(olefin carpet installed)
(wool, plush carpet installed)
Cost to install new carpeting varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from carpet installers in your city.
The average cost of installing carpeting is $980 - $1,680.
Carpeting is an attractive, soft, and comfortable floor covering suitable for many rooms in the home. Available in a wide range of styles, materials, and depths, carpet is often seen as a warm, inviting flooring surface. While throw rugs can be put down by anyone, real wall-to-wall carpeting must be installed by professionals. The material needs to be measured, stretched, and tacked down properly to avoid wrinkles or hazardous nails.
While carpeting has a wide range of prices, the average homeowner pays between $7 and $12 per square foot ($63-$108/square yard), with the average installation size roughly 10-feet by 14-feet for an average cost of $980 to $1,680.
Keep in mind that carpeting is usually sold by the square yard, around 9 square feet, with the average roll being 12-feet wide. While this will not impact the cost of your installation, it does make it more difficult to compare costs with other materials like hardwood. For this reason, prices will be given in both square foot and square yard measurements.
Like all materials, carpeting has its attributes and its drawbacks, so it may not be right for every project.
Carpeting has a wide range of associated costs. Some materials, like wool or Berber, for example, may cost more than synthetic options.
Because carpeting is sold by the yard, the larger the area you are carpeting, the higher your total costs will be. This is also true for the padding 2 you choose to go under your carpet since the thicker the padding, the higher the cost.
Stairs, corners, bump outs, and other irregularities in the installation may also impact the total cost of the installation. If you are carpeting over concrete and need a vapor barrier 3, this may also add to the final costs.
Before new carpeting can be put down, a lot of prep work needs to go into the job. The amount and type of prep is dependant on the surface you are carpeting and its current condition.
The first step involves your subfloor 4. If your subfloor is old or unstable, it may need to be replaced. If your subfloor is made of concrete, it may need a vapor barrier to help prevent moisture from seeping into your new carpeting. If you need a new subfloor, this will be installed by a carpenter. Typically, this costs around $70 an hour at a rate of 2-3 hours’ work for a total of $140-$210 for a new subfloor.
Your installer will put down a carpet pad over the subfloor. Carpet pads act as a shock absorber beneath your carpet. They make the surface more resilient, as well as more comfortable. Each type of carpeting has a recommended pad type and thickness. While you may have options, it’s always best to choose the pad made specifically for the carpet you’re having installed.
The general rule of thumb for carpet pads is to make sure that they fall between ¼-inch and 7/16-inch thick with 6 pounds per cubic foot density. If installing a Berber or other low-profile carpet, however, you will need to use a pad that is less than ⅜-inch thick with 8 pounds per cubic foot density.
Carpet pads can be made of several different materials, all of which have different uses and attributes:
Type | Use | Average Cost |
---|---|---|
Urethane foam | Light traffic areas like bedrooms | $0.89/square foot $8.01/square yard |
Bonded urethane | Residential use Sometimes sold as “pet friendly” | $0.89/square foot $8.01/square yard |
Waffle rubber | Rarely used Lightweight Often not thick enough | $0.90/square foot $8.10/square yard |
Flat rubber | High traffic areas Long wearing | $0.98/square foot $8.82/square yard |
Fiber cushion | Limits movement in the carpet | $1.21/square foot $10.89/square yard |
There are many considerations that go into the selection of a carpet. While color, pattern, and style are certainly part of the selection process, there are other things to consider as well.
In addition to things like UV- and stain-resistance, there are also several types of carpeting grouped by how the fibers are presented. Each will give you a very different look, as well as different wear levels.
