One of the very first steps in shopping for new flooring is deciding what TYPE of product you should be considering. Not the style or the color. Not the texture or finish. Not even what price range. The very basic starting point----do you want soft carpet for your family room? Or super durable porcelain tile? Or shiny elegant hardwood floors?
Sometimes knowing the price of different flooring options makes the choice easier. And there is certainly a wide range of prices based on the type of floor you select. As an example, let's assume you have a 400 square feet family room that is currently carpeted, and that you are on a wooden subfloor (i.e., over a basement or crawl space.) If you were to choose a medium-priced product, the average professionally installed cost for each type of flooring is approximately:
Carpet $2000
Laminate $3200
Luxury Vinyl Plank $3400
Hardwoods 3/4" $4000
Tile $7500
The type of flooring makes a difference on your budget, doesn't it? Of course, there are many other things to consider, for instance, the average person replaces their carpet every nine years. So, if you are in your home for twenty years, you will replace your carpet at least once, maybe twice. But you will almost certainly have the same wood floor for twenty years. Over time, the higher priced options tend to pay for themselves because of the longevity of the product. However, this doesn't necessarily make you feel better when you write the initial check to pay for it!
Here is some pricing from recent installations to help you as you make your budget: