CostGuideHQ

Carpet Removal Cost (2026): $100–$887 to Tear Out Old Carpet

By CostGuideHQ·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·7 min read·4 sources·US national averages, USD
Quick answerQuick answer: Carpet removal (tear-out and haul-away, not installation) costs $100 to $887 per project, averaging around $280, or roughly $1 to $5 per square foot. Stapled carpet is cheapest to pull; glued-down carpet costs $3.10 to $5.10 per sq ft. Disposal and subfloor repair are usually extra.
  • A typical carpet tear-out costs $100 to $887, averaging about $280 for a whole room or project (Fixr, Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack).
  • Per square foot, plan on $0.50 to $1.50 for stapled/tacked-down carpet versus $3.10 to $5.10 for glued-down carpet (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor).
  • Disposal and dump fees add $0.40 to $0.60 per sq ft, or a flat $75 to $160, on top of tear-out labor (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor).
  • DIY removal mainly costs $32 to $60 in tools and rental gear (Fixr), plus your own time and a trip to the dump.

How much does carpet removal cost?

National average
$280
total project
Typical range
$100–$887
Most projects
Whole project
$120–$720
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Cost by material / type

TypeLowHigh
stapled/tacked-down carpet$1$2
carpet + padding removed together$1$2
glued-down carpet$3$5
basement carpet$1$2
wet or water-damaged carpet$1$2
general per-sq-ft removal (all methods)$1$5
Estimate your cost
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Rough estimate only — get local quotes for exact pricing.

What affects the cost?

  • Removal method — stapled or tacked-down carpet costs $0.50-$1.50 per sq ft in labor to pull up, versus $3.10-$5.10 per sq ft for glued-down carpet, which takes far more scraping time (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor)
  • Room and project size — Fixr's roughly $186 average reflects a 200-sq-ft room with stairs; a 12x12 wall-to-wall room runs $140-$290 (HomeAdvisor), and larger, multi-room jobs scale up from there
  • Padding removal — pulling the pad out along with the carpet runs about $0.60-$1.60 per sq ft, more than carpet alone (HomeAdvisor)
  • Disposal and dump fees — hauling the old carpet to a landfill adds $0.40-$0.60 per sq ft, or a flat $75-$160 for junk removal/landfill fees, on top of tear-out labor (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor)
  • Subfloor condition — water, mold, or pet damage that reached the subfloor means repair at $2-$10.10 per sq ft or full replacement at $3-$10 per sq ft (roughly $1,500-$1,650 total per Fixr) on top of removal (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor, Fixr)
  • Stairs — carpeted stairs cost far more per unit than flat flooring, running about $2-$21 per step depending on the source (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack)
  • Furniture moving — clearing the room first typically adds about $2 per square yard if the crew handles it, versus doing it yourself for free (Bob Vila, Thumbtack)
  • Labor rate — professional carpet removal crews charge around $60 per hour on top of, or instead of, per-square-foot pricing (Bob Vila)

How much does it cost to remove carpet?

Carpet removal (pulling up and hauling away old carpet, separate from installing new flooring) costs $100 to $887 per project, averaging around $280. Bob Vila and HomeAdvisor closely agree on a $280 average with a $120-$720 typical range for a whole room or house. Fixr’s benchmark, a roughly 200-sq-ft room with stairs, averages $186 with a national band of $120 to $200. Thumbtack reports meaningfully higher numbers — a $509 average and $285-$887 typical range — which likely reflects larger jobs or higher-cost markets. Per square foot, expect $1 to $5 for general removal (Bob Vila), though the real number depends heavily on how the carpet was installed: $0.50 to $1.50 per sq ft for carpet that’s simply stapled or tacked down, versus $3.10 to $5.10 per sq ft for glued-down carpet that has to be scraped off the subfloor (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor).

What affects carpet removal cost per room or square foot?

A handful of factors explain most of the spread between a $100 job and an $887 one:

  • How the carpet is attached. Stapled/tacked carpet pulls up fast at $0.50-$1.50 per sq ft; glued-down carpet takes far more scraping time at $3.10-$5.10 per sq ft (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor).
  • Room size. A 12x12 wall-to-wall room runs about $140-$290 (HomeAdvisor); Fixr’s roughly-200-sq-ft benchmark job averages $186. Bigger, multi-room jobs scale up from there.
  • Padding removal. Pulling the pad along with the carpet costs about $0.60-$1.60 per sq ft, a bit more than carpet-only removal (HomeAdvisor).
  • Stairs. Carpeted stairs cost more per unit than flat flooring — $2-$20 per stair (Bob Vila) or $7.50-$10.50 per step, up to $21 (HomeAdvisor).
  • Wet or basement carpet. Water-damaged carpet runs $1.20-$1.55 per sq ft to remove, and basement carpet runs $1-$1.50 per sq ft (Bob Vila).
  • Furniture moving. Having the crew clear the room first adds about $2 per square yard (Bob Vila, Thumbtack) — or nothing if you move it yourself.
  • Labor rate. Removal crews typically bill around $60 per hour on top of, or instead of, per-square-foot pricing (Bob Vila).

