Quick answer: Flooring is usually priced per square foot for installation, with the product, a waste allowance, removal of the old floor, subfloor preparation, trims and furniture moving as separate lines.
Pricing methods for flooring jobs
| Method | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Per square foot installed | Most installs, with the rate set by flooring type. |
| Product plus labor | When the customer may buy the flooring themselves or compare product prices. |
| Per room | Small rooms where minimum charges apply. |
You can use more than one method in the same business. What matters is that the customer can see which one applies to their estimate.
What drives the price of a flooring job
- Square footage plus a waste allowance.
- Flooring type and pattern.
- Removal of the existing floor.
- Subfloor leveling and moisture protection.
- Stairs, transitions and baseboards.
What to check before you quote
- What floor is there now, and does it need removing?
- Is the subfloor level and dry?
- Is the customer supplying the flooring?
- Are there stairs or many doorways?
Write the answers into the scope of work. When the price later depends on one of them, the customer can see the assumption you priced on.
Worked example: luxury vinyl plank installation
This is the example job in our free flooring estimate template. The quantities and prices are illustrations to show the structure, not price recommendations; use your own costs and rates.
| Line item | Qty | Unit | Example amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove and dispose of existing carpet and pad | 650 | sq ft | $650 |
| Floor prep and leveling | 650 | sq ft | $487.50 |
| Luxury vinyl plank (material) | 715 | sq ft | $2,502.50 |
| LVP installation labor | 650 | sq ft | $1,462.50 |
| Baseboard and quarter round | 220 | linear ft | $660 |
| Transitions and thresholds | 5 | each | $225 |
| Move furniture | 1 | job | $150 |
| Example subtotal | $6,137.50 |
Notice that each part of the price has its own line. A customer comparing your estimate with a cheaper one can see what the other bid may have left out, and you can discuss one line instead of defending the whole total.
Build your markup on real overhead
Whatever the method, a price has to cover four things: direct costs (materials and parts), labor at a loaded rate that includes payroll costs, overhead such as vehicles, insurance, software and the office, and profit. A simple check:
- Add up your yearly overhead and divide it by the hours you can bill in a year. That is the overhead each billable hour has to carry.
- Add it to your loaded labor cost per hour to get your break-even hourly cost.
- Add your profit margin on top, and use the result for both hourly and flat-rate prices.
Margin and markup are not the same: a 50% markup on cost is a 33% margin on the price. Decide which one you are using and apply it consistently.
Send the price, then follow up
Most flooring estimates are not lost on price alone. They are lost when the customer goes quiet and nobody checks in. Agree on a decision date when you send the estimate and follow up once on that date. Our follow-up email templates give you the wording.
Want a ready-made layout? Download the free flooring estimate template in Excel, Word or PDF, or see how SprigDeal handles a flooring estimate from the first quote to the signed approval.
Frequently asked questions
How much waste should I add for flooring?
It depends on the product and the layout; diagonal and patterned installs need more than straight lays. State the waste allowance on the estimate so the customer sees why the quantity is higher than the room size.
Should I price flooring and installation separately?
Separating them makes the estimate easier to compare, and it is clear what changes if the customer supplies the product.