Carpet installation cost by area and grade
Estimates from this calculator's default prices, including new pad, tack strip, 10% extra for seams and trimming, and installation at $9 per square yard. Change the carpet price to the one you're looking at.
| Area | Basic, $18/sq yd | Mid-grade, $27/sq yd | Premium, $45/sq yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 12 ft bedroom (144 sq ft) | $520–$780 | $670–$1,010 | $980–$1,470 |
| 300 sq ft (2 rooms) | $1,090–$1,630 | $1,400–$2,100 | $2,050–$3,050 |
| 500 sq ft (3 rooms) | $1,800–$2,700 | $2,350–$3,500 | $3,400–$5,100 |
| 1,000 sq ft (5 rooms) | $3,600–$5,450 | $4,700–$7,000 | $6,800–$10,200 |
| 1,500 sq ft (7 rooms) | $5,450–$8,150 | $7,000–$10,500 | $10,200–$15,250 |
Carpet installation cost per square foot
Carpet is priced by the square yard, which is 9 sq ft. With these defaults, installed carpet comes to about $4.54 per sq ft ($41 per sq yd) for basic carpet, $5.86 per sq ft ($53 per sq yd) for mid-grade, and $8.50 per sq ft ($77 per sq yd) for premium, with pad and installation included.
To compare a price per sq ft with one per sq yd, multiply the sq ft price by 9.
Average carpet installation cost
For 500 sq ft of mid-grade carpet, the estimate is about $2,350–$3,500. The carpet itself is $1,652 of that (61.2 sq yd at $27), and installation is $551. That's the pattern for most carpet jobs: the carpet you choose matters far more than the labor. Skipping new pad lowers the total to about $2,050–$3,050, but a worn pad shortens the life of new carpet.
Carpet on stairs
Stairs are priced per step because each one is cut, wrapped and stapled by hand. With $10 per step for installation and about 0.6 sq yd of carpet and pad per step, a 13-step staircase on its own comes to about $340–$520. Added to the 500 sq ft job, it brings the total to about $2,700–$4,050.
What changes the price
- Carpet grade: fiber, face weight and style set most of the price. Nylon and wool usually cost more than polyester.
- Room shapes: rooms wider than the 12 ft roll need seams, and odd shapes waste more. Use 15–20% extra if your rooms need seams.
- Pad: thicker or denser pad costs more per square yard.
- Removal: tearing out and disposing of old carpet and pad at $2 per sq yd raises the 500 sq ft job to about $2,450–$3,650.
- Furniture and floor prep: moving furniture, pulling old tack strip or fixing squeaky subfloor may be extra.
- Store promotions: some retailers bundle installation into the carpet price. Compare the total, not the install line.
How this estimate works
This follows our carpet calculator: floor area plus 10% extra, divided by 9 and rounded up to the next 0.1 sq yd. Pad is $5 per sq yd. Tack strip runs around each room (assumed square) in 4 ft pieces at $0.60. Mid-grade carpet is $27 per sq yd, basic $18 and premium $45. Installation is $9 per sq yd, and stairs are $10 per step with 0.6 sq yd of carpet and pad each. The markup on materials is 20%, and old carpet removal is $2 per sq yd. The range is the result minus 20% to plus 20%. Change any of these above.
For comparison, Homewyse lists $5.27–$7.72 per sq ft to install carpet (May 2026 figures, accessed November 2026); with these defaults, 500 sq ft of mid-grade carpet comes to about $5.86 per sq ft.
Getting quotes
Ask for the square yards each quote is based on, the exact carpet and pad, and whether removal, furniture moving, stairs and transitions are included. Measurements vary between stores, so a lower price may just be fewer yards.
Questions
How much does carpet installation cost per square foot?
With this calculator's typical defaults, about $4.54 per sq ft for basic carpet, $5.86 for mid-grade and $8.50 for premium, including pad and installation.
How much does it cost to carpet a 12 × 12 room?
About $670–$1,010 for mid-grade carpet with pad and installation with these defaults. Basic carpet is about $520–$780.
How much does it cost to carpet stairs?
A 13-step staircase comes to about $340–$520 with these defaults, at $10 per step for installation and about 0.6 sq yd of carpet and pad per step.
Why is carpet sold by the square yard?
It's the industry convention. One square yard is 9 sq ft, so divide your square feet by 9 and add 10–20% for seams and trimming.