500 Sq Ft Laminate Floor Installation Cost in 2026
Installing 500 sq ft of laminate costs $2,040 to $3,145 with mid-range 12mm planks, professionally installed: about $1,040 to $1,645 in planks and $1,000 to $1,500 in labour. Budget planks start at $1,695; premium AC5 planks reach $3,695. Home Depot and Floor & Decor shelf prices and Home Depot's last published labour rate, checked 13 October 2026. 500 sq ft is a 20x25 open-plan room, or two or three rooms in a small apartment.
Updated 15 November 2026. How we priced this.
Installed Cost by Plank Grade on 500 Sq Ft
Each line is the same sum: planks for 500 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 (550 sq ft) | Underlayment | Labour | Installed total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget FairOaks, Hampstead (Floor & Decor) | $545 to $765 | $150 to $200 | $1,000 to $1,500 | $1,695 to $2,465 |
| Mid-Range Home Decorators Collection, Pergo Outlast+ XL (Home Depot); HydroShield Plus (Floor & Decor) | $1,040 to $1,645 | Pad attached | $1,000 to $1,500 | $2,040 to $3,145 |
| Premium AquaGuard Performance (Floor & Decor), Bruce (Home Depot) | $1,645 to $2,195 | Pad attached | $1,000 to $1,500 | $2,645 to $3,695 |
No volume discount is applied: we found no retailer or installer that publishes one. If a quote for 500 sq ft comes in under the labour line above, ask what it leaves out.
Which Grade to Choose
| Choice | What the shelf sells | 500 sq ft installed | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 7mm, AC3, no attached pad, so underlayment goes down first | $1,695 to $2,465 | Bedrooms, offices and rentals where price matters more than feel underfoot |
| Mid-range | 10 to 12mm, AC4, pad attached | $2,040 to $3,145 | Living areas and hallways; the pad saves a separate underlayment line |
| Premium | 12mm, AC5, attached IXPE pad, sold as waterproof | $2,645 to $3,695 | Kitchens, entries and homes with pets, where spills and wear are the risk |
| DIY, mid-range | Same planks, no labour | $1,040 to $1,645 | A straight click-lock layout and the time to do it; see DIY vs professional |
Costs Outside the Installed Price
| Line | Rate | On 500 sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove the old floor | $1.95/sq ft average | $975 | 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 | $115 | 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 |
500 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 500 sq ft | Mid-range installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| US national average | $2.00 to $3.00 | $1,000 to $1,500 | $2,040 to $3,145 |
| Northeast (CT, ME, MA, NJ, NY, PA, VT) | $2.41 to $3.61 | $1,205 to $1,805 | $2,245 to $3,450 |
| Midwest (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, OH, SD, WI) | $1.95 to $2.93 | $975 to $1,465 | $2,015 to $3,110 |
| South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV) | $1.66 to $2.48 | $830 to $1,240 | $1,870 to $2,885 |
| West (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA) | $2.11 to $3.17 | $1,055 to $1,585 | $2,095 to $3,230 |
Highest state wage: Massachusetts ($41.97/hr, $2,455 to $3,765). Lowest: Arkansas ($19.60/hr, $1,700 to $2,635). Your state, with removal and stairs: laminate flooring cost calculator.
Several Rooms Adding Up to 500 Sq Ft
At this size the floor usually runs through more than one room. Plan the plank direction once for the whole run so rows line up through doorways, and decide early where transition strips go: where laminate meets tile, carpet or a different floor height, a reducer or T-molding is needed.
Floor & Decor sells laminate reducers in 94 in lengths, priced on the cost factors page. Count the doorways before you buy.
Common Questions on a 500 Sq Ft Job
How much does it cost to install 500 square feet of laminate flooring?
$2,040 to $3,145 for mid-range 12mm planks with an attached pad, professionally installed at national labour rates. Budget 7mm planks bring it down to $1,695 to $2,465 including underlayment; premium AC5 planks run $2,645 to $3,695. 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 500 square feet of laminate?
$1,000 to $1,500. 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 ($1,245 on 500 sq ft). Removing the old floor, moving furniture and subfloor repair are extra.
How many boxes of laminate do I need for 500 square feet?
About 28 boxes: 500 sq ft plus 10% for waste is 550 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 500 sq ft of laminate myself?
The labour: about $1,000 to $1,500 on mid-range planks. Doing it yourself, the planks and any underlayment cost $1,040 to $1,645 for mid-range or $695 to $965 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 $975 on 500 sq ft, and says the rate depends on the floor type. Furniture moving is $35 for up to six large pieces.
Does 500 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 $2,455 to $3,765 in Massachusetts and $1,700 to $2,635 in Arkansas, against $2,040 to $3,145 at national rates.