linoleum approximately $1,200
- Cost of hiring a contractor for LVT/LVP/Linoleum tile around $5,000
- DIY cost of installing LVT/LVP/Linoleum tile about $3,300
Tips for Hiring Contractors
If youre looking to hire a contractor, its best to shop around and get about 3 quotes. Make sure that the professional you plan to hire is experienced and has good online reviews. For more tips on hiring the right contractor, consult these 10 steps to hiring service professionals.
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This information was very helpful, thank you very much for it. I will keep it in mind as I make my decisions.
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I just trying to find what would be best for my bedrooms.I don't want carpet.
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I'm going to buy the linoleum I just want it to be laid down
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Terrific information for humidity filled bathrooms.
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to make sure we are on the same page; looking for new outside porch or deck. want to remove all in side carpet and replace with a good looking vinyl flooring. please try to make a close cost est.
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Thank you, I was questioning whether I would need to do an underlayment for the vinyl flooring in my new home. I am laying vinyl wood planks in the majority of my main floor.
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I would like to know which one is more durable. Other than that is was very helpful.
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Nice, I like this. Very helpful .
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need new outside deck or porch; need inside carpet removed and replaced with a good looking vinyl flooring.
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Ineed linoleum of some type because the tile didn't stay on and we have dogs that pee on the floor sometimes.
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I'm looking for somebody to laid my vinyl planks on a existing floor down.
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