Price of carpet installation per square foot
What Does Carpet Installation Cost? (2022 Guide)
Over the past several decades, carpeting has remained a popular choice among homeowners. Carpet prices vary by material, but professional installation is usually relatively inexpensive.
Reviews by This Old House Reviews Team 09/22/2022 2:00 pm
In This Article: Carpet Installation Costs | Cost Factors | Additional Costs and Considerations | When to Replace Carpets | Benefits of New Carpet | DIY vs. Professional | How to Save | Our Conclusion
Carpet makes for a cozy, comfortable flooring that hides dust and absorbs sound. Unfortunately, even high-end carpet doesn’t last forever. Whether you need your carpet replaced or you’re having it installed for the first time, it’s important to budget for carpet installation costs before you begin the project.
The national average cost of carpet installation in a 200-square-foot room ranges from $650 to $2,050. We’ll break down the costs of different materials and styles of carpet as well as the different factors that go into determining the labor costs of the project. Finally, we’ll address some frequently asked questions about the process to help you decide whether now is the right time to have carpet installed in your home.
Carpet Installation Costs
The cost to re-carpet a room can range depending on material, padding, and labor. On average, new carpet itself costs $2–$8 per square foot, although luxury brands can cost much more. Padding costs about $0.75–$1.25 per square foot, and you’ll pay $0.50–$1 per square foot for labor.
Carpet Cost by Material
When looking at the cost per square foot of carpet, the material it’s made of plays the most significant role in determining price. Polyester and polypropylene, which is also called olefin, are the least expensive. They resist fading and staining, but they are not particularly durable or easy to clean.
Nylon carpet is the most popular type in the U.S., as it’s durable and resistant to mold and mildew, but it’s not as soft as other types and it’s prone to building up static.
Acrylic isn’t as popular, since it has a tendency to form pills and isn’t the most durable of the synthetic materials. Triexta is gaining popularity as a more eco-friendly version of nylon, since it’s partially made from plant materials. It does offer the same durability and stain resistance as nylon, but it’s a little more expensive.
Finally, natural fibers like wool and sisal are the most expensive. Sisal, made of fibers from the agave plant, is highly durable but a little rough to the touch. Wool carpet, on the other hand, gets high marks for comfort, durability, and eco-friendliness, but it’s prone to mold and mildew and requires special care to clean.
Cost Per Square Foot of Carpet Material
| Material | Cost (per square foot) |
|---|---|
| Acrylic | $3–$7 |
| Nylon | $2–$8 |
| Olefin | $1–$5 |
| Polyester | $1–$6 |
| Sisal | $5–$15 |
| Triexta | $2–$7 |
| Wool | $5–$20 |
Carpet Cost by Style
The individual names assigned to types of carpet can be a bit confusing since they overlap and don’t always have clear definitions, even within the industry.
For example, velvet, plush, and saxony carpet may all refer to the same style of twisted cut pile, though some sources say plush has a lower height than saxony. Similarly, shag and frieze carpets are both taller cut pile carpets, but they may be twisted or upright. Here are some general terms to know when considering carpet styles.
- Berber carpet: This is a loop carpet with a low pile. It is dense and stain-resistant, making it a good choice for hallways, stairs, and other high-traffic areas.
- Cut pile: This carpet style is relatively easy to clean since there are no loops to trap dirt and debris. However, its exposed ends are prone to fraying over time.
- Low-pile carpet: This carpet stands up better to foot traffic than high pile, but it doesn’t provide as much cushion underfoot.
- Cut-pile: This pile variation combines exposed strands with fiber loops to create a unique texture. This style also hides footprints and vacuum marks well, though it’s usually more expensive than other varieties.
Different carpet materials are better suited to certain styles. For example, nylon is versatile enough for several styles, but olefin carpet is usually low-pile because it’s inherently less durable. Material is a bigger determinant of cost than carpet type is. Wool will always be more expensive than polyester carpet regardless of cut or style. Below is an average cost table for how much each style of carpet costs per square foot.
