Carpet Installation Cost Estimates 2023 – Every Cost Covered
How Much Does It Cost to Install Carpet?
The average cost of carpet installed is $4.00 to $7.50 per square foot for the most popular options.
Cheap carpet starts at around $2.00, and premium wool carpet ranges to $20 per square foot. Carpet replacement cost in a 15×20 room (300 square feet) is $1,200 to $2,250.
Average cost: $4.00 to $7.50 pr sq/ft
Cost per room: $1,200 to $2,250
1,000 square feet of carpet: $4,000 to $7,500
May 6, 2023, by: Rob Parsell
You will get answers to a wide range of questions here about the cost of carpet installation, including cost by brand, cost factors that will allow you to narrow your estimates and cost carpet types and room/house size.
There’s also information on labor costs, carpet removal cost, the price of padding and the carpet prices vs the price of other popular flooring types like LVT/LVP and wood floors.
OVERVIEW OF CARPET INSTALLATION COST
Most homeowners pay $4,800 to $9,000 for new carpet covering 1,200 square feet. That’s an average amount of carpet in a typical 2,000 square foot home with other flooring types in the kitchen, bathrooms, entryways, laundry area, etc.
When premium carpet, in the range of $12-$20 per square foot, is used, total cost rises to $12,000 to $24,000.
CARPET COST PER SQUARE FOOT
The range of carpet prices is $2.00 to more than $20.00 per square foot. Carpet type and quality plus the complexity of the installation are the major carpet price factors.
These carpet price tiers include DIY carpet like carpet tiles all the way to super-premium carpet made from natural fibers like wool Berber.
Carpet Cost per Square Foot:
- Cheap: $2.00 – $4.75
- Average: $4.00 – $7.50
- Most Popular: $6.75 – $11.50
- Premium: $10.00 – $20.00
How much does carpet cost per square yard?
Carpet prices were given in cost per square yard until not too long ago. But as prices rose, the switch to cost per square foot was made.
1 square yard = 9 square feet.
Cost per square yard: The average cost of the most popular carpet – polyester carpet, polypropylene / olefin and nylon – is $36 to $68 per square yard.
To measure for carpeting, measure the length times the width of the room in feet and inches. That gives you the square feet. Divide square feet by 9 to get the number of square yards.
NEW CARPET COST BY ROOM SIZE AND TYPE
It’s common to add or replace carpet in just a room or two, maybe three, as homeowners remodel their homes a little at a time.
With that in mind, here are carpet costs by room.
Also factored into the table is the price of carpet typically used in each setting.
For example, many homeowners put cheaper polyester or olefin carpet in a child’s room, considering that they will replace the carpet when the child is grown. Plus, synthetic materials resist mold and mildew better than most natural fibers. On the other hand, premium nylon, wool or sisal carpet is often used in an adult bedroom suite.
Related Reading: Nylon Vs Polyester Carpet
| Room | Room Size | Installed Cost |
| Small Bedroom | 100 sq.ft. | $450 – $750 |
| Medium Bedroom | 200 sq.ft. | $815 – $1,450 |
| Large Bedroom | 360 sq.ft. | $1,475 – $2,500 |
| Kids Bedroom | 160 sq.ft. | $720 – $900 |
| Adult Bedroom | 280 sq.ft. | $1,675 – $3,300 |
| Home Office | 180 sq.ft. | $900 – $1,250 |
| Den | 115 sq.ft. | $700 – $925 |
| Home Gym | 125 sq.ft. | $400 – $975 |
| Average Living Room | 275 sq.ft. | $1,575 – $4,100 |
| Large Living Room | 400 sq.ft. | $2,200 – $7,200 |
| Kid’s Play/School Room | 180 sq.ft. | $750 – $1,125 |
| Casual Dining Room | 180 sq.ft. | $850 – $1,275 |
| Formal Dining Room | 240 sq.ft. | $1,450 – $2,100 |
How much is carpet in a bedroom?
The cost to install carpet in a bedroom is $450 to more than $3,000 based on the size of the space and the quality of the carpet installed.
