Find out accurate residential flooring prices in your area

The market is brimming with flooring options of various colors, styles, and durability. They require different installation approaches and meet different purposes. The cost of flooring installation varies greatly based on its sturdiness, quality, and pattern. Intricate flooring designs that require more materials and time cost higher to be installed, while those laid in one approach are more affordable. The cost of new flooring can depend on the season, along with the average contractors' rates which are also addressed in this guide.

Consider the available budget when searching for the best flooring option for your home. This way, you will know what you can afford without going over the allocated sum. To better guide you in your search, we made up a list of the sought-after types of flooring and their costs.

Hardwood is one of the best flooring options with a decent investment return. This material is highly durable and resistant to moisture. It looks classic, giving both traditional and contemporary exteriors a feeling of warmth and coziness. Hardwood varies by type and thickness and comes in a bazillion of hues and patterns. Hardwood is your ultimate solution if you are in the market for a versatile material that blends with all decor styles. The upfront installation cost of this flooring type is tangibly high.

Hardwood flooring costs depend on the material's type and thickness. See the basic hardwood variabilities and their average costs below to make an informed decision.

This affordable flooring option is prevalent in the US. You can find carpet floors in family houses, flats, hotel rooms, and hospitals. Carpets make a space feel cozier and warmer, hiding floor unevenness and absorbing noises. They come in thousands of styles and patterns, making it simple to customize and jazz up the interior. Nevertheless, this flooring option has a reduced service life, showing signs of wear and tear after the first few years of active usage. That's one of the reasons it's not recommended to install in high-traffic areas.

The carpeting material is the key factor affecting its cost per square foot. That is why you should know your options before heading to flooring installation contractors.

This flooring offers a timeless classic look that fits most interiors and rooms. Tile is a durable, moisture-resistant material that serves for decades without any special maintenance. It's commonly installed to increase a property's resale value and can bring decent rewards on investment. Tile flooring variabilities as ceramic and porcelain can handle high foot traffic without showing wear and tear. That is why tile flooring might become a dependable option even if you choose new floors for commercial premises like an office or beauty salon. While your bedroom might not be the best place for tiles as this flooring surface quickly gets cold and might not be comfortable for walking barefoot.

The national average tile flooring installation costs between $900 and $2.850, with most homeowners paying around $1.850 per project or $16.80 per square foot. Depending on the size and complexity of the flooring project, the labor cost per hour can range from $5 to $17.

Here are the factors contributing to the cost of tile installation floors:

Often used as a cheaper alternative to hardwood flooring, laminate can offer almost the same visual appeal and feel of coziness. It's made of four layers of wood composite glued together that prevents it from deterring indentations and premature wear and tear. Laminate comes in a variety of designs and finishes, mimicking high-end floors. It's stain- and indentation-resistant but may absorb moisture and be swollen. Higher-grade laminate floors, though, can be water-resistant.

The cost of laminate flooring ranges from $2.70 to $4.60 per sq.ft., depending on the quality of the top wear layer and core construction. Those laminate flooring variabilities with low thickness and no moisture resistance can cost from $2.50 to $3.00 per sq. ft. Thicker laminate options (from 10 mm and higher) possess better durability and cost $3.00 - $3.75 per sq. ft. And, finally, high-end laminate floors with about 14 mm thickness costs $3.75 - $4.60 per sq. ft. and feature pretty much the same properties as run-of-the-mill hardwood. As installing laminate does not require special skills, contractors charge around $3 per sq. ft.

Vinyl is one of the most sought-after resilient flooring materials distinguished by its durability and cost efficiency. It possesses the ideal balance of firmness and "give," providing a comfortable feel underfoot. Vinyl flooring is made from thick synthetic materials like plastic, PVC, and fiberglass that are moisture-resistant and can withstand the average foot traffic. Versatility is another great advantage of vinyl flooring. It comes in multiple shades and finishes and can mimic other flooring types like stone and hardwood. Vinyl can last for decades without little maintenance, and once it starts showing signs of wear and tear, it can be painted over with waterproof paint.

Vinyl is one of the most affordable flooring materials on the market. The national average cost you can expect to spend for its installation ranges from $1.20 to $3.60 per sq. ft., depending on the material type and thickness. Professional flooring replacement contractors charge $2.00 per sq. ft. for installing this flooring type on an even surface.

