Carpet remains the most affordable flooring option and the most comfortable underfoot. Here's what every type of carpet actually costs in 2026, from budget polyester to premium wool.
Quick answer: Carpet + pad costs $2–$8/sqft for materials and $4–$12/sqft installed. A typical bedroom (12×12) runs $580–$1,150 with mid-range nylon. Best time to buy: holiday weekends for 20–40% off.
| Carpet Type | Installed/Sqft |
|---|---|
| Polyester | $3–$6 |
| Nylon (mid-range) | $4–$8 |
| Nylon (premium/branded) | $6–$10 |
| Berber/loop | $4–$8 |
| Frieze/twist | $5–$9 |
| Wool | $8–$20 |
Store pricing tip: carpet is priced per square yard in stores. Divide by 9 to get per sqft. $27/sq yd = $3/sqft.
| Room | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom (12×12) | $430–$720 | $580–$1,150 |
| Living room (15×20) | $900–$1,500 | $1,200–$2,400 |
| Master bedroom (14×16) | $670–$1,120 | $900–$1,790 |
| Whole house (1,500 sqft) | $4,500–$7,500 | $6,000–$12,000 |
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Carpet material | $1–$8/sqft |
| Carpet padding | $0.50–$1.00/sqft |
| Installation labor | $1–$2/sqft |
| Old carpet removal | $0.50–$1/sqft |
| Furniture moving | $0–$200 |
| Tack strips and seaming | Included |
| Factor | DIY | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (12×12 room, mid-range) | $350–$650 | $580–$1,150 |
| Time | 4–8 hours | 1–2 hours |
| Skill level | Advanced — stretching carpet properly is difficult | N/A |
| Tools needed | Knee kicker, carpet stretcher, seaming iron (rent: $50–$75/day) | Included |
| Quality risk | Wrinkles, visible seams, loose edges | Warranty on installation |
| Best for | Small rooms with no seams needed | Any room, especially with seams or stairs |
Fiber type — polyester is cheapest but stains and mats faster. Nylon is the best all-around value — it resists stains, wears well, and comes at a moderate price. Wool is luxury pricing with natural feel and durability.
Padding quality — good pad ($0.50–$1.00/sqft) extends carpet life by 3–5 years and feels dramatically better. Cheap padding is a false economy — the carpet wears faster and feels thin within a year.
Room layout — irregularly shaped rooms create more waste from cutting. Seaming adds labor. Stairs cost $15–$30 per step extra.
Subfloor condition — squeaky or uneven subfloors need repair ($1–$3/sqft) before carpet goes down.
Old flooring removal — removing carpet is cheap ($0.50–$1/sqft, often included). Removing tile or hardwood first costs $2–$4/sqft.
Pile height and density — higher, denser carpet costs more but lasts longer. Check the face weight (ounces per square yard) — 40+ oz is good quality.
Calculate your exact carpet needs with our Carpet Calculator.
A 12×12 room (144 sqft) costs $580–$1,150 for mid-range carpet + pad + installation. Budget polyester runs $430–$720. Premium nylon or wool can reach $1,150–$1,730.
Carpet is priced per square yard at stores but per square foot by installers. 1 square yard = 9 sqft. So $27/sq yd = $3/sqft. Always convert to sqft for easier comparison. Our carpet calculator does this automatically.
Yes — padding is 50% of how carpet feels and how long it lasts. Cheap padding ($0.25–$0.50/sqft) lets you feel the subfloor and the carpet wears faster. Good padding ($0.50–$1.00/sqft) extends carpet life by 3–5 years and feels significantly better underfoot.
Holiday weekends — Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday. Carpet stores run their biggest sales during these periods, often 20–40% off materials. January is also good as stores clear inventory.
Budget carpet lasts 5–8 years. Mid-range nylon lasts 10–15 years. Premium nylon or wool lasts 15–25 years. Heavy traffic areas (stairs, hallways) wear out 2–3× faster than bedrooms.
Yes, significantly. Carpet costs $4–$12/sqft installed vs $8–$22/sqft for hardwood. For a whole-house install, carpet saves 50–70%. However, hardwood lasts 50+ years vs 5–15 for carpet, so the long-term cost per year is similar.