Cheap Laminate Flooring Buying & Installation Guide

By HomeAdvisor

Updated January 20, 2021

close-up of laminate flooring

How & Where to Get the Best Prices on Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is one of the cheapest flooring options available. On average, laminate flooring is $1 per square foot. It is a popular option due to its likeness to real hardwood for a fraction of the cost. Replacing or updating flooring on a budget can be difficult due to unforeseen costs, pricey materials, and expensive installation costs.

On This Page

  1. Cheap Laminate Flooring
    1. Best Buy
    2. Disadvantages
  2. What Are Some Cheap Laminate Flooring Options?
    1. Maple
    2. Red Oak
    3. White Oak
    4. Walnut
    5. Acacia
  3. Discount Laminate Flooring Pricing and Suggestions for Every Room
    1. Bedroom
    2. Living Room
    3. Kitchen
    4. Bathroom
    5. Basement
  4. The Best Place to Buy Laminate Flooring
    1. Where to Buy Cheap Laminate Flooring
    2. Cheap Laminate Flooring Installation
  5. Best Time to Buy Laminate Flooring
  6. Hiring Affordable Laminate Flooring Installers
    1. Where to Find Companies
    2. Questions to Ask
  7. FAQs

Cheap Laminate Flooring

Cheap laminate flooring comes in various sizes, shapes, and finishes, so it is essential to know what type of style you want for your home. Laminate flooring offers a variety of benefits, from affordable prices to impressive finishes.

Best Buy

The best bang for your buck is engineered wood laminate with a maple or oak finish. This type of laminate offers the most attractive finishes for the best price.

Disadvantages

Be aware that lower-cost laminate flooring can be more susceptible to moisture damage, be more difficult to repair when damaged or be difficult to install than its higher-quality counterpart.

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What Are Some Cheap Laminate Flooring Options?

Maple, red oak, white oak, walnut, and acacia laminate flooring offer low-priced laminate flooring prices and impressive finishes.

Maple

Maple laminate flooring offers multiple color finishes while maintaining a realistic appearance when placed. You can choose from white, off-white, or red-gold finishes. Maple laminate flooring costs about $0.70 per square foot.

Red Oak

Red oak laminate flooring features a classic, deep brown coloration. This laminate flooring does well in homes’ resale because dark finishes are the most popular choice amongst homeowners. The average cost for red oak laminate flooring is about $0.70 per square foot.

White Oak

White oak laminate flooring is perfect for adding warmer tones to a room thanks to its off-white hues. White oak laminate flooring costs about $0.70 per square foot.

Walnut

If you are looking for a thicker and heavier laminate flooring option, walnut is a great choice. Walnut laminate flooring is perfect for high-traffic areas because of its durable and robust structure. Walnut laminate flooring costs about $0.90 per square foot.

Acacia

Acacia laminate flooring offers an intricate grain pattern and light and dark color options. Acacia laminate costs about $1.00 per square foot.

Cheap Laminate Flooring Options Per Square Foot*
Maple $0.70
Red Oak $0.70
White Oak $0.70
Walnut $0.90
Acacia $1.00

*Does not include labor of $2 to $8 per square foot

Discount Laminate Flooring Pricing and Suggestions for Every Room

Discount laminate flooring options range between $0.59 and $0.90 per square foot, with the most affordable types being maple, red oak, and white oak.

Bedroom

If you are looking to install laminate in your bedroom, the best option comes down to your style preferences. The bedroom is a low-traffic area of the home, allowing you to enjoy a color option that matches the existing design. Acacia and maple laminate flooring offer great color options with light and dark finishes.

Living Room

The best choice for the living room is white oak or walnut. White oak and walnut are extra rigid laminate flooring options with impressive durability that can be beneficial in a high-traffic area like the living room. Plus, white oak offers a warmer tone, perfect for creating a welcoming environment.

Kitchen

Maple and walnut are great options for the kitchen. They offer impressive durability and are resistant to scratches.

Bathroom

Engineered wood laminate and plastic laminate both do well with high moisture levels, making them great bathroom options.

Basement

Engineered wood laminate is the best option for the basement since it adheres well to concrete floors. Plastic laminate is another great option for a more affordable finish.

The Best Place to Buy Laminate Flooring

You can purchase cheap laminate flooring in a variety of places, from big box stores to online retailers. When looking at all your options, it is essential to consider the pros and cons to ensure you get the best deal available.

Laminate Flooring Company Pros and Cons
Seller Pros Cons
Big Box Stores Tons of options Hidden fees
Large Franchises Easy to navigate No negotiating
Small Chains Good customer service Fewer options
Online Retailers Instant quotes/prices Poorer customer service
Installers Professional/reliable experience Higher prices
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Where to Buy Cheap Laminate Flooring

The cheapest place to buy laminate flooring is usually with online retailers. You can typically find special pricing as low as $0.59 per square foot online. Plus, it is easy to browse and search for the perfect laminate flooring. It is important to factor in shipping and handling when purchasing online.

Professional installers can also offer great deals if you purchase your laminate from them and have them install the material. Remember to ask for discounts and compare the pricing of all your options for the lowest price.

Cheap Laminate Flooring Installation

Laminate flooring installation costs between $2 and $8 per square foot, not including materials. The final price varies based on the specific types of materials used. It is important to note that laminate flooring installation is often thought to be an easy DIY project but is often a much more difficult task. For such low costs, it can be beneficial to have laminate floors installed professionally.

When is the Best Time to Buy Laminate Flooring?

Late December or early January are the best times to buy. In the dead of winter, laminate flooring prices drop, and so do the installation costs. Plus, professional installers tend to have more flexibility and openings available during this time.

Hiring Affordable Laminate Flooring Installers

Finding cheap laminate flooring is the first step. Finding high-quality installers for a great price is the next step. These tips offer the best ways to find installers and essential questions to ask.

Where to Find Companies

Researching an installation company online can be a significant first step towards finding your project’s best option. Read into reviews and ratings on each company to determine which ones are the most liked. Some websites even offer rankings regarding criteria like overall quality, timeliness, affordability, customer service, and more.

Questions to Ask

Having a list of questions ready for a potential installer can help you understand the pricing, costs, and overall prices. Ask questions like:

  1. Will you install the laminate that I purchase from another company?
  2. Does your company offer discounts on entire home installations or multiple rooms?
  3. Do you offer free estimates?

FAQs

What are the advantages of laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring offers many great benefits, starting with price. Laminate floors offer the appearance of hardwood floors for just a fraction of the cost. Additionally, laminate flooring can be easy to install, provides a great finished look, and is highly versatile.

What is the average cost per square foot of laminate flooring?

The average cost per square foot of laminate flooring is between $0.70 and $2.00 per square foot.

How long does laminate flooring last?

On average, laminate flooring can last anywhere from 15 to 25 years.

What is the best color of laminate flooring to install?

Deeper tones of brown or lighter tones of brown are the best flooring finishes for laminate. They are the most popular colors, and therefore, are the easiest colors to resell.

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