How to use the carpet installation cost calculator
- Enter the room length and width, and a waste allowance (default 10%, a CalcTheJob starting point).
- Optionally include removal of old carpet and pad. That add-on uses two sources and is charged on the existing room area, not the waste.
Roll length and pad area stay on the carpet calculator. Vinyl box counts stay on the flooring calculator.
How the typical is built
The typical rate is the median of four independent midpoints or averages: HomeGuide $2–$8 (mid $5, Oct 31, 2025), Homewyse $5.27–$7.72 (mid $6.495, May 2026), Angi $3–$11 (mid $7, Sep 9, 2026) and Fixr’s national average $7.47 (Jan 31, 2025). The median is $6.7475, shown as about $6.75 per sq ft. The displayed envelope is $2–$13.58 (HomeGuide’s low to Fixr’s high). Fixr also publishes a $1.36 extreme low that is not used as the page envelope. This Old House cites Angi and is not counted. HomeAdvisor shares Angi’s data, so the two are counted once, as Angi.
A worked example: 12×15 ft room
A 12 × 15 ft room with 10% waste is 198 sq ft of installed carpet. At $6.7475 per sq ft the typical is $1,336, in a displayed range of $396–$2,689. Removal, if included, is a separate two-source add-on on the 180 sq ft room area.
Sources & assumptions
How this calculator gets its numbers. Full method: our methodology.
- Typical installed rate is the median of four independent midpoints or averages: HomeGuide $2–$8 (mid $5, Oct 31, 2025), Homewyse $5.27–$7.72 (mid $6.495, May 2026), Angi $3–$11 (mid $7, Sep 9, 2026) and Fixr national average $7.47 (Jan 31, 2025). Median = $6.7475/sf, shown as about $6.75/sf.
- Displayed envelope is $2–$13.58 (HomeGuide low to Fixr high). Fixr also publishes a $1.36 extreme low that is not used as the page envelope.
- This Old House cites Angi and is not counted. HomeAdvisor shares Angi’s data, so the two are counted once, as Angi. Pad is included in the installed rate.
- Optional removal is n = 2: HomeGuide $0.70–$1.60/sf and Angi $1–$5/sf, charged on existing room area, not waste. Default 10% waste is a CalcTheJob planning starting point.
Sources
- HomeGuide, Carpet Installation Cost. Oct 31, 2025: $2–$8 per sq ft installed (carpet, pad and labor). Old carpet and pad removal $0.70–$1.60 per sq ft.
- Angi, Carpet Installation Cost and Advantages. Sep 9, 2026: $3–$11 per sq ft installed. Removal $1–$5 per sq ft.
- Fixr, Cost to Install Carpet. Jan 31, 2025: national average $7.47 per sq ft installed; published band $1.36–$13.58.
- Homewyse, Cost to Install Carpet. May 2026: national average $5.27–$7.72 per sq ft for the default mid-grade example.
Last reviewed . A written local bid wins.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install carpet in a 12×15 room?
At the four-source typical of $6.7475 per sq ft, 198 sq ft with 10% waste is about $1,336, in a $2–$13.58 per sq ft envelope ($396–$2,689). A local written bid wins.
Is pad included?
Yes. The published installed figures used here include carpet, pad and labor. Removal of old carpet is optional and disclosed as n = 2.
Why isn’t This Old House counted?
That page states its cost data is sourced from Angi and HomeAdvisor, so it is not an independent series.
Where do I get the roll length?
On the carpet calculator, which is the quantity takeoff for this cost page.