Navigating the world of home renovations can be daunting, especially when it comes to understanding expenses. In this article, we will break down everything you need to know about vinyl plank flooring costs to help you plan your flooring project and make it more budget-friendly.
We have a wealth of experience reviewing and analyzing flooring companies, so we know what’s a fair price for vinyl plank flooring and what isn’t. Let us use our expertise to help you decide whether vinyl flooring is worth installing in your home.
If you’re ready to start looking for an installer, get a few quotes from local flooring experts.
- Vinyl plank flooring costs vary significantly depending on the type of vinyl you choose
- Installation costs, removing the old flooring, and the cost of other materials raise the total price
- You can save a lot of money by removing your old flooring yourself and by timing your purchase with sales
How Much Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost?
The average cost of vinyl flooring is $2 to $7 per square foot for the materials. Premium brands and less common designs can be quite a bit more expensive and will typically run you $10 to $15 per square foot.
| Low | Average | High |
| $2 – $4 per sq. ft. | $5 – $7 per sq. ft. | $10 – $15 per sq. ft. |
How Do Vinyl Plank Flooring Costs Differ By Type?
Different types of vinyl flooring have different strengths and weaknesses, and their costs vary based on their quality and versatility.
| Material Type | Cost Per Square Foot |
| Standard Vinyl Plank (SVP) | $2 – $5 |
| Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) | $4 – $10 |
| Rigid Core Vinyl Plank | $10 – $12 |
| Waterproof Vinyl Plank | $10 – $14 |
Standard Vinyl Plank (SVP)
The most common type of vinyl plank flooring has the honor of being called “standard” vinyl plank flooring. It is more affordable than other types of vinyl flooring and strikes a good balance between price and durability. SVP is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is often made to look like high-quality hardwood flooring or stone. SVP typically costs between $2 and $5 per square foot.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
One step up from standard vinyl plank flooring is luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring. LVP is sturdier and is better at mimicking more expensive flooring styles like stone, wood, and tile. LVP costs more than SVP, with an average cost between $4 and $10 per square foot. Even though LVP is more expensive than SVP, it lasts significantly longer, which makes it a good value proposition if you can afford to pay the higher upfront cost.
Rigid Core Vinyl Plank (SPC)
Unlike SVP or LVP, rigid core vinyl plank flooring—also known as stone plastic composite (SPC) flooring—has a dense core that helps protect the floor from dents and wear. The rigid core also helps the planks retain their shape through seasonal temperature changes, reducing the chances that your floor will buckle and distort. The only downside to choosing rigid core vinyl planks over SVP or LVP is the cost, which falls between $10 and $12 per square foot, on average.
Waterproof Vinyl Plank
Waterproof vinyl plank flooring is designed to handle moisture, making it the perfect choice for kitchens, basements, and laundry rooms. Many companies only make water-resistant vinyl planks with rigid cores, which increases their durability but also raises their price. If you’re thinking about installing vinyl plank flooring in a moisture-prone area, you should be prepared to pay between $10 and $14 per square foot.
How Do Additional Costs Affect Vinyl Plank Flooring Prices?
Installing new vinyl plank flooring costs more than the raw price of the vinyl flooring itself. The table below provides a quick look at five additional costs that could increase the amount you’ll have to pay to install vinyl plank flooring.
| Additional Cost | Average Cost (per sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Removing Old Flooring | $1.00 – $4.00 |
| Subfloor Preparation | $1.00 – $6.00 |
| Underlayment | $0.30 – $0.60 |
| Installation Costs | $1.50 – $3.00 |
| Other Materials | $1.00 – $1.50 |
Removing Old Flooring
If you don’t want to remove your existing flooring yourself, expect to pay between $1.00 and $4.00 per square foot to have your contractor remove it for you. How much you’ll have to pay for flooring removal strongly depends on what type of floor you’re having removed. Carpet removal is cheap and only costs between $1.00 and $2.00 per square foot. Removing tile or wood flooring can be much more expensive and could run you as much as $3.00 to $4.00 per square foot.
Check out the video below, in which Danny Lipford discusses installing certain types of flooring over other types without removing anything. This could end up saving you hundreds of dollars!
Subfloor Preparation
If your subfloor needs repairs or leveling before your new floor can be installed, expect to pay between $1.00 and $6.00 per square foot, depending on the extent of the work that needs to be done. Below, we’ll include a rough breakdown of the cost for different types of subfloor prep:
- Basic Repairs: For minor repairs such as fixing squeaks, securing loose boards, or patching small holes, the cost can range from $1.00 to $3.00 per square foot.