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Carpet Style Cost by Square Foot
| Style | Cost (per square foot) |
|---|---|
| Berber | $1–$6 |
| Cut and Loop | $3–$12 |
| Cut Pile | $1–$10 |
| Level Loop | $1–$5 |
| Low Pile | $1–$5 |
| Patterned Loop | $3–$12 |
| Plush | $2–$8 |
| Saxony | $2–$8 |
| Textured | $2–$12 |
| Twist Pile | $2–$8 |
Factors in Calculating Carpet Installation Cost
The carpet itself is only one factor in the total cost.
You also need to consider the process of laying the carpet. The most common elements that factor into carpet installation cost include these:
- Type and material of carpet
- Room shape in size
- Padding
- Labor costs
Type and Material
A high-end carpet will usually cost the same to install as a lower quality carpet. The exception to that rule is carpet tiles, which are squares of synthetic material that are self-adhesive or can be glued to the floor. These are quicker and easier to install than whole-room carpet and will reduce labor costs.
Room Size and Shape
The more floor space you have to cover, the more expensive materials and installation will be. Carpet is sold by the square foot or square yard, and if you have to cut it to fit a room with an unusual shape, you may have some carpet left over. Similarly, stairs and unusually shaped areas will cost more in labor.
Padding
Carpet can be installed directly onto the existing floor, but most homes first lay down some type of carpet padding to make it more comfortable to walk on and to provide extra insulation.
However, thicker isn’t always better, and thick padding may not work with all styles of carpet. Padding will typically add $0.75–$1.25 per square foot, although some types of carpet, like peel-and-stick tiles, may have padding already attached.
Labor
Unlike many remodeling jobs, labor represents only a small portion of carpet installation costs. Most professional contractors will charge per hour or per square foot to install carpet. On the other hand, some big-box home improvement stores like Home Depot offer free installation if you purchase both carpet and padding. You can also call local contractors to get estimates or place your ZIP code in the form below.
Free Quote: Get your quote on carpet installation today
Additional Costs and Considerations
Beyond just materials and labor, here are some other factors to take into account which may determine final project costs. You may need to calculate added expenses:
- Carpet removal
- Floor repair or replacement
- Moving furniture
- Stain-resistant treatments
- Subfloor repair or replacements
Carpet Removal
In many cases, you’ll need to have your old carpet removed and hauled away before the new one can be installed.
You can remove existing carpet yourself, if you’d like. Homeowners paying for professional carpet replacement may include removal as part of the job, which can add $0.25–$1 per square foot. You may be able to recycle your old carpet or reuse portions of it as rugs, doormats, or soundproofing material.
Floor Repair or Replacement
Any structural problems with your old flooring will need to be fixed before the carpet is laid down. If the damage is extensive, you could pay $1.50–$4.50 per square foot in labor and materials for repairs. In some cases, the underlayment may need to be entirely replaced, and contractors will usually charge $70–$100 per hour for this work.
Moving Furniture
Before the carpet can be installed or replaced, any furniture in the area will need to be moved out of the way. This may be included as part of labor costs, or it may be separate. For very heavy or specialty items that require careful handling, like grand pianos, you’ll probably pay an extra $50–$100.
Thankfully, this is a step many homeowners can save costs on by handling on their own.
Stain-Resistant Treatments
If the carpet you choose hasn’t had any stain-resistant treatment applied during the manufacturing process, you can have it sprayed on after installation. Sold under brand names like Teflon or Scotchgard, these treatments coat the carpet fibers to help them repel liquids. You can usually treat 1,000 square feet of carpet for about $80.
Subfloor Repair or Replacement
The subfloor is the plywood, fiberboard, or concrete that sits atop your floor joists beneath the finished flooring. It helps evenly distribute the weight of anything that’s on your floors. If this material is old or substantially water damaged, it may need to be repaired or even replaced entirely. This will cost an additional $1–$4 per square foot.
Signs You Should Replace Your Carpet
Most of the time, it’s apparent when you need new carpet.