Average price for bedroom carpeting is $600 – $1,250.
What’s the cost of living room carpet?
Living room carpet cost is $2,100 to $4,400 for rooms of average size and carpeting type. When premium natural fiber carpet is installed, the total price can exceed $5,000.
HOW MUCH TO CARPET STAIRS?
The cost to put carpet on stairs is $500 to $850 for most full staircases. Cost is around $250 for a 3-step stairway.
When carpet is wrapped, the cost is less per stair than when just the treads are covered. Covering just the treads takes much more cutting and trimming time, so the labor cost is higher and the price is $80 to $150 per stair.
CARPET ESTIMATES BY HOUSE SIZE
In most homes where carpet is used, the carpeting covers 60% to 75% of the floors. It is commonly installed in bedrooms, family and living rooms, dining rooms, den and home offices.
Carpeting is less commonly installed in kitchens, home gyms, hallways and on stairs. It is almost never used in entryways, laundry areas, bathrooms and other potentially wet locations.
Here are common home sizes with total costs based on covering 60% to 75% of the floors with carpeting.
*Cost factors follow immediately to help you make sense of the wide range of prices and to assist you in narrowing down your price estimates.
| House Size | Amount of Carpet | Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
| 1,000 | 600 – 750 sq.ft. | $2,400 – $4,875 | $3,950 – $7,200 | $7,250 – $15,000 |
| 1,250 | 750 – 950 sq.ft. | $3,000 – $6,175 | $4,975 – $11,500 | $9,100 – $19,000 |
| 1,500 | 900 – 1,125 | $3,600 – $7,300 | $5,950 – $13,500 | $10,900 – $22,500 |
| 1,800 | 1,100 – 1,350 | $4,400 – $8,775 | $7,250 – $16,200 | $13,200 – $27,000 |
| 2,000 | 1,200 – 1,500 | $4,800 – $9,750 | $7,900 – $18,000 | $14,500 – $30,000 |
| 2,250 | 1,350 – 1,700 | $5,400 – 11,050 | $8,950 – $20,400 | $16,350 – $34,000 |
| 2,500 | 1,500 – 1,875 | $6,000 – $12,200 | $9,900 – $22,500 | $18,150 – $37,500 |
| 2,750 | 1,650 – 2,100 | $6,600 – $13,650 | $11,000 – $25,200 | $20,000 – $42,000 |
| 3,000 | 1,800 – 2,250 | $7,200 – $14,625 | $11,900 – $27,000 | $21,800 – $45,000 |
| 3,500 | 2,100 – 2,625 | $8,400 – $17,100 | $13,800 – $31,500 | $25,400 – $52,500 |
| 4,000 | 2,400 – 3,000 | $9,600 – $19,500 | $15,850 – $36,000 | $29,000 – $60,000 |
CARPET COST INSTALLATION FACTORS
Use these price considerations to get a better understanding of where your carpet cost per square foot or for your entire home will be.
Keep in mind that typical cost ranges for carpet:
- DIY/Cheap: $2.00 – $4.75
- Average: $4.00 – $7.50
- Most Popular: $6.75 – $11.50
- Premium: $10.00 – $20.00
Who installs the carpet: DIY carpet installation saves on labor, though you might have to rent tools or buy tack strips and nails. Most homeowners hire carpet contactors for the work.
Carpet Type: Material and style play a major role in pricing. See the Cost by Types of Carpet below for details.
Carpet Quality: The better the material and the denser the carpet loop or nap, the higher the cost.
How Much Carpet is Installed: Yes, more flooring = higher cost. But the cost per square foot drops a little as the volume goes up.
Job Complexity: Large, open rooms cost less per square foot to install than smaller rooms where more trimming around edges and obstacles is required.
Moving Furniture: When rooms have to be emptied and furniture returned, it can add up to $1.00 per square foot.
Time of Year/Installer Availability: The installation cost estimate might go up before the holidays and other times professionals have more work than they can do.
