Flooring Cost Estimator

Estimate a flooring job with your own prices: material per ft² plus waste, underlayment, installation labor, old-floor removal, markup and tax.

%
About 5–10% for straight lay; 15% or more for diagonal or herringbone patterns.
$per ft²
Example rate — enter your own.
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$per ft²
Set to 0 if the flooring has a pad attached. Example rate — enter your own.
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$per ft²
Example rate — enter your own. BLS reports a May 2025 median wage of $26.15/h for flooring installers and tile and stone setters.
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$per ft²
Leave at 0 if not needed.
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%
Added to direct costs (materials + labor + fees) to cover overhead and profit. Example rate — enter your own.
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%
Your combined state + local rate. Example rate — enter your own.
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Whether labor and services are taxable depends on your state. Check with your state revenue department.
Estimated TOTAL
$1,704.90
Flooring to buy (incl. waste)
220.0
Flooring (220 ft² incl. waste)
$770.00
Underlayment
$100.00
Installation labor
$500.00
Old floor removal
$0.00
Direct cost (before markup)
$1,370.00
Overhead & profit (20%)
$274.00
Subtotal
$1,644.00
Sales tax (7% on materials at cost)
$60.90
Cost per ft²
$8.52
Cost per m²
$91.76

Estimate generated with SortedSums: https://sortedsums.com/flooring-estimator/. For informational purposes only; verify before relying on it.

Estimate only. This tool is for informational and educational purposes. Results depend on your inputs and simplifying assumptions, and are not a substitute for professional engineering, design or financial advice. Always verify with a qualified professional and applicable codes before purchasing, building or making decisions.

How it’s calculated

Flooring material is bought for the floor area plus a cutting allowance; underlayment, labor and removal are priced on the actual floor area.

Material = area × (1 + waste%) × $/ft² Underlayment, labor, removal = area × their $/ft² TOTAL = direct cost × (1 + markup%) + tax

Example (default example rates): 200 ft² with 10% waste = 220 ft² × $3.50 = $770; underlayment 200 × $0.50 = $100; labor 200 × $2.50 = $500. Direct cost $1,370; +20% = $1,644; 7% tax on materials ($870) = $60.90. TOTAL = $1,704.90 (≈ $8.52/ft²).

This is a planning estimate only. It does not include anything not entered above, such as permits, inspections, engineering, site preparation, demolition or disposal (unless entered), access or equipment problems, regional surcharges, contingency or price changes. Get written quotes before committing. For flooring that includes subfloor repair or leveling, moisture barriers, baseboard and transition strips, moving furniture and stairs.

Frequently asked questions

How much extra flooring should I buy?

Plan on about 10% for typical rooms. Diagonal layouts, herringbone and rooms with many corners need 15% or more. Round up to whole boxes when you buy.

Is labor priced on the area with waste?

No. Installers usually charge for the floor area actually covered, so labor uses the net area while material includes the waste allowance.

Do I need underlayment?

Floating floors usually need a foam or cork underlayment unless one is pre-attached. Check the manufacturer’s installation instructions, since the wrong underlayment can void a warranty.

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Sources

Formulas are taken from the free public references above. Results are provided “as is” for informational and educational purposes only. See our disclaimer.

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