Are you thinking about installing carpet in one of your home rooms? If so, you’ve come to the right place. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out the cost of a carpet installation, and it’s our goal to give you as much information as possible so that you can set and keep a budget.
The average cost of a carpet installation varies greatly. On average, you can spend between $500 and $3,000 to install carpet in a single room. Several factors go into determining the overall cost of a carpet installation. These factors include the size of the room, carpet price, the type of carpet, and how much the labor costs.
That’s a lot to think about when all you want to do is make your home more comfortable and appealing. Because of how tough it is to estimate the anticipated cost of your carpeting project, we’ve laid out a guide for you in the following lines. We’ll look at everything from the carpet cost to the labor cost and everything in between.
Average Cost to Carpet a Room
The total cost to carpet a room can be between $500 and $3,000. However, depending on the type of carpet, the installation costs, and other expenses, you can spend over $10,000 to install a carpet in a single room. Multiply that by however many rooms you have in your home, and you could be looking at a small fortune just for carpeting.
For that reason, knowing where you can cut costs and save money is essential if you’re trying to carpet your home on a tight budget.
How to Calculate the Cost of Carpet Installation
The Cost of the Material
The most significant factor in calculating how much your carpet installation will cost is the price of materials. Materials include carpeting, carpet padding, tack strips, underlayment, and any additional materials you’ll have to add along the way. You might have to replace some or all of your trim around your floor, or you may have to install new floor registers for your HVAC system to match the new carpet.
The Cost of Labor
The second factor to think about is how much the labor will cost. A professional carpet installer will charge by the hour or by foot, and it’s vital to get a decent cost estimate from several different companies before choosing one. Depending on where you purchase your carpet, there’s a chance that they will offer free installation, which will save a good chunk of change.
The Size of the Room
Finally, the size of your room will also play a significant role. The size of the room you’re planning to carpet will determine how much carpet and materials you need and how long it will take to lay the carpet. It’s good to measure how many square feet the room in question is when purchasing your carpet and when getting bids from carpet installers. Here’s a table showing the average room cost according to square footage.
| Size of Room in Square Feet | Average Cost in USD Including Labor Costs |
|---|---|
| 100 | $700 – $1,200 |
| 120 | $840 – $1,400 |
| 150 | $1,000 to $1,800 |
| 180 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| 200 | $1,400 – $2,200 |
| 300 | $2,100 – $3,600 |
| 500 | $3,500 – $6,000 |
| 1,000 | $7,000 – $12,000 |
| 1,200 | $8,000 – $14,000 |
| 1,500 | $10,000 – $18,000 |
| 2,000 | $14,000 – $25,000 |
Factors That Determine the Cost of Your Carpet
Because the carpet you choose will play the most significant factor in the installation cost, let’s look at the factors that determine the cost of the actual carpet.
Carpeting costs usually get figured according to square footage, and the carpet cost per square foot can range between $1 to $10 or more. However, the average amount people pay per square foot is around $2 to $4.
Depending on where you purchase your carpet, they may also price it according to the square yard. If that’s the case, the average cost per square yard of carpet is between $9 and $50, with most people paying between $15 and $20.
Fiber
There are many fiber options for carpet, but they mainly fall into either manmade or natural. Manmade carpet fibers such as polyester and nylon are usually cheaper than natural fibers such as wool and sisal. However, while manmade fibers are typically more affordable, they sometimes have the added benefit of being stain-resistant.
Manmade fibers and synthetic materials that get stain-resistant treatment will be more expensive than other manmade options, but they’ll last longer.
Weave
A carpet’s weave refers to how it gets made. How the rug gets made matters because it will affect the quality of the carpet and the time it takes to make it. Manmade carpets woven by hand are almost always more expensive than machine-made carpets. The extra cost accounts for the time it takes to produce the carpet, and the quality is usually higher.
How a carpet gets made will also affect other things, such as density, which is a significant factor in pricing. For this reason, woven and loom hand-made carpets are usually pricier than tufted carpets, which are machine-made.
Density
A carpets density will essentially determine how hard or soft the carpet is and how comfortable it is to walk on. Density for carpets gets measured with the average pile yarn density (APYD) formula on a scale of 1,000 to 7,000. The higher the density, the more expensive your carpet will be.
Color
The pricing will go up any time you add a unique color or pattern to your carpet. Whether you have a custom-made carpet or purchase a colorful or patterned one at a store doesn’t matter. The higher cost is because of the extra time and material to create these carpets.
Underlayment
Carpet underlayment, also known as carpet padding, is necessary with carpet installations. The padding will go a long way in enhancing the comfort level of the carpet and will also increase its lifespan. There aren’t as many factors that go into the price of padding as with carpets, and they usually cost anywhere from $.50 to $1.00 per square foot.
