Flooring installation cost
New floors can change how a whole room feels. Here is what they tend to cost, in plain words.
Quick answer
About $3,153[1] for a new floor.
That is the U.S. average job. Most cost $1,528 to $4,850[1]. Vinyl and laminate cost the least per square foot. Tile, stone and hardwood cost more.
Floors take more wear than any other part of a home. Feet, pets, spills and sun all leave their mark.
Floors are priced by the square foot. That makes them easy to compare, once you know the numbers.
Each number below links to its source. We show our math, so you can check it.
What each floor costs per square foot
These prices include putting the floor in[1]. A square foot is a patch one foot long and one foot wide.
Installed price per square foot, by floor type (U.S.)
Hardwood has the widest range. Simple boards are near the bottom. Rare woods and fancy patterns are near the top.
What one room costs
HomeAdvisor uses a 320 sq ft[1] living room as its example. A new floor there costs about $4,000[1]. A budget pick can be as low as $960[1]. A high-end one can reach about $7,000[1][1].
How a new floor goes in
- MeasureLength times width of each room.
- ClearMove furniture. Pull up the old floor.
- PrepFix the subfloor. Add underlayment.
- LayPut down the new floor, row by row.
Removal, subfloor and more
| Extra | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Take out the old floor | $1.00/sq ft | $6.00/sq ft |
| Underlayment | $0.5/sq ft | $5.40/sq ft |
| New subfloor | $3.00/sq ft | $10.00/sq ft |
| Asbestos removal | $5.00/sq ft | $20.00/sq ft |
| Refinish hardwood | $3.00/sq ft | $8.00/sq ft |
Source: HomeAdvisor[1]. Underlayment is the thin layer under the floor.
The subfloor is the wood under your floor. If it is soft or wet, it must be fixed first. That is why HomeAdvisor suggests keeping about 15%[1] extra for surprises.
What floor layers earn in every state
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks floor layer pay[2]. The U.S. middle was $27.15/hr[2] in May 2025. Some states have too few floor layers for the government to publish a number.
Flooring installer pay by state compared with the U.S. middle
Much higher
Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts
Higher
California, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania
About the same
Florida (our example state), Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington
Lower
Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin
Much lower
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, West Virginia
- Much lower
- Lower
- About the same
- Higher
- Much higher
All 50 states and DC, in one table
| State | Middle flooring installer pay | Pay score | Installer hourly rate, moved by pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $27.15/hr | 100% | $60.00/hr to $120.00/hr |
| Alabama | $18.62/hr | 69% | $41.15/hr to $82.30/hr |
| Alaska | $44.64/hr | 164% | $98.65/hr to $197.30/hr |
| Arizona | $21.51/hr | 79% | $47.54/hr to $95.07/hr |
| Arkansas | $19.59/hr | 72% | $43.29/hr to $86.59/hr |
| California | $29.43/hr | 108% | $65.04/hr to $130.08/hr |
| Colorado | $22.13/hr | 82% | $48.91/hr to $97.81/hr |
| Connecticut | $22.70/hr | 84% | $50.17/hr to $100.33/hr |
| Delaware | Not published | None | Use U.S. |
| District of Columbia | Not published | None | Use U.S. |
| Florida | $27.41/hr | 101% | $60.57/hr to $121.15/hr |
| Georgia | $22.13/hr | 82% | $48.91/hr to $97.81/hr |
| Hawaii | $37.15/hr | 137% | $82.10/hr to $164.20/hr |
| Idaho | Not published | None | Use U.S. |
| Illinois | $33.60/hr | 124% | $74.25/hr to $148.51/hr |
| Indiana | $24.39/hr | 90% | $53.90/hr to $107.80/hr |
| Iowa | $26.42/hr | 97% | $58.39/hr to $116.77/hr |
| Kansas | $22.10/hr | 81% | $48.84/hr to $97.68/hr |
| Kentucky | $24.22/hr | 89% | $53.52/hr to $107.05/hr |
| Louisiana | $20.32/hr | 75% | $44.91/hr to $89.81/hr |