- Leveling: If the subfloor needs leveling, this can be more expensive. The cost for leveling a subfloor typically ranges from $3.00 to $6.00 per square foot. This involves applying a self-leveling compound to create a flat and even surface.
- Plywood Subfloor Replacement: If portions of the subfloor need to be replaced with new plywood, the cost can range from $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot for materials and labor.
- Cleaning and Moisture Barrier: If the subfloor requires thorough cleaning or a moisture barrier installation, this can cost an additional $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot.
Underlayment
Underlayment is cheap and only adds a small amount to your overall bill compared to labor and other materials. The average cost for underlayment is between $0.30 and $0.60 per square foot.
Installation Costs
Vinyl plank flooring installation costs vary quite a lot by location, so you’ll have to get quotes from local installers to feel out the cost of labor in your area. Very roughly speaking, installing vinyl plank flooring in an area with an average cost of living will run you about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot.
Other Materials
Other materials like trim, transitions, molding and adhesives will increase the cost of installing new flooring slightly. What extra materials you need depends on your design choices, but, roughly speaking, they should only add $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot to your total cost.
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Which Factors Impact Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost Estimates?
When considering the cost of vinyl plank flooring, it’s essential to realize that the price per square foot of the material is just a small part of the overall cost. Several additional factors can significantly impact the overall budget for your flooring project. These factors range from the complexity of the installation and the condition of the subfloor to the choice of underlayment and the cost of labor where you live.
Brand
Not all vinyl plank flooring is created equally, and the brand you choose plays a major role in determining the overall cost of new flooring. Higher-quality brands use better materials, offer more design options, and provide better warranties than lower-quality brands. You might find that you have to splurge for a premium brand if you’re looking for specific colors and textures, for example, since budget brands often have a limited selection of styles available.
The sky’s the limit when you start getting into the higher-end designs and options, so you can spend as much or as little as you want. One of the brands we recommend for flooring is Trafficmaster. We broke down two of their products, Allure Isocore and Allure Ultra vinyl flooring, for more insight into quality vinyl flooring products.
Design
Design and brand go hand in hand. High-end brands carry more designs with more realistic textures than low-end brands, so you’ll have to expand your budget if you want the best vinyl flooring. Choosing a less common design or a top-of-the-line realistic wood texture, for example, will inflate the cost of the project and could easily double it compared to choosing a more common pattern.
If you’re a utilitarian person who isn’t as concerned with how your floor looks compared, this is one area where you can save a lot of money.
Labor
Labor costs are closely tied to your location but also depend on the specific installer you choose. Homeowners can typically expect Labor Costs to make up approximately $4 to $12 per square foot, depending on whether or not installing new flooring involves extensive work on the subfloor and if the contractors have to remove the old flooring first.
You can keep labor costs down by removing old flooring yourself, but we don’t recommend performing work on your subfloor yourself unless you have experience.
Location
The price of installing vinyl plank flooring is influenced by your location for a few reasons. First, labor costs tend to be higher in urban areas or regions with a high cost of living compared to rural areas.
Second, the availability of vinyl plank materials in your vicinity can affect prices, with lesser availability leading to higher shipping costs. Local competition among contractors can also influence installation prices, as areas with more contractors may have more competitive rates.
Finally, the climate in your area may necessitate specific, potentially more expensive, vinyl plank options that can withstand local weather conditions. If you live in a humid region or near water, you might need to purchase waterproof vinyl planks or rigid core planks to prevent warping in wet weather.
Find Flooring Cost Estimates In Your State
Material Quality
Even though materials aren’t the only thing that determines the cost of new vinyl flooring, the type of vinyl you choose has the biggest impact on the total cost of the project. Standard vinyl flooring is the most affordable but won’t last as long as luxury vinyl tile or rigid core vinyl planks. Choosing LVP or rigid core planks will make the project 1.5 to 2 times more expensive.
Expect to pay approximately 50% more for waterproof vinyl planks than similar quality planks without waterproofing. High-quality underlayment materials will only bump up the cost slightly, a few percentage points, at most.
3 Tips for Saving Money on Vinyl Plank Flooring Costs
Vinyl plank flooring can get pretty expensive, especially if you want a more luxurious design or want to use higher-end materials. Below, we’ll provide some tips for how you can save money to make some room in your budget.
1. Remove Your Old Floor Yourself
We know you don’t want to hear this, but the best way to save money is to reduce your installation costs by removing your old flooring yourself. This might not be feasible for you depending on what type of floor you have, the amount of time you can spare, and your physical condition, but it’s the best way to lower the cost of new flooring.
