Pulling up wall-to-wall carpet and laying a hard floor in its place is priced in two halves: the carpet has to come out, and the new floor has to go in. This guide builds the carpet removal and floor installation cost from the carpet up, using the rates we quote in Toronto and the GTA. Carpet removal is $0.70 per sq ft in a house and $1.00 per sq ft in a condo, and each new floor is added on top, line by line, with a 5% waste allowance, delivery and 13% HST. Our flooring installation service collection lists the installation services, and the floors come from our current catalogue.
We price three starting points: a 12x14 ft bedroom, a 600 sq ft main floor without stairs and a 1,000 sq ft floor, each with vinyl plank, laminate or engineered hardwood. If you want the general price of every floor type rather than a carpet job, our main Toronto installation cost guide covers that. This page answers one narrower question: what happens to the bill when carpet is the floor you are removing.
Quick answer: what the three budgets come to
- Carpet removal: $0.70 per sq ft in a house or basement, $1.00 per sq ft in a condo, charged on the carpet area with no waste added.
- 12x14 ft bedroom (168 sq ft), house: carpet removal is $117.60. Vinyl and laminate installation under 301 sq ft is priced after viewing, while the Slate engineered board comes to $1,674.42 with HST.
- 600 sq ft main floor, house, HST included: $3,310.22 with Egger laminate, $3,631.94 with Blonde Sand 6mm vinyl, $4,312.08 with Driftwood Mist 8mm vinyl and $5,528.77 with Slate engineered hardwood.
- Condo: at 600 sq ft the condo rates add $495.00 before HST, or $559.35 with HST, to each of the three click-lock floors.
Every figure comes from the box prices in our catalogue and our rate sheet, and the tables show the arithmetic so you can repeat it for your own rooms. Stairs, subfloor repair and trim are not in these totals.
How carpet removal and floor installation cost is built, line by line
Carpet is the one line every job in this guide shares, so it comes first. The rates below are labour only. Boxes, underlayment and delivery are added separately.
| Labour line (per sq ft) | House or basement | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet removal and disposal | $0.70 | $1.00 |
| Vinyl plank installation, 301 sq ft and up | $1.50 | $2.00 |
| Laminate installation, from 301 sq ft | $1.50 | $2.00 |
| Engineered click-lock installation | $1.70 | $2.00 |
| Engineered nail-down installation | $2.00 | Priced after viewing |
Delivery is a flat $150 to Toronto M postal codes. The steps below are the same ones used in every budget on this page:
- Carpet removal = carpet area x removal rate, using the area as measured with no waste added.
- Ordering area = new floor area x 1.05, which is the 5% waste allowance.
- Boxes = ordering area divided by the sq ft in one box, rounded up to a whole box.
- Material = boxes x box price.
- Labour = ordering area x the installation rate for that floor.
- Underlayment (laminate and click-lock engineered only) = rolls x $50.00, where one roll covers 200 sq ft and the roll count is rounded up.
- Delivery = $150 flat.
- Subtotal = carpet removal + material + labour + underlayment + delivery. Add 13% HST to reach the total.
Our rate sheet describes the carpet line as remove and dispose. It is one per-sq-ft figure with no separate prices for pad or tack strip, so ask any quote you are comparing to name what its carpet line covers before you compare two totals.
Four floors to put where the carpet was
These products cover the usual replacements: click-lock vinyl plank in two thicknesses, a click-lock laminate and a nail-down engineered hardwood. Price per sq ft is the box price divided by the coverage of one box.
| Product | Spec | Box price | Coverage per box | Price per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riche Blonde Sand Oak SPC vinyl plank | 6mm, 12mil wear layer, click-lock | $62.93 | 23.64 sq ft | $2.66 |
| Riche Heavy-Duty 8mm SPC vinyl, Driftwood Mist | 8mm, 20mil wear layer, click-lock | $59.00 | 16.55 sq ft | $3.56 |
| Egger EM7206 laminate | 8mm, click-lock | $40.48 | 21.42 sq ft | $1.89 |
| European Oak Engineered Hardwood, Slate | 19mm, 2mm oak top layer, nail-down | $95.71 | 20.24 sq ft | $4.73 |
Prices checked October 4, 2026. Box prices and coverage come from our current catalogue.
Blonde Sand is the thinnest plank here, with an IXPE pad named in its product title, and its product details list it as waterproof. Driftwood Mist is thicker and carries the heavier 20mil wear layer; it is also listed as waterproof.
The Egger laminate is priced below the other three per sq ft, but laminate picks up an underlayment line under our quote rules, at $50.00 for each 200 sq ft roll. The Slate board is nail-down, so it takes the $2.00 nail-down labour rate and no underlayment line. Because the carpet line is the same for all four, the choice of floor is where the budget moves.