If the old carpet is ripped, stained, worn, smelly, or moldy, it’s time to have it replaced. Here are some other things to look for when considering carpet replacement:
- Visible signs of old age: Carpet typically has a lifespan of five to 20 years, so if your carpet is older, it may need replacement.
- Signs of significant wear: These signs may include loose threads, undone loops, fading, and crushed pile.
- Unpleasant smells: If you have pets or smokers in the house, your carpet will pick up and hold onto those aromas.
- Uneven thickness: Carpet that feels thinner even if it doesn’t look crushed can be a sign of worn or damaged padding.
- Allergy symptoms: If you or your family notices signs of hay fever out of season, your carpet may be full of allergens, such as dust and dander. If a deep carpet cleaning doesn’t help, replacement may be in order.
- Water damage: Carpeted areas that have experienced flooding usually need to be replaced.
Even if you don’t see visible signs of mold or mildew, moisture trapped in the padding or backing can lead to mold growth.
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Benefits of New Carpet
You can update the look of your home’s interior by replacing the carpet, which should help increase the value and make it a more comfortable place to live. Even better, new carpet can actually make your home slightly safer since it will have improved traction and grip. Finally, a new carpet will also add to your home’s insulation and sound absorption.
DIY vs. Professional Carpet Installation
Some carpeting projects may be DIY-friendly, including small jobs and the laying of peel-and-stick carpet tiles. However, large-scale jobs are usually better left to the professionals. If you’re replacing carpet, you’ll have to deal with things like removing old tack strips and scraping up dried adhesive before you can even get around to rolling out, stretching, and securing the new carpet.
You’ll need a carpet stretcher and a staple hammer-tacker, and you’ll need to be careful when you cut the carpet so you don’t waste material.
If not properly stretched and secured, carpet can become both an eyesore and a trip hazard. You may also void the carpet’s warranty if you lay it incorrectly. Since labor is usually such a small proportion of the total cost of carpet installation, it’s usually a good idea to bring in a professional service.
How to Save on Carpet Installation Costs
Even if you choose a professional carpet installation service, there are several ways you can cut down on the cost of this service:
- Get multiple quotes to ensure you receive the best price
- Use high-quality carpet padding to extend the life of your carpet
- Select a more durable style of carpet to increase your new carpet’s lifespan
- Remove all furniture from the room yourself
- Take out all old carpet and padding yourself rather than paying for the service
Our Conclusion
The best carpet for your home is the one that stands up to the amount of foot traffic you anticipate while also fitting your price range and your home’s aesthetics.
Take the time to explore some different styles before making your choice.
Homeowners can save money by moving their own furniture or removing old carpet. We recommend professional installation to keep your warranty intact, give your carpet the best look, and extend its lifespan. To get a quote from a carpet installation company near you, use the free quote tool below to connect with professionals in your area.
FAQs About Carpet Installation
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Average Cost Of Carpet Installation – Forbes Home
Carpet Installation Cost
Carpet installation costs, on average, $700 to $2,000 to redo an area up to 200 square feet. Carpet material prices average $2.50 per square foot, or $10 per yard. Underneath padding costs about $0.60 per square foot.
Competitive flooring retailers offer free installation service with your carpet purchase.
NOTE: The beginning half of 2021 has seen an unprecedented labor shortage as a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with this, demand for materials and construction jobs has skyrocketed. As a result, material prices may be higher than those reported in this article, and lead times may be longer than usual for both labor and materials.
| Average Cost | $2.50 | |
| Highest Cost | $12 | |
| Lowest Cost | $0.65 | |
| *Costs per square foot | ||
Carpet Cost Per Square Foot/Yard
On average, carpet costs $2.
50 per square foot, and that price can range between $0.65 and $12 per square foot, or around $10 per square yard. The price can vary depending on the material, weave and pile style. Read more about those below.
Carpet Tile Cost
Peel and stick carpet tile costs average $2.25 per square foot. Commercial-use carpet tiles can range from as little as $0.94 cents per 2 square feet to $47 per square foot.
