Flooring Calculator
Calculate flooring materials and costs for your project. Get accurate estimates for laminate, hardwood, vinyl, tile, and carpet installations.
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Pricing Updated:
For Homeowners: Get a quick cost range with just a few measurements. Perfect for budgeting and comparing contractor quotes.
Quick Mode: Get a fast cost range estimate with DIY shopping list. Perfect for homeowners planning a flooring project.
Typical Flooring Costs by Type
| Flooring Type | Material $/sq ft | Installed $/sq ft | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $2 ā $8 | $4 ā $11 | 15 ā 25 years |
| Vinyl / LVP | $2 ā $7 | $4 ā $9 | 10 ā 20 years |
| Hardwood | $5 ā $18 | $10 ā $23 | 25 ā 100 years |
| Ceramic / Porcelain Tile | $2 ā $15 | $8 ā $21 | 50 ā 100 years |
| Carpet | $2 ā $10 | $3 ā $12 | 5 ā 15 years |
Ranges reflect Budget through Luxury quality tiers. Installed costs include standard labor; complex patterns cost more.
Assumptions & Sources
Assumptions
- Waste factor: Quick mode uses 10% standard waste. Professional mode adds complexity waste (0-8%) and pattern waste (0-12% for herringbone/chevron).
- Labor rates: Based on 2025 national averages ā laminate/vinyl $2-2.50/sq ft, hardwood $4.50/sq ft, tile $6/sq ft, carpet $1.50/sq ft.
- What's included: Material, labor, standard underlayment, and basic transitions. Subfloor repair, furniture moving, and stairs are separate line items in Professional mode.
- What's excluded: Asbestos testing/abatement, structural subfloor replacement, radiant heat systems, and custom inlays.
- Regional multiplier: ZIP-code-based adjustment using RSMeans 2025 regional cost indices applied to both materials and labor.
Last updated: February 2026
Pro Tips from a Construction PM
- Subfloor prep is everything: Check for squeaks before you lay anything ā a new floor over a squeaky subfloor is a callback waiting to happen. Screw down loose spots to the joists with 2-1/2" screws.
- Acclimate your materials: Let hardwood sit in the room 3-5 days minimum. Skip this and you'll get gaps or buckling within 6 months. Even laminate and LVP need 48 hours.
- Direction matters: Run planks parallel to the longest wall. It makes small rooms look bigger and hides slight subfloor irregularities. Diagonal looks great but costs 10-15% more in waste.
- Plan transitions first: Every doorway between different flooring types needs a transition strip. Figure out which profile you need (T-bar, reducer, threshold) before you start ā not when you're mid-install scrambling at the store.
- Don't cheap out on underlayment: It's the difference between a floor that feels solid and one that sounds hollow. Cork or rubber outperforms cheap foam every time, especially over concrete slabs where moisture is a factor.
Related Calculators
- Drywall Calculator ā Estimate drywall sheets, mud, and tape if you're finishing walls before flooring.
- Paint Calculator ā Figure paint quantities for walls and trim once the floor is in.
- Insulation Calculator ā Calculate insulation needs if subfloor access reveals missing or damaged insulation.
Flooring Calculator by State
Get flooring cost estimates with state-specific regional pricing:
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