How Much Does Home Depot Carpet Installation Cost?

Last Updated on March 6, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Installing brand-new wall-to-wall carpeting can completely transform the look, feel, and comfort of any room in your home. But what exactly will that flooring update cost if you go through Home Depot for everything from material selection to professional installation?

Highlights

• For installation labor alone, expect to pay in the range of $1-5 per square foot depending on the flooring products selected and overall scope of work. Material choices add cost.
• Accurate project quotes require an initial in-home measurement appointment to calculate precise square footage and services needed room-by-room.
• Potential additional costs apply for subfloor repairs, old flooring removal, and disposal, moving heavy furniture, custom cutting, stairs, and more.
• Special long-term financing promotions through Home Depot can help ease payments on bigger flooring installation projects.
• From your product order date, hired installation scheduling typically occurs within 1-2 weeks once carpet arrives at their store.

How Much Does Home Depot Carpet Installation Cost?

For labor and basic installation alone, expect to pay an average of $1-5 per square foot depending on the specifics of your flooring materials, required services, and overall project scope.

According to the official Home Depot website, The cost to install carpet at The Home Depot depends on three factors: the carpet, padding, and the labor. The cost of carpet installation is FREE on purchases of $1,000 or more.

Houzz writes that the price for carpet installation can be between $3 to $5 per square foot.

While overall installed carpeting costs can vary widely based on the specific types, styles, brands, and quality levels you select, one major benefit of using Home Depot is they break down the entire process into clear, understandable line items on your quote.

Major components include the carpeting itself, recommended cushioning underlayment, removal and disposal of your old flooring, basic installation labor fees based on square footage, and any customized add-on services like furniture moving that you require.

Getting an accurate all-in quote involves an initial in-home measurement visit from their knowledgeable specialists who know how to truly maximize value based on your goals. With clear expectations set from the start, you can move forward confidently.

Cost Factors to Consider

The major elements that influence the total installed cost for new carpet through Home Depot include:

Type of Carpet – Prices span a wide range, from as low as $0.50 per square foot on the very budget end for basic synthetic carpets up to $8+ per square foot or more for premium ultra-plush carpets using the finest branded materials. The specific fiber content, density, cushioning, and overall durability result in these cost variances. Be sure to select a well-suited carpet for your home’s needs.

Cushioning Underlayment Padding – Adding a basic foam, fiber, or rebond padding when installing your new carpet averages $0.50 to $1 per square foot. However, heavier-duty dense premium carpet cushions can run $1-2 per square foot or more. Proper padding extends carpet life.

Installation Labor Fees – The actual cost for professional installers to fully install your new carpeting typically ranges from $1 to $5 per square foot or potentially more based on the room layout complexity like stairs, custom edging, or intricate seaming. Basic open square rooms are the most affordable. Ask about intricacies upfront.

Any Additional Special Services – Other services like moving your existing furniture, the removal and disposal of your old flooring, subfloor repairs, adding custom trim pieces, or even overnight installation for a time crunch add incremental costs. Know these upfront so your final bill holds no surprises.

Overall Project Scope – The total carpeted square footage being installed when multiplied by the price per square foot for carpet, cushioning, labor, and services equals your total budget. Accurate in-home measurements for each space are key.

Installing more luxurious carpets with plush underlayment and utilizing intricate customized installation for challenging floorplans inflates pricing substantially while taking a DIY approach for self-installation reduces labor costs. But be sure to get a clearly outlined Home Depot quote highlighting realistic line item expectations before proceeding.

Home Depot Carpet Brand Selections

Through Home Depot, here are the major tiers of carpet brands and collections to choose from, each with different durability implications:

Entry-Level In-House Brands – TrafficMaster, LifeProof, and Dream Weaver represent Home Depot’s family of exclusive more budget-friendly carpet lines spanning polyester, nylon, PET, and triexta materials. They provide solid value for the cost, but are best suited for lower-traffic areas and may require replacement sooner with an average lifespan of 5-8 years.

Mid-Tier Established Brands – Widely recognized quality names like Shaw Industries, Mohawk, Karastan, and Stainmaster stocked at Home Depot offer noticeably better performance, durability, and longevity thanks to superior materials, warranties, and manufacturing. Their higher costs merit a longer 10-15 year useful life.

Top-Tier Luxury Brands – For those seeking true designer investment carpets, Home Depot also offers limited ultra-premium collections from luxury makers like Kraus that use the finest imported wools with intricate handcrafting. These plush carpets last 20+ years but can cost up to $15/square foot installed.

Carefully consider your home’s expected foot traffic and usage for the space along with your budget when selecting. While more budget-friendly carpet saves upfront, it will show wear faster in high-traffic common areas. Investing a bit more in quality carpets saves substantially long-term through fewer replacements.

