Question 1

How much does it cost to install carpet per square foot?

Accepted Answer

The national average for fully installed carpet (material + padding + labour) is $2–$8 per sq ft. Budget polyester installed runs $2–$5/sqft. Standard nylon runs $3–$7.50/sqft. Premium wool can reach $5.50–$23/sqft. Labour alone is $0.50–$1.50/sqft; padding adds $0.30–$0.75/sqft on top of material cost.

Question 2

How much does it cost to carpet a 12×12 room?

Accepted Answer

A 12×12 room (144 sq ft) typically costs $400–$1,380 installed at standard nylon grade, including padding and labour but excluding old carpet removal. Budget polyester runs $285–$690. Premium wool or high-grade nylon can reach $935–$2,300. Add $100–$230 for professional removal of existing carpet, or DIY it and save that cost entirely.

Question 3

How much does it cost to carpet a 3-bedroom house?

Accepted Answer

A typical 3-bedroom home has roughly 900–1,200 sq ft of carpeted area (bedrooms, hallways, stairs). Expect to pay $2,520–$11,520 depending on carpet grade. Budget polyester for the whole house: $2,520–$4,320. Standard nylon: $3,780–$7,290. Premium: $5,850–$14,400. These figures exclude old carpet removal — add $630–$1,920 for professional removal, or DIY it.

Question 4

Is it cheaper to DIY carpet installation?

Accepted Answer

DIY carpet removal is almost always worth doing — it saves $0.70–$1.60/sqft and requires no special tools or skill. DIY installation is harder. The critical issue is stretching: carpet must be power-stretched (not just knee-kicked) to prevent wrinkles within 1–2 years. A power stretcher rental is $50–$80/day. Poor stretching leads to re-stretching costs of $150–$300 per room. The optimal split for most homeowners: DIY removal + hire a pro for installation.

Question 5

What is the cheapest carpet to install?

Accepted Answer

Olefin/polypropylene is the cheapest at $0.50–$2/sqft material ($1.50–$4 installed), but it is not recommended for most indoor uses — it flattens quickly in traffic. Polyester is the best value budget option at $1–$3/sqft material ($2–$5 installed). It works well in low-traffic bedrooms and rentals, but compresses in high-traffic areas within 5–7 years. Nylon is the best value mid-range choice — slightly more expensive but lasts twice as long.

Room	Size	Budget (polyester)	Standard (nylon)	Premium (wool)	With Removal
Small bedroom	10×10 (100 sqft)	$280–$480	$420–$810	$650–$1,600	add $70–$160
Standard bedroom	12×12 (144 sqft)	$400–$690	$605–$1,170	$935–$2,300	add $100–$230
Large bedroom	14×16 (224 sqft)	$625–$1,075	$940–$1,820	$1,455–$3,585	add $157–$358
Master bedroom	14×20 (280 sqft)	$780–$1,345	$1,175–$2,275	$1,820–$4,480	add $196–$448
Living room	15×20 (300 sqft)	$840–$1,440	$1,260–$2,430	$1,950–$4,800	add $210–$480
Whole house (3BR)	~1,200 sqft	$3,360–$5,760	$5,040–$9,720	$7,800–$19,200	add $840–$1,920

Component	Typical Range	What Drives Cost
Carpet material	$1–$12/sqft	Fibre type (polyester vs nylon vs wool), pile style, brand, pile height
Padding	$0.30–$2.00/sqft	Foam type, density (oz/sqft), thickness — don't accept less than rebond unless on bare concrete
Labour (installation)	$0.50–$1.50/sqft	Region, stair count, room count, seaming complexity, furniture to move
Old carpet removal	$0.70–$1.60/sqft	Tacked vs glued-down, disposal access, room count
Subfloor repairs	$1.50–$4.00/sqft	Rotted areas, squeaks, uneven sections — only if needed
Furniture moving	$25–$75/room	Often included; heavy sectionals or beds may be extra

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