Laminate flooring makes a beautiful addition to any home. It isn’t the cheapest option available but it also isn’t the most expensive. How can you estimate cost?
In order to estimate laminate flooring cost, you have to determine the square footage of the room. This is done by multiplying the length of the room by the width of the room. At that point, you can determine how much you are spending on laminate flooring per square foot and multiply it by the square footage.
Please scroll down to use our free online laminate flooring cost calculator – it will allow you to determine installation cost and also include labor cost estimates.
This number is really only a part of the cost. After all, there are various factors that can really make a difference in how much you are spending on laminate flooring.
One factor to consider is the cost of the flooring itself. This can vary widely and at times, you may find a good sale at a local hardware store that will save you a lot of money.
You can go about it in a number of different ways. You can consider your budget and then work from there with this calculation:
BUDGET ÷ SQUARE FOOTAGE = ACCEPTABLE PRICE
You can also consider the square footage on the floor you have selected by using this calculation:
SQUARE FOOTAGE x COST PER SQ FT = TOTAL COST
As you will learn, there are also other things to consider that will make a difference in the overall cost of the flooring job.
Laminate Flooring Cost Estimator / Calculator
One factor that needs to be considered when estimating any laminate flooring job is overage. You never want to purchase exactly as much floor as will be needed for the square footage.
Overage allows for a number of different factors. These are important to consider when purchasing flooring.
Waste and Defects
One of the primary reasons why you purchase more flooring than you need is because of the possibility of waste and defects. It really doesn’t matter how careful you are with cutting the flooring, there is going to be a certain amount of waste. The same is also true of any defects or if you damage any of the laminate while you are installing it.
Packaging
When you purchase anything that is prepackaged, you will have to purchase according to what is available. For example, if you have a recipe that only calls for five eggs, you will still have to purchase a dozen eggs. The seven eggs are overage in this case. (Yes, we know that you can purchase six eggs at a time but this is just an example).
Mistakes
Unless you are perfect, you are going to make mistakes sooner or later. It could be when cutting at the edge of the room or perhaps cutting around an obstacle. If you don’t throw away a piece of material while you are installing floors, you really should consider doing it for a living.
Unique Features
There may be some unique or unusual features in the room that would require you to purchase additional material. It is not always possible to calculate this into the cost directly so it is usually figured as overage.
Repairs
With laminate flooring, there may be a time in the future when you need to make a repair. Having the material available will be of great benefit at that time.
Now that we know it is necessary to purchase overage, how much overage should you be considering? Generally speaking, you should be purchasing anywhere from 10%-20% overage.
Most professional installers figure waste and other factors and at least 15% overage to the square footage of the room. It’s a good number to start with, but even that number may change according to various factors, such as the size of the room or any unusually shaped rooms you may be including.
How To Calculate Laminate Flooring Needed
Measuring for a laminate floor does not need to be difficult. It does require some math, but with a little effort on your part, you can know how much laminate floor to buy within a matter of minutes.
A tape measure can be used to identify how much laminate floor is needed. In a square or rectangular room, you would take the length of the room and multiply it by the width of the room. That will provide you with the square footage. If the room has any bump-outs, you can measure the square footage of that small area separately and add it to the other area.
When measuring for purchasing laminate flooring, it’s important not to over complicate matters. If you simply take the time to measure carefully, draw a diagram and do the math, you will have the answer very quickly.
One of the difficulties that many people run into is if they have an odd-shaped room or perhaps if they have an area with a lot of obstacles. This can make it difficult because it is not a simple ‘width x length =’ calculation.
This is where having a good diagram comes in. If you can break down the majority of the area into squares or rectangles, it will make it easier for you to calculate approximately how much is needed for any odd shapes.
In addition, it isn’t necessary to come up with an exact number to purchase laminate flooring. One of the reasons why this is the case is what we mentioned earlier, overage.
You should add anywhere from 10% up to 20% for waste and cuts. When the job is done, you would also want to have a few boards leftover in case you have to make repairs sometime in the future.
Essentially, when you come up with the square footage of the area where you are installing laminate, you will add 10 or 20%. The easiest way to calculate this is by multiplying the square footage by 1.2 (for a 20% overage).
In addition, if you purchase more laminate flooring than what you need, you can always take some of the boxes back to the store. This is not something that you would want to do in excess and you would want to check with the store and advance to make sure they don’t charge a restocking fee.
Many homeowners have found this to be beneficial, however, especially if they are not comfortable with installing a laminate floor and expect to make a number of mistakes.
