If you're looking for a versatile option for flooring, laminate is an excellent choice. This material is a manufactured flooring with multiple layers that are fused together using a lamination process. The result resembles the look of real wood, stone, or even tile thanks to a unique photographic top layer. A protective laminated finish is applied to keep the floors durable and beautiful for years to come. Read on to discover more about laminate as well as how much it costs to have it installed.
Standard Services | Quantity | Low | High | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
What you can expect | |||||
Range per square foot: | $8.02 | $12.02 | |||
Range for this type of project: | $265 | $397 | |||
Estimate: $331 | |||||
Laminate Flooring Cost | 36 square feet | $46 | $61 | ||
Cost of 8mm-thick laminate flooring, residential-grade with a protective finish. Segments interlock for easy, floating installation. Rate includes local delivery, and standard excess for perfect installation and occasional future repairs. | |||||
Basic Labor for Laminate Flooring | 2 hours | $147 | $238 | ||
Labor costs for thorough installation under standard conditions. This will start with a full assessment of the space. The layout will be planned, appropriate equipment acquired, materials transported, and all preparation, installation and cleanup carried out. Seam locations will be measured and cut, underlayment installed, and laminate flooring sized and securely fitted. | |||||
Job Supplies for Laminate Flooring | 36 square feet | $19 | $22 | ||
Standard materials used in the installation process, such as fabrication and polishing supplies, manufacturer-recommended underlayment, fasteners, adhesives, and surface sealants. | |||||
Equipment Allowance for Laminate Flooring | 1 job | $52 | $76 | ||
Equipment allowance for pneumatic finish nailer, 10" miter saw, electric jigsaw, 3" belt sander, 3-1/4" electric planer, and other specialty tools. This is assessed as a daily rental fee, while single-use equipment elements will incur separate charges. | |||||
Removal of Laminate Flooring Waste | 33 square feet | $8 | $9 | ||
Additional fee for safe, expeditious disposal of old materials, installation waste, and all associated debris. | |||||
Optional Services | |||||
Removal of Flooring (Optional) | 2 hours | $26 | $166 | ||
Full removal and disposal of existing floor. Flooring material will be detached, broken down, and all materials safely disposed of. Asbestos handling will incur additional fees. |
cost to install laminate flooring | |
National Avg. Materials Cost per square foot | $1.56 |
National Avg. Cost (labor and materials) for 300 square foot | $2,292.37 |
National Cost Range (labor and materials) for 300 square foot | $1,835.89 - $2,748.85 |
When it comes to flooring, there’s a reason laminate is still increasing in popularity. It resists scratches and dents and has become quite durable when compared to its more expensive wooden counterparts. Laminate flooring can be quite cost-effective, and they come in many styles and finishes to suit your style.
The cost to install laminate flooring, on average, is $2,295 for a 200-square-foot area. These numbers can vary based on the contractor, location, and flooring specifics. Laminate should last up to 30 years if well maintained, and works great in any room of the house.
Laminate flooring is relatively inexpensive. You can purchase the flooring for $0.70 to $2.00 per square foot (see below for a breakdown). These prices don’t include the labor cost for laminate flooring. Labor can bring your price between $3 to $8. Be sure to factor in underlay, baseboards, and removal of the original floor. This is why the average cost to install laminate flooring tends to be higher than average installation costs at a glance. Your money goes farther in large rooms that don’t involve cutting or finessing the floors. Smaller rooms, like hallways or stairs, can take more time, as each piece requires specialized attention.
The following table shows the average cost per square foot:
Square Feet | Average Cost | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost |
200 | $1,100 | $600 | $1,600 |
300 | $1,650 | $900 | $2,400 |
400 | $2,200 | $1,200 | $3,200 |
600 | $3,300 | $1,800 | $4,800 |
800 | $4,400 | $2,400 | $6,400 |
1000 | $5,500 | $3,000 | $8,000 |
1500 | $8,250 | $4,500 | $12,000 |
Laminate flooring isn’t just inexpensive. It looks beautiful and comes in a wide variety of types, each with its own colors and aesthetic. This variety is why laminate flooring is quickly becoming the foremost choice for new flooring. Most laminate flooring can be purchased for $0.70 per square foot, including red or white oak and maple. Walnut is more expensive at $0.90 per square foot. At $1.00 per square foot, you can get acacia, beech, or cherry. Hickory costs roughly $2.00 per square foot. These prices don’t include the labor cost to install laminate flooring.
These are average costs and they can be quite varied. Price may go up depending on the manufacturer and the retailer’s markup. You may also find sales that bring that price down if you’re lucky. Prices may vary, but you shouldn’t need to pay more than $2.50 per square foot for a high-end laminate that serves your needs.
Laminate flooring can come with a variety of features to bring even more to your floors. All laminate floors are at least somewhat scratch-resistant, and you can increase that resistance if you need to. Beyond that, you can opt for water or noise resistance, or even spring for underfloor warming so your toes are never cold. You can also purchase flooring that never needs wax or polish, so it’ll never lose its luster.
The professional installation of laminate flooring costs between $2.31 and $5.50 per square foot. This price is for labor costs only, but includes the materials required to get the job done like the costs of underlay and adhesives.
Square Feet | Average Cost | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost |
200 | $319 | $138 | $500 |
300 | $479 | $207 | $750 |
400 | $638 | $276 | $1,000 |
600 | $957 | $414 | $1,500 |
800 | $1,276 | $552 | $2,000 |
1000 | $1,595 | $690 | $2,500 |
1500 | $2,393 | $1,035 | $3,750 |
There are a number of factors that can go into the labor cost per square foot to install laminate flooring. If you need to remove your original laminate, that can cost an average of $70 per hour, or roughly $475 for a 200-square-foot area. If your original floors were carpet, assuming there’s no damage to the concrete below you may pay as high as $1 per square foot for removal.
When it comes to installation, some contractors may charge by the job, whereas others may charge based on the space. Smaller spaces cost more per hour because they take more finesse to complete. Floor layers prefer a wide, open room, where they can lay and intersect the boards without having to cut and adapt to the space. When you add many corners, you have to cut the flooring, which takes a lot more time. Stairs are the smallest, and therefore the most complicated to install flooring and will come with the highest price tag.
In order to do the job correctly, contractors will need to lay an underlayment down first, then they’ll cut the floors to the specific room requirements. They’ll stagger the joints, which gives the room a natural wood flooring look. Another factor that can go into price is the season. People tend to want their floors redone in autumn, and demand will bring up the pricing. Doing floors in January has the best odds to get you a lower price, as that’s the slowest time of year for floor layers.
In addition to your favorite wood type, laminate flooring also comes in a range of textures and finishes to suit your style. These textures and finishes can transform the way your flooring looks, and certain textures add traction to keep your home safe and prevent slips and falls. Here are some examples of laminate floor textures and finishes along with their range of costs:
Laminate flooring is one of the easier floors to install, which may make it attractive as a DIY project. Some laminate flooring is designed to simply snap flush with itself, which is as easy as it sounds. Where DIY becomes difficult is exactly the same area where the price to install laminate flooring increases: the small areas. These are the areas you have to measure and cut to match the walls. You’ll need the tools to do the job and the skill to make those measurements. If you don’t find these things daunting, you may want to make this a DIY project.
Using a professional is an excellent option if you want someone efficient and competent who does the work on a regular basis. For difficult rooms, consider contracting a professional. Their tools and know-how will make the job look easy, no matter how challenging it is to fit your new floors into the space provided.
⏰ How long does it take to install laminate floors?
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👷 What is the cost to have my laminate professionally installed?