Durability and Quality
As with all things in life, the durability and quality of the carpet will significantly affect its price. The durability and quality get determined by each of the factors listed above, but mainly by the carpet material, weave, and density of the carpet.
Different Types of Carpet
The type of carpet you choose will also affect the total installation costs.
Cut Pile Carpet
Cut pile carpets are the most popular type of carpet and come in a wide variety of options. One of the reasons that cut pile is so popular is because it tends to be more durable than other types of carpet. However, within the cut pile category, there are four basic styles, each having different price points, pile height, and overall qualities.
Saxony
Saxony isn’t one of the more common types of cut pile carpets as it’s a soft and plush carpet and tends to be less durable than other cut pile carpets. It’s best to use Saxony carpets in low-traffic areas because there’s a good chance they will leave footprints if it gets installed in high-traffic areas. Saxony carpets typically cost between $2 and $7 per square foot.
Textured Saxony
Textured Saxony is similar to Saxony but slightly more dense and durable. You’ll get a similar plush feel with textured Saxony, but not at the expense of footprints. You can expect to pay between $3 and $12 for this cut pile carpet.
Cable
Cable carpet is usually made of synthetic fiber and is similar in feel and appearance to shag carpets of old. These carpets cost between $3 and $8 and get utilized mainly in areas with minimal foot traffic.
Frieze
A frieze carpet is an option if you want a decent quality carpet perfect for large, active areas such as a living room or home office. It’s not a luxurious carpet, but it’s dense, comfortable, and long-lasting. The average cost is between $1 and $8 per square foot.
Plush Carpet
Plush carpets are arguably the most luxurious carpet type of them all. It’s the type of carpet you want to step onto when you get out of bed each morning. They’re typically thick, and, rather than having cut loops like many other carpets, the tops get sheared to create a soft but surprisingly dense feel. These carpets can cost between $4 and $10 per square foot.
Low Pile Carpet
Low pile carpets are usually meant for heavy foot traffic and for being utilitarian. This type of carpet has piles or threaded weaves cut to ¼” or less and can withstand tons of activity. Low pile carpets are relatively easy to clean and maintain, and their price determines how dense they are. For low pile carpet, you can spend between $1 and $6 per square foot.
Textured Carpet
Textured carpets typically cost between $2 and $12 per square foot, and they’re unique in that the piles get cut to different lengths. Because the piles get cut to different lengths, the carpet is less likely to leave tracks when you walk on it.
Twist Pile Carpet
With twist pile carpets, the piles get tightly twisted into compact, dense weaves. The tighter that carpet makers twist the piles, and the more there are, the more compact and durable your twist tile carpet will be. Because of how dense and durable they are, you can expect to pay between $2 and $12 per square foot for twist tile carpets.
Level Loop Carpet
Level loop carpets have patterns of yarn sewn or stitched into the carpeting to add color or flair to the carpet. However, they aren’t for everyone and only cost between $2 and $6 per square foot.
Berber Carpet
A Berber carpet, also known as a nylon carpet because that’s the material typically used, is a solid mid-priced option for carpets. The average cost is around $3 to $6 per square foot, and it features a clumpy texture mixed with loops of yarn. When the country of Africa first invented Berber carpets, they consisted of wool. Nylon has since become a more cost-efficient alternative and the fabric of choice.
Patterned Loop Carpet
If you’re worried about dirt or dust speckling or discoloring your carpet, you may want to consider a patterned loop carpet. Patterned loops in your carpet will go a long way at hiding residue that finds its way into the carpet material.
Cut Loop Carpet
Finally, there’s the option of having a cut loop carpet. Cut-loop carpets incorporate both low and high piles and yarn loops into their design, making for a unique, textured look. Depending on the quality and material, they typically run between $1 and $10 per square foot and make for a solid choice if you want to hide stains or dirt on your carpet.
Glue-Down or Carpet Tiles
If you’re looking for a more cost-efficient installation that you can often perform yourself, you also have the option of glue-down carpet or carpet tiles. While glue-down carpeting is still an option, it’s gone out of style.
The main reason is that the glue you use to install the carpeting doesn’t adhere well to the carpet padding. As a result, you can’t install padding beneath the carpet, making it a hard and uncomfortable surface to walk on.
On the other hand, carpet tiles are slightly more popular than glue-down carpets. One of the biggest advantages of installing carpet tiles is installing them yourself. You can either use peel and stick carpet tiles or glue to secure them to the floor. Either way, the carpet cost is around $2 to $10, depending on the quality and type of carpet you use.
