Vinyl Flooring 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.

Sheet Vinyl

Sheet vinyl flooring averages between $0.50 to $2 per square foot for materials.

• 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.

LVP

Luxury vinyl plank floorboards cost $2.50 to $5 per square foot.

• 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.
• Cons: Can't be refinished. Long planks are harder to replace than LVT. Could have high VOC emissions.

LVT

Luxury vinyl tiles cost $2.50 to $5 per square foot.

• 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 can't 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.

Commercial Vinyl

Commercial grade vinyl floor materials average between $1 and $5 per square foot.

• 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 can't be refinished.

Linoleum Floor Prices Per Square Foot

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.

Tiles

Linoleum tiles average about $3.50 per square foot, not including installation.

• Pros: Can click and snap together for easy installation. You can install it over an existing floor without glue or nails. Different colored tiles can be arranged into attractive patterns, like checkerboard or herringbone. Doesn't emit VOCs, which makes the product better for the environment. Tiles are easy to replace.
• Cons: The linseed oil in the tiles has a strong smell that can last for a few weeks after installation.

Sheet/Roll

Sheets of linoleum average $2 to $2.50 per square foot.

• 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.

Commercial

Commercial grade linoleum flooring costs $3.50 to $5 per square foot.

• 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 can't be refinished. The linseed oil smells.

Vinyl Installation Costs

Vinyl flooring contractors charge about $36 per hour, or an average of $3 to $10 per square foot for labor, not including the cost of materials.

For this price, flooring installers can:

• Source all materials, typically 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, it's preferable to use a professional if you have any doubt that you could successfully complete the project on your own.

Average Cost to Lay Linoleum

Labor for linoleum installation costs around $36 per hour, but projects can also be priced by the job. Removing and disposing of an old floor, laying underlayment, measuring the tiles and caulking will add hours to the job.

Installing this material is a project that's best reserved for experienced DIYers or professional contractors. It requires precision cutting, special tools, accurate measurements, the right materials, and the expertise to install it correctly.

Replacing Vinyl or Linoleum

Removing the existing flooring averages $32 per hour. So, for example, if you want to replace the flooring of an entire 2,500-square-foot house, this could take up to 16 hours, totaling $512. Installing the new floor will run about $36 per hour and could take a few days even for an experienced contractor. If the floor isn't "floating," or it requires extra steps to complete a quality install, the job can take up to 130 hours, totaling about $4,700.

Therefore, the labor costs for a 2,500-square-foot area can cost up to $5,000, and that's without figuring the cost of the materials themselves. However, if you're doing smaller rooms or individual areas of the house or installing floating floors, you won't spend nearly as much.

Flooring Installation & Replacement Considerations

Accuracy and expertise are key when working with flooring installs. 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, 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 in-depth TLC with a manufacturer-approved cleaner. The only difference is that vinyl can be mopped and scrubbed, 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 per 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 in the event of a substantial water spill, 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 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 vinyl and linoleum maintenance and repair costs 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. Because basements get cold, you should consider adding an insulated underlayment to keep it from feeling uncomfortable under bare feet.

Linoleum isn't waterproof, which means that it isn't the best floor for bathrooms or basements, where water is likely to cause problems. Linoleum can stand up to the demands of moderate use in a kitchen provided you clean up spills as soon as they happen and reseal the floor annually. It is up to your discretion if you'd rather use waterproof vinyl instead, however.

Eco-Friendly

Because vinyl is made of PVC, it's 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. On the other hand, linoleum is considered eco-friendlier as it’s 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. Manufacturers have listened to consumers and developed types of vinyl floors that emit little to no VOCs. For more information, check the product's 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 quarter-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.

Vinyl vs. Linoleum

Options for Installing Flooring Trim & Molding

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 per hour.
• You can install new trim to maximize the beauty of your new floor. Costs average at $320 for a 100- to 200-square-foot area, and up to $620 for a 400- to 500-square-foot space. However, prices will fluctuate depending on the type of trim you use and how much area you're 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 that's 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!

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

If you have enough experience, you can save on labor costs by installing the floor yourself. With labor amounting to as much as $36 per hour, this can make up a savings of $5,000 if you're 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 you'll 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. They'll install everything correctly the first time and give a convenient means to remove and dispose of any previous materials. Ultimately, it's 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 per square foot): $1,000 for 500 square feet
• Adhesive: $26 for 500 square feet
• Underlayment: $27/roll that covers 500 sf
• Caulking/patching compound: $52 for 2 gallons covering 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 per square foot): $2,500 for 500 square feet
• Solvent - to remove old adhesive: $15
• Cleaner: $20/gallon
• Underlayment: $27/roll for 500 square feet
• 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

For a 500-square-foot new floor project installation:

• Cost of hiring a contractor for sheet vinyl or linoleum (labor plus materials): $2,950
• DIY cost of installing sheet vinyl or linoleum (materials only): $1,200

• Cost of hiring a contractor for LVT/LVP/Linoleum tile (labor plus materials): $6,800
• DIY cost of installing LVT/LVP/Linoleum tile (materials only): $3,300

Tips for Hiring Contractors

If you're looking to hire a contractor, it's 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. Make sure you have checked off the important steps to hiring service professionals.