Cork Flooring Costs: Everything You Need to Know [2024 Data]
Normal range: $1,270 - $4,600
Cork flooring costs $2,050 on average, depending your room’s size and the cork's quality. Most people spend between $1,270 and $4,600.
Cork flooring costs $2,050 on average, although the total often ranges from $1,270 to $4,600, depending on the amount of flooring you need, the type of cork flooring you choose, the thickness of the cork, and more. Expect to spend $3 to $10.50 per square foot for materials, plus $2 to $4 per square foot for professional installation. If you opt for glue-down cork flooring over floating floors that click together, expect to spend an additional $4 to $9 per square foot on top of the cost of the floor materials.
- Average
- $2,050
- Low end
- $1,000
- high end
- $5,800
Cork Flooring Cost Factors
Cork is made from cork oak trees, and the reason it’s so eco-friendly is because the bark regenerates after it’s harvested. You can harvest bark from mature cork trees every eight to 14 years, and the tree lives about 150 years.
As you start researching cork flooring prices, here are the main factors you should keep in mind while planning your project with this budget-friendly floor.
Types
Although you may think of the classic cork color and appearance when you hear “cork,” there are so many more options beyond that in the flooring world. Here are the main types of cork flooring for you to choose from. These prices are for the materials only.
| Type of Cork Flooring | Average Cost (per Square Foot) |
|---|---|
| Tiles and planks | $3–$9 |
| Natural or colored | $3–$8.50 |
| Striata | $8–$10.50 |
| Printed | $4–$9.50 |
| Luxury vinyl | $3–$7 |
| Waterproof | $5–$9 |
Tiles and Planks
You can get square cork tiles that cost about $3 to $7 per square foot, while planks cost a little more at $4 to $9 per square foot. The main difference is the installation method: Tiles are glued down while planks float on the subfloor.
Natural or Colored
You can choose between natural-colored cork or colored cork. Natural cork is around $3 to $6 per square foot while colored cork runs from $7 to $8.50 per square foot. If you’re looking for the best in eco-friendly flooring, then keeping it all-natural may be your best bet. After all, the natural tan cork color offers a down-to-earth aesthetic that’s hard to beat.
But if you want something bolder, you can choose from almost every color imaginable, including neutrals all the way to burnt red, black, blue, and green tones.
Striata or Printed
If solid colors aren’t speaking to you, there are various other cork options to help you bring your vision to life. For one, you might go with striata cork, which has a marbled look. Natural striata cork is about $8 to $8.50 per square foot while colored striata cork is $10 to $10.50 per square foot.
You might opt for printed cork flooring instead, which offers a wide range of looks. This includes patterns with thin lines, subtle patterns that mimic water movement, or even cork that looks like stone or wood. These cost around $4 to $9.50 per square foot.
Other
There are other cork types out there too, including luxury vinyl cork that averages from $3 to $7 per square foot, and waterproof cork runs from $5 to $9 per square foot.
You might be interested in other design options like mosaic cork tiles made from recycled wine corks, which costs around $12 per square foot.
Thicknesses
Cork comes in a range of thicknesses, usually between 4 and 12 millimeters.
| Cork Flooring Thickness in Millimeters | Average Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| 4 | $3–$6 |
| 8 | $5–$8 |
| 12 | $7–$10 |
For most homes, cork flooring that’s 4 millimeters thick works perfectly fine. You might want to upgrade to cork that’s thicker if you want the extra cushion, durability, or insulation. This can come down to personal preference, so you might try walking on different samples of cork flooring to see what you prefer.
Another time when you might choose thicker cork is if you plan to refinish your floor to keep it in tip-top shape. You might expect to refinish your floor if you’re installing cork flooring in an area with heavy foot traffic. Cork flooring should be at least 4 millimeters for refinishing jobs, so go with something that’s at least 6 millimeters or thicker if you plan to refinish your floor in the future.
Once you’ve figured out the size of the room, you can easily calculate the typical cost range you can expect. Cork flooring averages $5 to $19 per square foot, including materials and labor.
| Room Size (Feet) | Square Footage | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10x10 | 100 | $500–$1,900 |
| 10x12 | 120 | $600–$2,280 |
| 12x12 | 144 | $720–$2,700 |
| 12x14 | 168 | $840–$3,200 |
| 14x14 | 196 | $980–$3,700 |
| 12x18 | 216 | $1,100–$4,100 |
| 14x18 | 252 | $1,260–$4,800 |
| 14x20 | 280 | $1,400–$5,300 |
| 16x20 | 320 | $1,600–$6,100 |
| 16x24 | 384 | $2,000–$7,300 |
| 22x28 | 616 | $3,100–$11,700 |
Labor
The two main types of cork flooring are floating and glue-down. Floating floors cost about $2 to $4 per square foot for labor, while glue-down flooring costs $4 to $9 per square foot for labor.
