How Much Does It Cost to Install Baseboards in 2025?
The cost to install baseboards is $1,100 on average but often ranges from $800 to $2,250. A pro can give you an accurate quote based on the style you want and how big your space is.
Baseboard installation costs $5.70 to $9.00 per linear foot, including materials and labor.
Costs vary based on area size, baseboard style, materials, labor, removal and disposal, painting, and floor and wall repairs.
Installing new baseboards enhances your home's appearance and can increase its value.
Hiring a professional ensures proper installation and helps avoid costly mistakes.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Replacing the baseboards in your home not only enhances its overall appearance but also protects your walls from bumps and scrapes. On average, homeowners spend $1,100 on baseboard installation, but you could pay anywhere from $750 to $3,000. Costs vary based on factors like the size of the area, baseboard style, and material. Knowing what to expect can help you budget effectively and decide if hiring a professional is right for you.
Baseboard Installation Cost Factors
Several factors influence the total cost of installing new baseboards, including the size of your space, the style and material of the baseboards, and labor costs. Understanding these can help you make informed decisions and plan your budget.
Area Size
Contractors charge between $5.70 and $9.00 per linear foot for baseboard installation, which includes both materials and labor. The larger your space, the higher the overall cost will be. If you need old baseboards removed, you might also pay around $20 for debris removal services.
Baseboard Style
There are several different baseboard styles, each with a different shape. Simple types, such as shoe molding, cost less than more complex designs like base molding.
| Baseboard Style | Price Range per Linear Foot (All-In) | Average Cost per Linear Foot (All-In) |
|---|---|---|
| Shoe molding | $5.50–$8.50 | $7.00 |
| Quarter round molding | $5.50–$9.00 | $7.50 |
| Base molding | $5.50–$10.50 | $8.00 |
Material
Choosing the right baseboard material is important for both aesthetics and durability. The main options are wood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and PVC. Wood baseboards offer a luxurious look and are easy to repair, though they are the most expensive. MDF is a budget-friendly alternative that's easy to install and maintain. PVC is the least expensive and resistant to moisture, but it's more prone to impact damage and harder to repair.
| Baseboard Material | Price Range per Foot |
|---|---|
| PVC | $0.90–$1.40 |
| MDF | $1.00–$1.40 |
| Wood | $1.40–$10.00 |
Labor
Labor costs for installing baseboards range from $5 to $7.75 per linear foot. This includes measuring, cutting, and securing the baseboards to ensure a precise fit and a professional finish.
Removal and Disposal
Expect to pay between $50 and $100 per hour for labor to remove your existing baseboards. This often includes debris removal, but if not, you might need to budget an additional $20 for disposal services.
Painting
If your new baseboards are unfinished, you'll need to stain or paint them. On average, painting baseboards adds an extra $1 to $6 per linear foot. If you're considering painting other areas of your home, it might be more cost-effective to hire a local painter to handle the whole project.
Floor and Wall Repairs
During baseboard installation, contractors might discover issues with your walls or floors, such as moisture damage or uneven surfaces. If that's the case, you may need to replace drywall, which costs $2.40 to $4 per square foot, or address other wall repairs costing $360 to $1,240.
Similarly, if your flooring is damaged—like buckled or torn—you might consider fixing it before installing new baseboards. New flooring installation costs $3 to $22 per square foot, but repairing existing floors can save money, costing $200 to $580. While updating your baseboards, it's also a good opportunity to repair or replace trim in other areas to refresh the entire room.
Baseboard Repair vs. Replacement
If your baseboards have minor damage like scuff marks or small scratches, you can often fix them yourself with a fresh coat of paint or by filling in holes with putty. These simple DIY repairs are inexpensive and work best on wood baseboards. For materials like PVC, repairs may be more challenging due to their composition.