Additional Carpet Installation Costs

Beyond just the carpeting itself and installation labor, be sure to account for other supplemental expenses that contribute to a complete flooring installation project:

Removal and Disposal of Old Carpeting – For Home Depot installers to safely remove and properly dispose of your existing carpet, padding, tack strips, and trims, expect an added fee averaging around $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot. DIY’ing this messy step saves costs but requires a dumpster rental.

Moving Existing Furniture – Should you need installers to move heavier items like beds, sofas, dressers, and appliances to clear space, allow at least $150+ for basic furniture shuffling with heavier pieces costing incrementally more. Taking this on yourself or recruiting helpers prevents added costs.

Stairway Installation – Getting carpeting fully installed on any stairways typically costs around $3 to $10 per step depending on the intricacy of pattern and design. Underlayment padding adds another $2 to $3 per stair step as well. Stairs represent one of the most complex areas.

Subfloor Repairs or Added Adjustments – Any rotted or damaged subflooring that requires fixing prior to installing new carpet costs a minimum of $200+ per affected repair area. Other adjustments like adding toe kicks, trim pieces, or removing sliding doors rack up too. Ask Home Depot to assess any special needs to avoid issues down the line.

Avoid budget surprises by understanding every potential cost element of your specific carpet installation upfront before proceeding. Don’t hesitate to ask Home Depot specialists about any concerns like moving furniture logistics or add-ons.

What to Expect

If using Home Depot’s professional installation team, you can expect the following coordinated process:

• Initial in-home measurement appointment at your convenience to assess rooms and precisely estimate required materials down to the square yard needed.
• Together with the specialist, you’ll place the specific carpet product order through Home Depot including confirmation of installation dates once your flooring arrives based on availability.
• Any necessary preparatory work will need completed prior to the installers arriving, such as clearing furniture and belongings, removing baseboards or existing trim pieces carefully, tearing up old carpet and padding, and moving appliances.
• On installation day, the carpet team will haul off old flooring debris and prepare subfloors as needed, followed by the proper installation of new cushions and carpet.
• Finally, the team will replace all furniture, transition strips, appliances, baseboards, and trim pieces to complete the project, leaving only vacuuming for you.

From your initial product purchase date, expect professional installation scheduling within roughly 1-2 weeks on average depending on demand. Actual installation time varies based on square footage.

Payment and Special Financing Options

To ease costs, Home Depot offers several payment and special financing options for flooring projects:

• Special 18-24 month financing promotions with no interest whatsoever when you utilize their Home Depot Consumer Credit Card for purchases over $1,200. Make minimum payments during this period.
• Their standard everyday Home Depot Consumer Credit Card provides a flexible revolving line of credit with competitive interest rates based on your approved limit and individual credit profile.
• For carpet installation projects exceeding $5,000 in total cost, their extended 5-year financing option via a third-party lender comes with fixed monthly payments and set interest rates, allowing you to finance costs over time.

Explore which promotional financing offer best suits your needs so this worthwhile carpet upgrade project won’t overly strain your family’s monthly budget. Be sure to apply for pre-approval well ahead of installation to secure your financing.

You might also like our articles about the cost of Home Depot Truck rental, carpet replacement in a car, and hardwood stair installation.

Tips for Saving on Your Carpet Installation

If searching for cost savings opportunities, consider:

• Asking about any seasonal discounts or holiday sales offered periodically throughout the year on flooring. Timing flexibility helps.
• Supplying your own carpet purchased separately if you source a bargain, which deducts product costs from the quote.
• For basic small installations, inquiring if a handyman service might offer discounted labor rates versus their professional flooring crews for full-home projects.
• Seeing if any eco-friendly or high-efficiency carpeting qualifies for added rebates through local utilities or manufacturers.
• Comparing Home Depot’s installed flooring quotes against both big box and local flooring stores to ensure you’re getting highly competitive market pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Home Depot rip out carpet?

Yes, their professional flooring installers can handle safely removing and properly disposing of old carpeting, cushioning, tack strips, and related debris as part of your quoted installation costs.

Expect an average added fee of around $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot for removal.

What time of year is carpet the cheapest?

Often, you can find the most competitive special deals and added discounts on flooring installations around major holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and year-end holidays when demand is slower.

Avoid the higher-priced peak spring and summer seasons if flexibility in your schedule allows.

Should I tip Home Depot carpet installers?

Tipping is not standard or expected practice. The carpet installation pros are hourly employees of Home Depot rather than contractors and are paid fair wages by the company directly.

However, if they did an exceptional job, you may choose to offer a tip at your sole discretion, but there is no obligation whatsoever. Positive online reviews are always appreciated in lieu of tipping.