Flooring installation cost estimator and calculator - New hardwood, tile, or carpet

Kukun's flooring installation cost estimator is a useful tool to help you calculate your renovation costs instantly. The calculations take into account the area zip code, labor costs, and other relevant parameters. Simply enter your specifications and get a realistic estimate of your flooring cost right away!

Getting an estimate with Kukun’s flooring installation cost estimator is simple. Just follow the steps below to get the remodeling total cost.

1. Enter the square footage of floor you need installed

2. Select the type of flooring you want from these options:

• Tiles (ceramic tile/porcelain tile/luxury vinyl tile/stone tile/luxury vinyl plank flooring)
• Wood (engineered hardwood/solid hardwood flooring)
• Carpet (carpet flooring)

3. Choose the finish level for your new floor:

• Builder grade
• Mid grade
• Luxury grade

4. Enter your address to calculate the recoup value

(You can rest assured, we do not share this information. It just helps us give you a better cost estimate because labor and material prices vary widely by geography.)

And there you go! An estimate for your flooring installation cost and recoup is ready!

With this free estimate, you can analyze your finance options or hire a professional for their installation services. You can explore each contractor's profile, check out their online reviews, and view all their previous permits.

Well-installed, beautiful flooring improves the look, value, and comfort factor of your property. Once you make the commitment to install or replace your flooring, you need to know how much of an investment you require for this home renovation.

An estimate helps you organize your home improvement project and effectively manage milestones and costs.

Moreover, acquiring a free estimate for your flooring cost will help you create a realistic budget – getting you quality work at a fair price. It’s also the best way to ensure that you don’t stumble across any unwelcome surprises during the execution of your project.

The average cost for new flooring installation ranges from $6 to $10 per square foot. That amount can go as high as $18 per square foot depending on the materials chosen. Flooring for a medium-sized living room or dining room of 330 square feet will cost you approximately $1,660 to $4,650 for installation and materials.

Your complete flooring cost takes a number of factors into consideration, such as the total square footage of the space, the scope of renovation, your zip code, local labor costs, and the finishing details.

The most relevant cost factor includes the type of flooring material used. Here’s a quick look at some popular flooring materials with their cost per square foot.

Let’s explore these flooring materials in detail:

• Wood flooring

Wooden flooring renders a feeling of warmth in a room. The neutral and natural material is not just pleasing to the eye, it’s long-lasting, too. Usually, the thickness of solid wood floors ranges between 3/4” and 5/16”.

Here are some wood species with their costs per square foot

Here are some pros and cons of wood flooring to help you make an informed decision:

• Laminate flooring

The cost to install laminate flooring runs about $6 to $9 per square foot with labor cost of $34 per hour plus the contractor’s fee of 15% to 20%.

Interestingly, laminate flooring is made when bits of wood left over after cutting lumber are subjected to high heat and pressure to form particle boards. These are then covered with a high-quality photograph of wood or stone and a transparent plastic layer.

This eco-friendly flooring is easy to install and doesn’t require any nails or glue. Instead, it comes with a tongue-and-groove connection that snaps into place.

• Vinyl flooring

The average cost to install vinyl or linoleum flooring ranges between $3 and $10 per square foot. This flooring is completely synthetic. It comes in a variety of thicknesses, patterns, and colors.

• Carpet flooring

Carpet installation costs range between $1 and $3 per square foot on average. This amount doesn’t include the cost of the carpet, the pad, the tack strips, or moving furniture. Keep in mind that if you want carpeting on stairs, around pillars or floor registers, or in small spaces or tricky corners – the installation price will go up.

You can choose between acrylic fibers, polyester, olefin, nylon, wool, or cotton carpets. Moreover, carpets come in a variety of styles known as cut, loop, or cut and loop. These are also known as piles. Keep in mind that the denser the pile, the better the grade of the carpet.

• Tile flooring

The cost of tile flooring varies depending on the type of tile. While ceramic tiles run $2.50 to $3 per square foot, porcelain tile flooring averages $3 to $10 per square foot. Installation charges are about $5 per square foot on average. Keep in mind that tiles cannot be installed on an unlevel subfloor.

Flooring prices, including material and labor costs, are based on square footage. Flooring must be trimmed to accommodate floor registers, stairs, pipes, corners, and alcoves – that’s why correct measurements are important.

Here's how to calculate your room size and flooring cost:

• Measure the width and the length of the floor.
• Multiply the width by the length.
• Multiply the total square footage by the cost of material you want.

It’s very important that you plan your flooring project well in advance. Here are some tips to make the process easy and quick:

• If you’re contemplating other renovation projects as well, remember that flooring should be the last item to be installed. Floors are prone to damage during construction.
• Measure the total square footage of the room carefully before beginning the work.
• Decide on the right flooring material according to the traffic flow.
• Prepare and level the existing surface before installing the new flooring.
• Make sure that the new floor is installed over a flat, clean, smooth surface.
• Plan your floor layout by pre-laying the boards – without securing them – to get a good idea of how it will look later on.
• Set a realistic home remodeling budget. Always include leeway for some surprise costs – experts advise adding 20% extra to your existing budget.
• Check your local building code for permit requirements.
• Work with expert flooring contractors. A professional finish goes a long way in adding to the beauty and value of your home.
• Get a warranty or guarantee and a written contract from your contractor. The document should detail the complete schedule, deadlines for milestones, and payment information.
• Maintain a timeline in order to manage a seamless job. If you want non-hurried remodel work, try to avoid the busy spring and summer seasons.

These steps will help you avoid unexpected hassles and issues – making your flooring project go smoothly. Happy renovating!