Laminate flooring installation cost: per room, per square foot, by state
Three rooms, 500 sq ft: about $5,000 to $6,300, typically $5,500. That's snap-lock laminate with the old floor taken up first, 10% over the floor for cuts, and the contractor's overhead, profit and sales tax. Everything in, it runs $10.00 to $12.50 a sq ft.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What it costs
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| One room, 150 sq ft | $1,500 to $1,900 |
| Three rooms, 500 sq ft | $5,000 to $6,300 |
| A whole floor, 1,000 sq ft | $10,000 to $12,500 |
About $10.00 to $12.50 a sq ft, everything in.
Totals include the contractor's overhead and profit (20%) and the state's average sales tax. Prices as of November 2026.
What’s in these numbers
Each total is a typical job, priced the way a contractor’s estimate is priced:
- The laminate: snap-lock (click) laminate planks, installed over the room’s floor area plus 10% for the cuts at the walls and the ends of rows.
- Taking up the old floor first and hauling it off.
- Overhead and profit: 20%, the standard markup on a contractor’s estimate.
- Sales tax on the materials, at the state’s average rate.
The vinyl plank, hardwood and tile cost guides price the other hard floors.
Not in them: baseboard and trim, subfloor leveling or repair, stairs, transitions between rooms, and moving furniture. The baseboard cost guide prices the trim.
What moves the price
- The plank. Thicker planks with a better wear layer cost more, and so do waterproof lines for kitchens and baths.
- The subfloor. Laminate floats over the floor, so it needs a flat one. High spots get ground down and low spots filled before the planks go in.
- The old floor. Carpet comes up fast; glued-down tile or sheet vinyl takes longer.
- Trim and transitions. Baseboard comes off and goes back, and each doorway needs a transition strip.
- Where you live. Pick your state in the box above.
Working out your own floor
- Measure each room and add them up; the square footage calculator handles L-shaped rooms and closets.
- Type the total into the box above for the range at that size.
- Add trim and stairs separately.
Common questions
How much does it cost to put laminate in a 12 by 12 room?
The one-room figure, 150 square feet, is the closest: about $1,500 to $1,900, with the old floor taken up and the cuts included.
How much does 1,000 square feet of laminate cost installed?
About $10,000 to $12,500, typically $11,100.
What does laminate cost per square foot installed?
$10.00 to $12.50 a sq ft, everything in: removal of the old floor, the cuts, overhead, profit and sales tax.
Is laminate cheaper than vinyl plank?
It depends on the line. Both run from budget to premium, and the plank picked moves the price more than the type does.
Does laminate need an underlayment?
Most laminate floats over a thin foam underlayment, and many planks come with it attached. Over concrete, a vapor barrier goes down first.