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New floors transform how a home looks and feels, and the cost depends almost entirely on the material you choose. Flooring runs $3 to $25 per square foot installed in 2026, with most homeowners spending $6–$12 for a durable, good-looking option.
What you’re paying for
Your per-square-foot price combines material and labor, then adds any old-floor removal, subfloor prep, and trim or stair work. The material is the headline number, but the prep is where estimates go wrong — an uneven or damaged subfloor must be fixed before anything goes down.
Cost by type
Material choice can swing the price 5–8×. The table below shows typical installed pricing per square foot, from budget carpet and laminate to premium hardwood and tile.
Why LVP became the default
Luxury vinyl plank has taken over for good reason: it’s waterproof, scratch- and dent-resistant, convincingly mimics wood, installs over most subfloors, and lands in the middle on price. For kitchens, basements, and homes with kids or pets, it’s usually the smartest spend. Hardwood still wins on resale prestige and refinishability; tile wins in wet areas and durability.
The costs people forget
Two line items surprise homeowners: removal of the old floor ($1–$3/sq ft) and subfloor prep ($1–$4/sq ft). Budget for both, and price stairs separately — they’re charged per step and add up fast.
How to save on flooring
- Choose LVP or laminate for the best durability-per-dollar.
- DIY click-together floors if you’re handy to skip labor.
- Buy 7–10% extra for cuts and future repairs, but avoid over-ordering.
- Floor a whole area at once to lower the per-square-foot labor rate.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring material | $1 – $15 / sq ft | – |
| Installation labor | $2 – $10 / sq ft | – |
| Old flooring removal | $1 – $3 / sq ft | – |
| Subfloor repair / underlayment | $1 – $4 / sq ft | If needed |
| Trim, transitions & stairs | varies | – |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet | $3 – $8 / sq ft | – |
| Laminate | $3 – $8 / sq ft | – |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | $4 – $12 / sq ft | Best all-round value |
| Engineered wood | $6 – $15 / sq ft | – |
| Tile | $10 – $25 / sq ft | – |
| Solid hardwood | $11 – $25 / sq ft | – |
What affects the price
- Material The biggest driver — laminate, carpet, and LVP are budget-friendly; hardwood and tile cost the most.
- Room size & layout Larger areas lower the per-square-foot labor; diagonal or patterned layouts raise it.
- Subfloor condition Leveling, repairing, or adding underlayment adds $1–$4 per square foot.
- Old-floor removal Tearing out and hauling away existing flooring adds $1–$3 per square foot.
- Stairs & transitions Stairs are priced per step and transitions per doorway, adding to the base rate.
Flooring installation cost by state
Where you live can change the price as much as the options you pick. Labor is a big part of the bill, and construction workers are paid more in some states than others. A typical flooring installation job costs about $3.50 to $29 per sq ft in Hawaii (17% above the U.S. average). In Arkansas, it costs about $2.55 to $21 per sq ft (15% below the U.S. average).
See the typical cost in all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $2.60 – $22/sq ft |
| Alaska | $3.45 – $29/sq ft |
| Arizona | $2.85 – $24/sq ft |
| Arkansas | $2.55 – $21/sq ft |
| California | $3.35 – $28/sq ft |
| Colorado | $3 – $25/sq ft |
| Connecticut | $3.20 – $27/sq ft |
| Delaware | $2.95 – $25/sq ft |
| District of Columbia | $3.25 – $27/sq ft |
| Florida | $2.75 – $23/sq ft |
| Georgia | $2.75 – $23/sq ft |
| Hawaii | $3.50 – $29/sq ft |
| Idaho | $2.80 – $24/sq ft |
| Illinois | $3.45 – $29/sq ft |
| Indiana | $3.05 – $25/sq ft |
| Iowa | $2.90 – $24/sq ft |
| Kansas | $2.85 – $24/sq ft |
| Kentucky | $2.80 – $23/sq ft |
| Louisiana | $2.70 – $23/sq ft |
| Maine | $2.95 – $25/sq ft |
| Maryland | $3 – $25/sq ft |
| Massachusetts | $3.45 – $29/sq ft |
| Michigan | $3 – $25/sq ft |
| Minnesota | $3.25 – $27/sq ft |
| Mississippi | $2.60 – $22/sq ft |
| Missouri | $3.05 – $26/sq ft |
| Montana | $2.95 – $25/sq ft |
| Nebraska | $2.80 – $24/sq ft |
| Nevada | $3.10 – $26/sq ft |
| New Hampshire | $2.95 – $25/sq ft |
| New Jersey | $3.40 – $28/sq ft |
| New Mexico | $2.75 – $23/sq ft |
| New York | $3.30 – $28/sq ft |
| North Carolina | $2.70 – $23/sq ft |
| North Dakota | $3.05 – $25/sq ft |
| Ohio | $3 – $25/sq ft |
| Oklahoma | $2.75 – $23/sq ft |
| Oregon | $3.30 – $28/sq ft |
| Pennsylvania | $3.05 – $25/sq ft |
| Rhode Island | $3.10 – $26/sq ft |
| South Carolina | $2.75 – $23/sq ft |
| South Dakota | $2.70 – $23/sq ft |
| Tennessee | $2.75 – $23/sq ft |
| Texas | $2.75 – $23/sq ft |
| Utah | $2.80 – $24/sq ft |
| Vermont | $2.90 – $24/sq ft |
| Virginia | $2.85 – $24/sq ft |
| Washington | $3.50 – $29/sq ft |
| West Virginia | $2.85 – $24/sq ft |
| Wisconsin | $3.10 – $26/sq ft |
| Wyoming | $2.95 – $25/sq ft |
These are numbers to plan with, not quotes. Each one is this guide's U.S. range, adjusted for what construction workers earn in that state. See every state cost guide or how we estimate.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to floor a whole house?
- At $6–$12 per square foot installed, a 1,500-square-foot home typically runs $9,000–$18,000, depending on material and how much subfloor prep is needed.
- What's the cheapest flooring to install?
- Carpet and laminate are the most affordable at $3–$8 per square foot installed. Luxury vinyl plank costs a little more but is far more durable and water-resistant.
- LVP vs. laminate vs. hardwood — what's the difference in cost?
- Laminate is cheapest ($3–$8), LVP is mid ($4–$12) and waterproof, and solid hardwood is priciest ($11–$25) but refinishable and longest-lasting.
- Does new flooring add home value?
- Yes — hardwood in particular is a strong selling point. Even budget LVP that replaces worn carpet improves how a home shows and can lift offers.
- Do I need to replace the subfloor?
- Not usually, but it must be clean, level, and sound. Leveling, patching, or new underlayment adds cost and is worth doing right — flaws telegraph through the new floor.
- Can I install flooring myself?
- Click-together laminate and LVP are popular DIY projects and save the labor cost. Tile and hardwood are harder to do well and are often best left to pros.
- How long does flooring installation take?
- A single room is usually a 1–2 day job; a whole house takes several days to over a week depending on material, subfloor work, and removal.
How we estimate: These are typical U.S. prices for materials and for hiring a pro to install them. We checked them against the 2026 sources listed below (see how we get our numbers). Your price depends on where you live, the size of the job and the materials you pick. Get two or three written bids before you choose a contractor.
Sources
We checked the prices on this page against 2026 numbers from these sources: