Carpeting a 10x12 room costs around $200 to $800; the costs can vary based on the materials you use and whether you install the carpet yourself or hire a contractor.
When you buy a home, you want to make it your own. After all, one of the most exciting parts of graduating from renting to owning is that you can make dramatic changes to your living space whenever you want — it’s your home.
Of course, you’re also on the financial hook for making those changes. As such, if you want to invest in home improvements, you want to know how much things are going to cost. Many homeowners want to change the flooring in certain parts of their home, and carpeting makes up 40% of the flooring market.
Whether you want to add carpet to a bedroom, den, or office, it’s important to know the costs so you can find the best deal for your budget.
There are myriad factors that go into calculating a specific carpeting job.
HomeGuide’s 2023 carpet installation cost estimates indicate carpeting costs $2 to $8 per square foot installed, $200-900 to replace the carpet in a 10x12 room, and $1,800-$7,500 to carpet 1,000 square feet of a house. Those are enormous ranges.
To get an estimate of how much it costs to carpet a 10x12 room in your home, you need to break parts of the process.
There are several costs that go into carpet installation that you must consider when estimating the cost of a carpeting project, including how much it costs to carpet a 10x12 room.
The most significant cost of a carpeting job is the carpet itself. Retailers like Home Depot may have carpeting available for as little as $0.65 a square foot or as much as $12 a square foot.
A 10x12 room is 120 square feet, so you’re looking at a range of $78 to $1,440 for the carpet alone. Carpet costs range depending on fiber, cut style or construction, and pile height, which we’ll cover in more detail later.
You don’t see carpet padding, but you’ll know if it’s missing. Padding is crucial to making the carpet feel comfortable to walk on. After all, that’s the whole point of the carpet, so don’t pinch pennies on padding, especially if you’re carpeting a room with concrete floors. Padding makes the floor softer, but it also insulates your floors and can reduce allergens and dampen sound.
Padding may range from $0.25 per square foot to $1.2 per square foot, making the cost for a 10x12 room between $30 and $144.
If you can install carpet yourself, that’s a great way to save some money. If you can find a company that offers free installation as a perk of purchasing from them, that’s even better.
Otherwise, expect between $1 and $2 a square foot for labor costs. That’s a range of $120 and $240 for a 10x12 room.
Installation is tricky because not all companies offer the same services for the same labor cost. The company that charges $1 a square foot might expect you to empty the room of furniture, costing you time and energy. A more expensive company may include the manual labor required to clear the room before installing carpet. Make sure to ask exactly what labor costs are included before hiring a company.
All told, you’re looking at anywhere between $228 at the absolute least to more than $1,800 to carpet a 10x12 room.
The primary reason carpeting costs range so much is because not all carpeting is equal. Carpet fiber matters quite a bit when it comes to maximizing comfort and budget. Let’s break down the differences in terms of fiber, cut style or construction, and pile height.
As you could probably guess, carpet fiber is the material carpeting is made out of. Like clothing, material makes a big difference in cost, but it’s not so simple as saying a certain material is “best.” Each type of carpet fiber has different benefits and drawbacks.
You’ve probably noticed that some carpeting just looks different, and not only because of the fiber. That’s because there are many different carpet cut styles or constructions. The five most common types are:
You’ve probably heard some of these terms before and might be able to identify some of them. When choosing carpeting, test a few different styles out to see what looks and feels right for your space. Generally, Berber/loop, plush, and textured are on the more affordable side, while Frieze/shag and pattern styles are more expensive.
Finally, pile refers to the height of the carpet. There are three main pile categories: low, medium, and high.
How much it costs to carpet a 10x12 room depends on the price of materials in your area and your decisions. In this guide, you’ve learned the primary factors that impact carpet price, so you should know where to find savings.
For most residential carpeting jobs, medium pile Berber nylon carpeting is the most budget-friendly. You can save more money by installing the carpet yourself.
Spend some time shopping for options at local stores to see what carpeting makes the most sense for your space and your budget.
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