How Much Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Cost? Everything You Need to Know
Vinyl plank flooring installation costs an average of $2,300 per room. The price to install vinyl plank flooring ranges from $625 to $4,000 per room.
Vinyl plank flooring installation costs an average of $6.70 per square foot, ranging from a low of $3 per square foot, up to a high of $10.35 per square foot.
Often installed as a floating floor, vinyl plank flooring is economical, durable, waterproof, and available in hundreds of wood-realistic styles.
What Is Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Vinyl plank flooring is vinyl flooring shaped as long, narrow strips that simulate real wood plank or strip flooring.
Vinyl plank flooring remarkably looks like wood because a digital print of real wood is printed on the plank with a rotogravure (cylindrical) press. It is also embossed with a simulated wood texture.
Thicker planks can be embossed with simulated hand scrapings, ornamental scratches, or nail holes. A tough, transparent wear layer covers the image.
Types of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Type | Average Cost |
Click-lock | $1 to $6 per square foot |
Loose lay | $3 to $5 per square foot |
Adhesive | $1.50 to $3 per square foot |
Click-Lock Vinyl Plank
Click-lock vinyl plank flooring costs from $1 to $6 per square foot. This type of flooring uses a tongue-and-groove style attachment method on all edges.
Click-lock is the most common type of vinyl plank available to DIYers. The locking edges hold the edges together, overriding minor subfloor imperfections.
However, the clicking mechanism can be difficult to get right, especially on the ends. In the event of damage, a few of the planks can be individually removed and replaced, but most cannot.
Tip
The best vinyl plank flooring has a click-lock mechanism that's easy to snap into place and stays secure.
Loose Lay Vinyl Plank
Loose lay vinyl plank flooring costs from $3 to $5 per square foot. Loose lay vinyl plank flooring installs without the need for a click-lock mechanism or adhesive. The planks are held down by their own weight and by the friction grip backing.
The subfloor needs to be perfectly smooth and clean for loose lay vinyl flooring. Lippage (raised edges) can be a problem if the subfloor isn't perfectly smooth.
Loose lay vinyl flooring is sometimes combined with adhesive around the perimeter. Loose planks are individually replaceable.
Glue-Down Vinyl Plank
Full-spread adhesive vinyl plank flooring costs $1.50 to $3 per square foot.
Glue-down vinyl planks remain snug and secure for the long term. Installing with glue is relatively simple and clean since the adhesive is thin and tacky.
Because the vinyl planks are bonded to the subfloor, the issue of click-lock mechanisms occasionally malfunctioning is eliminated. Planks can be individually removed, though with some difficulty.
How to Calculate the Cost of Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation
Learn vinyl plank flooring installation cost estimates by measuring the room.
Measure the room in one direction with a tape measure.
Measure the room in the opposite direction.
Multiply the two figures.
Measure extra areas within the room such as alcoves or closets not covered by the initial measurements.
Add all figures to arrive at the total room size.
Add another 10- to 15-percent to the total room size for wastage.
Multiple by either the total installation cost per square foot (if hiring professionals) or by the square foot materials cost (if installed by yourself).
Example
A living room measures 15 feet in one direction and 20 feet in the other direction. Add a 50-square-foot bay window to bring the total to 350 square feet. Add another 35 to 50 square feet for wastage. Buy 400 square feet of vinyl plank flooring.
Cost by Room
Room | Size | Average Cost | Low | High |
Basement | 750 square feet | $5,025 | $2,250 | $7,762 |
Bathroom, small | 50 square feet | $335 | $150 | $517 |
Bathroom, medium | 120 square feet | $804 | $360 | $1,242 |
Bedroom | 150 square feet | $1,005 | $450 | $1,552 |
Hallway | 80 square feet | $536 | $240 | $828 |
Kitchen, small | 100 square feet | $670 | $300 | $1,035 |
Kitchen, average | 250 square feet | $1,675 | $750 | $2,587 |
Living room | 350 square feet | $2,345 | $1,050 | $3,622 |
Mudroom | 160 square feet | $1,072 | $480 | $1,656 |
Basement
Installing vinyl plank flooring in a finished basement costs $5,025. A finished basement can be anywhere from 750 to 1,300 square feet, or roughly the size of the floor above it.
Tip
As a waterproof product, vinyl plank flooring is a good fit for moisture-prone basements.
Bathroom
The cost to install vinyl plank flooring in a bathroom is $335 for a small bathroom and $805 for a medium-sized bathroom.
Vinyl plank flooring is one of the few wood-look floor coverings that you can safely install in a full bathroom, without fear of delamination.
Bedroom
Vinyl plank flooring installation in a bedroom costs from $450 to $1,552. Vinyl flooring isn't very sound absorbent, so add throw rugs and other fabrics and textiles to soften the sound.
Hallway
The cost of vinyl plank flooring in a hallway is about $535 for a hallway four feet wide by 20 feet long. This high-traffic section of the home lends itself well to vinyl plank.
Kitchen
Vinyl plank flooring in a small kitchen costs $670 for a small kitchen and around $1,675 for a large kitchen. These high-traffic, high-moisture spaces work well with vinyl plank flooring.
Living Room
The cost to install vinyl plank flooring in a 350-square-foot living room is about $2,345.
Mudroom
Installing vinyl plank flooring in a mudroom costs from $480 to $1,655. As a hardy, waterproof floor covering, vinyl plank flooring stands up to the everyday abuses found in mudrooms—water, pets, dirt, and high traffic.
