How much does flooring cost?

United States: homeowner survey

Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out flooring, carpet, paneling, ceiling tile or drywall work reported a median of $4,000; the typical range (middle half of 1,712 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $2,000 to $8,000.

When the household did that work itself: a median (889 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $1,200.

How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-16

What is the typical flooring cost?

This survey item is broad. It reads "Installed carpeting, flooring, paneling, ceiling tiles or drywall", so new carpet in one bedroom, plank flooring through a whole floor and a drywall job are all in the range above, and the answers carry no square footage.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

A good share of this work is done by owners: 63 percent of the jobs with a reported cost were hired out, a smaller share than roofing (87 percent) and central air (88 percent).

The old floor can decide the job. EPA advises against sanding or levelling flooring that may contain asbestos, and says that when such flooring needs replacing, new covering should go over it where possible.

Source: U.S. EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, read 16 October 2026.

How much does it cost to install flooring or carpet?

Laminate and engineered planks often have a composite wood core. Since March 2019, EPA has required composite wood products such as medium-density fiberboard and particleboard, and finished goods made with them, to carry a TSCA Title VI label for formaldehyde emissions.

Source: U.S. EPA, Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products, read 16 October 2026.

Carpet behaves differently after a leak. EPA's mold guide says porous materials such as carpet may have to be thrown away if they grow mold, and that drying wet areas within 24 to 48 hours usually prevents it.

Source: U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, read 16 October 2026.

What changes the install carpet cost?

Owner or installer: households that did their own flooring, carpet, paneling, ceiling tile or drywall work reported a much lower median than those who hired it out.
Whether the old floor is tested: EPA says you generally cannot tell asbestos by looking, and lists planned remodelling as a reason to have materials tested by an accredited professional.
Source: U.S. EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, read 16 October 2026.
Never stripping by machine: EPA says never to use a power stripper on flooring that may contain asbestos.
Source: U.S. EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, read 16 October 2026.
Mixed work: because drywall and ceiling tiles share the survey item, a flooring-only job and a wall job cannot be pulled apart in this data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

Get written bids

Contractors who take part estimate from your photos and a written scope card, so nobody visits before you see any prices. InstaBids is in an early pilot in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Sources for the figures on this page

U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/data/2023/ahs-2023-public-use-file--puf-.html, read 16 October 2026. U.S. government work; no endorsement implied.
U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/AHS%202023%20Value%20Labels%20Package.zip, read 16 October 2026.
U.S. EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-exposures-asbestos, read 16 October 2026.
U.S. EPA, Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products, www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-emission-standards-composite-wood-products, read 16 October 2026.
U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home, read 16 October 2026.