Carpet Cost Per Material
Carpet costs vary among retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. For the best price, compare online catalogs with your local flooring showroom and flooring contractor. Wool, polyester, nylon and olefin are the most common carpeting options respectively. If you’re unsure which material is right for your home, you can request free samples to compare at home.
Natural fibers, like wool, are more expensive than synthetic materials like polyester or olefin. Affordable fiber blends, like polyester, may be mildew-resistant but usually contain a higher level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
NOTE: Carpet and padding materials can emit VOCs. Wool selections may be low- or no-VOC. Shop for carpeting latex backing. Talk to your flooring contractor about how to reduce your family’s exposure to VOCs after installation and make sure that you’re choosing the best type of flooring for you.
| Wool | $10.00 | $5.25 | $5.50 | |||
| Polyester | $2.00 | $2.75 | $2.50 | |||
| Nylon | $6.50 | $5.00 | $3.50 | |||
| Olefin | $8.50 | $3. 50 | $2.00 | |||
| *Costs per square foot | ||||||
Wool Carpet Cost
Wool carpeting is the most expensive fiber type, averaging $7.50 per square foot. It’s best for low- to moderate-traffic areas depending on the weave. Wool may be prone to color fading in direct sunlight. It quickly accumulates static and absorbs water, making it prone to mold and mildew. Cleaning and caring for this material may be more expensive too.
You may be able to find alternative natural fiber carpeting, such as cotton, sisal or jute, but these are more common in rugs. Ask your contractor about their natural fiber carpet selection.
Polyester Carpet Cost
Polyester carpeting is affordable, averaging about $2 per square foot. It’s great at blocking stains, moisture, mildew and mold. This makes it perfect for basements. However, its slip also makes it less durable in high-traffic areas.
Nylon Carpet Cost
Nylon carpeting costs around $3.50 per square foot. You may get the highest return on your carpet investment with nylon. It’s perhaps the most durable carpeting material and suitable for high-traffic areas.
Triexta is a new, slightly more expensive, alternative to nylon. It is marketed as more eco-friendly and stain-resistant than nylon, but it may be too soon to claim that as definite. Ask your flooring contractor about triexta carpet samples and benefits.
Olefin (Polypropylene) Carpet Cost
Olefin carpeting is among the least expensive materials, costing just $2 per square foot. It’s best installed in low- to moderate-traffic areas since it matts down quickly and attracts oils.
Carpet Cost Per Style
Texture/Cut Pile Carpet Cost
Textured, cut pile carpet is the most common style and costs $2 to $4 per square foot on average. Textured carpet is tall, plush and comparable to a short-haired shag rug or tapestry.
It’s relatively durable although prone to fraying. Taller piles are more expensive and best for low-traffic bedrooms.
Patterned Carpet Cost
Patterned carpet, which creates an almost embossed look, costs $2 to $6 per square foot. Carpet patterns can be abstract or traditional and be mono-texture or multi-texture, using multiple fiber types or loop styles.
Berber Carpet Cost
Berber carpet is durable enough for both home and commercial use and averages $5.50 per square foot. This tightly-looped weave is perfect for high-traffic areas.
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Carpet Installation Prices
Big box carpet retailers offer installation services for free with a qualifying purchase, such as brand or minimum square yardage. Otherwise, installation service professionals may charge $0.99 to $6 per square foot. Compare quotes from a few local flooring installers to get the best price.
WARNING: VOC odors can be harmful to humans. Before re-entering your house after new carpet installation, you need to wait at least 72 hours after to allow VOC odors to dissipate.
Carpet Replacement Cost
Replacing old carpet with new costs about $10 to $20 per square foot. This includes the cost to remove old carpet and padding, scrape and level the subfloor and install new padding and carpet.
Carpet installation in Moscow and the region, cost per square meter
The appearance and service life of the carpet depends on the quality of the coating and adherence to the laying technology.
Laying errors lead to the appearance of "wrinkles", the divergence of the joints. Unreliable fixation - to the fact that the coating is deformed and stretched.
