Replacing a carpet can transform the look of a room and also make it feel instantly fresh and clean. The cost of buying and installing a new carpet will vary depending on a variety of factors, which we look at more closely here.
Average Carpet Cost
The cost of a carpet is going to differ dramatically from one home to the next, even if you are comparing the carpet of a room that is exactly the same size. This is because the type of carpet you choose will be a big factor in determining the final costs, and the range of carpets available is vast.
Budget carpets can start as low as 60 cents per square foot, but more commonly, you can expect to pay around $3 per square foot for a good quality mid-range carpet. On average, carpets cost homeowners between $1 and $9 per square foot, but this figure could be much higher if you opt for a luxury carpet.
Based on these figures, the average cost of a carpet for a 12×12 foot room will be between $144 and $1296. However, you should bear in mind that you will have to buy a carpet slightly bigger than the size of your room to ensure it can be cut down to size for a perfect fit.
When considering the cost to carpet a 12×12 room, you will also have to factor in the installation of the carpet, as well as the carpet padding. Carpet padding is essential, and this will typically cost around 50 cents per square foot, giving you an additional fee of $72 for a 12×12 foot room.
The labor cost of a carpet fitter will usually range from 50 cents per square meter to $1.50 per square meter, so for a 12×12 room, you will be looking at an installation fee of between $72 and $216.
This means, on average, you will be looking at a total cost of between $288 and $1584. For an average quality carpet, you could expect to be paying somewhere in the middle part of this bracket, at around $800.
The cost of carpeting a 12×12 room can, of course, vary enormously; you could pay a significantly higher cost for a luxury carpet with luxury padding, or you may be able to complete a carpeting job for a much lower price if you are happy to compromise on quality and attempt to install the carpets yourself.
Type of Carpet and Cost
Quality
The quality of carpet you buy will, of course, affect the price you pay, as is the case with almost everything in life. A higher-quality carpet is almost always going to cost much more than a low-quality carpet unless you get lucky and find an end-of-the-line high-quality carpet in a clearance sale. For carpets, the quality and the material of the carpet go hand in hand.
Wool is the most prestigious type of carpet material, and as such, it will usually be made into a very high-quality carpet. Other carpets made from natural fibers also tend to be among the highest quality, such as cotton carpets. Man-made synthetic fibers such as polyester can come in a variety of quality options, ranging from low-quality budget types of carpets to higher-quality polyester carpets.
If you want your carpet to stand up well against wear and tear, and have a good chance of lasting for more than a decade, then a high-quality carpet will be worth every extra penny. However, there are some instances where a low-quality carpet will suffice, for example, in a rarely used guest bedroom or if you are trying to cut costs on home renovations.
Material
Carpets can be made from a variety of different materials, and this will have a big impact on the price point of a carpet.
Polyester carpets are a popular choice because they are inexpensive yet can perform quite well in a number of areas. Polyester carpets are resistant to mold and mildew, and they also offer a good resistance to stains, making them a good option for families with children or pets.
Polyester carpets are resistant to fading, and they dye well and, as such, are available in an enormous range of colors. Despite being synthetic, polyester has a very soft and natural feel underfoot and retains its fluffiness well. The main drawback of polyester carpets is that they are not very durable, so they don’t work well in high-traffic areas.
In terms of price, polyester carpets are among the most affordable options, starting at less than a dollar per square foot.
Nylon carpets are another popular synthetic choice, which is known for being the most durable of all synthetic carpets, making them ideal for high-traffic areas such as hallways and stairs. Nylon carpets are very affordable, but you can expect these carpets to come at a slightly higher price than other synthetic carpets.
Typically, nylon carpets will start at around $1.50 per square foot. They are not as soft to the touch as polyester carpets, but they offer a similar level of stain resistance. Nylon carpets are best maintained with a steam cleaner which activates the fibers and retains the lush, fluffy feel.
Olefin carpets, also known as polypropylene carpets, are a good budget option, starting at around $1.20 per square foot. These carpets offer a good middle ground in terms of synthetic carpets since they are not as expensive as nylon but not as cheap as polyester.
Olefin carpets have excellent stain resistance, but they absorb oils that can trap dirt and make for a murky-looking flooring surface. This material is commonly used to create Berber carpets.
Wool carpets are the most expensive material of carpets you are likely to find. They are all-natural and therefore are better for the environment and better for our health compared with synthetic options. Wool carpets are resistant to fire, they are a brilliant insulator, and they are incredibly durable.
The soft and cozy feel of wool carpet underfoot is unlike any other type of carpet, and it is for all of these reasons that wool carpets typically start at around $5 per square foot and can be as much as $25 per square foot.
This means you would be looking at a cost of between $720 and $7488 to carpet a 12×12 room with wool carpet, and that’s before you have factored in the cost of carpet padding and installation.
Style
There are a variety of different styles of carpets, with the most common being Saxony, loop, woven, and twist. The style you choose will affect the cost of the carpet because some are more expensive to produce and can therefore charge a higher price, while in some cases, supply and demand will cause certain types of carpets to soar in price when they are particularly trendy.
Size
The size of a carpet will, of course, affect the price because carpet is charged per square foot. The larger your room is, the more your carpet is going to cost. Carpets tend to come on rolls measuring 12 feet in width up to 16 feet in width, so you will also have to account for wastage if your room is significantly different in size from the width of a roll.
Carpet Padding Cost
Carpet padding is the layer that sits in between the solid floor of a building and the carpet. It serves the purpose of providing a cushioned feel beneath your feet, and it also acts as a shock absorber and sound absorber.
Carpet padding is an essential purchase when you have a new carpet installed and can be the difference between a mid-range carpet feeling like a budget carpet or a high-quality carpet.
If you are replacing an old carpet, don’t be tempted to reuse the existing carpet padding underneath, as carpet padding has a similar lifespan to carpet, so if your carpet needs replacing, so does your carpet padding.
There are a number of different options when it comes to carpet padding, and the type you select will, of course, affect the total price you pay for your carpet installation project. Urethane foam carpet padding is the most inexpensive and almost the most popular. However, it is not the most effective choice and can easily flatten in high-traffic areas.
For this type of padding, you will be looking at around 50 cents per square foot. For a better-quality padding, opt for bonded urethane which averages at 80 cents per square foot. This is more durable and a better option for rooms that get a lot of use.
Rubber is the type of carpet padding to choose if you want a luxury feel since it is thick and cushioned to provide a fancy feel. This type of carpet padding will typically cost between $1 and $2 per square foot, so it can add a considerable amount to your final carpet project price.