See the table below to learn the average costs of vinyl flooring depending on its type and quality:

Linoleum has been around for 100 years and is now back in trend thanks to its versatility, eco-friendliness, and affordability. The main components of this flooring material are wood flour, cork dust, ground limestone, linseed oil, and rosin. This 100% natural composition ensures the material's better antibacterial and aesthetic qualities. The service life of vinyl floors ranges from 15 to 35 years with minimum maintenance. However, the longevity depends on the area where this flooring is installed. Linoleum is not a waterproof material and should not be installed in hallways, bathrooms, and laundries. Besides, it's not the best option for commercial properties.

Linoleum flooring is fairly inexpensive for material and labor. However, the cost is correlated to the type of material. Linoleum sheets have the lowest cost per sq. ft. ($2 -$4) but require a professional installation, while tiles and planks need a higher initial investment (around $5.30 per sq. ft.)but can be "clicked together" without assistance.

If you think about concrete as a utilitarian surface for commercial buildings, think again. This material is surprising by its versatility and design richness. You can stain concrete in virtually any color, giving it a variety of finishes and textures. This flooring option with a smooth, polished look serves as a way more sturdy alternative to linoleum, vinyl, and wood flooring. Concrete can preserve its initial look for a lifetime, requiring a little maintenance. It's pet-friendly, moisture and stain-resistant. However, you should also consider that concrete is hard and cold underfoot. You might need to install a radiant system or use rugs to increase your home's comfort.

However, the installation of concrete flooring is recommended to discuss with general contractors and designers as this material is not always the best fit for every home. If your building features a slab-on-grade foundation or a concrete slab, you can safely install this durable flooring option.

The cost of concrete flooring mainly depends on its finish. The higher the level of floor artistic rendering, the higher its price. Concrete floors with high-end design (mixed color scheme, geometric patterns, stamping technique) might cost you as high as $25 per sq. ft. Basic and mid-range ones cost from $4 to $15 per sq. ft. and most often involve pouring the overlay, basic polishing and colorizing treatment.

Bamboo is a natural, eco-friendly material with much the same properties as hardwood. It fits a variety of home styles, giving it a modern look and rising resale value. You can install bamboo flooring in rooms with different foot traffic intensiveness and moisture exposure, as it's sturdy and resistant to stains. A bamboo floor can last as long as 35 years if properly laid and finished. However, it's not entirely waterproof and prone to scratching. That means its service life can be reduced if you install it in the entrance hall or laundry room.

This flooring type has the same level of cost as the hardwood one. Depending on the type and manufacturing approach, bamboo products range from $4 to $12 per sq. ft. Professional installation costs another $4 - $6 per sq. ft.

Here are the types of bamboo flooring and their distinctive features:

Cork is a 100% natural and biodegradable material made of the bark of the cork oak tree. This material is grounded up, compressed, and formed into sheets to be used as a flooring product. Cork is a good insulator that helps to keep a house warm in harsh climates. Thanks to its soft, silky surface, cork flooring is comfortable to walk on barefoot.

This flooring is suitable for installation almost everywhere in the home. However, there're some points to consider. First, if you have pets, it makes sense to select something more sturdy and stain-resistant as hardwood or concrete. Secondly, cork is susceptible to damage and can be cracked under heavy furniture or appliances. And finally, if not properly sealed, cork can become a victim of regular moisture exposure.

The national average cost of cork flooring runs from $3 to $12 per sq. ft., depending on the type and quality of the material as well as the installation approach and finish. The labor cost for floating floor installation ranges from $3 - $4 per sq. ft. You can expect to be charged $6 - $10 for the glue-down floor.

Estimating the cost of a flooring project is not a breeze, especially for non-specialists. However, by knowing the cost-formation factors, a homeowner can predict the budget required for their project. Below we collected the critical points that affect the flooring process.

The major expenses of every flooring project are materials and labor. You can find a way to save your hard earned money on both of these cost components, and below, we explain how.

All home improvement services are priced differently depending on the location and local labor costs. The national average cost of new flooring installation may not coincide with the rates of contractors operating in your city. That is why analyzing the costs relevant to the local market is essential before budgeting your flooring project. Your most straightforward way to do that is through the MyHomeQuote contractor-matching service. We determine your request, analyze its details and find the best offers on the local flooring market. Once the researching and matching part of the job is finished, we will provide you with its results through written and verbal price quotes. You can compare the offers through the interface of our platform and request additional details if needed. The flooring quotes we provide are free and non-binding. That is why there is nothing to hesitate about when it comes to searching for local flooring pros with MyHomeQuote.