Budget 1: a 12x14 ft bedroom (168 sq ft)
A 12x14 ft room is 12 x 14 = 168 sq ft. With the waste allowance the ordering area is 176.4 sq ft, while carpet removal is charged on the original 168 sq ft: 168 x $0.70 = $117.60 in a house. Delivery is $150, so for a single bedroom the delivery charge is larger than the carpet removal itself. The table assumes a house, a flat and sound subfloor and delivery to an M postal code.
| 12x14 ft bedroom, house | Blonde Sand 6mm vinyl | Driftwood Mist 8mm vinyl | Egger laminate | Slate engineered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxes (rounded up) | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Material (boxes x box price) | $503.44 | $649.00 | $364.32 | $861.39 |
| Carpet removal (168 sq ft x $0.70) | $117.60 | $117.60 | $117.60 | $117.60 |
| Installation labour (176.4 sq ft x rate) | Priced after viewing | Priced after viewing | Priced after viewing | $352.80 |
| Underlayment (1 roll) | None added | None added | $50.00 | None added |
| Delivery (M postal code) | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Subtotal (priced lines) | $771.04 | $916.60 | $681.92 | $1,481.79 |
| HST at 13% | $100.24 | $119.16 | $88.65 | $192.63 |
| Total (priced lines) | $871.28 | $1,035.76 | $770.57 | $1,674.42 |
Read the vinyl and laminate columns with care. Our labour rates for those floors start at 301 sq ft, and below that we price the job after seeing it, so their subtotal, HST and total rows cover only the lines that have a price. Only the Slate column is a complete bedroom budget. Two bedrooms this size add up to 336 sq ft, so ask how rooms quoted together are counted.
Whole boxes also mean you buy slightly more than the ordering area: eight boxes of Blonde Sand cover 189.12 sq ft against the 176.4 sq ft needed. In a condo the same bedroom's carpet line is 168 x $1.00 = $168.00, which is $50.40 more than the house figure. Measure closets and alcoves along with the main room; our room measuring guide shows how.
Budget 2: a 600 sq ft main floor, no stairs
This scenario is a carpeted main level of 600 sq ft with no staircase in the quote, which gives an ordering area of 630 sq ft. Same assumptions as the bedroom: house rates, a level and sound subfloor, and M postal code delivery.
| 600 sq ft main floor, house | 6mm vinyl (Blonde Sand) | 8mm vinyl (Driftwood Mist) | Laminate (Egger) | Engineered (Slate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxes (rounded up) | 27 | 39 | 30 | 32 |
| Material (boxes x box price) | $1,699.11 | $2,301.00 | $1,214.40 | $3,062.72 |
| Carpet removal (600 sq ft x $0.70) | $420.00 | $420.00 | $420.00 | $420.00 |
| Installation labour (630 sq ft x rate) | $945.00 | $945.00 | $945.00 | $1,260.00 |
| Underlayment (4 rolls for laminate) | None added | None added | $200.00 | None added |
| Delivery | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Subtotal | $3,214.11 | $3,816.00 | $2,929.40 | $4,892.72 |
| HST at 13% | $417.83 | $496.08 | $380.82 | $636.05 |
| Total | $3,631.94 | $4,312.08 | $3,310.22 | $5,528.77 |
| Per sq ft of floor, before HST | $5.36 | $6.36 | $4.88 | $8.15 |
Carpet removal costs the same $420.00 in every column because it depends on the carpet you have, not on what replaces it. Before HST the Slate column is $1,963.32 above the Egger column, and $1,848.32 of that gap is material. Labour rates use the full ordering area, which is why the vinyl and laminate labour line is $945.00 rather than $900.00 on the plain 600 sq ft.
House versus condo at 600 sq ft
Two lines change in a condo. Carpet removal rises by 600 x ($1.00 - $0.70) = $180.00, and click-lock labour rises by 630 x ($2.00 - $1.50) = $315.00. That is $495.00 before HST and $559.35 after it, the same for vinyl and laminate because their labour rates match.
| 600 sq ft main floor | House total with HST | Condo total with HST | Condo difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blonde Sand 6mm vinyl | $3,631.94 | $4,191.29 | $559.35 |
| Driftwood Mist 8mm vinyl | $4,312.08 | $4,871.43 | $559.35 |
| Egger laminate | $3,310.22 | $3,869.57 | $559.35 |
| Slate engineered, nail-down | $5,528.77 | Priced after viewing | Not stated |
The nail-down labour rate has no condo figure on our sheet, so the Slate condo line is left for a viewing. Click-lock engineered installation is listed at $2.00 per sq ft in a condo, but the Slate board is sold for nail-down installation. Condo buildings also set their own rules for flooring work, so check yours before you order.
