The national average for carpet installation cost is $1,250 or $2 – $8 per square foot to replace a 10’x12′ room depending on carpet, padding, and prep work involved.
As an experienced licensed home improvement contractor, I know first hand what it should cost for various levels — from Basic, Better, and of course the best.
This simple to use carpet installation cost calculator will help you get a ballpark price for your area – simply enter the square footage of your room and zip code.
*Note: a 10′ x 10′ area= 100 square feet.
| Carpet Installation Costs | Zip Code | Square ft. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Better | Best | |
| Material Prices | $275.00 – $350.00 | $390.00 – $475.00 | $575.00 – $855.00 |
| Labor Cost | $175.00 – $225.00 | $250.00 – $300.00 | $325.00 – $375.00 |
| Carpet – Total | $450.00 – $575.00 | $640.00 – $775.00 | $900.00 – $1,230.00 |
| Carpet – Total Average Cost Square Ft. | $5.13 | $7.08 | $10.65 |
How much does it cost to install new carpeting?
The Labor cost to install carpet is between $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot, with many paying an average cost of $3.50 per square ft. A typical 10×12 room in Indianapolis cost $4.20. If you have stairs, the cost to install carpet on stairs is $3 to $7 per step.
| National Average | $2,750 |
| Low | $1,750 |
| Mid-range | $2,500 |
| High-end | $3,250 – $3,750 |
Carpet Installation Cost By Room Size
| Size |
Cost |
|---|---|
| 10×12 room | $210 – $450 |
| 12×12 room | $325 – $550 |
| 12×15 room | $400 – $675 |
| 15×15 room | $450 – $850 |
| 20×20 room | $700 – $1,500 |
| 1,000 Sq. Ft. House | $1,750 – $3,750 |
| 1,500 Sq. Ft. House | $2,625 – $5,625 |
| 2,000 Sq. Ft. House | $3,500 – $7,300 |
Carpet Prices By Type
As you shop for a new carpet, you’ll notice that there are many different types to choose from. The type of carpet you select will play a big role in determining the overall cost. Here’s a look at some of the most popular types of carpet and their average prices:
Carpet Cost Per Square Foot
The cost of a carpet can vary greatly depending on the quality of the carpet and the type of fibers used. The average cost of a good quality carpet is about $3 per square foot. Higher-quality carpets, such as those made with wool or nylon, can cost as much as $5 per square foot. Carpets made with cheaper materials, such as polyester or acrylic, can cost as little as $1 per square foot.
Carpet Cost Per Yard
The average carpet cost per yard is $24 – $80 for materials and $15 – $35 for installation cost per square yard installed. To calculate a yard using our calculator, just multiply the square yard by 9 to get square feet.
For a 12×12 room, that would be 144 square feet (12×12). If you’re carpeting your entire home, we recommend measuring all the rooms you want to carpet and adding them together to get your total square footage. You can then divide that number by 9 to find out how many yards you need.
Carpet Tile Installation Cost
Carpet tiles are a great way to add comfort and style to your home, but they can be a bit pricey. The cost of installing carpet tiles can range from $4 to $8, depending on the size of your room and the type of tile you choose ranging between $2 – $4 for materials.
Carpet tile comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures, so you can find the perfect match for your home’s decor.
Glue-down Carpet Cost
Glue-down carpet is a type of carpeting that is installed by applying adhesive to the back of the carpet and then attaching it to the floor. This type of installation is typically more expensive than other methods, but it can provide a more secure grip and result in a smoother, more polished look. This is great for concrete flooring or commercial applications.
The average cost to install glue-down carpeting is between $5 and $9 per square foot with carpet tiles costing $2 – $6 per sq. ft. making it one of the more expensive options on the market. However, this price can vary depending on the quality of the carpeting, the size of the room, and other factors.
Wall-to-Wall Carpet Cost
Wall-to-wall carpeting can range in price from $2 to $8 per square foot, making it one of the most affordable flooring options on the market. However, the total cost of your project will also be determined by a number of other factors, including:
- The type of carpet you choose: Synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester are usually the most affordable options, while natural fibers like wool will be at the higher end of the price range.
- Quality of the carpet: In general, lower-quality carpets will be less expensive than higher-quality options.
- Size of your project: Larger projects will obviously cost more than smaller ones.
- Complexity of the installation: If you have a complex floor plan or unusual features in your home, the installation process may be more difficult and therefore more expensive.
These are just a few of the factors that can affect the cost of your wall-to-wall carpeting project. To get a more accurate estimate of what it will cost to carpet your home, click here for a free estimate.
