Carpet installation cost
New carpet typically costs $2 to $8 per square foot installed ($18 to $72 per square yard), including carpet, pad and labor, according to HomeGuide. Angi's September 2026 data puts a typical project at $780 to $2,812, averaging $1,777. Below you'll find prices by grade and fiber, the extras (removal, stairs, subfloor), how to measure, and an estimator you can fill in with your own quotes.
Published cost ranges
These are national ranges as each source publishes them. None of them are our own prices.
| Source (date) | Per sq ft | Per sq yd | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angi (updated Sep 9, 2026) | $3–$11 | Material $30–$50 | Project $780–$2,812, avg. $1,777 |
| HomeGuide (Oct 31, 2025) | $2–$8 | $18–$72 | 1,000 ft² of carpet: $1,700–$7,500 |
| Fixr (updated Jan 31, 2025) | $1.36–$13.58, avg. $7.47 | – | – |
By room (HomeGuide, installed)
| Room | Installed |
|---|---|
| 10' × 12' | $200–$900 |
| 12' × 12' | $250–$1,100 |
| 12' × 15' | $300–$1,400 |
| 15' × 15' | $400–$1,700 |
| 20' × 20' | $700–$3,000 |
| Flight of 13 stairs | $150–$600 |
By grade and fiber (material only)
| Grade (HomeGuide) | Per sq ft | HomeGuide says it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Builder grade (nylon, polyester) | $0.50–$1.50 | 3–5 years |
| Mid-grade (Triexta, olefin, sisal) | $1.50–$6.00 | 6–12 years |
| High quality (wool, designer) | $6.00–$21.00 | 12–20 years |
Angi's fiber prices per square foot: polyester $1–$3, olefin $1–$3, nylon $2–$5, cotton $2–$7, acrylic $3–$8, Triexta $3–$8, wool $4–$20.
Labor and extras
- Installation labor: $0.50–$1.50 per sq ft. HomeGuide says installers charge $35–$80 an hour, with a $75–$150 minimum.
- Padding: $0.25–$1.00 per sq ft for the material (HomeGuide). Angi puts padding at $0.75–$2.00 per sq ft. Fixr notes that most manufacturers won't honor warranties without the proper padding.
- Old carpet and pad removal: $0.70–$1.60 per sq ft including disposal (HomeGuide). Angi gives $1–$5 per sq ft including disposal and cleanup.
- Furniture moving: $25–$75 per room (HomeGuide).
- Stairs: $12–$45 per step for carpet, pad and labor (HomeGuide), or $11–$26 extra per step (Angi).
- Subfloor repair or replacement: $1.75–$4.70 per sq ft (HomeGuide). Angi says repairs average $600, and replacing the subfloor costs $3–$10 per sq ft.
- Other: thresholds and transitions $25–$100 each, and trim removal and reinstall $1.85–$4.15 per linear foot (HomeGuide). Angi adds $1–$2 per sq ft for custom cuts in irregular rooms.
Estimate your own job
Each line starts at a published HomeGuide range. Type in a figure from your own quote and that line will use your number instead. Leave a box blank to keep the published range.
Square feet vs square yards
Carpet is priced both ways. Angi notes it's often sold by the square yard. One square yard is 3 ft × 3 ft = 9 square feet:
- Square yards = square feet ÷ 9. A 12' × 15' room is 180 ft² = 20 yd².
- Price per sq ft = price per sq yd ÷ 9. $36/yd² is $4/ft².
Measuring tips
- HomeGuide notes that wall-to-wall carpet comes in rolls 12 to 15 ft wide. A room wider than the roll needs a seam, and the offcut is waste you still pay for. The estimator's room mode works out the strips for you.
- The Carpet and Rug Institute's installation standard (CRI 105) has carpet cut with at least 3 in along each wall for trimming. It also says to keep seams to a minimum, run them the length of the room, keep main traffic parallel to them, keep them out of doorways, and keep the pile running the same way.
- Measure each room at its longest and widest points, into closets and doorways, then add the rooms up. Measure stairs separately and count the steps.
- HomeGuide says a measuring service costs $35–$55 or is free with installation.
DIY or hire a pro?
HomeGuide puts DIY carpet replacement at $1.25 to $6.00 per square foot, and says renting the tools costs about the same as hiring a pro. It notes that professional installation comes with a labor and material warranty. Pros use power stretchers and knee kickers, prepare and repair the subfloor, and know where to hide seams. Improperly installed carpet wears quickly and voids the warranty. Angi warns that DIY mistakes include uneven seams, wrinkles and incorrect padding. To save money, you can remove the old carpet and move furniture yourself (Angi, Fixr).
- Tack strip has sharp nails pointing up, and old carpet hides staples. Wear gloves and shoes when pulling it up.
- Carpet rolls are heavy; lift with a helper.
- If you're pulling up old resilient flooring under the carpet, don't sand or scrape it until you know what it is. EPA says you generally can't tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it. It advises against sanding or levelling asbestos flooring or its backing, and recommends covering it with the new floor where possible. Testing should be done by a trained, accredited professional.
Getting quotes
- Ask for the quote in the same unit for every installer, square feet or square yards, and for the carpet area ordered, not just the room size.
- Check what's included: pad, removal and disposal, furniture moving, transitions, stairs and floor prep.
- Ask for the seam plan for rooms wider than the roll.
- Compare the labor warranty and the carpet manufacturer's warranty conditions.
More project costs: heat pump installation cost, window replacement cost and the cost guides. Thinking of wood instead? See hardwood floor installation cost. The flooring calculator works out how much carpet to order from a roll, or how many boxes of plank flooring to buy. For hard floors, try the tile calculator and the square footage calculator, which adds up several rooms.
FAQ
How much does carpet installation cost per square foot?
HomeGuide (October 2025) puts installed carpet at $2 to $8 per square foot, including carpet, pad and labor. Angi (September 2026) gives $3 to $11, and Fixr $1.36 to $13.58, averaging $7.47.
How much is carpet per square yard?
A square yard is 9 square feet, so multiply a per-square-foot price by 9. HomeGuide's $2 to $8 per square foot installed is $18 to $72 per square yard. Angi says carpet material runs about $30 to $50 per square yard.
How much does it cost to carpet a 12 x 12 room?
HomeGuide puts a 12' x 12' bedroom at $250 to $1,100 installed, and a 10' x 12' room at $200 to $900.
How much does it cost to carpet stairs?
HomeGuide puts a flight of 13 stairs at $150 to $600, or $12 to $45 per step for carpet, pad and labor. Angi says stairs add $11 to $26 per step over standard room installation.
Does carpet installation include removing the old carpet?
Sometimes. Fixr says most professional installers include it in their estimate. When it's charged separately, HomeGuide puts carpet and pad removal at $0.70 to $1.60 per square foot, including disposal.
Sources
All checked October 15, 2026. Dates are each page's own published or updated date.
- Angi, How much does carpet replacement cost?, updated September 9, 2026: project and per-sq-ft ranges, materials, removal, subfloor, padding, custom cuts, stairs, DIY.
- HomeGuide, Carpet installation cost, October 31, 2025: per sq ft and sq yd, rooms, components, grades, labor, removal, furniture, stairs, subfloor, rolls, DIY.
- Fixr, Carpet installation cost, updated January 31, 2025: range and average, padding, removal, site prep.
- The Carpet and Rug Institute, CRI 105 Standard for installation of residential carpet (2015, PDF): seams, pile direction, trim allowance.
- US EPA, Protect your family from exposures to asbestos: identifying, flooring do's and don'ts.