(OSB or thin plywood subflooring, no vapor barriers, minimal joists)
(Warm board subflooring, plywood underlayment, added joists and tile flooring)
Cost to install subfloor varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from flooring contractors in your city.
The average cost to install subfloor is $2,400 - $5,500.
Subflooring 1 is the rough foundation floor that is beneath your finished flooring, like laminate, carpet, tile, hardwood, or vinyl 2, to create a smooth, level 3 surface. Subflooring is secured to the floor joists to help provide support in a new home and it is ideally between 5/8” and 7/8” thick.
The costs of installing a subfloor in new construction is typically based on the square footage of the home, but usually installing concrete subflooring averages around $2,400-$5,500 for a surface of 300 square feet.
There are many reasons to install subfloor, though the most important is the added support and structural integrity it adds to the home. Subflooring provides an insulative layer between the structural joists of your floor and the layer of carpet, tile, or wood that you and your loved ones walk across regularly. This buffering layer reduces noise, controls temperature, protects against moisture, and provides a cushion that is far more comfortable underfoot.
Any new construction, be it a home or other structure, should have subflooring installed. There are a couple of instances that do not warrant the installation of a subfloor, such as when you have a concrete slab 4 floor or if your home sits on a cement foundation. In these situations, the cement or concrete can serve as a subfloor in the event you choose to add decorative flooring, like tile or carpeting, later.
Prep-work is key for a level, smooth subfloor, as well as for the integrity of the entire structure. Much of the prep-work for installing subflooring will be done by the contractor laying the flooring, as it involves layering materials and protecting what has already been installed. Prep-work includes leveling the floor joists to ensure your finished floor comes out smooth and seamless. Preparation for installing a subfloor will be included in the overall time, labor, and hourly rate for contractors involved in the project, usually $30-$100 per hour, plus the cost of materials that will be used for the subfloor. There is no additional prep-work or expense at this point in your installation.
When installing a new subfloor, materials cost from $0.60-$7.00 per square foot. Naturally, the larger the surface area, the more the material will cost. If they haven’t been placed yet, in addition to subflooring materials you will need to install floor joists, which cost approximately $100-$300 per joist. It is recommended that you have joists at least every two feet, so a space measuring 12’x12’ would require six joists.
You have two options when choosing subflooring materials, traditional and new:
Plywood 5 subflooring emerged as an inexpensive alternative to the wood planking used before the mid-1900s. Plywood doesn’t separate as planks did and is a harder material, creating a better and more durable subfloor. Concrete is a popular option for basements and when your home sits on a concrete slab you don’t need joists to support your subfloor.
Traditional subfloor options include plywood, compressed particle board 6 (OSB), and concrete:
Newer subflooring materials strive for environmental awareness and efficiency. These advanced flooring systems withstand moisture effectively, while also providing insulation and ease of installation. Some of these products include Delta-FL, DRIcore system, Tyroc, and Warm board:
* We selected different brands to improve and clarify the information contained in this cost guide. We do not receive any monetary compensation from these companies.
Please talk to your contractor for distinct recommendations pertaining to the subfloor you are installing and the types of finished flooring that you have in mind. Many factors come into play regarding the best materials to use, including your geographic location and the climate. For example, concrete subfloor is most common in basements. You may also choose modern DRIcore for finished basements where you plan on installing carpet later. This ensures your space remains dry over time or in wet climates.
With hardwood floors, a plywood subfloor is most popular, which is also true of any tile flooring, such as ceramic or porcelain, due primarily to the competitive price and longevity. When planning finished floors with stone, warm board makes a thick and durable subfloor for your heated and high-end flooring; thinner plywood subfloor or OSB makes the most cost-efficient sense for laminate, vinyl, or you could try a new material like Tyroc for an eco-friendly choice.
Think about your floor as being a series of layers; you have underlayers, moisture barriers (in some cases), subflooring, and your finished floor, which all rest on floor joists or supports. Installation can be a breeze once the prep-work and initial layers have been completed successfully, creating the supportive and smooth surface for you to layer-in each of your flooring materials. Each layer must be carefully cut, laid, secured, screwed, and sealed before the next layer can be added, which makes it labor-intensive and precise work.
If you construct and install the subfloor properly, laying finished flooring (or changing it out later) can be fast and simple for any contractor. Different subflooring materials may make the process easier or more rigorous, typically due to the weight, heft, and availability of these products. For instance, modern recycled Barricade panels are lighter and easier to maneuver than panels of traditional plywood.
Labor is a big component of your overall cost to install a subfloor. Since the subfloor and joists are supporting the weight of your home, belongings, and people inside, it merits professional installation, like carpenters and contractors.
Depending on various factors, it typically costs between $30 and $100 an hour, depending on your location and the professionals that you hire. For instance, a general handyman may charge $30 an hour while a finished carpenter may charge up to $100 per hour for labor. Consider that it takes around two days to install subflooring in a space measuring 300 square feet. You will likely find the hourly rate cheaper in rural areas and higher in more urban cities.
One improvement that you will want to invest in are vapor barriers 8 (also called a moisture barriers) or underlayment over your new subfloor to reduce moisture. A vapor barrier is an additional layer between the subfloor and the finished floor that helps to retard any moisture that may seep or leech up through the ground or concrete foundation. Moisture wreaks havoc on your home; vapor barriers prevent damaging leaks and flooding.
There are a number of inexpensive materials for your underlayment layer, including a thin foam spray that helps to keep water from seeping in through the foundation of your home. These layers can be very cheap, as low as $0.50-$1 per square foot, depending on what you choose, plus labor costs. Adding a vapor barrier will also increase the time and cost of your subfloor, but it is an investment worth making if you live in wet or humid environments, or if you are installing a subfloor in your basement.
Enhancing your subfloor installation may include the process of installing your new finished flooring, too. Finish flooring materials cost as little as $2 per square foot for inexpensive vinyl tile to $9.50 per square foot for porcelain tile. Your contractor will likely charge the same hourly rate, between $30 and $100, to lay the finish floor.
The thickness of a subfloor is usually from 5/8”-7/8”, but it really depends on the type of finished flooring you plan to use.
Except for homes that have concrete slabs, all houses have floor joists. Installing joists is part of framing the overall house so the cost depends on many other elements and factors related to construction, though it is estimated that framing the floor in new construction can cost around $3,000. A joist is strongly encouraged to be implemented every 16” of your square footage. To repair a floor joist costs around $100-$300 per joist.
When dealing with new construction, when there is no need to demolish or remove old flooring materials, it takes around two days to install 300 square feet of subflooring. This will vary based on your contractor’s scheduling and other factors that can impede or speed up progress during construction.
The cost of your underlayment depends on what you use for materials; for example, if you are installing a hardwood floor, you may use inexpensive plywood for your underlayment at $1.20 per square foot, plus labor costs of $30-$100 per hour. If you are using tile for your finished floor, you may choose a cement underlayment for $4 per square foot plus labor costs of $30-$100 per hour to install this layer.
It may cost as little as $1,000 to put in an inexpensive subfloor, but it will likely require replacement at some point. Considering factors like hourly labor rate and size of your home, it is common to spend between $2,400 and $5,500 to install a new subfloor.
Use screws, such as deck, underlayment, or subflooring screws, when securing subflooring. Make sure to never use sheet rock 9 screws or secure any of the screws directly to the joists.
There are several different types of plywood subflooring, and various thicknesses available depending on your distinct home. Plywood is usually found in ½”, ⅝”, and ¾” thicknesses, and you will find thicker plywood works better for hardwood or tile finishes while thinner options typically are best for linoleum and carpet.
Cost to install subfloor varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.