Flooring Statistics (2026): Costs, Trends, Market Size, and ROI

Flooring is one of the most visible and high-impact upgrades a homeowner can make, covering every square foot of living space and affecting both comfort and resale price. The figures below pull together verified 2025 and 2026 data on what different floor types cost to install, how large the industry is, which products are gaining share, and what pro installation of hardwood or luxury vinyl returns when you sell. If you are ready to act, our flooring installation services connect you with vetted pros, and you can explore all of our home services as well.

Flooring installation costs by type

1. Hardwood flooring costs $6 to $25 per square foot installed

Solid hardwood flooring runs roughly $11 to $25 per square foot installed, while engineered hardwood comes in somewhat lower at $7 to $20 per square foot, according to Modernize. Materials account for $4 to $12 per square foot and labor adds another $4 to $8, according to Go Flooring. A 500-square-foot living room averages around $7,750 all in. Our flooring installation services include free fixed-price estimates so you know the full number upfront.

2. LVP/luxury vinyl plank costs $3 to $18 per square foot installed

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is the most affordable wood-look option, averaging about $6 per square foot installed, with a typical range of $5 to $10, according to HomeAdvisor. A 1,000-square-foot project typically costs $3,000 to $18,000. Floating-floor installation runs $4.50 to $8 per square foot, while glue-down methods cost $5 to $10. LVP's combination of affordability, waterproofing, and realistic wood visuals is driving its rapid share growth.

3. Tile flooring runs $10 to $31 per square foot installed

Ceramic tile installs for roughly $11 to $39 per square foot and porcelain for $13 to $48 per square foot, with labor adding $3 to $15 on top of materials, according to This Old House. A typical 150-square-foot bathroom retile costs $2,422 to $2,984 all in. Tile is extremely durable in wet areas, which is why it pairs well with a kitchen remodeling project.

4. Carpet installation averages $1,778 for a typical project

Carpet installation costs $3 to $11 per square foot. The average homeowner spends $1,778, with a typical project ranging from $780 to $2,813, according to HomeAdvisor. Materials run $2 to $7 per square foot, and carpeting 1,000 square feet typically costs $3,000 to $11,000. Carpet remains especially popular in bedrooms due to its warmth and sound absorption.

5. Laminate flooring averages $2,998 for a standard installation

Laminate installs for $3 to $13 per square foot, with the typical project costing $2,998 and ranging from $1,471 to $4,657, according to HomeAdvisor. Materials alone run $1 to $5 per square foot and labor adds $2 to $8. Laminate mimics the look of hardwood at a fraction of the cost, though it cannot be refinished the way real wood can.

6. Hardwood floor refinishing averages about $1,890

Refinishing existing hardwood floors costs $3 to $8 per square foot, with an average project total of about $1,890 and a typical range of $1,107 to $2,680, according to HomeAdvisor. Floors need refinishing roughly every 7 to 10 years. At that price point and with a 147% cost recovery at resale, refinishing is often the smartest flooring dollar a homeowner can spend.

Flooring market size and industry

7. The US flooring installers industry is worth $33.8 billion in 2025

The US flooring installers industry generated $33.8 billion in revenue in 2025, growing at a compound annual rate of 2.1% from 2020 to 2025, with about 118,405 businesses operating across the country, according to IBISWorld. Carpet and rug installation remains the largest segment within the installer category. Quality varies widely across that many businesses, which is why our vetted pro network screens every contractor for licensing and insurance.

8. Total US flooring sales reached nearly $24 billion in 2024

The entire US floor covering market shipped $23.955 billion in product in 2024, covering 17.206 billion square feet across all categories, according to Floor Covering News, citing Catalina Research. Resilient flooring led all categories with $8.381 billion in sales, followed by carpet at $7.15 billion and ceramic tile at $2.984 billion.

9. The broader US flooring market is projected to reach $33.9 billion by 2035

The US flooring market (including retail and manufacturing) was valued at $23.12 billion in 2025 and is forecast to grow to $33.90 billion by 2035, expanding at a compound annual rate of 3.9%, according to Precedence Research. Residential end-use accounts for 52.1% of the market, with non-residential making up the balance.

Most popular flooring choices

10. Carpet holds the largest US market share at about 41%

Despite declining share in newer construction, carpet still commands roughly 41.2% of the US flooring market by product type, driven by comfort, affordability, and easy installation, according to Precedence Research. Carpet generated $7.15 billion in industry sales in 2024, accounting for the single largest dollar category despite a 4.1% year-over-year decline in revenue, per Floor Covering News.