CARPET INSTALLATION AVERAGE LABOR COSTS
Average labor costs run from about $0.75 (75 cents) to $2.00 per square foot. Factors are the complexity of the work, carpet contractors demand/time of year and where you live.
The labor on stairs is much higher – usually $40 to $60 per stair. Cost depends on how the flooring is installed, trimmed and secured.
CARPET INSTALL COSTS – WHAT YOU GET FOR THE MONEY
Consider the factors in this carpet price calculator as you estimate your price.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost | |
| $4.00 – $6.50/sq.ft. | $6.55 – $8.00/sq.ft. | $8.15 – $15.00/sq.ft. | |
| DIY | Yes or No | Yes or No | No |
| New Subfloor | No | Yes or No | Yes or No |
| Remove Old Carpet | No | Yes or No | Yes or No |
| Carpet Quality | Basic – Average | Average | Average – High |
| Carpet Material | Polyester/Polyethylene | Nylon/Wool/Cotton | Nylon/Wool/Sisal |
| Job Complexity | Easy | Easy – Average | Average – Difficult |
| Stairs | No | Yes or No | Yes or No |
| Moving Furniture | No | Yes or No | Yes |
COST BY TYPES OF CARPET
As you shop for carpet, you’ll find terms related to the cut of the carpet fibers.
Loop carpet is very popular. The loop pile isn’t cut. Instead the top of the carpeting is a series of loops, creating greater carpet density and firmness suitable for high-traffic areas. Because it is easy to manufacture, loop-pile carpets are among the most affordable.
Cut and loop carpet can be cheap or costly depending on the material used. The weave uses some loops and some cut pile to create texture and design. It is low-pile carpet, quite dense and a good choice for high-traffic areas such as hallways.
Berber carpet is usually wool, but nylon Berber and other synthetic materials are produced too. The low pile isn’t especially soft, but it wears well and resists stains.
- Cut pile carpet is similar to cut and loop but all the yarns are cut to uniform height to create a plush, dense flooring. There are a few types of carpet that fits the cut pile description. Related Reading: Carpet Texture
- Plush/Saxony: The nap is uniform, dense but soft texture. As a result of the cut, it is prone to fraying over time, so lacks premium durability and stain resistance. Try a style called textured saxony for better wear.
- Frieze: The yarns of this material are tightly woven to create a firmer flooring that handles traffic quite well. Related Reading: What is Frieze Carpet
- Cable: Cable carpet has a thick, long nap that is quite plush but not especially durable. It’s suitable for bedrooms, dens and other shoes-off, low-traffic areas.
This chart shows all common types of carpet and their cost comparison.
| Carpet Type | Cost per Square Foot |
| Loop | $4.00 – $8.00 |
| Cut & Loop | $4.50 – $8.75 |
| Saxony – Plush & Textured | $5.00 – $14.00 |
| Frieze | $4.50 – $11.00 |
| Berber | $6.00 – $15.00 |
CARPET PADDING COST
Padding starts with cheap, builder-grade material often used in rentals and part-time homes. Price is around $0.25-$0.35 (25 to 35 cents) per square foot.
The most commonly used carpet padding is denser, gives genuine cushion and is designed to remain firm for 10-20 years depending on the amount of traffic it gets. Its price is $0.40-$0.65/square foot.
Premium foam padding, some of it memory foam, runs $0.80 to $1.00 and provides the plushest comfort.
CARPET COST BY BRAND
Here is a carpet brand cost comparison table. Keep in mind that each manufacturer offers a range of types and quality levels. The comparison gives you an idea of whether the brand is generally affordable, average or premium.