| Maine | $25.67/hr | 95% | $56.73/hr to $113.46/hr |
| Maryland | $23.02/hr | 85% | $50.87/hr to $101.75/hr |
| Massachusetts | $38.12/hr | 140% | $84.24/hr to $168.49/hr |
| Michigan | $22.50/hr | 83% | $49.72/hr to $99.45/hr |
| Minnesota | $28.55/hr | 105% | $63.09/hr to $126.19/hr |
| Mississippi | $23.67/hr | 87% | $52.31/hr to $104.62/hr |
| Missouri | $26.30/hr | 97% | $58.12/hr to $116.24/hr |
| Montana | $18.13/hr | 67% | $40.07/hr to $80.13/hr |
| Nebraska | Not published | None | Use U.S. |
| Nevada | $28.15/hr | 104% | $62.21/hr to $124.42/hr |
| New Hampshire | Not published | None | Use U.S. |
| New Jersey | $28.77/hr | 106% | $63.58/hr to $127.16/hr |
| New Mexico | $23.94/hr | 88% | $52.91/hr to $105.81/hr |
| New York | $29.50/hr | 109% | $65.19/hr to $130.39/hr |
| North Carolina | $24.86/hr | 92% | $54.94/hr to $109.88/hr |
| North Dakota | $23.10/hr | 85% | $51.05/hr to $102.10/hr |
| Ohio | $28.59/hr | 105% | $63.18/hr to $126.36/hr |
| Oklahoma | $18.29/hr | 67% | $40.42/hr to $80.84/hr |
| Oregon | $27.14/hr | 100% | $59.98/hr to $119.96/hr |
| Pennsylvania | $28.87/hr | 106% | $63.80/hr to $127.60/hr |
| Rhode Island | Not published | None | Use U.S. |
| South Carolina | $23.97/hr | 88% | $52.97/hr to $105.94/hr |
| South Dakota | $28.33/hr | 104% | $62.61/hr to $125.22/hr |
| Tennessee | $23.99/hr | 88% | $53.02/hr to $106.03/hr |
| Texas | $20.71/hr | 76% | $45.77/hr to $91.54/hr |
| Utah | $23.03/hr | 85% | $50.90/hr to $101.79/hr |
| Vermont | $24.62/hr | 91% | $54.41/hr to $108.82/hr |
| Virginia | $24.25/hr | 89% | $53.59/hr to $107.18/hr |
| Washington | $27.31/hr | 101% | $60.35/hr to $120.71/hr |
| West Virginia | $21.82/hr | 80% | $48.22/hr to $96.44/hr |
| Wisconsin | $25.42/hr | 94% | $56.18/hr to $112.35/hr |
| Wyoming | Not published | None | Use U.S. |
Pay score is our math: the state's middle pay divided by the U.S. middle. The labor column is the U.S. range times that score. It is a rough guide, not a quote. Pay is what workers earn, not what a company bills.
Example: a laminate room in Florida
Say you live in Florida. You want laminate in a living room the size of HomeAdvisor's example. The old carpet must come out. Here is the math.
| Room size | 320 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Laminate, put in | $960 to $4,160 |
| Florida pay score | 101% |
| Change for Florida pay (labor share) | $6 to $24 |
| Take out the old floor | $320 to $1,920 |
| Total | $1,286 to $6,104 |
Taking out the old floor is a big part of this bill. Ask if your crew can haul it away, or if that is extra.
Ways to pay less
- Get three written quotes. Ask each to list the floor, labor, removal and subfloor work per square foot.
- Measure before you shop. Then you can check each quote's square feet.
- Move the furniture yourself. It can save time on the crew's clock.
- Refinish instead of replace. Worn hardwood can often be sanded and sealed for $3.00/sq ft to $8.00/sq ft[1].
- Look at vinyl and laminate. They can look like wood for less.
Fix it or replace it?
HomeAdvisor offers a simple rule. If repairs cost more than 50%[1] of a new floor, replacing it saves money[1]. A typical carpet fix is about $210[1].
Floors last very different lengths of time. Carpet lasts about 8 to 10 years[3]. Laminate lasts 15 to 25 years[3]. Wood floors can last 100+ years[3][3]. See our fix or replace guide for floors.
What makes the price go up or down
- Square feet. Bigger rooms cost more. This is the biggest driver.
- The floor you pick. Tile starts near $15.00/sq ft[1]. Vinyl starts near $2.00/sq ft[1].
- The old floor. Taking it out costs $1.00/sq ft to $6.00/sq ft[1].
- What is under it. A pad or underlayment adds $0.5/sq ft to $5.40/sq ft[1].
- Labor. It is roughly 60%[1] of the job, so installer pay in your state matters.
How to choose a floor
- Think about water. Wet rooms need a floor that can take it.
