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Flooring Cost Calculator

Estimate the installed cost of new flooring by room size and material. You get a low-to-high price range with the per-square-foot cost and removal broken out.

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Result

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How the estimate works

Flooring is priced per square foot, installed — a single rate that blends the material and the labor to lay it. The calculator multiplies your area by that rate's low and high ends, adds removal if you're tearing out old flooring, and scales for your region. The result is a low-to-high range, because real installer bids vary that much by material grade and subfloor condition.

Material is the biggest lever: budget laminate and carpet sit at $3–$8 per square foot, luxury vinyl plank at $4–$10, and hardwood, tile, and porcelain climb to $8–$25. The same 300-square-foot room can cost $1,500 in laminate or $6,000 in wide-plank hardwood.

The hidden costs

Two things blow up flooring budgets. First, removal and subfloor prep — pulling old tile, scraping adhesive, or leveling a wavy subfloor adds $1–$3 per square foot and is easy to forget. Second, waste — order 7–10% extra for cuts and pattern matching, plus a spare box, because dye and wood lots change between runs and a perfect-match repair later is unlikely.

Common mistakes

  • Pricing the material but not the labor. The cheap-looking $2/sqft plank still costs $5–$8 installed.
  • Putting wood below grade. Solid hardwood warps in basements and bathrooms — use LVP or tile in wet and below-grade spaces.
  • Skipping subfloor prep. Laying new floor over a bad subfloor telegraphs every flaw and voids most warranties.
  • Buying exactly the room's square footage. Always add 7–10% for waste.

When this calculator is the wrong tool

Use a flooring pro for: heated-floor systems (added wiring and thermostat), intricate inlays or borders, large-format tile over uneven slabs, and commercial-grade installs. This tool estimates standard residential flooring.

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FAQ

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to install flooring?
Installed flooring runs roughly $3–$8 per square foot for laminate and carpet, $4–$10 for luxury vinyl plank, and $8–$25 for hardwood and tile. A 300-square-foot room in LVP lands around $1,500–$3,000 installed; the same room in solid hardwood is closer to $3,000–$7,000.
What is the cheapest flooring to install?
Carpet and laminate are the cheapest up front at $3–$8 per square foot installed. Luxury vinyl plank costs a bit more but is waterproof and far more durable, which makes it the best value in kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas.
Is luxury vinyl plank better than hardwood?
It depends on priorities. LVP is waterproof, scratch-resistant, cheaper, and DIY-friendly. Solid hardwood costs more, can be damaged by water, but can be refinished several times and adds the most resale value. Engineered wood is the middle ground.
Do I need to remove the old flooring first?
Usually. LVP and laminate can sometimes float over flat, sound existing floors, but most jobs need the old flooring removed and the subfloor leveled. Removal and subfloor prep run about $1–$3 per square foot and are the most common hidden cost.
How much extra flooring should I buy?
Order 7–10% more than the room's square footage to cover cuts, waste, and pattern matching — and keep a box for future repairs, since dye and wood lots change between production runs.