Cost to Remove Old Flooring Before Laminate
Removing the old floor costs about $1.95 per sq ft on average, the figure Home Depot publishes for its laminate installations (checked 13 October 2026): $281 for a 12x12 room, $780 for 400 sq ft. Home Depot says the rate depends on the floor type. No retailer or agency we checked publishes removal prices by floor type, so get it quoted as its own line.
Updated 14 October 2026. How we priced this.
Removal Cost by Floor Size
| Floor | Removal at $1.95/sq ft | Mid-range laminate installed | Together |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x12 room (144 sq ft) | $281 | $587 to $906 | $868 to $1,187 |
| 200 sq ft | $390 | $816 to $1,258 | $1,206 to $1,648 |
| 400 sq ft | $780 | $1,632 to $2,516 | $2,412 to $3,296 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $1,950 | $4,079 to $6,289 | $6,029 to $8,239 |
Replacing Carpet With Laminate
Carpet is the most common floor laminate replaces. Removal means lifting the carpet and pad and pulling the tack strip and staples so the subfloor is clean and flat, because laminate needs a hard, flat base. At Home Depot's average rate that is $281 for a 12x12 bedroom. On stairs, removing carpet adds about $8.66 a step at the same rate on a code-minimum step, or $113 for 13 steps; see the laminate stairs cost guide.
Which Old Floors Take the Most Work
| Old floor | What removal involves | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet and pad | Cut, roll, pull tack strip and staples | Damage to the subfloor under the tack strip |
| Floating laminate or click vinyl | Unclick and lift; usually the quickest | Old underlayment that should also come up |
| Glued-down vinyl or vinyl tile | Scrape planks and adhesive | Asbestos in old vinyl and adhesives: test first (EPA) |
| Ceramic or stone tile | Break out tile and mortar | Height change at doorways; subfloor repair |
| Nailed hardwood | Pry up boards and pull nails | Whether it could stay and be refinished instead |
We have not priced each row: no retailer or agency publishes removal by floor type, and the $1.95 figure is Home Depot's average across them.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to remove old flooring?
Home Depot puts old-floor removal at $1.95 per sq ft on average and says the price depends on the type of floor and the effort involved (checked 13 October 2026). That is about $281 for a 12x12 room and $780 for 400 sq ft.
How much does it cost to rip up carpet and install laminate?
For a 12x12 bedroom (144 sq ft): about $281 to remove the carpet at Home Depot's average rate, plus $587 to $906 for mid-range laminate installed, so roughly $868 to $1,187 in all.
Is old floor removal included in laminate installation quotes?
Often not. Home Depot lists removal of the existing floor as a separate cost from installation, and its basic click-lock rate excludes additional services. Ask every installer whether removal, haul-away and disposal are in the price.
Can laminate go over the old floor instead?
Sometimes. A floating laminate floor needs a hard, flat base, so carpet always comes up. Some flat, hard floors can stay underneath; the manufacturer's instructions set the limits on flatness and what may stay underneath. Check the instructions for the plank you buy before skipping removal.
Do I need to test old flooring for asbestos?
If it is old vinyl tile, vinyl sheet flooring or its adhesive, test before you disturb it. The US EPA lists vinyl floor tiles, the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives among products that may contain asbestos, and says a trained and accredited asbestos professional should take any samples, because disturbing the material can release fibres.