How to Calculate Labor Costs on a Carpet Installation
Aside from the type and cost of the carpet you choose, the installation costs will be the next most significant factor.
Cost per Foot
Professional carpet installers charge anywhere from $.50 to $1.50 per square foot, depending on where you live and how good your installer is. One advantage of hiring an installer who charges by the foot is that you’ll have a solid idea of the total cost of the project. You have to measure the size of the room to get the right amount of carpeting, which means you’ll know how much your installer will charge.
Installers who charge by the foot are motivated to move faster and not waste time on the installation.
Cost per Hour
If your installer charges per hour, you can expect to pay him or her anywhere between $35 and $100 per hour. Although your installer can provide you with a reasonably decent estimate before they begin, there’s more fluctuation in what you could potentially end up paying them. You also have the option of having them estimate their time on the high end and write up a contract where that’s the price you pay no matter how long it takes them.
Be advised, however, that installers usually figure on the high end of the spectrum when drawing up this type of contract.
Things That Add Cost
There are also a few caveats that will increase the labor cost of your project. Wall-to-wall installations are the easiest to perform and take the least time. However, when you throw in things like stairs, steps, or twists and turns, the job takes longer and will add extra cost. Steps, for example, cost an additional $.25 to $1.00 per step.
Additional Costs to Consider
There are several costs to consider in addition to the typical carpet installation costs.
Furniture Removal
People often forget that when they’re planning to have carpeting installed, they’ll have to move everything out of the room to install the carpet. If it’s your living room, that means moving all your couches, TV stand, cabinets, and anything sitting on the floor out of the way. For a bedroom, it means your nightstands, bed, and any other bedroom furniture.
Depending on your age and physical limitations, you may have to hire a furniture moving service or have the carpet installer move things for you. Either way, this extra job will drive up the project’s cost because of time and inconvenience.
Material to Cover Your Carpet
If the job doesn’t get done in a day, you’ll have to cover the carpet with something, so it doesn’t get damaged. Plastic or cardboard is the most common and cheap option, but it isn’t free.
Stain Resistant Treatments
Another thing to consider is having your new carpet conditioned with a stain-resistant treatment. Stain resistance is a new feature that carpets didn’t use to have the option for.
However, a stain-resistance treatment might be worth the extra cost if you have kids or a lot of foot traffic in your home and worry about spills. You also can purchase a carpet that’s already been stain treated, but these are usually manmade or synthetic materials rather than natural ones.
Subfloor Repairs or Installation
One of the more unexpected costs you might encounter during carpet installation is if your subfloor needs to get repaired. Depending on how bad it is, you might have to completely rip out your subfloor and install a new one, sending your budget through the roof.
The cost to remove old subflooring is around $1 to $3 per square foot because it is difficult to do. Installing a new subfloor in its place will likely be just as expensive.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Old Carpet and Install a New One?
One of the downsides of carpeting is that it’s prone to stains and footprints and often doesn’t last as long as other types of flooring. As a result, you may have to replace it with other flooring or a new carpet. If you decide to replace your old carpet with a new one, the project cost will be much higher than just simply installing a carpet.
The good news about carpet replacement is that while the work is demanding and tedious, it’s pretty straightforward. This means you can optionally tear out the old carpet and leave the installation to the pros. Doing this will save money and means you can spend slightly more on a new quality carpet.
However, if you decide to let your carpet installer also tear out your old one, you can expect to pay quite a bit more for the work. Because of how messy and dirty tearing out an old carpet can be, contractors often charge more per hour for the tear-out than they do for the installation. You should expect to pay an extra $200 to $1,000 to have a professional remove your old carpet.
Related Questions
What is the average cost to carpet a bedroom?
Bedrooms are usually smaller than living rooms and dining rooms and the cost to install carpeting is typically lower. However, people also like to splurge on a comfortable and dense carpet for their bedroom, driving the cost back up. A 100 to 200-square-foot bedroom can cost between $500 and $2,000, depending on the carpet you install.
Should I install carpet or paint first if I’m remodeling my home?
If you’re planning to install new carpeting and paint a room, you should always paint the room first. Painting first means it doesn’t matter if you accidentally spill some paint on your floors because you will rip it out anyway.
How long should my carpet last?
Just as carpeting has a very wide price range, they also have very wide lifespan capabilities. A quality, durable carpet can last up to 20 years before you should replace it. However, lower quality and cheaper carpets tend to get stained or give out in 2 to 5 years.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a lot of factors that go into figuring out how much it will cost for you to install carpet in a room. The type of carpet you choose, the labor costs, and the size of the room are the biggest factors to consider. By carefully measuring your room, selecting the right amount of carpet, and getting multiple quotes from different installation companies, you can get a quality carpet installation at an affordable price.