For more significant damage—such as from termites, water, or wear and tear—it might be time to replace the affected baseboards. Removal costs around $1.50 per linear foot, with installation of new baseboards adding $6 to $9 per linear foot. Since some contractors have a minimum service fee, it can be more cost-effective to replace multiple sections at once.
Does Installing New Baseboards Increase Home Value?
Installing new baseboards not only enhances the appearance of your home but also protects your walls and floors. In fact, 97% of real estate professionals agree that new trim can increase a home's value. While the exact boost may vary, investing in new baseboards is a smart move that adds both aesthetic appeal and potential resale value.
Budgeting for Installing Baseboards
Even though it's best to hire a local pro for baseboard installation, there are ways to keep your project budget-friendly:
Prepare your space: Clear out furniture and appliances. If you're planning to paint the baseboards, lay down drop cloths to protect your floors.
Remove old baseboards yourself: If you're comfortable with DIY tasks and confident you won't damage your walls, removing the old baseboards yourself can save on labor costs.
Buy materials in bulk: Updating baseboards in multiple rooms? Check for bulk discounts at hardware stores. Your contractor might also have access to special pricing.
Consider pre-finished baseboards: Pre-painted or pre-stained options can save time and reduce labor costs. Alternatively, you can paint or stain them yourself.
Choose materials wisely: While MDF and PVC are cheaper up front, they might be harder to repair and less durable. Wood baseboards, like pine, offer a good balance of affordability and longevity.
Get multiple quotes: Reach out to several local baseboard installation pros to compare prices and find the best fit for your project.
For a precise estimate and to help with budgeting, consider contacting baseboard professionals in your area for personalized quotes.
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. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
While people often use "baseboards" and "molding" interchangeably, they refer to different parts of a room. Baseboards are installed at the bottom of the wall where it meets the floor, protecting walls from scuffs. Molding, like crown molding, is installed at the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling. Because it’s higher up and often more decorative, crown molding costs more to install—$4 to $23 per linear foot.
Yes, you can install baseboards on crooked walls. Your installer will apply adhesive, situate the baseboard, and nail it into the studs, taking note of the gaps. Then they’ll take a bracer, push it tightly against the baseboard where there's a gap, and nail it to the floor. This is repeated for every gap caused by crooked walls.
Overnight, the adhesive dries and bonds the baseboard to the crooked wall. Then, the installer removes the nails and bracers and fills in the gaps left by the nails and any remaining gaps between the walls and baseboard with paintable silicone adhesive.
To determine the required linear footage for baseboard installation, you must measure every wall precisely at floor level with a tape measure and then round each measurement up to the nearest full linear foot. After measuring, add extra material to account for any miscuts during the installation process. This method guarantees that you have sufficient baseboard material for every wall, corner, and irregular space, ensuring a flawless and efficient installation from start to finish.
Painting baseboards prior to installation provides a uniform finish, minimizes installation delays, and prevents potential damage during handling. Pre-painting ensures that each baseboard is coated evenly in a controlled environment, maintaining consistent color and texture throughout. This approach eliminates the need for on-site touch-ups, enhances the overall appearance, and guarantees a perfectly executed installation that saves both time and labor, resulting in a flawless final presentation.
The ideal standard for baseboard installation is a 1:12 ratio, meaning one inch of baseboard is required for every 12 inches of ceiling height. Baseboards are between 1/2 inch and 1 inch thick, providing a consistent and balanced look. Adhering to these proportions ensures that the baseboards complement the architecture of your space, resulting in a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality that enhances the overall design of your home.
- Carpentry Framing - Install
- Carpentry Framing - Repair
- Closet - Build
- Wood Paneling - Install or Repair
- Fireplace Mantel - Install
- Wood Stairs and Railings - Install or Replace
- Interior Trim and Decorative Moldings - Repair
- Interior Trim and Decorative Moldings - Install
- Wood Stairs and Railings - Repair
- Wainscoting - Install
- Exterior Shutters - Install or Replace
- Arbor, Pergola or Trellis - Build Custom
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