What Does Carpet Installation Cost?

Beyond just materials and labor, here are some other factors to take into account which may determine final project costs. You may need to calculate added expenses:

• Carpet removal

• Floor repair or replacement

• Moving furniture

• Stain-resistant treatments

• Subfloor repair or replacements

Carpet Removal

In many cases, you’ll need to have your old carpet removed and hauled away before the new one can be installed. You can remove existing carpet yourself, if you’d like. Homeowners paying for professional carpet replacement may include removal as part of the job, which can add $0.25–$1 per square foot. You may be able to recycle your old carpet or reuse portions of it as rugs, doormats, or soundproofing material.

Floor Repair or Replacement

Any structural problems with your old flooring will need to be fixed before the carpet is laid down. If the damage is extensive, you could pay $1.50–$4.50 per square foot in labor and materials for repairs. In some cases, the underlayment may need to be entirely replaced, and contractors will usually charge $70–$100 per hour for this work.

Moving Furniture

Before the carpet can be installed or replaced, any furniture in the area will need to be moved out of the way. This may be included as part of labor costs, or it may be separate. For very heavy or specialty items that require careful handling, like grand pianos, you’ll probably pay an extra $50–$100. Thankfully, this is a step many homeowners can save costs on by handling on their own.

Stain-Resistant Treatments

If the carpet you choose hasn’t had any stain-resistant treatment applied during the manufacturing process, you can have it sprayed on after installation. Sold under brand names like Teflon or Scotchgard, these treatments coat the carpet fibers to help them repel liquids. You can usually treat 1,000 square feet of carpet for about $80.

Subfloor Repair or Replacement

The subfloor is the plywood, fiberboard, or concrete that sits atop your floor joists beneath the finished flooring. It helps evenly distribute the weight of anything that’s on your floors. If this material is old or substantially water damaged, it may need to be repaired or even replaced entirely. This will cost an additional $1–$4 per square foot.