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CostHelper > Home and Garden  > Flooring, Painting & Remodeling > Laminate Flooring

Laminate Flooring Cost


How Much Does Laminate Flooring Cost?

 
low costBasic Flooring, DIY: $450-$950average costMid-Range, DIY: $1,300-$3,000 high costInstalled: $1,250-$5,000

Also referred to as a floating floor or Pergo (the Swedish company that developed the concept), laminate flooring is a completely manufactured product that simulates the look of hardwood, tile, stone or other natural flooring materials. Laminate flooring usually has an under layer; about a half-inch composite-wood/fiber core; a print/design layer with a photograph of the desired wood grain or other natural flooring style; and a top coating of clear melamine plastic resin that resists scratching, cutting and fading. (Laminate flooring is sometimes confused with laminated wood flooring -- another name for engineered wood flooring -- which has an actual layer of wood veneer on top.)

Typical costs:

  • Installing laminate flooring is a relatively common weekend project for two people with intermediate-level do-it-yourself skills. Low-cost laminate starts around 90 cents-$2 for thinner flooring (6-7mm). With some additional costs for underlayment and matching baseboards/trim, it can run $450-$950 for basic laminate materials for a 20x20-square-foot living room.
  • Laminate prices are based in large part on how realistic-looking the flooring is; inexpensive laminate may look artificial. Thicker (8-12mm) and more realistic laminate could run $3-$7 a square foot, with total materials costs of $1,300-$3,000 for a living room. Other factors affecting the price include the efficiency and strength of the locking mechanism, higher levels of melamine in the core to improve moisture resistance, and options such as joints impregnated with Paraffin wax to repel water.
  • Professional installation costs vary considerably by location, but can add $2-$5 a square foot. (It can be more for a custom-designed installation with an elaborate pattern, and small projects may have a minimum charge of $200-$500.) For a 400-square-foot living room, labor and materials can run $1,250-$3,000 with basic laminate and $2,100-$5,000 with better quality products.
Related articles: Engineered Wood Flooring, Solid Wood Flooring, Bamboo Flooring, Cork Flooring, Wood Flooring, Carpet

