When planning for a home remodel, it is important to know how much it would cost to install new flooring. In this article, we will discuss the average cost of new flooring based on area size, type of material (including engineered hardwood price per square foot), and a variety of additional factors that could affect the cost. We will also outline the difference between DIY and professional installation. Please note, though, that the costs published here are based on research at the time of writing and may be subject to change.

Average Cost of Flooring Based on Area Size

The cost to install new flooring can vary greatly depending on different factors. One of the main factors that affect cost is the size of the area in which you want the new flooring installed. The following is a breakdown of average price ranges by square footage:

  • 100 sq ft — $200 to $3,000
  • 200 sq ft — $400 to $6,000
  • 500 sq ft — $1,000 to $12,500
  • 1,000 sq ft — $2,000 to $25,000
  • 2,000 sq ft — $4,000 to $50,000

Average Costs of Flooring Based on Type of Material

Other than area size, the type of material you choose is the main factor that affects the cost to install new flooring. For example, the cost of luxury vinyl plank (lvp) flooring is $3 to $10 per square foot, while standard vinyl plank is $2 to $7. Meanwhile, the cost of hardwood floors per square foot is $11 to $25 for solid hardwood and $7 to $20 for engineered hardwood.

Other options for materials include laminate flooring which is $4 to $14 per square foot and tile which has a range of $10 to $50 per square foot.

Additional Factors that Affect Cost

While area size and material type are the most prevalent factors that affect flooring cost, there are also additional factors that should be taken into account, including:

The layout of the space and design of the flooring, such as how the planks are laid down and in what pattern, can affect the cost. The more detailed and intricate the design is, the more expensive installation will be.

Depending on the type of material you get, there are different installation methods that could be used with some being less expensive than others. If you get vinyl planks, they can either be peel-and-stick which is the cheapest option, click-together, or glue-down which is the most expensive option. For the cost to install hardwood floors, nail-down is cheaper, while glue-down is more expensive.

Before new flooring can be installed, your old flooring must be removed, which typically costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot. However, removing old carpet is cheaper at $0.70 to $1.60 per square foot.

If your subfloor is in bad condition, you will potentially need to replace the floor joists, which could cost anywhere from $350 to $1,000 per joist. The entire subfloor might also need to be replaced, which could cost between $2.20 to $4.75 per square foot.

Some types of flooring, like vinyl, may need underlayment, a thin material that goes between the sub floor and floor covering to keep out moisture and reduce noise. This typically costs $0.50 per square foot to install.

DIY vs. Professional

There are certain types of flooring, like vinyl planks, that can be easy to install yourself, particularly the click-together or peel-and-stick types. However, when comparing DIY to professional flooring installation, it is often better to go with professionals. DIY installation may initially save you money, but if you don’t have the right tools or the proper experience and the flooring isn’t installed correctly, you run the risk of damaging your home, which means more expenses later on. While hiring professionals means incurring a higher labor cost to install hardwood flooring, for example, the installation process will be faster and the results will be better.

Final Thoughts

Throughout this article, we have discussed the average cost of flooring based on area size, material type (including lvp flooring cost per square foot), and any additional factors that could affect costs, as well as the difference between DIY and professional installation. At Top Home Builders, we provide new flooring installation in all of our home remodeling services for the Bay Area. Contact us today for more information!

FAQs

Solid hardwood flooring is $11 to $25 per square foot and engineered hardwood flooring is $7 to $20 per square foot.

On average, it would cost between $7,000 and $25,000 to install 1,000 square feet of hardwood flooring.

On average, it would cost between $10,500 and $37,500 to install 1,500 square feet of hardwood flooring.

On average, it would cost between $14,000 and $50,000 to install 2,000 square feet of hardwood flooring.

On average, it would cost between $17,500 and $62,500 to install 2,500 square feet of hardwood flooring.

The most expensive flooring material is tile at a price range of $10 to $50 per square foot, while the least expensive is standard vinyl plank at $2 to $7 per square foot.