1,000 Sq Ft Laminate Floor Installation Cost in 2026
Installing 1,000 sq ft of laminate costs $4,079 to $6,289 with mid-range 12mm planks, professionally installed: about $2,079 to $3,289 in planks and $2,000 to $3,000 in labour. Budget planks start at $3,389; premium AC5 planks reach $7,389. Home Depot and Floor & Decor shelf prices and Home Depot's last published labour rate, checked 13 October 2026. 1,000 sq ft is a whole apartment or the main floor of a small house.
Updated 15 November 2026. How we priced this.
Installed Cost by Plank Grade on 1,000 Sq Ft
Each line is the same sum: planks for 1,000 sq ft plus 10% waste, underlayment where the plank has no attached pad, and Home Depot's last published $2.00 to $3.00 per sq ft labour.
| Grade | Planks (1,100 sq ft) | Underlayment | Labour | Installed total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget FairOaks, Hampstead (Floor & Decor) | $1,089 to $1,529 | $300 to $400 | $2,000 to $3,000 | $3,389 to $4,929 |
| Mid-Range Home Decorators Collection, Pergo Outlast+ XL (Home Depot); HydroShield Plus (Floor & Decor) | $2,079 to $3,289 | Pad attached | $2,000 to $3,000 | $4,079 to $6,289 |
| Premium AquaGuard Performance (Floor & Decor), Bruce (Home Depot) | $3,289 to $4,389 | Pad attached | $2,000 to $3,000 | $5,289 to $7,389 |
No volume discount is applied: we found no retailer or installer that publishes one. If a quote for 1,000 sq ft comes in under the labour line above, ask what it leaves out.
Which Grade to Choose
| Choice | What the shelf sells | 1,000 sq ft installed | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 7mm, AC3, no attached pad, so underlayment goes down first | $3,389 to $4,929 | Bedrooms, offices and rentals where price matters more than feel underfoot |
| Mid-range | 10 to 12mm, AC4, pad attached | $4,079 to $6,289 | Living areas and hallways; the pad saves a separate underlayment line |
| Premium | 12mm, AC5, attached IXPE pad, sold as waterproof | $5,289 to $7,389 | Kitchens, entries and homes with pets, where spills and wear are the risk |
| DIY, mid-range | Same planks, no labour | $2,079 to $3,289 | A straight click-lock layout and the time to do it; see DIY vs professional |
Costs Outside the Installed Price
| Line | Rate | On 1,000 sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove the old floor | $1.95/sq ft average | $1,950 | Home Depot cost guide; varies by floor type (removal cost) |
| Move furniture | $35 up to six pieces | $35+ | Home Depot cost guide |
| Moisture film over concrete | $0.23/sq ft | $230 | Floor & Decor 120 sq ft roll; needed under a floating floor on a slab |
| Subfloor repair, stairs, trim | Quoted per job | Not priced | No retailer publishes a rate; see stairs and cost factors |
1,000 Sq Ft by Region
Labour is scaled by the BLS May 2025 mean wage for floor layers in each region against the national mean; plank prices are national. Mid-range planks throughout.
| Region | Labour per sq ft | Labour on 1,000 sq ft | Mid-range installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| US national average | $2.00 to $3.00 | $2,000 to $3,000 | $4,079 to $6,289 |
| Northeast (CT, ME, MA, NJ, NY, PA, VT) | $2.41 to $3.61 | $2,410 to $3,610 | $4,489 to $6,899 |
| Midwest (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, OH, SD, WI) | $1.95 to $2.93 | $1,950 to $2,930 | $4,029 to $6,219 |
| South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV) | $1.66 to $2.48 | $1,660 to $2,480 | $3,739 to $5,769 |
| West (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA) | $2.11 to $3.17 | $2,110 to $3,170 | $4,189 to $6,459 |
Highest state wage: Massachusetts ($41.97/hr, $4,909 to $7,529). Lowest: Arkansas ($19.60/hr, $3,399 to $5,269). Your state, with removal and stairs: laminate flooring cost calculator.
Ordering for a Whole Floor
Order every carton in one purchase and check that the production or lot code printed on each carton matches before you open any. Planks from different runs can differ slightly in colour, and a seam between two runs is hard to hide in an open floor.
Keep a few spare planks after the job. A damaged laminate plank cannot be sanded out; it is replaced, and a matching plank may not be on sale in a few years.
Is There a Discount at 1,000 Sq Ft?
None that is published. Home Depot's last published per-square-foot range did not change with size, and we found no retailer or installer publishing a volume rate. A larger job does spread fixed costs such as travel and setup, so ask each installer whether their per-square-foot rate falls with size, and get it in writing.
Common Questions on a 1,000 Sq Ft Job
How much does it cost to install 1,000 square feet of laminate flooring?
$4,079 to $6,289 for mid-range 12mm planks with an attached pad, professionally installed at national labour rates. Budget 7mm planks bring it down to $3,389 to $4,929 including underlayment; premium AC5 planks run $5,289 to $7,389. Prices are Home Depot and Floor & Decor shelf prices and Home Depot's last published labour rate, checked 13 October 2026.
What is the labor cost to install 1,000 square feet of laminate?
$2,000 to $3,000. Home Depot last published installation at $2.00 to $3.00 per sq ft, and $2.49 per sq ft for basic click-lock installation ($2,490 on 1,000 sq ft). Removing the old floor, moving furniture and subfloor repair are extra.
How many boxes of laminate do I need for 1,000 square feet?
About 55 boxes: 1,000 sq ft plus 10% for waste is 1,100 sq ft, and the six planks we priced come in cartons of 15.9 to 26.8 sq ft. Divide by the carton size printed on the box you buy.
How much do I save installing 1,000 sq ft of laminate myself?
The labour: about $2,000 to $3,000 on mid-range planks. Doing it yourself, the planks and any underlayment cost $2,079 to $3,289 for mid-range or $1,389 to $1,929 for budget planks with foam underlayment, before tools.
How much does it cost to remove the old floor first?
Home Depot puts old-floor removal at $1.95 per sq ft on average, about $1,950 on 1,000 sq ft, and says the rate depends on the floor type. Furniture moving is $35 for up to six large pieces.
Does 1,000 sq ft of laminate cost more in some states?
Yes, through labour. If installation prices follow the BLS mean wage for floor layers (our assumption), the same mid-range job costs about $4,909 to $7,529 in Massachusetts and $3,399 to $5,269 in Arkansas, against $4,079 to $6,289 at national rates.