Is carpet cheaper than laminate?
Are you wondering, “Is carpet cheaper than laminate?”
If so, the answer may surprise you!
However, even if one does end up being cheaper than the other, you should always select how you upgrade your home based on your lifestyle. What works best for you and your family? What do you like the most? What makes sense for your living arrangements?
Let’s break down carpet vs laminate and discuss the general pros and cons of each flooring option.
Is carpet cheaper than laminate?
The answer to this question depends. Is carpet cheaper than laminate? In many cases, yes. However, there are still many scenarios where laminate may actually end up being cheaper than carpet. Here are the average costs of product and installation for carpet and laminate.
Purchasing and installing laminate:
The average cost of laminate is between $2 and $6 per square foot.
The average cost of laminate installation is between $8 and $15 per square foot.
Purchasing and installing carpet:
The average cost of carpet is between $2 and $12 per square foot.
The average cost of carpet installation is between $1 and $2 per square foot.
This will all depend on what brand of flooring you choose, how high-end your product selection is, what contractor you decide to work with, and how much flooring you’re working with.
However, the clear distinction in pricing comes down to the installation of laminate flooring. This being said, many people who opt for laminate flooring actually install it themselves. DIY laminate installs aren’t overly complicated and can be done rather quickly. This will drastically reduce the price of the total job and make it cheaper than carpet.
What are the pros and cons of carpet?
Benefits of carpet:
- Cheaper and faster to install
- You don’t need to clean up water spills immediately
- Warmer and softer than hardwood flooring, laminate, and vinyl flooring
- Available in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures
Disadvantages of carpet:
- Cheaper carpet is not stain-resistant (wine, juice, and other colorful liquids can permanently damage carpet)
- Carpet doesn’t last as long as laminate or hardwood flooring
- Carpet will require regular shampooing to keep it clean and fresh
What are the pros and cons of laminate?
- Laminate typically won’t be stained by colorful liquids (if cleaned up quickly)
- Laminate can last a long time and still look brand new
- The resale value is much higher than carpet
- Odors don’t stick to laminate as much
- You can buy a few extra boxes of laminate and easily replace damaged sections
Disadvantages of laminate:
- Laminate flooring is typically more expensive than carpet (but cheaper than hardwood)
- You can save costs by installing the product yourself, but it could take a long time and it likely won’t look 100% professional
- While stains are less likely, water damage is possible if spilled liquids aren’t cleaned up immediately
- Certain laminate is scuffed and scratched easily
How to choose between carpet and laminate
There are a lot of factors to keep in mind when choosing between carpet and laminate. Let’s talk about some of the most important factors.
- What do you like the most? At the end of the day, what you like matters. Don’t pick a flooring you don’t like simply because it costs a little less or lasts a little while longer.
- Do you have pets that are potty training? Carpet is always a bad idea if you’re in the middle of potty training. Urine can seep into carpet, and padding and the odor will linger forever. If you do want carpet no matter what, you’ll likely want to wait until potty training is complete. This being said, laminate will fight off odors, but it can be impacted by lingering puddles of liquid.
- Do you want to resell or rent out your property? If so, laminate is probably your best bet. Laminate or hardwood flooring is usually a much more desirable flooring option.
- Do you want to avoid future flooring projects? Carpet lasts around 6 to 8 years. Laminate can last two decades or longer.
- Do you have multiple cats and dogs? Laminate and hardwood flooring is seriously susceptible to scratches and scuffs from the nails of dogs and cats. If you have a lot of rambunctious animals, you may want to avoid laminate. Learn more about the best flooring for dogs.
- How do you prefer to clean? With wood-like flooring, dust and hair accumulates quickly and will pile up in corners of the home. You’ll have to sweep or vacuum the dustboards a few times a week. Carpet, on the other hand, will require you to vacuum at least once a week and shampoo at least once every 3 to 6 months.
Want to learn more about carpet and laminate?
We’ve got you covered. Walk The Plank Hardwood Flooring is a local flooring store in Bakersfield, CA, and we’ve helped people find, finance, and install flooring for decades. Take a look at our additional resources below, and reach out to us if you have any questions.