Cost by Room Size
Room Size | Installation and Materials Cost |
100 square feet | $670 |
200 square feet | $1,340 |
300 square feet | $2,010 |
400 square feet | $2,680 |
500 square feet | $3,350 |
600 square feet | $4,020 |
700 square feet | $4,690 |
800 square feet | $5,360 |
900 square feet | $6,030 |
1,000 square feet | $6,700 |
The size of the room has a direct bearing on the cost of vinyl plank flooring installation. Larger rooms require more materials. Adding rooms to the project increases the cost.
Cost by Number of Rooms
Number of Rooms | Rooms | Installation Cost |
2 | Kitchen and living room | $4,020 |
3 | Hallway and two bedrooms | $2,545 |
4 | Bathroom, hallway, and two bedrooms | $3,350 |
6 | Kitchen, living room, hallway, bathroom, and two bedrooms | $7,370 |
Vinyl plank flooring is often installed as a standalone project like an individual bathroom or kitchen remodel. However, vinyl plank flooring can be installed across multiple rooms, sometimes an entire floor or the whole house.
Multiple room installations ensure visual consistency from room to room. Transition strips may still be required between rooms.
Cost of Materials
The cost of materials for a vinyl plank flooring installation project is an average of $2.67 per square foot, with a range starting at $1.50 and reaching up to $3.83.
Cost of Labor
The cost of labor to install a vinyl plank floor is an average of $3.35 per square foot, with a range starting at $1.85 per square foot and reaching up to $4.85 per square foot.
The average cost to hire vinyl plank flooring installers is between $23 and $24 per hour.
When you hire a flooring company, the vinyl plank flooring installation cost will include the cost of labor. If you hire workers on your own, it's important to offer wages that align with average labor costs.
Additional Considerations
Radiant Heat Flooring
Electric radiant floor heating costs from $10 to $16 per square foot, in addition to the vinyl plank flooring installation cost.
Vinyl plank flooring can usually be installed over radiant floor heating systems. Temperature limitations are standard, and 85°F is a common temperature maximum. Also, the radiant components must be embedded below the subfloor and not at floor level on heating mats.
Removing Old Flooring
The cost to remove old flooring before installing vinyl plank flooring starts at $1.35 per square foot and ranges up to $3.35 per square foot. The original floor can stay in place if it is solid and doesn't present any height problems with adjoining rooms.
Underlayment
If the subfloor is in poor condition, it may be able to be smoothed out with luan (sometimes spelled lauan), a 1/4-inch thick laminate wood board that comes in 4-foot by 8-foot sheets. Luan costs about $12 per sheet or about $0.50 per square foot.
Vinyl plank flooring generally does not require underlayment. The best substrate for vinyl plank flooring is a hard, flat, smooth, dry subfloor such as plywood or OSB.
Benefits of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Waterproof: Vinyl plank flooring is 100-percent waterproof, so it is ideal for high-moisture spaces like bathrooms.
Durable: Heels, paws, claws, furniture, and other everyday items can indent and scratch vinyl plank flooring, but not as easily as with real wood flooring.
Realistic appearance: Crisp wood-grain imagery combined with physical texturing gives vinyl plank the look of real wood flooring.
Easy to clean: Unlike laminate or engineered wood flooring, vinyl plank flooring isn't limited to damp mopping—wet mops are allowed.
Simple to fix: Should vinyl planks become damaged, individual loose lay and glue-down planks can be lifted and replaced.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
Project | Room Size | DIY Cost | Professional Cost | DIY Cost Savings |
Kitchen | 250 square feet | $668 | $1,675 | $1,008 |
Basement | 750 square feet | $2,000 | $5,025 | $3,022 |
Bathroom | 120 square feet | $320 | $805 | $485 |
One considerable benefit of vinyl plank flooring is its easy installation. A do-it-yourselfer with even limited home improvement experience can install vinyl plank flooring.
The cost to install your own vinyl plank flooring is largely the cost of the flooring itself, plus accessory materials like transition strips.
When installing glue-down vinyl plank flooring, factor in the cost of vinyl composition adhesive. One gallon of adhesive capable of covering 160 to 180 square feet costs around $20 to $25.
How to Save on Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Costs
In general, vinyl plank flooring remains on the more affordable side for many homeowners. So, it's easy to find ways to save even more money on installation.
Remove and dispose of the old flooring yourself.
Clear out rooms by yourself by moving furniture and area rugs.
Solicit at least three quotes from flooring installation companies.
Stick with in-stock colors and designs instead of custom ones.
Install less expensive, off-trend vinyl plank flooring in areas that get less attention.
Hire a professional if you're not comfortable doing it yourself.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands
Armstrong
COREtec
Karndean
Liberty
LL Flooring
Mannington
Mohawk
Shaw
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install 1,000 square feet of vinyl plank flooring?
It costs an average of $6,700 to install 1,000 square feet of vinyl plank flooring, including materials and labor.
How long does it take to install 500 square feet of vinyl plank flooring?
It takes a professional crew about half a day to a full day to install 500 square feet of vinyl plank flooring. For a do-it-yourselfer, it may take a day or two to install 500 square feet of vinyl plank flooring.
How soon can you walk on vinyl flooring after installation?
Some manufacturers recommend that you wait 24 hours to walk on any vinyl flooring after installation. Generally, though, it is safe to walk on a floating, click-lock vinyl plank floor immediately after installation. For glue-down vinyl plank flooring, the floor does need to be rolled smooth with a professional-style 100-pound floor roller and no one should walk on the floor for 24 hours.
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Read the original article on The Spruce.
