Laminate flooring installation costs $3 to $13 per square foot installed in 2026
Laminate flooring costs $3 to $13 per square foot installed in 2026. Mid range click lock laminate put in by a pro runs about $5 to $7 a foot. Materials are $1 to $5 a foot and labor is $2 to $8. Homewyse's September 2026 national estimate is $7.12 to $12.15 a square foot including supplies. A 500 square foot room runs $1,500 to $6,500. A 1,000 square foot job runs $3,000 to $13,000.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| Angi | Angi lists $3 to $13 per square foot installed, with a national average of $2,997 and click lock at $5 to $9 a foot. |
| Homewyse | Homewyse's September 2026 estimate is $7.12 to $12.15 per square foot for basic installation. |
| ConsumerAffairs | ConsumerAffairs lists $3 to $12 per square foot installed and old floor removal at $1 to $4 a square foot. |
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The laminate | Thin 7 mm boards are $1 a foot. Thick 12 mm water resistant boards are $4 to $5. |
| The install | Floating click lock is cheapest. Glued laminate is $7 to $11 a foot installed. |
| Removing old floor | Tear out and disposal adds $1 to $4 a square foot. |
| Stairs | Each step costs $30 to $75 installed, so a 13 step staircase adds $400 to $975. |
| Your region | The Northeast and West Coast run $4.50 to $9 installed. The Midwest runs $3.50 to $7.50. |
What the price includes
An installed quote covers the planks, underlayment, transitions, cutting and fitting, and cleanup. Old floor removal, subfloor leveling, baseboards and stairs are often separate. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
DIY or hire a pro
Click lock laminate floats on top of the subfloor, with no glue or nails in the middle of the room. That makes it one of the easier floors to do yourself. You need a saw, a spacer set and patience for the first row. The floor must be flat and dry first. If it is not, planks can pop or squeak. A pro saves time in big rooms, around stairs and in odd corners, and a pro can fix a bad subfloor. Hire help if you have no time, many cuts, or old floor to remove. Ask any installer how they handle the edges and doors.
How to judge your quote
- Ask if the price is per square foot with materials and labor together.
- Ask if old floor removal and trash pickup are in the price.
- Ask who checks that the subfloor is flat and dry.
- A fair quote lists the plank brand, the underlayment and the trim.
- Compare the total with the range above: $3 to $13 per square foot installed for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Install it yourself. Click lock laminate is one of the easiest DIY floors and saves $2 to $8 a foot.
- Buy a closeout color at a big box store. Last year's styles are often half price.
- Pull up the old carpet yourself before the crew arrives.
- Compare laminate against luxury vinyl plank. For wet rooms LVP is often the better buy at a similar price.
Why this costs more in 2026
Laminate is made from pressed wood fiber with a plastic wear layer, and both resin and shipping costs rose with the 2026 oil shock. Most laminate sold in the US is imported, so freight matters. Flooring labor is also up as crews pay more for fuel and skilled installers stay scarce. Homewyse's national estimate for September 2026 is $7.12 to $12.15 a foot, which is above the $3 to $7 range many older guides still show.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from Angi, Homewyse and ConsumerAffairs. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does laminate flooring cost per square foot?
Angi lists $3 to $13 per square foot installed. Homewyse lists $7.12 to $12.15 for basic installation in September 2026.
Is laminate flooring worth it?
For dry rooms, yes. It looks like wood and costs less than real wood. It does not like standing water.
How long does it take to install?
A normal room takes about a day for a pro. A big house can take several days.
What is a cheaper way?
Click lock laminate is a common DIY floor. Angi lists click lock at $5 to $9 a foot installed, so doing the work yourself can save the labor part.