- Think about life span. Laminate lasts about 15 to 25 years[3]. Engineered wood can last 50+ years[3][3].
- Think about feel. Do you want soft and warm, or hard and cool?
- Think about upkeep. Real wood can be sanded and refinished. Most others can't.
Questions to ask an installer
- Is taking out the old floor in the price?
- Did you check the subfloor? What if it is bad?
- Is the pad or underlayment included?
- Will you move the furniture?
- How do you price trim and doorways?
Permits and safety rules
A new floor often needs no permit, but ask your town to be sure. Two federal rules matter more. Old floors may hold asbestos[4]. Laminate and other wood-based floors should carry a TSCA Title VI label for formaldehyde[5].
Can you do it yourself?
Floating floors, like many laminate and vinyl planks, are one of the more DIY-friendly jobs. Tile and hardwood take more skill and tools. Since labor is roughly 60% of the bill, DIY can save a lot, if you have the time.
Never pull up old floors you think may have asbestos. Get them tested first.
Expert sources we relied on
These are public building codes, laws, license boards, and trade and maker guides. We used them for the rules on this page. None of these groups has looked at or backed Home Repair Report. We just point to what they published.
- Government, law or building code Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Page last updated Jun 25, 2026; checked ; source [4])
What it supports here: what to do about old floors that may contain asbestos - Government, law or building code Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products (TSCA Title VI) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Page last updated Feb 12, 2026; checked ; source [5])
What it supports here: the TSCA Title VI label on laminate and other wood-based floors
Questions people ask
How much does a new floor cost?
HomeAdvisor puts the U.S. average at $3,153[1]. Most jobs cost $1,528[1] to $4,850[1].
What is the cheapest floor?
Vinyl starts lowest, at $2.00/sq ft[1] put in. Laminate and linoleum start at $3.00/sq ft[1].
How much is labor?
Roughly 60%[1] of a flooring job is labor, says HomeAdvisor. Installers charge $60.00/hr[1] to $120.00/hr[1].
What does a living room floor cost?
HomeAdvisor's example is a 320 sq ft[1] living room. A new floor there is about $4,000[1]. A budget pick can be as low as $960[1].
Should I keep extra money aside?
Yes. HomeAdvisor suggests keeping about 15%[1] extra for surprises, like a soft subfloor.
How we made this page
A computer helper (AI) found the public data. It also wrote the first draft.
Then we checked each number against its source. Each number links to that source.
The AI did not make up any number. We did not make up any person or quote.
We do not show experts or reviewers. We show the math, so you can check it.
Read how we check numbers, our rules for writing and how we fix mistakes. See a mistake? Tell us.
Sources & how we calculated this
How we calculated this
Prices per square foot, the room example, labor share and add-ons are HomeAdvisor's published numbers, shown as written. Life spans come from InterNACHI. Safety facts come from the EPA.
The state column is our math: HomeAdvisor's installer hourly rate times the state's pay score. The pay score is the state's middle floor layer pay divided by the U.S. middle (BLS, May 2025). In the example, we move only the labor share of the job.
The full method is on our methodology page. See a mistake? Read our corrections policy.
Every figure on this page (88), with its source and the date we checked it
| Figure | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring installation, national average cost | $3,153 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Flooring installation, typical range, low | $1,528 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Flooring installation, typical range, high | $4,850 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Vinyl floor, installed, per sq ft, low | $2.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Labor as a share of a flooring job (roughly) | 60% | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| New floor in HomeAdvisor's typical 320 sq ft living room, about | $4,000 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Vinyl floor, installed, per sq ft, high | $14.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Linoleum floor, installed, per sq ft, low | $3.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Linoleum floor, installed, per sq ft, high | $12.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Laminate floor, installed, per sq ft, low | $3.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Laminate floor, installed, per sq ft, high | $13.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Carpet, installed, per sq ft, low | $3.50/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Carpet, installed, per sq ft, high | $11.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Hardwood floor, installed, per sq ft, low | $6.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Hardwood floor, installed, per sq ft, high | $25.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Stone floor, installed, per sq ft, low | $6.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Stone floor, installed, per sq ft, high | $20.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Tile floor, installed, per sq ft, low | $15.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Tile floor, installed, per sq ft, high | $20.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Wood-look tile floor, installed, per sq ft, low | $15.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Wood-look tile floor, installed, per sq ft, high | $20.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Size of HomeAdvisor's typical living room example | 320 sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Same room with a budget pick, as low as | $960 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Same room with a high-end pick, about (or more) | $7,000 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Removing an old floor, per sq ft, low | $1.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Removing an old floor, per sq ft, high | $6.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Underlayment, per sq ft, low | $0.5/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Underlayment, per sq ft, high | $5.40/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Subfloor replacement, per sq ft, low | $3.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Subfloor replacement, per sq ft, high | $10.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Asbestos removal, per sq ft, low | $5.