What do disposal fees and subfloor repair add?

Tear-out is rarely the whole bill. Disposal and dump fees are usually a separate line item: Bob Vila cites $0.40-$0.50 per sq ft or a flat $75-$150 for landfill drop-off, while HomeAdvisor cites $0.50-$0.60 per sq ft, about $70-$80 for a 12x12 room, or an $80-$160 flat fee if you hire a junk removal service instead. Recycling the old carpet instead of landfilling it runs $0.05-$0.26 per sq ft depending on the source. Once the carpet’s up, what’s underneath matters just as much — pet stains, water damage, or years of moisture can mean the subfloor itself needs work. Bob Vila and HomeAdvisor put subfloor repair at $2-$10.10 per sq ft and full replacement at $3-$10 per sq ft, while Fixr cites flat figures of $500-$700 for repair or $1,500-$1,650 for replacement. None of the four sources treat tack strip removal as its own charge — it’s bundled into standard tear-out labor everywhere.

Is it cheaper to remove carpet yourself?

In cash terms, yes. DIY carpet removal mainly costs $32 to $60 for tools and rental gear (Fixr) — a pry bar, utility knife, pliers, maybe a floor scraper for glued-down sections — versus the $0.50 to $5.10 per sq ft professionals charge for labor, or the roughly $60-per-hour rate contractors bill (Bob Vila). What DIY doesn’t save you: the trip to the dump (or a disposal fee if you use a service), the time it takes to pull tack strips and staples without damaging the subfloor, and the risk of finding water or pet damage underneath that you’re not equipped to assess or repair yourself. If you’re clearing the room for new flooring afterward, budget separately for carpet installation, hardwood floor installation, or luxury vinyl plank flooring, and factor in a dumpster rental if you’re tackling disposal yourself on a larger job.

Prices vary by region, how the carpet was installed, and what’s underneath it, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes, and confirm upfront whether disposal, stairs, and any subfloor work are included before committing to a final number.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to remove carpet?
Most projects run $100 to $887, averaging around $280. Bob Vila and HomeAdvisor both put the typical whole-project range at $120 to $720 with a $280 average, while Fixr's smaller 200-sq-ft benchmark job averages $186, and Thumbtack reports a higher average of $509 with a $285-$887 typical range.
How much does carpet removal cost per square foot?
Straightforward stapled or tacked-down carpet costs about $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot in labor (Bob Vila, Fixr). Glued-down carpet costs much more to remove, at $3.10 to $5.10 per square foot, because it has to be scraped free of the subfloor (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor).
How much does it cost to remove carpet from one room?
A 12x12 wall-to-wall room runs about $140 to $290 (HomeAdvisor), which lines up with Fixr's roughly $186 average for a 200-sq-ft area that includes stairs.
Does carpet removal include tack strip and padding removal?
Tack strips are removed as part of a standard tear-out at no separate line item across all four sources. Padding is usually pulled at the same time too, though carpet-and-pad removal together runs a bit more than carpet alone — about $0.60 to $1.60 per square foot versus $0.50 to $1.50 for carpet by itself (HomeAdvisor).
How much does it cost to remove carpet from stairs?
Carpeted stairs cost noticeably more per unit than flat flooring: Bob Vila cites $2 to $20 per stair, HomeAdvisor cites $7.50 to $10.50 per step (up to $21 in some cases), and Thumbtack's example pricing shows $7 per step.
Is it cheaper to remove carpet yourself?
Yes, in terms of cash outlay. DIY removal mainly costs $32 to $60 for tools and rental gear (Fixr), instead of the $0.50 to $5.10 per square foot professionals charge for labor. You'll still need to haul the carpet to a dump or pay a disposal fee, and you take on the risk of subfloor damage yourself.
Does carpet removal cost include disposal fees?
Not usually — it's typically billed separately. Bob Vila cites $0.40 to $0.50 per square foot or a flat $75 to $150 for landfill disposal, while HomeAdvisor cites $0.50 to $0.60 per square foot, about $70 to $80 for a 12x12 room, or an $80 to $160 flat fee for a junk removal service.
What if the subfloor is damaged, like from pet stains or water?
Pet-damaged or water-damaged subfloor adds real cost once the carpet is up. Bob Vila and HomeAdvisor cite subfloor repair at $2 to $10.10 per square foot and replacement at $3 to $10 per square foot, while Fixr cites a flat $500 to $700 for repair or $1,500 to $1,650 for replacement.

