Flooring installation costs range from $3/sq ft for basic LVP to $15+/sq ft for custom hardwood or intricate tile work. Material choice, subfloor condition, and room complexity drive the final number. This calculator builds a complete estimate — materials with waste factor, demo, subfloor prep, install labor, and margin — for any flooring type.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP): $2–$7/sq ft materials. Engineered hardwood: $4–$10/sq ft. Solid hardwood: $5–$12/sq ft. Porcelain tile: $3–$10/sq ft. Carpet (including pad): $3–$7/sq ft installed materials only. Always add waste factor before pricing: 10% for straight runs, 15% for diagonal or herringbone layouts, and room for an extra 5–10% on tile to account for cuts and future repairs.
LVP floating installation: $1.50–$3/sq ft labor. Glue-down hardwood: $3–$5/sq ft. Nail-down hardwood: $3–$5/sq ft. Tile (large format): $5–$12/sq ft depending on pattern complexity. Carpet: $0.50–$1.50/sq ft. Stair treads are almost always priced per tread ($50–$150 each) rather than per square foot because of the difficulty and time involved.
Demo of old flooring: $1–$3/sq ft depending on material (tile demo is the slowest). Self-leveling underlayment for high spots: $1.50–$3/sq ft. Plywood subfloor repair: $3–$6/sq ft. Transition strips (t-molding, reducers, thresholds): $15–$40 each installed. These are easy line items to forget and hard to absorb if you do — list them explicitly in every quote.
Open floor plans with few cuts are fast. Kitchens with islands, closets, and toe kicks add 25–40% to install time. Diagonal or pattern layouts add 20–30% to both material and labor cost. Furniture removal and replacement: charge $50–$150 per room or subcontract it. Appliance disconnection for kitchen flooring should be priced separately or excluded in writing.