Flooring Cost Factors
It's not just the type of flooring you choose that impacts the cost of your flooring project. The square footage, labor rates in your area, whether you need new baseboards, subfloors or underlayment, or have stairs to incorporate all influence price. Old flooring removal and disposal, asbestos testing and remediation (if your house was built before the early 1980s), and mold remediation are all substantial cost factors to consider as well.
Material
The cost of materials starts at $0.50 per square foot for budget-friendly vinyl or linoleum. You've got hardwood at the other end of the range, which can run you up to $14 per square foot, not including installation fees. If you want something soft and comfortably warm, carpeting costs around $4.50 per square foot.
Size
While larger projects cost more overall, they may have a discount per square foot. Small jobs may also cost more per square foot because most contractors have a minimum call-out fee to make a project worth their time.
Labor
Labor rates vary between $1 and $15 per square foot. The cost range varies widely because of the differing difficulty, complexity, and time requirements for the various types of flooring. For example, the labor for installing laminate and vinyl flooring starts at $1 per square foot for a simple installation. For the same installation with mosaic or custom tiles, the cost can total $15 per square foot. Flooring installers typically charge $60 to $120 per hour, depending on their skill, the difficulty of the job, and your location.
Underlayment and Subfloor Replacement
Replacing the subfloor costs $2 to $2.50 per square foot, including removing and disposing of the old material. Installing underlayment costs $3.40 to $5.30 per square foot, including 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. Unless you have an obviously noisy floor or a sunken floorboard, you probably won't know if there are any issues unless a local flooring installer removes the flooring and exposes the subfloor.
Underlayment is sandwiched between the flooring and the subfloor. It's not strictly necessary with tiles or hardwood, but it is considered a necessary addition for vinyl, laminate, and carpet. Underlayment reduces noise, acts as a moisture barrier, and can help with insulation. Plus it smoothes the surface and adds a bit of extra cushioning for added comfort.
Removal and Disposal
Removing old flooring costs an additional $1 to $6 per square foot. Tearing up and disposing of old flooring material increases labor time, travel costs, and disposal costs. Carpet, vinyl, and laminate typically cost less to remove because the job is more straightforward; however, hardwood and tile are more challenging and therefore priced higher.
Moving Furniture
Moving furniture will likely be billed at the standard hourly rate of $60 to $120 per hour. If you have a lot of furniture or you're reflooring a large area, this can quickly add up. If you're able, moving the furniture yourself is a great way to save some money.
New Baseboards
Adding new baseboards costs $1.60 to $4.20 per linear foot. If the existing baseboards are damaged or excessively worn, you’ll want to consider replacing them as well. New baseboards can elevate the finish of the room, hiding imperfections where the walls meet the floors.
Alternatively, if the baseboards are in reasonably good shape, but you're switching from a thicker flooring material like carpet to a thinner one like laminate, there'll be a distinct gap between the bottom of the baseboard and the flooring. In this case, you can install wood shoe molding or wood quarter round molding at a cost of $0.60 to $3.80 per linear foot. This type of molding adds a finishing element and hides the gap between baseboard and flooring, yet it costs less than installing completely new baseboard.
Stairs
Flooring stairs costs $11 to $160 per step. At the lower end of the range, carpet, vinyl, and laminate are relatively simple to install, so take the least time. At the upper end, hardwood costs up to $160 per step because it's the most challenging and time-consuming option.
Asbestos removal costs $5 to $20 per square foot. Removing mold costs $10 to $25 per square foot. If your flooring pro identifies mold or asbestos, you'll need to hire an asbestos removal specialist or hire a mold remediation pro.
Mold and asbestos removal both require specifically trained and licensed pros to carry out the remediation and removal work.
Cost to Replace Flooring by Type
The material you choose for your new flooring has a direct impact on the total cost of your flooring installation project. If you're replacing your flooring on a tight budget, you could choose vinyl that starts at $1.50 per square foot, installed. On the other end of the cost spectrum, there is natural stone or hardwood that can cost $27 and $29 per square foot, respectively.
Flooring Cost Estimator
The cost of flooring varies substantially based on material quality, availability, and aesthetic.