Cost to Install Laminate Flooring in a Living Room in 2026
A 16x20 living room costs $1,084 to $2,364 installed with laminate, and 240 to 440 sq ft runs $813 to $3,251: planks at $0.99 to $3.99 per sq ft plus 10% waste, and Home Depot's last published labour of $2.00 to $3.00 per sq ft (prices checked October 2026). Laid yourself, the 16x20 room is $444 to $1,404 in materials.
Updated 15 November 2026. How we priced this.
Living Room Laminate Cost by Size
| Room | Sq ft | Budget (AC3) | Mid-range (AC4) | Premium (AC5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small living room (12 x 20) | 240 | $813 to $1,183 | $979 to $1,509 | $1,269 to $1,773 |
| Standard living room (16 x 20) | 320 | $1,084 to $1,577 | $1,305 to $2,012 | $1,692 to $2,364 |
| Large living room (20 x 22) | 440 | $1,491 to $2,169 | $1,795 to $2,767 | $2,327 to $3,251 |
| Open plan living and dining (20 x 24) | 480 | $1,627 to $2,366 | $1,958 to $3,019 | $2,539 to $3,547 |
Installed, national labour. Removal, trim and furniture moving are below; your own room size and state are in the laminate flooring cost calculator.
Paying an Installer or Laying It Yourself (16x20)
| Grade | DIY materials | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $444 to $617 | $1,084 to $1,577 |
| Mid-Range | $665 to $1,052 | $1,305 to $2,012 |
| Premium | $1,052 to $1,404 | $1,692 to $2,364 |
The difference is the labour, $640 to $960 on 320 sq ft at Home Depot's last published rate. Tools and their shelf prices are on the DIY laminate flooring cost page.
What Gets Added to a Living Room Quote
| Item | Price | 16x20 room | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take up the old floor | $1.95/sq ft average | $624 | Home Depot cost guide |
| Moving furniture | $35 for up to six large pieces | Ask about more | Home Depot cost guide |
| Quarter round over the expansion gap | $1.91 to $2.19/linear ft | By wall length | Floor & Decor |
| Reducer where the floor meets carpet | $37.99 to $42.79 per 94 in piece | Per doorway | Floor & Decor |
| 6 mil film over a concrete slab | $0.23/sq ft | $74 | Floor & Decor roll price |
An open plan that runs on into a hall or dining room is one floor: add those square feet to the room. Whether a long run needs a break and a T-molding depends on the plank; read its installation instructions. Stairs off the living room are priced per step on the laminate stairs cost page.
16x20 Living Room by Region
| Region | Labour / sq ft | Mid-range installed | Premium installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $2.41 to $3.61 | $1,436 to $2,207 | $1,823 to $2,559 |
| Midwest | $1.95 to $2.93 | $1,289 to $1,990 | $1,676 to $2,342 |
| South | $1.66 to $2.48 | $1,196 to $1,846 | $1,583 to $2,198 |
| West | $2.11 to $3.17 | $1,340 to $2,066 | $1,727 to $2,418 |
An estimate: labour scaled by each region's BLS mean floor-layer wage (May 2025), employment-weighted across its states.
Which Grade for a Living Room?
| If | Choose |
|---|---|
| A formal room with light traffic | Budget AC3 from $0.99 per sq ft |
| Family room, pets, or the floor opens onto the entry | Mid-range AC4 from $1.89; see AC3 vs AC4 |
| The room joins the kitchen and the floor runs through | A plank sold as waterproof; see waterproof laminate cost |
Common Questions
How much does it cost to install laminate flooring in a living room?
A 16x20 living room (320 sq ft) costs $1,084 to $1,577 with budget laminate, $1,305 to $2,012 mid-range and $1,692 to $2,364 premium, installed. From a 12x20 room to a 20x22 room the range is $813 to $3,251. These use Home Depot's last published labour of $2.00 to $3.00 per sq ft and shelf prices checked in October 2026.
How much more is premium laminate in a living room?
On 320 sq ft, the premium AC5 planks we price cost $352 to $387 more installed than the mid-range AC4 planks. Both have the pad attached, so the difference is the plank price alone: $1.89 to $2.99 against $2.99 to $3.99 per sq ft.
What AC rating do I need in a living room?
Our AC ratings guide matches AC4 to living rooms, hallways, kitchens and homes with pets, and AC3 to bedrooms and dry, light-traffic rooms. AC ratings are wear classes under EN 13329; they do not measure water resistance.
How much does it cost to lay laminate in a living room yourself?
Planks plus underlayment for 320 sq ft come to $444 to $1,404, budget to premium, with 10% added for waste. The labour you save is $640 to $960 at Home Depot's last published rate.
What does a living room quote add on top of the floor?
Home Depot prices old-floor removal at $1.95 per sq ft on average (about $624 on 320 sq ft) and furniture moving at $35 for up to six large pieces. Where the floor meets carpet or a lower floor, a reducer is $37.99 to $42.79 per 94 in piece at Floor & Decor; the labour to fit it is not published, so ask.