Flooring Job Pricing Calculator
Calculate your total job price including materials, labor, waste factor, and profit margin. Know your numbers before you quote.
Job Details
Use our waste calculator if unsure
Flooring + underlayment + adhesive
Your labor rate or crew cost
Removal, transitions, disposal, etc.
Price Breakdown
How to Price Flooring Jobs
Pricing flooring jobs correctly is the difference between a profitable business and working for free. Here's the formula successful contractors use:
Job Price = (Material Cost + Labor Cost + Overhead) × (1 + Profit Margin)Or per square foot: (Material $/sqft + Labor $/sqft) × (1 + Waste %) × (1 + Margin %)
What to Include in Your Flooring Price
1. Material Costs
- Flooring material — Hardwood, laminate, LVP, tile, carpet
- Underlayment — Foam, cork, or moisture barrier
- Adhesive or fasteners — Glue, nails, staples
- Transitions and trim — T-moldings, reducers, baseboards
- Subfloor materials — Leveling compound, plywood if needed
2. Labor Costs
- Installation labor — Your time or crew wages
- Removal of old flooring — Often overlooked, always takes time
- Subfloor preparation — Leveling, repairs, moisture testing
- Furniture moving — If you're doing it
- Cleanup and disposal — Dump fees, time to clean
3. Overhead Costs
- Vehicle and fuel
- Tools and equipment wear
- Insurance and licensing
- Marketing and admin time
- Callbacks and warranty work (budget for it)
Typical Flooring Profit Margins
According to industry data, flooring contractor profit margins typically range:
| Business Type | Typical Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo contractor | 20-35% | Lower overhead, keep more |
| Small flooring company | 15-25% | Crew wages reduce margin |
| Commercial flooring | 12-18% | Higher volume, tighter margins |
| Specialty/custom work | 25-45% | Premium pricing for expertise |
Fixed Rate vs. Hourly Rate
Fixed Rate (Per Sq Ft)
Quote one price for the whole job based on square footage.
✓ Customer knows exact cost upfront
✓ Rewards efficiency
✗ Risk if job has surprises
Hourly Rate (Time + Materials)
Charge for actual hours worked plus material costs.
✓ Protected if job runs long
✓ Fair for complex jobs
✗ Customer uncertainty on final cost
Common Pricing Mistakes
- Forgetting waste factor — Always add 10-15% for cuts and mistakes
- Underestimating subfloor prep — The #1 budget killer
- Not charging for removal — Old flooring removal is real work
- Ignoring drive time — Factor in travel to/from job site
- Pricing to win, not to profit — Underbidding leads to rushed work and callbacks
Pro Tip: The True Cost of Underbidding
When you quote too low, you're forced to rush. Rushed work leads to mistakes. Mistakes lead to callbacks. Callbacks cost more than the profit you "saved" by winning the low bid. Price for quality, not just to win.
Turn Calculations Into Quotes
Floor Quote Pro does all this math automatically and generates professional PDF quotes in minutes—right from the job site.
Download Free for Android