Laminate Flooring Cost (2026): $1,471–$4,657 per Project
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·3 sources Quick answerQuick answer: Laminate flooring installation typically costs $1,471 to $4,657 per project, averaging around $2,998 (HomeAdvisor). Per square foot, installed laminate runs about $3 to $14 depending on style and thickness, with wood-look styles the cheapest option.
- ✓A typical laminate flooring project costs $1,471–$4,657, averaging about $2,998 (HomeAdvisor).
- ✓Per square foot installed, laminate runs about $3–$14, with professional labor alone adding $4–$8/sq ft (Fixr, This Old House).
- ✓Wood-look laminate material costs about $1–$4/sq ft; stone-look and tile-look styles run $2–$5/sq ft (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House).
- ✓Thickness matters: 6mm laminate runs about $0.70–$1/sq ft in materials, while 12mm can reach $6/sq ft (HomeAdvisor, Fixr).
How much does laminate flooring cost?
National average
$2,998
total project
Typical range
$1,471–$4,657
Most projects
Whole project
$1,471–$4,657
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| wood-look laminate | $1 | $4 |
| stone-look laminate | $2 | $5 |
| tile-look laminate | $2 | $5 |
| hand-scraped/textured laminate | $3 | $6 |
What affects the cost?
- Plank thickness (6mm laminate runs about $0.70-$1/sq ft in materials, while 12mm can reach $5.99-$6/sq ft) (HomeAdvisor, Fixr)
- Style/finish (wood-look is cheapest; stone-look, tile-look, and hand-scraped styles cost more per sq ft) (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House)
- Labor rate ($2-$8 per sq ft depending on region, typically 20%-50% of the total bill) (HomeAdvisor)
- Room size and total square footage
- Underlayment (some planks come pre-attached; separate underlayment runs about $30-$60 per 100 sq ft) (HomeAdvisor, This Old House)
- Old flooring removal ($400-$600 per 200 sq ft, or roughly $50-$70 per hour) (HomeAdvisor, Fixr)
- Subfloor repair or leveling ($1.50-$7 per sq ft depending on extent of damage) (HomeAdvisor, Fixr)
- Water-resistance/AC wear rating of the product
- Regional labor costs
Why does laminate flooring cost so much?
Two things drive most of the price: the plank itself and the labor to install it. Thickness matters a lot on the material side — thin 6mm laminate runs about $0.70 to $1 per square foot, while sturdier 12mm planks climb to $2.30 to $6 per square foot (HomeAdvisor, Fixr). Style adds more spread: wood-look laminate is the cheapest at roughly $1 to $4 per square foot, while stone-look, tile-look, and hand-scraped finishes run $2 to $6 per square foot (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House). Labor typically adds $4 to $8 per square foot on top of materials (This Old House, Fixr), which is why a full installed job lands at $3 to $14 per square foot depending on the combination. For a full project, that adds up to a typical range of $1,471 to $4,657, averaging near $2,998 (HomeAdvisor). Jobs that also need old flooring pulled up or subfloor repair push costs toward the top of that range.
What affects the cost?
A handful of factors explain most of the gap between a budget job and a premium one:
- Plank thickness. 6mm laminate material runs about $0.70–$1/sq ft; 12mm runs $2.30–$6/sq ft (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House).
- Style and finish. Wood-look is cheapest at $1–$4/sq ft; stone-look and tile-look run $2–$5/sq ft, and hand-scraped textures can reach $6/sq ft (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House).
- Room size. More square footage means more material and labor, though larger jobs sometimes land a slightly better per-square-foot rate.
- Underlayment. If it’s not pre-attached to the planks, a separate roll runs about $30–$60 per 100 sq ft (HomeAdvisor, This Old House).
- Removal and prep. Pulling out old flooring adds $400–$600 per 200 sq ft, and subfloor repair runs about $1.50–$7 per sq ft depending on damage (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House).
- Region. Local labor rates vary, which is part of why national ranges are wide — labor alone can be $2–$8 per sq ft (HomeAdvisor).
How to lower your laminate flooring cost
- Choose a wood-look style over stone or tile-look. Wood-look laminate is consistently the cheapest option across sources, often $1–$4 per square foot versus $2–$6 for textured or stone/tile finishes.
- Skip the thickest planks unless you need them. 6–8mm laminate is noticeably cheaper than 10–12mm and is plenty durable for lower-traffic rooms.
- Look for planks with pre-attached underlayment. This avoids the extra $30–$60 per 100 sq ft cost of a separate underlayment roll.
- Handle demolition yourself if you’re able. Old flooring removal can run $400–$600 per 200 sq ft when a pro does it; DIY removal on a simple surface can cut that cost.
- Get multiple quotes. Labor alone ranges $2–$8 per square foot depending on installer and region, so comparing local bids is worth the time.