2. Get Multiple Quotes
This tip applies to almost all home improvement projects, but getting as many quotes as you can from local companies is essential if you want to get the best deal possible. Different contractors compete against each other for your business, so don’t be afraid to shop around and gather information. If you plan on trying to negotiate a good price, you’ll be much better off if you’re familiar with the local rates in your area.
3. Look for Sales
Another great way to save money is to look for overstock or clearance sales. Retailers often heavily discount old stock to make room for new products in their inventories. If you time it right, you can save a ton of money this way. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell when a given seller might put old flooring on discount, so you’ll have to keep an eye out.
Holiday sales are a much more predictable way to save money, but the deals aren’t usually as good as a clearance fire sale. If you can wait until the end of the year, you can count on getting some money off at most major retailers.
Professional vs. DIY Vinyl Plank Flooring
For experienced DIY-ers, installing vinyl plank flooring is very doable. Click-lock planks make installing the planks as easy as doing a jigsaw puzzle. As long as your subfloor isn’t uneven, you shouldn’t have much trouble. Other installation methods that require gluing down vinyl sheet flooring or laying free planks are more involved and take more effort.
If you aren’t very handy, you might want to consider hiring someone to install vinyl flooring for you. You’ll have to be comfortable measuring and cutting pieces of vinyl to size to fit your floor plan, and you’ll also have to be ready to handle installing auxiliary features like molding or trim and handling any unexpected issues that crop up once you remove your old flooring.
Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring Yourself
How time-consuming it is to do a DIY installation depends mostly on the type of planks you get and the condition of your subfloor. If you get click-together planks and your subfloor is in good shape, installing the floor would be a breeze. On the other hand, if you have an uneven subfloor and choose glue-down planks, it’s going to be a much more involved process.
In general, if you have some solid DIY skills, you should be able to handle installing vinyl plank flooring without much difficulty. If you feel comfortable installing the floor but don’t want to tackle leveling and repairing your subfloor, you could always hire a professional to handle the tougher repairs and then install the floor yourself afterward.
Hiring a Professional for Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation
If you prefer to hire a professional to install new flooring for you, we don’t blame you. Even though installing vinyl plank flooring is not too difficult as far as DIY projects go, it will be faster and easier if you hire a professional.
Below, we’ll include some steps to follow if you prefer to hire a pro instead of installing new flooring yourself:
- Find local experts near you: Search the internet or ask your friends and neighbors for local contractors.
- Get a quote from a few options: Get multiple quotes from several different companies (at least 2-3)
- Consult them about their recommendations: Be ready with questions during your consultations and know what you want.
- Weigh the costs and benefits: Decide what price you’re willing to pay and choose a contractor based on which company meets your needs and falls in your price range.
A professional installation will cost more, but it is worth it if you don’t have the time or experience to do it yourself.
So, Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Worth the Cost?
Vinyl plank flooring is a great cost-effective option for people who want new flooring on a limited budget. Modern vinyl flooring comes in enough styles and designs to satisfy most homeowners’ aesthetic desires, and it’s easy to install yourself if you have average DIY skills. We think that installing vinyl plank flooring is worth the money if you know you want an affordable flooring option and aren’t too picky about the look.
If you want to install vinyl plank flooring with minimal hassle, we recommend hiring a local contractor and having them do the installation for you. Flooring contractors can handle any issues that crop up during the installation process that would be a pain to deal with yourself. If you choose to hire a pro, make sure you explore your options thoroughly and get as many quotes as you can before you make a decision.
FAQs About Vinyl Plank Flooring
How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of vinyl floors?
The cost to install 1000 square feet of vinyl floors can range from approximately $3,500 to $11,000 or more, depending on the type of vinyl, labor costs, and subfloor preparation. This estimate includes both flooring material costs and installation costs.
What is a good price for vinyl plank flooring?
A good price for standard vinyl plank flooring is between $2 to $5 per square foot for materials. Luxury vinyl plank flooring and rigid core vinyl plank flooring can cost slightly more, with prices ranging from $4 to $8 per square foot.
How much does vinyl plank flooring cost per square foot?
The cost of vinyl plank flooring per square foot ranges from $2 to $8 or more for materials. Installation costs can add an additional $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. Higher-end options with extra features like a scratch resistant wear layer or waterproof coating will cost a bit more but are worth it in areas with high foot traffic.
What are the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring?
Some disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring include susceptibility to fading, potential dents and scratches if they’re installed in high-traffic areas, and environmental concerns about using a non-biodegradable material like vinyl. Vinyl flooring also doesn’t add to the value of your home the way a more premium option like hardwood flooring does.