Sources

Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-28):

  • Bob Vila — Carpet removal cost can range from $120 to $720, with the national average at $280. A contractor typically charges between $1 and $5 per square foot for carpet removal service. By type per sq ft: stapled carpet $0.50-$1.50, glued carpet $3-$5, basement carpet $1-$1.50, wet carpet $1.20-$1.55. Carpeted stairs $2 to $20 per stair. Disposal costs approximately $0.40 to $0.50 per square foot, or a flat fee of $75 to $150 for landfill; recycling $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot. Subfloor repair $2 to $10 per square foot; subfloor replacement averages $3 to $10 per square foot; joist repair $10 to $67 per square foot. Contractors charge around $60 per hour. Furniture moving costs around $2 per square yard.
  • Fixr — The average cost to remove carpet is about $186 for a 200-sq-ft area with stairs; national average cost falls between $120 and $200, with a low end of $100 and a high end of $300. Per square foot ranges between $0.50 and $3.10 (hardwood subfloor $0.50-$0.75, concrete $0.50-$1.50, bedroom $0.50-$1.50, basement $1-$1.50, stairs $1-$3.10). Labor costs range from $0.50 to $1.50 per sq ft; furniture moving adds $1.50 to $2 per sq yd; glued-down carpet adds $3 to $5 per sq yd, or $0.33 to $0.56 per square foot. Subfloor repair costs between $500 and $700; subfloor replacement between $1,500 and $1,650. Recycling carpet costs $0.05 to $0.25 per pound. DIY tools cost between $32 and $60.
  • HomeAdvisor — Average cost $280; normal range $120 to $720; extended range $70 to $1,600. Per square foot pricing runs $1.10 to $5.10, with rates as low as $0.60; carpet-and-pad removal $0.60 to $1.60 per square foot; glued carpet $3.10 to $5.10 per square foot. A 12x12 wall-to-wall room costs approximately $140 to $290. Carpeted stairs cost $7.50 to $10.50 per step, up to $21 per step. Disposal costs typically around $0.50 to $0.60 per square foot; a 12-by-12-foot room's disposal runs about $70 to $80; junk removal service $80 to $160 flat fee; carpet recycling $0.06 to $0.26 per square foot. Subfloor repair ranges from $3.10 to $10.10 per square foot. Furniture moving around $0.25 to $0.30 per square foot of furniture. Professional labor $1.10 to $1.60 per square foot.
  • Thumbtack — The national average cost of carpet removal ranges from around $285 to $887, and most people pay around $509; overall project costs can run from $125 to $2,001. Example contractor pricing cited: $1 per square yard for carpet removal, $7 per step to remove carpet from stairs, $2 per square yard for moving furniture. Recycling costs about 5 cents to 25 cents per pound of old carpet, with carpet typically weighing about four to five pounds per square yard.

National average and range synthesize four sources that disagree substantially on the total-project figure. Fixr's data centers on a smaller roughly-200-sq-ft job with stairs (average $186, national average band $120-$200, low end $100, high end $300). Bob Vila and HomeAdvisor cluster tightly around a whole-room/whole-house job (average $280, typical range $120-$720). Thumbtack reports notably higher figures (average $509, typical range $285-$887, with an overall span of $125-$2,001) that likely reflect larger multi-room jobs or higher-cost markets. range_low_usd and range_high_usd span the full set of typical ranges across all four sources ($100 low from Fixr to $887 high from Thumbtack) to capture everything from a small single-room tear-out to a larger whole-house job; project_low_usd/project_high_usd use the tighter Bob Vila/HomeAdvisor cluster ($120-$720) as the most-agreed-upon whole-project figure. Per-square-foot by_type figures come from Bob Vila and HomeAdvisor, which report closely aligned numbers broken out by removal method (stapled/tacked vs. glued vs. basement vs. wet carpet). None of the four sources price tack-strip removal as its own line item — it's included within standard carpet tear-out labor across all of them. DIY removal skips the $0.50-$5.10 per sq ft labor rate and mainly costs $32-$60 in tools/rental gear (Fixr), plus your own time, a dump run, and the risk of discovering subfloor damage once the carpet is up. Figures generally cover pulling up and hauling out the old carpet and pad; disposal fees, subfloor repair, and stair surcharges are commonly quoted as separate line items.