Prices vary by region, room complexity, and the specific laminate you choose, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes before committing to a final number.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install laminate flooring?+
A typical whole-room or whole-house project costs $1,471 to $4,657, averaging about $2,998 (HomeAdvisor). Fixr's figures run somewhat lower, averaging $2,207 with a typical range of $1,500 to $3,500, so actual project cost depends heavily on room size and the laminate you choose.
How much does laminate flooring cost per square foot?+
Installed laminate typically runs $3 to $14 per square foot including materials and labor. HomeAdvisor puts the overall range at $3 to $13/sq ft, while Fixr cites $6 to $14/sq ft for professional installation. Materials alone generally cost $1 to $6/sq ft depending on style and thickness.
Is thicker laminate flooring more expensive?+
Yes. Thin 6mm laminate costs about $0.70 to $1 per square foot in materials, while thicker, more durable 12mm laminate runs $2.30 to $6 per square foot (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House). Thicker planks generally feel sturdier underfoot and hold up better over time.
What's the cheapest style of laminate flooring?+
Wood-look laminate is typically the least expensive style, running about $1 to $4 per square foot in materials. Stone-look and tile-look laminate cost more, generally $2 to $5 per square foot, and hand-scraped or heavily textured styles can reach $6 per square foot (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, This Old House).
Does the cost of laminate flooring include removing old flooring?+
Usually not. Removing old flooring typically adds $400 to $600 per 200 square feet, or roughly $50 to $70 per hour (HomeAdvisor, Fixr). Subfloor repair is also usually billed separately, running about $1.50 to $7 per square foot depending on the extent of the damage.
Do I need underlayment with laminate flooring, and does it cost extra?+
Many laminate products come with underlayment pre-attached, but if not, a separate underlayment roll costs about $30 to $60 per 100 square feet (HomeAdvisor, This Old House). Underlayment helps with sound dampening and moisture protection, so it's worth budgeting for on projects that don't already include it.
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- HomeAdvisor — Average cost $2,998; typical range $1,471-$4,657; extended range as little as $500 to as high as $8,400. Overall $3-$13 per sq ft ($6-$14 per sq ft when including labor comparison to carpet). Labor $2-$8 per sq ft, representing 20%-50% of the bill. By type per sq ft: wood $1-$3.75, stone $1.75-$4.75, tile $1.50-$4.75. By thickness per sq ft: 6mm $0.70-$1, 8mm $1-$1.80, 12mm $2.30-$6. 1,000 sq ft project $3,000-$13,000. Underlayment $30-$60 per 100 sq ft; old flooring removal $400-$600 per 200 sq ft; subfloor repair $2 per sq ft.
- Fixr — National average cost $2,207; average range $1,500-$3,500. Low end $1,217 (200 sq ft of 7mm laminate, no underlayment); high end $4,616 (300 sq ft of 12mm laminate with 3-in-1 underlayment). Professional installation $6-$14 per sq ft; DIY materials only $1.50-$6 per sq ft; labor only $4-$8 per sq ft. By thickness per sq ft: 6mm $0.69-$0.99, 7mm $0.89-$0.99, 8mm $0.99-$1.79, 10mm $1.99-$3.99, 12mm $2.29-$5.99. By style per sq ft: wood $1.50-$3, stone-look $3.50-$4, tile $3.50-$5. Project sizes: 100 sq ft $600-$1,400; 200 sq ft $1,200-$2,800; 500 sq ft $3,000-$7,000; 1,000 sq ft $6,000-$14,000.
- This Old House — Materials $1-$4 per sq ft; professional installation $4-$8 per sq ft; combined 200 sq ft example $1,000-$2,400 total. By square footage: 100 sq ft $500-$1,200; 300 sq ft $1,500-$3,600; 500 sq ft $2,500-$6,000; 1,000 sq ft $5,000-$12,000; 2,000 sq ft $10,000-$24,000. Material by style per sq ft: acacia $1-$2.20, beech/oak $1-$3.70, stone/tile $3.50-$5, hand-scraped $3-$6. By thickness per sq ft: 6mm $0.70-$1, 10mm $2-$4, 12mm $2.30-$6. Old flooring removal $50-$70 per hour; subfloor repair $1.50-$7 per sq ft; underlayment $30-$50 per 100 sq ft roll.
National average and range reflect HomeAdvisor's whole-project figures ($2,998 average, $1,471-$4,657 typical range, extended range $500-$8,400). Fixr's whole-project figures run somewhat lower ($2,207 average, $1,500-$3,500 typical range), so treat the national figures as a planning midpoint rather than a precise quote. Per-square-foot pricing (materials plus installation) varies by source: HomeAdvisor cites $3-$13/sq ft, Fixr cites $6-$14/sq ft for professional installation, and This Old House cites roughly $5-$12/sq ft combining $1-$4/sq ft materials with $4-$8/sq ft labor. Material-only costs by style run about $1-$6/sq ft depending on look and thickness; DIY materials alone can be as low as $1.50/sq ft (Fixr). Figures generally include the laminate planks and standard installation labor; they typically exclude underlayment, old-flooring removal, and subfloor repair, which most sources call out separately.