Type | Attributes | Cost |
---|---|---|
Saxony | High, cut pile Flares on the ends | $15-$22/yard $1.67-$2.45/foot |
Plush | Slightly lower cut than Saxony Level cut Set to retain twist | $15-$22/yard $1.67-$2.45/foot |
Textured saxony | High, cut pile Heavily twisted for texture | $15-$22/yard $1.67-$2.45/foot |
Multi-level loop | Two or three heights of loops Gives a sculptured look | $15-$22/yard $1.67-$2.45/foot |
Berber | Thicker yarns Earth colors Textured loops | $15-$22/yard $1.67-$2.45/foot |
Fireze | Hard twist fibers Textured finish | $25-$45/yard $2.78-$5/foot |
Shag | Very long tufts Open spacing | $25-$45/yard $2.78-$5/foot |
Cable | Soft and comfortable Does not wear well in high traffic areas | $25-$45/yard $2.78-$5/foot |
Level loop | Consistent, tight loops | $25-$45/yard $2.78-$5/foot |
Velvet | Low cut pile Very little twist May be level or varied height | $25-$45/yard $2.78-$5/foot |
Cut and loop | Cut pile with decorative areas made of loops | $25-$45/yard $2.78-$5/foot |
The material that your carpet is made from can influence things such as cost, how long it lasts, its stain resistance, and how sustainable it is. There are many different carpet materials to choose from, each with their positive and negative attributes.
Material | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Olefin ($9/yard-$1/foot) credits | Inexpensive Resists staining Resists fading | Can crush Can abrade Limited colors |
Nylon ($15/yard-$1.67/foot) | Durable Easy to clean Resists staining | Promotes static |
Polyester ($23/yard-$2.50/foot)
| Fade resistant Stain resistant | May pill May matt in high traffic areas |
Acrylic ($36/yard-$4/foot) | Soft Lightweight Resists staining | May brown Easily crushed No resiliency |
Triexta ($36/yard-$4/foot)
| Stain resistant Fade resistant | Does not resist oils |
Wool ($90/yard-$10/foot) | Soft Flame retardant Eco Friendly | Expensive Not resistant to insects Some detergents may cause damage |
Carpet installation is done by a flooring professional. This usually consists of the removal of current carpeting, preparing the subfloor, laying the carpet pad, and finally the new carpet is unrolled, stretched, and stapled into place.
Depending on the type and material of carpeting you get, the quality of your subfloor, and the area you live in, you may find that your carpet installation costs can vary.
Carpeting is usually installed by the yard, the same way it is sold, at a cost of around $18 per square yard. This breaks down to roughly $2 per square foot for installation, so a 10x14 room will cost about $280 in installation costs alone.
The maintenance that your carpet needs will be influenced by several factors, including:
For most cut, cut and loop, plush, and other deep pile carpets, you may expect to vacuum the carpet two to three times a week. Blot spills as you notice them to help impede stains. For low pile and looped carpets, run a carpet sweeper two to three times a week. Blot spills as soon as they are noticed.
For natural fibers and carpets that have not been treated against stains, detergent and carpet shampoos may be used as needed to remove stains and treat heavily-soiled areas. Always choose a detergent recommended for your carpet material and type.
Professional carpet cleaning is recommended every 12-18 months for most carpet types, at a rate of around $50-$75.
Carpeting and hardwood are two of the most popular types of floor covering for whole house installation. They both have a lot of positive and negative attributes that may influence the final decision to get one or the other.
Features | Carpet | Hardwood |
---|---|---|
Cost | $7-$12/sq.ft. | $12-$20/sq.ft. |
Maintenance | More difficult to maintain | Easier to maintain |
Style | Many colors and choices | Many colors and choices |
Durability | 10 - 15 years | 50 - 100 years |
Comfort | Soft and warm underfoot | Cold and hard underfoot |
Noise | Muffles sounds | May echo |
There are stain-resistant treatments available for some carpets and others may already be stain-resistant. Adding resistant treatment typically costs around $80 per gallon, which can treat up to 1,000 sq.ft.
Radiant heating can be used with carpeting. This includes electric radiant heating, which costs between $6,000 and $14,000, and which is installed directly beneath the carpet on the subfloor.
Transition pieces or thresholds may be necessary between rooms, particularly if you are using two different flooring pieces. These can cost between $2 and $20 depending on the type, material, and style used.
The average cost is between $7 and $12 per square foot, for a total of $8,400 to $14,400 for a project this size.
The average cost to install carpeting in a 10x14 room is between $980 and $1,680.
The cost to carpet a room this size will range from $1,260 to $2,160 on average.
Typically, carpet lasts between 10 and 15 years, but may last longer or shorter depending on use, traffic, and material.
The average cost to install new carpeting is between $7 and $12 per square foot.
Cost to install new carpeting varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.