Material is half the bill. Labor is the other half. LVP costs $3-10/ft² installed. Hardwood runs $8-16. Tile is $7-20. The range depends more on who installs it than what you buy.
Tallyard Editorial·Updated April 20, 2026·Reviewed against NWFA installation guidelines, Floor & Decor pricing, and contractor cost surveys
The material is half the bill, and sometimes not even that
When a homeowner shops for flooring, they see the per-square-foot price on the box and multiply by room size. A 300 square foot living room in $4/ft² LVP looks like a $1,200 project. But installed, it is $1,800 to $2,400 because labor, underlayment, transitions, and old floor removal add 50 to 100 percent to the material cost. For tile, labor often exceeds the material cost because mortar work is slow and skilled. The flooring calculator gives you the material side; this page covers the full installed picture.
Fig. 1. LVP is the value leader. Solid hardwood and natural stone cost 3-5× more installed. The gap is mostly labor — skilled hardwood and tile installers charge $3-8/ft² in labor alone.How we calculated these numbers▾
Pricing from Floor & Decor, Home Depot, and Lowe's 2026 retail (materials) plus HomeGuide and Angi contractor surveys (labor). NWFA waste factors applied. Underlayment and adhesive included in installed costs.
Fig. 2. Tile has the highest labor ratio because mortar application, cutting, and grouting are slow skilled work. LVP click-lock is the most DIY-friendly and labor-light.
Total cost by room size
Fig. 3. A whole-house LVP job runs $5,000-12,000. The same house in hardwood: $12,000-24,000. Material choice is the biggest single decision in the budget.
Illustrative example · Nashville, TN
A couple installed 1,200 ft² of LVP throughout their main floor. Material: $4.50/ft² ($5,400). Professional installation: $2.50/ft² ($3,000). Transitions and underlayment: $350. Old carpet removal (DIY): $0. Total: $8,750. A neighbor did the same area in engineered hardwood at $9/ft² material plus $4/ft² labor: $15,600. The LVP looks nearly identical to the hardwood from standing height and cost 44% less.
Composite illustration based on typical project dimensions, regional contractor pricing, and 2026 material costs. Not a specific real project.
Do not forget: removing the old floor
Fig. 4. Old flooring removal is often quoted separately or not at all. Carpet is cheap to remove. Tile with mortar bed is the most expensive.
LVP can go over existing flooring in many cases
LVP click-lock can be installed directly over existing vinyl, laminate, or hardwood if the surface is flat and in decent condition. This eliminates removal cost entirely and is one reason LVP dominates the renovation market. You cannot do this with tile or solid hardwood — both require the old floor to come up first.
DIY
Professional
Material (1,000 ft² LVP)
$3,000–5,000
$3,000–5,000
Underlayment + transitions
$200–400
Included
Old floor removal
$0 (DIY carpet pull)
$500–1,500
Labor
$0 (1–2 weekends)
$2,000–4,000
Total
$3,200–5,400
$5,500–10,500
LVP click-lock is the most DIY-friendly flooring. Hardwood and tile should be hired out unless you have installation experience.