Almost nobody publishes this, which is the only reason it is hard to find out. Here is what the numbers actually look like.
Installed price per square foot
These are installed ranges, material plus labor, for a standard residential job in central Alabama.
| Flooring | Installed, per sq ft | Typical room |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet | $3 – $6 | $450 – $900 |
| Laminate | $3 – $7 | $450 – $1,050 |
| Luxury vinyl plank | $4 – $9 | $600 – $1,350 |
| Tile | $7 – $14 | $1,050 – $2,100 |
| Hardwood | $8 – $15 | $1,200 – $2,250 |
“Typical room” assumes 150 square feet, which is a average bedroom.
What moves the number
Tear-out. Pulling up and hauling off the old floor typically adds $1 to $2 per square foot. Carpet comes up fast. Glued-down vinyl and mortared tile do not.
Subfloor repair. This is the line that turns a $2,000 job into a $3,200 job. If the subfloor is soft, uneven, or has moisture coming through a slab, it has to be fixed first. On older homes it is common, and any quote that does not mention the subfloor has not looked at it.
Furniture. Moving and replacing furniture is sometimes included and sometimes not. Ask.
Stairs. Stairs are priced per tread, not per square foot, and they are labor-heavy. A staircase can cost as much as a bedroom.
Transitions and trim. Thresholds, quarter round, and reducers where the new floor meets an old one. Small individually, and they add up across a whole house.
Why the cheapest quote is often the most expensive
The single most common way a flooring quote comes in low is by leaving out the subfloor. The crew arrives, pulls the carpet, finds soft decking, and the price changes on the spot, after you have already committed.
A quote worth comparing says what happens if the subfloor is bad, and what that costs. If it does not, you are not comparing the same job.
Getting a real number
Square-foot ranges are for budgeting, not deciding. The actual number depends on your rooms, your subfloor, and what you pick. A free in-home estimate is measured, itemized, and does not change when the crew shows up.