How Much Does Vinyl Flooring Cost?
Last Updated: January 14, 2022
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Vinyl has been one of the best-selling flooring materials for decades. Sold in sheets and tiles, vinyl floors are economical, durable, and a great option for areas that receive heavy traffic and abuse such as kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and utility rooms.
Vinyl Sheets vs. Vinyl Tiles #
Vinyl flooring is available as one long, continuous sheet or smaller tiles, typically 12" x 12".
Vinyl Tiles #
There are two types of vinyl tile: self-adhesive and glue-down. The former type comes with a factory applied adhesive. To install it, peel off the paper backing and place it atop the subfloor. Glue-down tile requires a bed of mastic adhesive applied to the subfloor for proper adhesion and is therefore a bit messier. Other things you should know about vinyl tile include the following:
- Vinyl tiles are one of the most cost-friendly flooring options in part because of their ease of installation. While not designed to last forever, they're great for high-traffic areas. When the tiles wear out it's easy to rip them up and stick down new ones.
- Seams in the tile are susceptible to damage from water and debris. To extend the life of a vinyl tile floor, proper cleaning and care are necessary.
- Glue-down tile, at around 1/8" thick, is much more durable than self-adhesive tile, which isn't much thicker than a few sheets of paper. With proper maintenance, glue down tile typically lasts 2 or 3 times longer than self-adhesive tile. Most manufacturers advise several coats of wax for a new glue-down tile installation and another coat every 6-12 months.
Vinyl Sheeting Facts #
- Vinyl sheeting comes in a variety of widths so you can save on material costs. Choose from 6, 8, and 12 foot wide sheets.
- Sheet flooring length is almost limitless, with rolls that are hundreds of feet long available. To find the size needed for your project, measure the length of the room and add 3-4 feet to allow for a margin of error.
- A huge variety of sheet styles are available, including those that mimic the look of wood, ceramic tile, and stone.
- The major benefit of vinyl sheets over tiles is the number of seams. A properly installed vinyl sheet floor should have no seams, meaning dirt and water have no place to hide.
Vinyl Flooring Costs #
The following information is based on a new installation. Removing an existing floor and/or repairing subfloor damage can double or even triple the installation prices described below.
- Self-adhesive vinyl tile costs $.50 to $1.00 per square foot. For an average 120 square foot room, that's a total estimated cost of $60 to $120.
- Glue-down vinyl tile typically costs $2 to $3 per square foot ($120 to $240 for a 120 square foot room). This price also includes the adhesive mastic needed for installation.
- Vinyl sheet flooring costs $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot ($180 to $360 for a 120 square foot room) depending on the sheet thickness.
- Expect to pay an additional $2 to $4 per square foot for professional installation of vinyl flooring (or roughly $240 to $480 for a 120 square foot room).