Laminate Flooring Materials Cost Guide
Laminate planks cost $0.99 to $3.99 per sq ft on the shelf at Home Depot and Floor & Decor (13 October 2026). With 10% waste and underlayment where the plank has no pad, materials for 400 sq ft come to $556 to $1,756. Below: the three grades, every brand we could price (and the ones we could not), underlayment and trim.
Updated 14 October 2026. How we priced this.
Three Grades: Shelf Price and Materials for a Room
| Grade | Shelf / sq ft | Underlayment | 144 sq ft materials | 400 sq ft materials | 1,000 sq ft materials | Planks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $0.99 to $1.39 | $0.30 to $0.40/sq ft | $200 to $278 | $556 to $772 | $1,389 to $1,929 | FairOaks, Hampstead (Floor & Decor) |
| Mid-Range | $1.89 to $2.99 | Pad attached | $299 to $474 | $832 to $1,316 | $2,079 to $3,289 | Home Decorators Collection, Pergo Outlast+ XL (Home Depot); HydroShield Plus (Floor & Decor) |
| Premium | $2.99 to $3.99 | Pad attached | $474 to $632 | $1,316 to $1,756 | $3,289 to $4,389 | AquaGuard Performance (Floor & Decor), Bruce (Home Depot) |
The grades follow the AC class of the planks that set their prices: budget AC3, mid-range AC4, premium AC5. What those classes measure, and what they do not, is on laminate AC ratings; the choice most homes face is AC3 vs AC4.
Brand Price Comparison
| Brand | Sold at | Price / sq ft | Basis | Installed / sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TrafficMaster Grey Oak 7mm (AC3); TrafficMaster Tully River Oak 7mm | Home Depot | $0.99 to $1.49 | Shelf price | $3.39 to $5.04 |
FairOaks and Hampstead FairOaks Carey Lane 7mm (AC3); Hampstead Otter Cove 7mm (AC3) | Floor & Decor | $0.99 to $1.39 | Shelf price | $3.39 to $4.93 |
HydroShield Plus HydroShield Plus 8mm (lowest); HydroShield Plus Timberland Oak 10mm | Floor & Decor | $1.43 to $1.99 | Shelf price | $3.87 to $5.19 |
Home Decorators Collection Vanderbilt Oak 12mm; Cameron Oak 12mm | Home Depot | $1.89 to $2.19 | Shelf price | $4.08 to $5.81 |
Pergo Outlast+ XL New Market Hickory 12mm (AC4) | Home Depot, Lowe's, Pergo retailers | $2.99 | Shelf price | $5.29 to $6.29 |
AquaGuard Performance AquaGuard Performance Cocoa 12mm (AC5); AquaGuard Performance NatureMatch Suncrest 12mm (AC5) | Floor & Decor | $2.99 to $3.99 | Shelf price | $5.29 to $7.39 |
Bruce Bruce Rich Woodland 12mm | Home Depot | $3.47 | Shelf price | $5.82 to $6.82 |
Shaw Oak Grove (SL119); Shaw Oak Crest (SL120); Shaw Komondor (SL123) | Shaw flooring dealers | $4.99 to $7.29 | Maker's estimate | $7.79 to $11.42 |
No Mohawk laminate price we could read on 14 Oct 2026. | Not checked | Not read | No price read | Use the grade range |
No Lifeproof laminate price we could read on 14 Oct 2026. | Home Depot | Not read | No price read | Use the grade range |
8 of 10 brands priced. A brand range covers only the planks we read, not the brand's whole catalogue. AC class shown only where the product page prints one. Installed adds 10% waste, Home Depot's published labour and, where no pad is recorded, underlayment.
Underlayment Cost
| Type | Per sq ft | 400 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Foam (basic) | $0.30 | $120 |
| Foam + Vapour Barrier | $0.40 to $0.60 | $160 to $240 |
| Acoustic (premium foam) | $0.60 to $0.79 | $240 to $316 |
| Polyethylene moisture film (over concrete) | $0.23 | $92 |
Basic foam from Home Depot's cost guide; the rest are Floor & Decor roll prices divided by roll coverage (100 sq ft rolls; film 120 sq ft). Skip foam if the plank has a pad attached; over concrete, lay the film anyway.
Trim and Transitions
| Piece | Price | Per linear ft |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter round (94 in) | $14.99 to $17.19 | $1.91 to $2.19 |
| Reducer (94 in) | $37.99 to $42.79 | One per doorway to a lower floor |
| Stair nose (94 in) | $40.99 to $44.99 | Two 36 in steps per piece; see stairs |
| Self-leveller (50 lb bag) | $30.89 | For dips in a concrete subfloor |
Floor & Decor shelf prices, 13 October 2026. Home Depot's install project includes moldings and trim.
Common Questions
How much does laminate flooring cost per square foot for materials?
$0.99 to $3.99 per sq ft for the planks we read at Home Depot and Floor & Decor on 13 October 2026, from 7mm planks with no pad to 12mm AC5 planks with an attached pad. Shaw's own estimate for its three laminate styles is higher. Add 10% for waste, and underlayment if the plank has no pad.
How much do materials cost for 400 sq ft of laminate?
$556 to $1,756: planks with 10% waste plus underlayment where needed, from the cheapest budget plank to the dearest premium plank we priced. Labour is extra; see the calculator for the installed price.
How much is laminate underlayment?
From $0.30 per sq ft for basic foam (Home Depot's cost guide) to $0.79 for premium acoustic foam (Floor & Decor, 100 sq ft rolls). Foam with a vapour barrier is $0.40 to $0.60. Planks with an attached pad need none, except a polyethylene film over concrete.
Which laminate brands are cheapest?
Of the planks we could price, TrafficMaster (Home Depot) and FairOaks (Floor & Decor) start lowest. Brands without a readable price on 14 October 2026 (Mohawk, Lifeproof laminate) are listed as not read rather than guessed.
What AC rating should laminate be?
AC3 suits bedrooms, offices and dry living areas; AC4 living rooms, hallways, kitchens and homes with pets; AC5 entries and the heaviest home traffic. AC classes come from EN 13329 and measure wear only. See our AC ratings guide.