How Much Does Flooring Installation Cost in 2025?

Flooring Installation Cost Factors

Flooring is a labor-intensive project, so expect to have most of your budget go to the local flooring pro you hire. About 60% of the cost to refloor a house goes to labor, with the materials making up the remaining 40% of your total costs. The upside is that the flooring market is vast, and you can choose between a wide variety of styles, shapes, colors, quality, and price ranges.

Area Size

The total square footage you need to cover is your biggest flooring installation cost factor. The greater the area, the more materials and labor you’ll need to complete the job. You may receive bulk discounts on larger projects, while small jobs may cost more per square foot. Total costs typically range from $3 to $22 per square foot, all in, but they can get more expensive with premium materials or more complex installations. 

The cost to refloor a house ranges from $16,500 to $67,730 for a typical American house of 2,300 square feet. This cost estimate includes ripping up and disposing of old flooring but does not include replacing subflooring, underlayment, baseboards, or trim. If you only need to refloor a portion of your home, the cost breakdown by room may be a helpful guide.

Materials

The cost of replacing flooring varies substantially based on material quality, availability, and aesthetics. Material costs start at $1.50 per square foot for budget-friendly vinyl or linoleum. Hardwood, on the other hand, can run up to $29 per square foot, including installation fees.  

Vinyl and Linoleum

Installing linoleum or vinyl flooring costs $1.50 to $20 per square foot or $1,500 to $20,000 to cover 1,000 square feet. Materials alone run from $500 to $5,000. Vinyl and linoleum flooring are affordable, generally low maintenance, available in a variety of colors, and offer a soft feel. However, they are typically not considered an eco-friendly option and can gouge more easily than harder flooring materials. 

Wood Tile

Wood tile flooring costs from $1.50 to $21.50 per square foot. Expect to pay from $500 to $6,500 for materials to cover 1,000 square feet. Wood tile looks like hardwood but at a much more affordable price. It’s waterproof, easy to clean, and will not warp. However, wood tiles can be slippery when wet, and they cannot be refinished. 

Laminate

Installing laminate flooring costs $1.70 to $17 per square foot or $1,700 to $17,000 to cover 1,000 square feet. Expect materials to cost $700 to $2,000. A big advantage of laminate flooring is that it can be installed over existing floors. This low-maintenance option is durable and affordable. However, it is not possible to refinish or sand laminate, and some varieties may also be slippery. 

Carpet

Carpet installation costs $3 to $22 per square foot or $3,000 to $22,000 for 1,000 square feet of space. For materials alone, you can expect to pay $2 to $7 per square foot. Builder-grade olefin and polyester materials are less expensive than high-end wool carpets or specialty materials. Carpeting provides good insulation, dampens noise, and is fairly low maintenance, but it can trap moisture, leading to mold and mildew. 

Tile

Tile installation costs vary widely but typically run from $3 to $30 per square foot. To cover 1,000 square feet, you’ll pay anywhere from $3,000 to $30,000. Materials alone cost $2 to $15 per square foot. Some specialty tiles, like agate, abalone, and mother of pearl, are more expensive. While tile flooring is durable and easy to maintain, it is difficult to install, can be broken by heavy objects, and may be slippery when wet. 

Hardwood

Installing hardwood flooring costs an average of $4 to $29 per square foot or about $16,500 for 1,000 square feet but can range from $4,000 to $29,000, including labor. Materials for this area run from $3,000 to $14,000. Choose between several types of hardwood flooring, including parquet and various species of wood. Engineered hardwood flooring costs less to achieve a similar look. 

You can refinish real hardwood flooring several times for a refresh. It does not attract or retain dirt and microbes like carpeting, but hardwood can warp from excess moisture or humidity. 

Stone

Natural stone flooring costs $7 to $27 per square foot or $17,000 for 1,000 square feet, ranging from $7,000 to $27,000, including professional installation. For materials alone, expect to pay between $4,000 and $20,000. Slate and travertine tiles, which are naturally textured and non-slip, can cost as little as $4 per square foot, while marble and granite can cost up to $20 per square foot.