Here are installed prices for major brands.
| Brand | Cost Range/Sq. Ft. |
| Fabrica | $7.50 – $20.00 |
| Anderson Tuftex | $6.00 – $15.00 |
| Mannington Phenix | $5.00 – $9.00 |
| Shaw | $4.75 – $12.00 |
| Paradiso | $4.75 – $8.50 |
| Mohawk | $4.50 – $10.00 |
| Newton | $4.50 – $9.50 |
| Mannington | $4.25 – $9.75 |
| Stainmaster (Lowes) | $4.25 – $8.00 |
| Trafficmaster (Home Depot) | $4.00 – $9.50 |
| Dream Weaver | $4.00 – $8.75 |
| Home Decorators Collection | $4.00 – $7.00 |
COST OF CARPET AT HOME DEPOT
Trafficmaster is Home Depot’s store brand, but it sells a few other brands too. You can DIY, hire your own installer or pay for carpet and installation from Home Depot. The Home Depot carpet cost for installed flooring is $4.00 – $9.50 per square foot.
COST OF CARPET AT LOWES
Lowes owns the Stainmaster brand but sells a limited number of other brands too. Expect carpet prices at Lowes in the $4.25 to $8.00 range when you have it pro-installed.
CARPET COST VS OTHER FLOORING TYPES
Carpet vs luxury vinyl is the most common comparison, but you might also be considering laminate, hardwood or tile for your home.
| Material | Typical Cost Range |
| Carpet | $4.00 – $7.50 |
| Sheet Vinyl | $2.00 – $4.25 |
| Laminate | $2.75 – $5.50 |
| LVT/LVP Luxury Vinyl | $3.50 – $6.25 |
| Rigid Core Vinyl SPC/WPC | $4.25 – $6.75 |
| Engineered Wood | $7.00 – $11.50 |
| Solid Hardwood | $8.25 – $12.50 |
| Ceramic Tile | $12.50 – $21.00 |
| Stone Tile | $14.00 – $25.00 |
| Porcelain Tile | $15.00 – $28.00 |
CARPET INSTALLATION COST BY JOB
Here are related costs. They might be included in the job estimates you receive or itemized as separate expenses.
| Task | Cost |
| Measuring for carpet | Free – $40 |
| Removing disposing of old carpet | $0.30 – $0.75/sq.ft. |
| Moving/Replacing Furniture | $25 – $50/room |
| Removing baseboard trim | $15 – $25/room |
| Reinstalling baseboard trim | $40 – $75/room |
| Subfloor repair | Up to $1.50/sq.ft. |
| Subfloor replacement | $3.75 – $5.50/sq.ft. |
| Stairs | $40 – $60/stair |
| Thresholds/Transition strips | $15 – $40 each |
Related Reading: How to Remove Baseboards
COST TO REMOVE AND DISPOSE OF OLD CARPET
When carpet is secured with tacks, as is standard, the price to remove it and dispose of it is 30 to 75 cents per square foot. If the material is glued to concrete, the cost is around $1.00 per square foot to remove it. When it is glued to a wood subfloor, which is rare, plan to replace the subfloor too at around $5.00 per square foot.
Relates Reading: Carpet Removal and Disposal Cost
FAQ’s
AVERAGE COST TO CARPET 1000 SQ FT
The average cost to carpet 1000 sq/ft is $5,750 based on carpet installation costing between $4.00 and $7.50 per sq/ft. For a 1000 sq/ft home you will probably only install between 600 – 750 sq.ft. of carpet at an average cost of between $3,950 – $7,200.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CARPET A 10X12 ROOM
It will cost between $480 and $900 to carpet a 10×12 room (120 square feet) based on an average installation cost of $4.00 to $7.50. This cost is for professional installation and takes into account the overheads payable for installation in one bedroom.
COST TO CARPET A 12X12 ROOM
It will cost between $576 and $1,080 to carpet a 12×12 room (144 square feet) based on an average installation cost of $4.00 to $7.50. This cost is for professional installation and takes into account the overheads payable for installation in one bedroom.
About the Author:
Rob Parsell
Rob joined the Home Flooring Pros team in 2014 and is a freelance writer, specializing in flooring, remodeling and HVAC systems (read more).
“I’m the son of an interior designer and picked up an eye for design as a result. I started hanging wallpaper and painting at 14 and learned enough on the job to be the general contractor on two homes we built for our family and did much of the finish plumbing, electrical, painting, and trim work myself.”