What should be included:
  • Laminate flooring can either click together with special locking systems (no glue) or glue together with special adhesive that is either applied on site or pre-applied (at the factory) to the edges of the flooring and moistened on site. Glued-together flooring is more waterproof, but also harder to remove or replace. Laminate floors typically require special thin padding underneath the planks so they can move freely, and to cut the amount of noise created when the flooring is walked on.
  • Laminate flooring should be brought into the room 2-3 days before installation begins, to let it acclimate to the usual temperature and humidity levels. When the floor is installed, at least a quarter-inch gap should be left between the flooring and the wall, to allow for seasonal expansion. HGTV.com gives basic how-to installation instructions[1] ; BobVila.com offers a video of a professional installation; and the World Floor Covering Association provides an overview[2] of what to expect before, during and after installation.
Additional costs:
  • There can be extra charges for furniture removal and replacement; ripping out and disposing of old flooring material; repairing or replacing a damaged subfloor; and removing and then re-hanging doors. A Conneticut installer[3] charges an extra 20 cents per square foot to remove old carpet, another 20 cents per square foot for moving furniture, $15 per appliance moved and $35 per toilet.
Discounts:
  • Overstocked laminate flooring is often available at discounted prices online or from flooring stores. Amounts available will vary and selection may be limited; be sure to check each box for damage or color/design variations. For click-together glueless floors, make sure the locking mechanisms are compatible.
Shopping for laminate flooring:
  • Major manufacturers include Armstrong[4] , Dupont[5] , Mannington[6] , Pergo[7] , Quick-Step[8] and Wilsonart.
  • Laminate flooring is sold online, in most home improvement centers and in flooring stores. Most stores also provide installation service or referrals to local installation contractors. The World Floor Covering Association provides a directory[9] of retail floor stores by zip code.
  • Ask about the installer's training and experience with laminate flooring, and request (and contact) references from satisfied customers. Confirm that the contractor is properly insured, bonded and licensed (licensing requirements vary by state).
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Laminate
Amount: $3,200.00
Posted by: Michael brister in Carson City, NV.Posted: January 4th, 2022 06:01PM
Square Feet: 233Style: planks
Manufacturer: same price as. PergoInstalled by: not yet
Price above is installation. I think this is too much to pay home depot and have to wait 3 months and have to do all the kickboars myself. Plus appliances and toIlet.
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Laminate flooring
Amount: $450.00
Posted by: a user in Auburn, CA.Posted: July 21st, 2019 07:07AM
Square Feet: 224Style: Wood look/waterproof
I bought the flooring at $2.97 a sq foot and paid a guy to install. Took him 6 hours. His rate was $2.00 a sq foot.
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Laminate flooring
Amount: $2,000.00
Posted by: Kelly Ackelbein in Vallejo, CA.Posted: October 7th, 2017 10:10PM
Manufacturer: Lowe's brandInstalled by: Myself
I installed about 640 square feet of laminate myself I figure I saved about Two to four thousand dollars. It is a DIY project but it can be labor intensive. The longest row was thirty five feet long.i opted to do the living room and dining room at the same time. Realistically it took me a few weeks. I did all the work myself. Tearout the carpet and prepare subfloor , vapor barrier and baseboards and 1/4 round trim. 100%by myself. The biggest problem was keeping the spacers in place and an occasional tough spot like around the fireplace I got stuck chipping two boards . Overall the floor still looks fantastic. It has stood up to hard heavy use. Dogs and cats . Flooring is in all high traffic areas and still going strong.looks good still.
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Laminate Flooring
Amount: $1,805.00
Posted by: Ponygirl in Countryside, IL.Posted: December 27th, 2015 05:12PM
Square Feet: 500Style:
Manufacturer: Pergo XPInstalled by: Home Depot
$2.59 buys top of the line Pergo XP, with attached pad, and a lifetime/residential or 5 year/commercial warranty. In addition, Home Depot uses their own corporate installers, not outside subs to install. Cost breakdown Per Sq Ft is as follows: $2.59 10mm p/lam floor material +.13 for moisture barrier (plastic sheeting) + .89 install charge (a special deal going on right now) + tax.
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laminated flooring installer/ professional
Amount: $350.00
Posted by: Installer Rich in Willimantic, CT.Posted: July 14th, 2015 05:07PM
Square Feet: 221Style:
Manufacturer: quickstepInstalled by:
People over pay when they have big companies install for them and the workmanship is cheap.
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Laminate flooring
Amount: $1,300.00
Posted by: Manuel in Spring, TX.Posted: November 11th, 2014 03:11PM
Square Feet: 700 sq.ft.Style: 12mm
Need to have flooring installed and also move furniture out of the room.
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Laminate flooring
Amount: $4,000.00
Posted by: Cain in San Diego, CA.Posted: June 28th, 2014 09:06PM
Square Feet: 700Style: Maple
Manufacturer: PergoInstalled by: Lowes
Very disappointed. The Pergo looks great but it began to pop and crack soon after installation. Lowes wanted to take it all out and reinstall but that is a huge hassle . I opted for partial refund instead. I'm amazed at the incompetence and lack of interest by Lowes and their subcontractors.
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laminate flooring
Amount: $8,700.00
Posted by: a user in Lee's summit, MO.Posted: June 6th, 2014 04:06AM
Manufacturer: not sureInstalled by: professional
Is this a lot of money for 1300 sq. Feet put in professionally ?
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laminate flooring
Amount: $300.00
Posted by: a user in amsterdam, NY.Posted: June 25th, 2012 07:06PM
Square Feet: 238Style:
it is rediculess that instalation cost 100% as much as purchased price.
Easy to install do it yourself.
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laminate
Amount: $350.00
Posted by: qee in milwaukee, WI.Posted: August 7th, 2010 08:08PM
Square Feet: 200Style: red oak
Manufacturer: Installed by: diy
I bought 200sf worth of laminate floor this weekend from home depot they had it on sale for .73cents a square i plan to install myself i will write back once complete to tell how it all worked out
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External Resources:
  1.  www.hgtv.com/on-tv/installing-laminate-flooring/index.html
  2.  www.wfca.org/Pages/How-To-Install-Laminate-Flooring.aspx
  3.  wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_installation_cost_for_flooring
  4.  www.armstrong.com/flooring/products/laminate/armstrong
  5.  www2.dupont.com/Laminate_Flooring/en_US/index.html
  6.  www.mannington.com/Residential/WhatsNew/Search.aspx?FilterCollections=4
  7.  na.pergo.com/Products.aspx
  8.  us.quick-step.com/
  9.  www.wfca.org/FlooringStoreLocator.aspx
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