Finally, take your drawings and your calculations to the retailer and have them look them over as well. It doesn’t have to be professionally done, but they will be able to look at your calculations and let you know if you’re in the ballpark.
How To Calculate Cost Of Laminate Floors
The process of determining how much laminate flooring will cost is relatively straightforward. There are some things you should know, however, to get a more accurate figure.
Generally speaking, you will calculate the square footage of the area where the laminate floor is being installed and then multiply it by the price per square foot for the laminate floor. You should also calculate anything else that will be needed, such as an installation kit, tools, and underlayment.
The cost of laminate flooring will vary, depending upon the quality of the floor but will typically be between 75 cents and three dollars.
If you are installing the floor on a budget, your best choice will be to find a good sale at a large store that offers flooring. In many cases, they will be getting rid of the old styles to focus on the new styles and you can save a bundle.
That being said, you should go into the store with the thought of purchasing the floor immediately. Typically, if they are selling the laminate floor at a discount, they will only have a limited amount available.
You want to purchase what you need and add some to it for overage rather than going home to think about it.
The cost of any underlayment is also going to be a factor to consider. Most people on a budget will put inexpensive underlayment under inexpensive laminate, but you might want to think about bumping up the quality of the underlayment.
The underlayment serves a variety of purposes, including soundproofing, making the floor quiet, and making the floor more comfortable when you walk on it. Underlayment may also provide a moisture barrier in some cases.
If you purchase an inexpensive laminate floor, which is likely a thinner material, it will work much better if you have a higher quality underlayment. It’s less expensive to boost the quality of the underlayment than to go with a more expensive and higher-quality laminate floor.
How To Calculate Cost Of Laminate Flooring Installation
One price that you may need to consider when purchasing a laminate floor is the installation cost. This may be separated from the cost of the laminate or it could be included within it.
A typical price for the installation of a laminate floor is anywhere from $2 up to $3 per square foot. This price is in addition to the cost of the floor and underlayment. It is important to get an estimate for the installation cost when you consult with the flooring experts so you don’t have any surprises when you get the final bill.
A number of factors can affect the cost of installation of laminate floors. Here are a few to consider.
One-Stop Shop
You may be able to get a lower cost for installation if you go with a professional that also sells the floor since they will likely be making a profit on both.
Local Coupons
Check any local coupons either online or that you receive in the mail. Small companies that offer flooring services will likely also offer coupons to help get their foot in the door.
Handyman
You may find that hiring a local handyman to install your laminate floor is going to be much more cost-effective than hiring a flooring company. Just make sure you get references so you can feel comfortable with the work they will do.
Other Things To Consider When Estimating A Laminate Floor Project
Determining the cost of the laminate floor is not always a straightforward mathematical calculation. There are other factors that need to be considered.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on April 11, 2022.
There are a few ways to save money on laminate flooring, and each of these factors must be considered to determine the cost. This includes the quality of the floor, the cost per square foot to install it, and the quality of the underlayment.
Let’s consider each of these separately.
1. Floor Quality – The quality of the floor is going to make a difference in the overall cost but it will also make a difference in how happy you are with the final product. Generally speaking, a more expensive laminate is a thicker laminate so it will be more durable and more substantial.
2. Underlayment – When considering the underlayment, always go with the highest quality that you can afford. Don’t simply go with the least expensive because you will not be as happy with it. Higher-quality underlayment offers better soundproofing, moisture barriers, and comfort.
3. Installation – The installation cost can vary considerably. Shop around and get some costs from different companies in your area. You may find that some are willing to lower their cost just to get the work.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on April 11, 2022.
To determine how much you will spend on laminate flooring, calculate the square footage of the room and multiply it by the laminate cost per square foot. You can then add in the underlayment and installation to get an accurate figure.
Laminate Flooring Installation/Labor Calculator (Estimation Tool)
Area to be covered
| Length: | feet inches |
| Width: | feet inches |
Area 1 to be subtracted (such as cabinets/island/etc)(optional)
| Length: | feet inches |
| Width: | feet inches |
Area 2 to be subtracted (such as cabinets/island/etc)(optional)
| Length: | feet inches |
| Width: | feet inches |
Cost In Your Area
| Trim Pieces Cost: | $ |
| Pull up old flooring Cost | $ |
| Freight Cost(Delivery or Disposal) | $ |
| Other Misc Cost | $ |
| Floor Cost per Sq. Ft | $ |
| Labor Cost Per Hour: | $ |
Assumptions:
1. Calculator adds 10% of area to be covered for errors and waste.
2. Calculator assumes about 4 yards per hour.
3. Calculator computes labor without the added 10% area.
Estimate Results Below:
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on April 11, 2022.