Carpet Craft performs carpet installation of any complexity and volume. A permanent team of craftsmen has implemented 1200 projects for legal entities and private customers. See portfolio for examples of work. nine0003
Masters know laying technologies in detail, work with different types of coatings and in different conditions. They know how to add additional sound and heat insulation, extend the life of the carpet.
• The team works 24/7. We can go out at night and on weekends.
• We do the dismantling of the old coating.
• If necessary, we make the final preparation of the floor.
• We lay carpet in Moscow and the region, we travel to other cities in Russia and the CIS.
• We accept cash and non-cash payments
The process of laying carpet on glue in the auditorium of the theater in Moscow
Cost of carpet installation per m2
The price of laying carpet per square meter depends on the volume of the object, the complexity of working with the material and other nuances.
The final estimate for the installation of carpet is calculated by the manager.
Call +7 (495) 792-4727 or leave a request in the feedback form. The manager will answer questions, consult, make a calculation. We make the calculation according to the plan of the room, or we leave for inspection and measurement. nine0003
The price list for carpet laying shows the main types of work that we perform, and the cost per square meter. The covering can keep within on concrete, wooden floor, plywood, a tile and other floor coverings. In each case, it is necessary to follow the rules for preparing the floor, taking into account the features of a particular base. We lay the carpet on glue, gripper rails and double-sided tape. The choice of installation method depends on the parameters of the room, the subfloor and the type of carpet.
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m. Carpet installation techniques
The choice of installation method depends on:
• the substrate and the type of material;
• level of traffic and purpose of the premises;
• floor conditions.
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3 carpet options:
1. Method of 100% bonding to the base. The ideal way to lay carpet in large rooms and areas with high traffic. The process is time-consuming, but 100% reliable.
2. Stretching (glueless method). The carpet is stretched on gripper rails. Then it is fixed with a plinth around the perimeter of the room. With this method, the substrate is preliminarily laid. When replacing carpet, the underlayment is retained in most cases. It can be reused when laying a new coating. nine0003
3. Laying carpet with double-sided adhesive tape. This technology is used in rooms with low traffic, or in cases where it is impossible to use glue: laying on parquet, floorboard, porcelain stoneware, etc. The joints are welded with thermal tape.
Laying carpet on stairs with double-sided adhesive tape in a private house in Moscow
Carpet installation cost - By floor
Carpet, the perfect flooring for those who love comfort and convenience.
Having laid carpet in a house or apartment, you can walk around the rooms barefoot, it is a soft and warm material. The different texture of this material will satisfy any need for comfort. On sale there are all kinds of color options, as well as with patterns, drawings. The texture of the material can be softer or harder, fleecy or smooth. The material can be chosen to be very pleasant to the touch, for example, one that resembles silk. nine0003
Carpet is very popular in the design of office and residential premises, so there are different types of it, if you can choose a harder and cheaper material for the office, then for the house they make a bias on comfort, beauty and decorativeness. Choosing a carpet is not as easy as it seems, because there are many types and colors on the market. Having decided on the color, material and having bought the carpet, we proceed to laying it. This is what will be discussed below.
Contents
- 1 How much does carpet installation cost per square meter in Moscow.
- 2 Carpet installation is cheap.
- 3 Here are the main points of work:
How much does carpet installation cost per square meter in Moscow.
Carpet installation cost So, carpet installation. It must be said that this process is not so laborious as rather painstaking. You need to lay it well: the durability of such a coating depends on evenness, the absence of folds, folds, waves.
But first you need to talk about some of the characteristics of the material, in comparison with others. The first thing to say is that carpet is not a carpet and not a carpet, these are completely different coatings, although they are similar in some points. Various carpets, rugs, walkways have finished edges, but our material does not have such edges, although they are simply not needed, since it fits under the plinth. Carpet is sold in rolls and can be cut to any size. It is laid with or without an adhesive base, these are the two main methods of laying it.
If glue is used, then it will not need to be torn off later with meat, there are special tools with which it will easily fall behind the subfloor. nine0003
Carpet installation is cheap.
Carpet installation inexpensive.
