What Would It Cost To Re-Carpet The Living Room?

If you're looking to give the living room a fresh, updated look, putting in new carpeting will often do the trick. It's a quick and easy way to drastically change the space, but the installation process is complicated and should be left to the professionals.

The average cost to install carpet is $1,587, though most homeowners pay somewhere between $739 and $2,436, according to HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide. Costs vary based on a number of different factors:

Cost of Labor

The layout of your living room will likely impact the cost of installation more than its actual size. On average, the cost of labor to put in each square foot of carpet is $0.50 to $1. If the room is any shape other than a square or rectangle, it may require a contractor to use custom cuts of carpet. Customers will often incur an add-on fee when using custom cuts due to the additional skill and time required to complete the installation.

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Cost of the Carpet Itself

The biggest cost factor in re-carpeting your living room will be the type of carpet you install. The most common materials used to make carpet are acrylic, cotton, nylon, polyester, polypropylene (or olefin) and wool. The costs of these materials vary widely, ranging from basic olefin and polyester, priced around $1-$2 per square foot, up to wool and patterned Berber, which can cost more than $9-$11 per square foot.

Some home improvement stores and flooring retailers will offer "free" installation services when customers purchase the carpeting from their locations. If you choose this option, be careful: There may be add-on installation costs you’re not aware of.

Additional Costs

Subfloor installation: If your living room is newer and doesn't already have a subfloor, the contractor will need to install one before the new carpeting can be laid over the top.

Removing old flooring: If your living room has existing carpet, tile or other flooring, this will need to be removed before the new carpet can be installed.

Adding moldings: It may be necessary to add new moldings if you're changing to carpet from another type of flooring.

Painting baseboards: Baseboards may only need to be removed and reinstalled during carpeting installation, but replacing or repainting them is a common add-on.

Moving or rearranging furniture: If the carpet installers have to clear away your furniture, it takes time that may well add to your overall cost of labor. You may save some time and money if you move any furniture yourself or hire someone other than the carpet installers to do it for you.

Maintaining Your New Carpet

Keeping your carpet in good shape requires regular cleaning and upkeep. Vacuum the carpet regularly to remove dust and dirt, and if there's a spot, spill or potential stain, use a blotting method to remove it. It's also advisable to bring in a carpet cleaning professional annually or even biannually to dry clean or deep clean your carpet. This helps prevent problems like mold, high levels of dirt and other issues from building up and causing you to have to replace your carpet prematurely.

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