Budget 3: a 1,000 sq ft floor
At 1,000 sq ft the ordering area is 1,050 sq ft. Carpet removal is $700.00 in a house and $1,000.00 in a condo, and laminate needs 6 underlayment rolls ($300.00) because 1,050 sq ft divided by 200 rounds up to six.
| 1,000 sq ft floor | Boxes | House subtotal | House total incl. HST | Condo total incl. HST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blonde Sand 6mm vinyl | 45 | $5,256.85 | $5,940.24 | $6,872.49 |
| Driftwood Mist 8mm vinyl | 64 | $6,201.00 | $7,007.13 | $7,939.38 |
| Egger laminate | 50 | $4,749.00 | $5,366.37 | $6,298.62 |
| Slate engineered, nail-down | 52 | $7,926.92 | $8,957.42 | Priced after viewing |
Per sq ft of floor before HST, a house comes to $4.75 to $7.93 here, a little lower than the 600 sq ft figures because the $150 delivery charge is spread over more area. The condo uplift grows with the floor: $825.00 before HST ($932.25 with HST) for the three click-lock floors.
What "priced after viewing" means on a carpet job
Some lines on our rate sheet carry no published figure. We would rather not put a number in a budget that we cannot stand behind, so these items are confirmed once we have seen photos of the room or visited:
- Glued-down flooring. We do not publish a per-sq-ft figure for removing glued-down flooring, so if your carpet or its pad is glued to the subfloor, expect the removal line to be priced after viewing.
- Vinyl or laminate under 301 sq ft. The small-bedroom case above: the labour rates start at 301 sq ft.
- Nail-down engineered in a condo. There is no condo figure for that labour rate.
- Stairs. A staircase is not part of the per-sq-ft price. Our stair flooring guide explains what stairs involve.
- Subfloor repair and levelling. Once the carpet is up, the floor underneath decides whether prep is needed. Our subfloor checklist lists what to look for.
- Trim, transitions and baseboards. These depend on your layout and are quoted separately.
Photos of the carpet edges, any exposed subfloor and the doorways help us flag these early, and you can attach them when you request a written quote.
Which new floor suits which carpet job
The numbers above point to a few simple rules of thumb for a carpet replacement.
- A single bedroom and you want a firm number: the engineered Slate board is the only floor here with a published house labour rate at any size, so its $1,674.42 total is complete. For vinyl or laminate, request a quote.
- A main floor on a tight budget: Egger laminate totals $3,310.22 at 600 sq ft. Blonde Sand vinyl adds $321.72 to that and brings a waterproof listing and an attached pad. The laminate installed-cost guide and the vinyl plank installed-cost guide compare the materials in more depth.
- A thicker wear layer: Driftwood Mist carries 20mil and totals $4,312.08 at 600 sq ft, which is $1,001.86 more than the laminate option.
- A wood floor: Slate totals $5,528.77 at 600 sq ft. The engineered hardwood installed-cost guide covers the wear layers, widths and install methods behind that price.
Questions about carpet removal and flooring costs
How much does it cost to remove carpet and install laminate in Toronto?
In a house, removal is $0.70 per sq ft and laminate labour is $1.50 per sq ft for jobs of 301 sq ft and up. Waste applies to labour and boxes but not to removal. Then add underlayment, delivery and HST. The 600 sq ft Egger example above finishes at $3,310.22, and a condo job uses $1.00 and $2.00 instead.
How much does it cost to replace carpet with hardwood?
This page prices engineered hardwood. With the Slate nail-down board, a 600 sq ft house comes to $5,528.77 including carpet removal, delivery and HST. Nail-down labour in a condo is priced after viewing, and solid hardwood installation is quoted separately, so send a request for either.
Is carpet removal priced per room or per square foot?
It is priced per sq ft of carpet. A 12x14 ft bedroom is 168 sq ft of carpet to remove, and the waste allowance is not applied to that line.
Do I need underlayment after the carpet is removed?
For laminate, our quotes add one roll for every 200 sq ft at $50.00 per roll. The Blonde Sand vinyl lists an IXPE pad in its title, and for any other plank you should read the product page before assuming a pad is attached. Our quotes add no underlayment line for nail-down engineered.
Do the budgets include stairs, baseboards or subfloor repair?
No. They cover carpet removal, material, installation labour, underlayment where it applies, delivery and HST. Stairs, trim and any subfloor work are quoted after we see the home.
Does a condo cost more than a house for the same carpet job?
Yes. Condo removal is $1.00 per sq ft and click-lock labour is $2.00 per sq ft, which adds $495.00 before HST at 600 sq ft. Your building may have its own flooring rules, so read them before you order.
Get a carpet-to-new-floor quote in Toronto and the GTA
Send your measurements and a few photos of the carpet and the rooms, and request a written quote that turns these budgets into numbers for your home.
Top Floorings Depot
3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M1W 3K5
www.topfloorings.com
Call: 416-499-0117
Text: 416-770-8819