The formula
The estimate is a sum of up to seven lines, each shown as a low and high figure:
- Material = room area × (1 + waste) × material price per square foot.
- Labor = room area × labor price per square foot, plus a pattern surcharge.
- Removal = room area × $1–$3, plus $100–$350 for hauling.
- Subfloor prep = room area × $0.75–$1.50 (minor) or $2–$4 (major).
- Finishing on site = room area × $3–$6.
- Trim = estimated perimeter × $1.50–$3.50 (shoe) or $4–$9 (new baseboards).
- Stairs = steps × $60–$150.
Assumptions
| Input | What we assume |
|---|---|
| Waste | 10% straight lay, 15% diagonal, 20% herringbone. |
| Solid labor | $3–$8 per sq ft, nail-down. |
| Engineered | Material at 85% of solid; labor $2.50–$6.50 per sq ft. |
| Pattern labor | Diagonal +$0.75–$2; herringbone +$3–$6 per sq ft. |
| Site finishing | Unfinished boards cost about $1 less per sq ft; sanding and finishing is added separately. |
| Perimeter | Four times the square root of the area, a rectangle-ish room. |
| Region | Lower-cost area 0.88× and higher-cost metro 1.25× on labor-type lines; material moves by 40% of that change. |
What the estimate leaves out
- Moving and storing furniture, appliance disconnects, and permits.
- Transition strips, vents, stair nosing upgrades and custom inlays.
- Moisture mitigation, underlayment upgrades and sound-rated systems.
- Sales tax and any minimum job charge an installer applies to small rooms.
These are planning ranges built from typical national pricing, not a quote and not a guarantee. A written quote from an installer who has measured and inspected your floor always outranks this page.
Keeping it honest
We show ranges, not single numbers, because a single number would be false precision. We show every line, so you can see what to ask an installer about, and we keep skipped items on the sheet, struck through, so you can see what was left out. Ready to try it? Open the estimator.