11. Vinyl/resilient flooring tied hardwood as the top kitchen choice in 2025

In the 2025 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, vinyl or resilient flooring, hardwood, and ceramic or porcelain tile each appeared in kitchens at nearly identical rates of 22%, 21%, and 20% respectively, according to Woodworking Network, citing Houzz. Vinyl has been gaining at hardwood's expense in kitchens, with hardwood's share slipping from 25% in 2023 to 24% in 2024 and continuing to decline.

12. Waterproofing drives 35% of vinyl flooring purchases

The single biggest reason homeowners choose vinyl flooring over alternatives is its waterproof performance, cited by 35% of buyers, followed by price at 24%, durability at 22%, and aesthetics at 19%, according to Flooring Clarity. Damaged floors prompted 50% of vinyl purchases, with water damage alone accounting for more than 90% of the flooring damage cases that trigger replacement.

Hardwood refinishing ROI and resale value

13. Hardwood refinishing recovers 147% of its cost at resale

Refinishing hardwood floors returns an estimated 147% of the project cost when the home sells, with an average cost of $3,400 and a recovered resale value of $5,000, according to the NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report. That makes it one of only a handful of interior projects that pay back more than they cost. The project also earned a perfect Joy Score of 10 out of 10, tied for the highest satisfaction rating in the entire report.

14. New hardwood floor installation recovers 118% of its cost

Installing new wood flooring recovers an estimated 118% of the project cost at resale, with an average cost of $5,500 and a recovered resale value of $6,500, per the NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report. It also earned a perfect Joy Score of 10, and 64% of surveyed homeowners said they feel an increased sense of enjoyment in their home after completing the project.

15. Hardwood floors add 3 to 5% to a home's value and 54% of buyers will pay a premium

Hardwood flooring broadly increases a property's value by an estimated 3 to 5% and delivers a 70 to 80% ROI at resale, according to industry data cited by Pro Flooring Installers. More strikingly, 54% of buyers report they would pay more for a home that already has hardwood floors. When combined with a fresh coat of interior paint, refinished floors rank among the most impactful pre-sale improvements available.

LVP growth and trends

16. LVP was chosen by 30% of homeowners for renovations in 2024, up from 28%

Luxury vinyl plank adoption among renovating homeowners climbed to 30% in 2024 from 28% in 2023, according to Flooring Clarity. The global LVP market was valued at $8.81 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $16.01 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of 6.85%, per Fortune Business Insights. The US LVP segment alone is estimated at $2.22 billion in 2026.

17. Resilient flooring generated $8.4 billion in US sales in 2024, the top category

Resilient flooring, which includes LVP, LVT, sheet vinyl, and linoleum, generated $8.381 billion in sales across 5.846 billion square feet in 2024, making it the single largest revenue category in the US floor covering market, ahead of even carpet, according to Floor Covering News, citing Catalina Research. Vinyl flooring has been the top seller in US resilient categories for several consecutive years.

Why professional installation matters

18. Poor installation causes costly repairs and can void manufacturer warranties

DIY installation errors, including uneven seams, inadequate underlayment, and improper subfloor leveling, can shorten a floor's lifespan and require expensive repairs. Critically, many flooring manufacturers void their warranties when floors are not installed by a professional, eliminating coverage that can be worth thousands of dollars, according to Sunset Hardwood Floors. Hardwood and tile, in particular, require precise subfloor preparation that is difficult to assess without experience.

19. Subfloor preparation adds $1 to $4 per square foot and is the most common DIY blind spot

Subfloor preparation, including leveling, moisture barriers, and repairs, adds $1 to $4 per square foot to a project and is the step homeowners most often underestimate or skip entirely, according to HomeAdvisor. A bad subfloor causes gaps, squeaking, or full-floor failure within months. Vetted professionals assess subfloor condition before the first plank goes down, protecting the material investment. Browse our service areas to find a screened pro near you, or explore financing to spread the cost.

What this means for homeowners

• Flooring costs vary enormously by material, ranging from roughly $6 per square foot for LVP up to $20 or more for porcelain tile, so comparing types carefully before committing can save thousands of dollars on a whole-home project.
• Hardwood floors are among the best-returning interior investments available, with refinishing recovering 147% of cost and new installation recovering 118% at resale, plus both earning perfect satisfaction scores in the NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report.
• LVP is the fastest-growing flooring category because it delivers wood aesthetics, full waterproofing, and easy maintenance at a fraction of solid hardwood's price, making it a practical choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas.
• Carpet still dominates the market by volume and remains the most affordable option for bedrooms and family rooms, though it requires periodic replacement and lacks the resale appeal of hard surfaces.
• Professional installation protects both the material and the manufacturer warranty, and proper subfloor prep, the step most likely to go wrong with DIY, is what separates floors that last decades from floors that fail in months.
• Pro House Maintenance connects you with vetted, licensed and insured flooring pros and provides free fixed-price estimates. Visit our flooring installation services page, check our service areas, or request an estimate when you are ready.

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