Cost guide
What it costs to remove an old floor
Removal is the line most quotes bury. Pulling carpet and pad is quick; prying up glued-down tile and grinding off the thinset is a day of dust and a dumpster. If the old floor is flat and sound, some new floors can go over it and skip this line entirely.
$1–$2.50 per square foot
What moves it
Three things that change the price
- What is coming up: carpet, floating plank, glued vinyl, nailed wood, or tile in mortar
- Disposal: dumpster or haul-away fees
- Asbestos: pre-1980s vinyl tile and its adhesive may need abatement, which is a separate trade
Your project
Put your own square feet in
Estimated project range—
National averages: material plus installation per square foot from the same cost tables FlooringFAQ publishes, extras at typical contractor rates. Local labor moves the range; a quote far outside it deserves a question.
Want an actual local price?
Labor rates, removal and prep vary by town and by house. Local professionals can quote the scope above; compare them on the same square feet.
No obligation. You choose whether to contact the professionals who respond.