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Asbestos removal, per sq ft, high | $20.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Refinishing hardwood, per sq ft, low | $3.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Refinishing hardwood, per sq ft, high | $8.00/sq ft | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Extra budget HomeAdvisor suggests keeping for surprises | 15% | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Floor layers, national median hourly wage | $27.15/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Alabama, median hourly wage | $18.62/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Alaska, median hourly wage | $44.64/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Arizona, median hourly wage | $21.51/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Arkansas, median hourly wage | $19.59/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, California, median hourly wage | $29.43/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Colorado, median hourly wage | $22.13/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Connecticut, median hourly wage | $22.70/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Florida, median hourly wage | $27.41/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Georgia, median hourly wage | $22.13/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Hawaii, median hourly wage | $37.15/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Illinois, median hourly wage | $33.60/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Indiana, median hourly wage | $24.39/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Iowa, median hourly wage | $26.42/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Kansas, median hourly wage | $22.10/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Kentucky, median hourly wage | $24.22/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Louisiana, median hourly wage | $20.32/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Maine, median hourly wage | $25.67/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Maryland, median hourly wage | $23.02/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Massachusetts, median hourly wage | $38.12/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Michigan, median hourly wage | $22.50/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Minnesota, median hourly wage | $28.55/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Mississippi, median hourly wage | $23.67/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Missouri, median hourly wage | $26.30/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Montana, median hourly wage | $18.13/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Nevada, median hourly wage | $28.15/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, New Jersey, median hourly wage | $28.77/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, New Mexico, median hourly wage | $23.94/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, New York, median hourly wage | $29.50/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, North Carolina, median hourly wage | $24.86/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, North Dakota, median hourly wage | $23.10/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Ohio, median hourly wage | $28.59/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Oklahoma, median hourly wage | $18.29/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Oregon, median hourly wage | $27.14/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Pennsylvania, median hourly wage | $28.87/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, South Carolina, median hourly wage | $23.97/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, South Dakota, median hourly wage | $28.33/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Tennessee, median hourly wage | $23.99/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Texas, median hourly wage | $20.71/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Utah, median hourly wage | $23.03/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Vermont, median hourly wage | $24.62/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Virginia, median hourly wage | $24.25/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Washington, median hourly wage | $27.31/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, West Virginia, median hourly wage | $21.82/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Floor layers, Wisconsin, median hourly wage | $25.42/hr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
| Flooring installer hourly rate, low | $60.00/hr | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Flooring installer hourly rate, high | $120.00/hr | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| If repairs cost more than this share of a new floor, HomeAdvisor says replacing saves money | 50% | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Typical carpet repair, about | $210 | HomeAdvisor (Angi) | |
| Typical life expectancy (InterNACHI): carpet | 8 to 10 years | InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) | |
| Typical life expectancy (InterNACHI): laminate floor | 15 to 25 years | InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) | |
| Typical life expectancy (InterNACHI): all wood floors | 100+ years | InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) | |
| Typical life expectancy (InterNACHI): engineered wood floor | 50+ years | InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) |
Sources
- HomeAdvisor (Angi). How Much Does Flooring Installation Cost?. Sample/coverage: HomeAdvisor says it surveyed over 30,000 customers about their project costs (site-wide statement on the page). Per-square-foot prices include taking up and hauling away the old floor, but not a new subfloor, underlayment, baseboards or trim.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025: plumbers (47-2152), HVAC mechanics (49-9021), electricians (47-2111), carpenters (47-2031) and floor layers (47-2042), national and state. Sample/coverage: BLS employer survey; the May 2025 estimates combine six semiannual panels from a sample of about 1.1 million establishments across all occupations. Median hourly wage by state, pulled through the free BLS Public Data API (v1). Wages are what workers are paid, not what a company bills. BLS does not publish floor layer pay for 7 states.
- InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors). InterNACHI's Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes. Planning estimates under normal conditions, not warranties. InterNACHI notes hot climates sharply shorten asphalt shingle life.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products (TSCA Title VI).