Natural stone flooring is durable, easy to maintain, and works well with radiant heating systems. While it comes in a broad array of styles, colors, and finishes, stone flooring can be costly. Some types are easy to chip, and most types need regular sealing. 

Other Types

Along with the most popular material choices above, you may consider other types of flooring. The average cost to refloor a house in each of these alternative materials is as follows:

• Fiberglass-backed vinyl flooring costs $5 per sq. ft. for materials

• Rubber flooring costs an average of $10 per sq. ft. for materials

• Polished concrete flooring costs between $2–$8 per sq. ft. for materials 

Prep

Before you can start replacing or installing new flooring, you must first prep the area. This might mean moving furniture, which 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. Moving the furniture yourself, if you’re able, is a great way to save money.

Underlayment and Subfloor Replacement

Sub-floor replacement costs $2 to $2.50 per square foot, and installing underlayment costs $3.40 to $5.30 per square foot. Both include the 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. Underlayment is sandwiched between the flooring and the subfloor. While not strictly necessary with tiles or hardwood, it is necessary for vinyl, laminate, and carpet. 

New Baseboards

Adding new baseboards costs $1.60 to $4.20 per linear foot. If the existing baseboards are damaged or excessively worn, consider replacing them.

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 or quarter-round molding for $0.60 to $3.80 per linear foot. This type of molding adds a finishing element and hides the gap between baseboard and flooring, but it costs less than installing a completely new baseboard.

Stairs

Flooring stairs cost $11 to $160 per step. At the lower end of the range, carpet, vinyl, and laminate are relatively simple to install and take the least time. Hardwood costs up to $160 per step at the upper end because it's the most challenging and time-consuming option.

Other Flooring Installation Cost Factors

The type of flooring you choose impacts the cost of replacing it in your home. Labor rates in your area, old flooring removal and disposal, asbestos testing, and mold remediation are also substantial cost factors to consider.

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. Flooring installers typically charge $60 to $120 per hour, depending on their skill, the difficulty of the job, and your location.

Removal and Disposal

Removing old flooring costs an additional $1 to $6 per square foot. Vinyl, laminate, and carpet removal cost less because the job is more straightforward. Hardwood and tile flooring are comparatively more challenging and priced higher to remove.

Asbestos and Mold Remediation

Asbestos removal costs $5 to $20 per square foot, and mold removal costs $10 to $25 per square foot. If your flooring installation pro identifies mold or asbestos, you'll need to hire an asbestos removal specialist or a mold remediation pro to take care of the problem.

Flooring Installation vs. Repair

Deciding whether to repair the existing floor or install brand-new flooring depends on several critical factors. Generally, if repair costs exceed 50% of full replacement expenses, replacing the entire floor is more economical in the long run. The overall condition and age of the floor can also influence this decision. 

Hardwood floor repair costs $1 to $100 per square foot, depending on the type of damage. Minor scratches are easier to repair than mold, mildew, or water damage. Carpet repair costs considerably less, at about $210 for a typical repair job, but can get up to $1,000 or more for water damage. 

Complete floor replacement usually makes more sense if you have subfloor issues, widespread staining, structural problems, or significant wear across multiple areas. Before making a final decision, it’s a good idea to get a professional opinion and detailed quotes. 

Budgeting for Flooring Installation

To keep the cost to replace flooring within budget, strategically reduce costs by considering these key money-saving strategies:

• Ensure competitive pricing by comparing multiple contractor quotes.

• Choose materials during seasonal sales or clearance events.

• Consider alternative materials with similar aesthetics but lower costs.

• Prepare the space yourself by moving furniture out of the way.

• Negotiate material costs by buying in bulk from wholesale suppliers.

• Use overage materials for smaller spaces or accent areas.

• Maintain a contingency budget of 15% for unexpected expenses.

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. We surveyed over 30,000 real customers about their project 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.