Before laying, you must first take careful measurements, you also need to be able to do this, since a centimeter error can ruin the entire piece of material. Carefully and correctly taking measurements is already a big part of the job, in a sense, when cutting carpet, it is better to leave a little more than cut it. Before starting measurements, it is recommended to make a plan of the room, which indicates the placement of all niches, heaters, corners, various openings and other geometric features of the room. Technical documents are not used, because most of the options contain minor errors. Therefore, it is better to do the layout again - it's more reliable. Specify the dimensions on such a plan, and after that you can start laying and fitting the material to the parameters of the room.
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By the way, before buying, you can take this plan and consult with the seller in the store. If he is a specialist, he will immediately recommend which carpet is better to choose and how to lay it correctly. So, the plan is ready, the carpet is bought, brought home, we start preparing the floor. Preparing the floor for carpet, the process is quite simple, you do not need to do any laborious work. At the same time, it is enough that it be as even as possible, various cracks, pits, elevations, if any, it is desirable to process and remove. Basically, if the carpet is laid when the floor already has a screed, then it needs to be cleaned of dust and debris. After cleaning the floor, you can stick the adhesive-based double-sided tape to it, but do not remove the film from its outer side yet. nine0003
Carpet must be placed throughout the room, you can not try to place it exactly with the baseboards, you must take into account all niches, recesses, if any, in the room, as well as openings.
Excess material falls on the walls, it is used later. The material must be distributed as accurately as possible in the recesses. The material is cut obliquely from both sides to the clearance.
As a rule, it is very rare to cut accurately, so the material is leveled later. For convenient cutting applied to the walls of the carpet, a wooden or other plank is used, the main thing is that it be even and press the material. When cutting, leave a couple or more centimeters in reserve. Level the coating, starting from the center and moving to the edges. nine0003
Here are the main points of work:
- start laying from the corners.
The material is placed in a corner and moved along the walls, resting it against all corners;
- if it is placed in recesses, then an extra 5 or 10 centimeters are left, so you can later dock it more accurately under the plinth;
- the carpet that hangs over the threshold is not leveled exactly right away, a surplus is left, it will be cut off later, when it will be more or less clear how it is placed in the room.
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First, cuts are made diagonally, and after its final laying, it is possible to determine how much material is superfluous;
- to trim the carpet, take a wooden flat plank or a piece of profile. The bar is applied to the carpet, it is pressed and cut with a construction knife or cutter in a straight line;
- they recommend cutting it not from the corners, but from the center, adjusting it to the corners at the very end;
- under the batteries, the material is cut from both sides in strips parallel to one another. This will make it possible to more accurately measure the required size of the carpet for the niche; nine0003
- holes are made under the pipes in it, they are recommended to be fixed with dark adhesive tape, if this is not done, then the material may peel off after a while;
- the carpet has laid down correctly, now you can determine how much excess material that overlaps the threshold needs to be cut off, it is cut with a cutter;
- if there are different coatings in the rooms, their joints are hidden under the profile, so the ugly transition between materials will not be visible;
- the floor profile is fastened by several methods: self-tapping screws or glued; nine0003
- if neighboring rooms have the same floor material, then the joint can be hidden by making it exactly on the threshold.
Then, with the door closed, he will be invisible;
- This paragraph describes the final stage of laying. The material is adjusted to the dimensions of the room, then they take a screwdriver or a similar tool and push it under the baseboards. You can also rip off the baseboard, position the carpet and nail it again on top of the material. If the carpet is laid on the parquet, then you can use a construction stapler. nine0003
After completing all the above instructions, the material is glued onto an adhesive-based film previously laid over the area of the room, if it is laid in this way.
There is a second way, with the help of an adhesive. It requires more effort, but some masters prefer it, they believe that it is of higher quality. The bottom line is that before laying the material, the floor must be treated with a specially designed adhesive. Then the material needs to be smoothed out well to remove all wrinkles, folds and the like. If glued only around the perimeter, then it will slide, warp, so it needs to be glued over all its areas.