Apartment Carpet Replacement Cost
Replacing the carpet in your apartment can be a big project and a significant expense. The cost to replace your carpeting in an average apartment is about $1,200 to $1,500, but this will vary depending on the size of your apartment, the type of carpet you choose, and the professional installation costs.
Landlords typically install builder-grade carpeting in rental properties that lasts 3-5 years on average and often completely replace the carpet between new tenants.
Do You Have Permission
Before you start planning your carpet replacement project, be sure to check with your homeowner’s association (if you have one) or landlord to see if there are any restrictions on replacing the carpet. Some HOAs have rules about the type of carpet that can be installed in units, and your landlord may have a preference for a particular type of carpet or flooring.
Carpet Quality and Style
The cost of carpeting will vary depending on the quality and style of the carpet. Basic Berber style carpet might only cost $2-$3 per square foot. Installation costs are usually around $2 per square foot. However, if you want a higher quality carpet like Saxony Plush, you could be looking at $5-$6 per square foot for the carpeting, and installation costs could be as high as $5 per square foot.
Apartment Size
The size of your apartment will also affect the cost of replacing the carpet. If you have a small one-bedroom apartment, you might only need to replace the carpet in the living room and bedroom, which would cost around $1,000-$1,800. If you have a larger two-bedroom apartment, you might need to replace the carpet in the living room, bedrooms, and hallway which will cost an additional $1,500-$2,000.
| Size |
Apartment Carpet Replacement Cost |
|---|---|
| Studio | $900 – $1,750 |
| 1-Bedroom | $825 – $1,550 |
| 2-Bedroom | $1,400 – $1,975 |
| 3-Bedroom | $1,950 – $2,350 |
| 4-Bedroom | $2,700 – $3,500 |
Understanding Common Sales tactics:
We see the commercials all of the time – 50% off /or free carpet installation. But does it really mean “free” and 50% off of what? These are advertisement tactics are used all of the time to lure you in and buy from these big box giants like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Empire floors – many of which have hidden fees behind these freebies.
There’s no such thing as “free installation” and I’m going to show you how it’s done and how they get their extra’s to cover their installation cost:
- Removing and discarding charges this extra charge might cost you roughly $1 – $2.00 per square yard to remove and discard old carpeting and padding.
- Cutting Fees Do you have any jogs or different angles or closets in your room? This fee might run an additional $0.75 – $1.50 per foot.
- Furniture If you are unable to remove any furniture or decor, there’s an extra charge to move and return all furnishings.
When you take into consideration of the fee’s above, the term “Free carpet installation” doesn’t seem to free. It’s always important to get everything down in writing before hiring a professional carpet installer.
Carpet Cost breakdown
For easy to follow numbers, we are going to price a room measuring 12’ft. by 10’ft. (120 sq. ft.) to get you the average cost to install carpeting for this project include:
- Carpet Selection: Carpeting can cost as little as $2.50 – $5.50 per sq. ft. for cheap to mid-range carpet, up to $6 – $10.00/Sq ft. for top grade carpeting. So with Carpeting and padding, the cost can run up to $1,200 for materials alone.
- Professional installation cost: Labor costs typically run in the neighborhood of $1 – $2.00 per square foot to install carpet with padding. Excluding extra’s such as: Tack strips, removing old carpet and padding and disposal. The total labor cost amount to: $100 – $200.00 per 12’ft. by 10’ft. (120 sq. ft.) room.
- Other factors that affect prices: Fixing high spots in your floors, or squeaky flooring. Installing tact strips, installing new thresholds between doors. Replacing baseboard or door trim. The level of complexity due to different angles in the room. Try to factor in an extra 10-15% for these extra expenses.
Carpet – Pricing and Installation Cost Checklist
- Expect the Carpet prices to fluctuate between various companies – each and every company have different operation expenses and over-head.
- Try to get prices in late Fall, early winter – you should expect aggressive pricing discounts by waiting for a contractor’s down season.
- Try to budget and additional 7-15% more on top of what our calculator gives out to Carpet cost.
- Carpet isn’t an easy task to perform and can leave you with a sore back. You might find it more cost effective to hire a Flooring Contractor, or a General Contractor to perform the work for you. Flooring contractors and General Contractors will most always get better prices on Carpet Flooring products — saving your back any additional costs of the flooring repair, so shop around, ask your neighbors if they can recommend someone.
Sources:
- Unit Pricing Data: Lowes Flooring Products and Supplies Lowes , Added: 1/6/17
- Unit Pricing Data: Home Depot Flooring and Supplies Home Depot, Added: 1/3/17
- Unit Pricing Data: Menards Flooring and Supplies Menards, Added: 1/7/18
- Unit Pricing Data: BuildDirect Flooring and Supplies BuildDirect, Added: 2/6/18
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