Prep
Your contractor will need to level your subfloor before installing your cork flooring. This costs around $3 to $5 per square foot and is an important step because a level subfloor is necessary for a level floor installation.
If your subfloor needs repairs, note that subfloor repairs cost around $2 to $10 per square foot. If there are issues with the joists, then that can cost $10 to $60 per square foot to repair.
Location
Here are the average costs per square foot and by room to install cork flooring.
| Room | Average Cork Flooring Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | $6–$7 |
| Kitchen | $6–$10 |
| Bedroom | $7–$9 |
| Basement | $8–$10 |
| Hallways | $8–$12 |
| Foyer | $8–$12 |
Note that while cork flooring can work in bathrooms and kitchens, you need to get proper sealant. Avoid allowing water to puddle on cork floors and get rugs for your bathroom, especially by tubs and showers. Also, the best cork flooring option for high-moisture areas is glue-down, 100% cork tiles.
Sealant
You’ll need to seal your cork flooring properly. This costs around $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot. Your flooring contractor may include this in their original quote for new cork flooring, so check the details before signing a contract.
Additional Costs to Consider
You’ve figured out the basics of cork flooring installation, and now it’s time to move on to looking at additional details.
Maintenance
Your cork floor needs regular sealing every three to 10 years, depending on the foot traffic of the room. Sealing a cork floor costs $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot on average and is necessary to avoid water damage. The most common sealant is polyurethane, although you can also use wax.
Otherwise, monthly maintenance requires you to use a pH-balanced cork cleaner or a 1-to-4 vinegar and water mixture. You can simply mop the floor with minimal water and sop up any moisture when you’re done.
Repairs
Over time, you may need repairs for your cork flooring. Common issues include wear and tear like scratches and nick, or something more serious like water damage. Depending on what’s going on, you may need to partially replace your flooring or get it refinished. You can expect to pay your flooring installer $60 to $120 per hour plus the cost of any materials.
Removing Existing Flooring
Unless you’re working with a blank slate, it’s likely that you need your existing flooring removed before you can move on to installing the cork floor. Removing flooring averages $1 to $1.50 per square foot for carpet, $2 to $7 per square foot for tile, and $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot for other flooring types.
Cork Inlays
Installing inlays in your cork is a great way to level up your flooring with simple or intricate designs. Often, inlays are done with wood or different colored cork. You can expect a 3-by-5-foot inlay to cost $200 to $220.
Cost to Install Cork Flooring Yourself
You can save a lot of money on the cost of installing flooring by learning how to install cork flooring yourself. The process can be lengthy, and it requires some know-how of power tools and flooring materials.
A badly installed cork floor can lead to costly issues, like spaces between seams, swelling, buckling, and raised edges. You may even have extensive water damage problems due to gaps in the flooring that allow moisture to reach your subfloor. If this sounds like something you don’t want to deal with, rest easy and hire a local flooring company to do the work for you.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
If you decide to DIY the job from beginning to end, you only need to pay for the materials. Self-leveling compound is about $30 to $40 for a 50-pound bag, which can cover 5 to 40 square feet. Additionally, you will pay around $3 to $10 per square foot for the cork flooring materials and $45 to $100 for sealant.
Otherwise, you can expect to pay approximately $5 to $19 per square foot for a pro to install your cork flooring. Talk to at least three different flooring contractors and request quotes so you can compare.
How to Save Money While Installing Cork Flooring
The easiest way to save money on your cork flooring is by opting for floating planks rather than glue-down tiles. Floating floors tend to be the easiest flooring to install compared to ones you have to glue into place. You can also choose budget-friendly cork options like natural-colored cork that’s 4-millimeters thick. However, note that the thicker your materials, the more insulated your room is.
And while you may not be interested in DIYing the cork flooring installation, you could consider rolling up your sleeves to get your existing floor removal done yourself. This is a good option if you have carpet tiles or a floating floor. Otherwise, it may be better to get a pro to tackle harder-to-do jobs like tile removal or removal of glued-down flooring.
Paige Bennett contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
When considering cork flooring pros and cons, you may have toyed with the idea of getting other types of flooring, including hardwood. But how does it compare in price? Generally, your new cork flooring can cost less than hardwood, depending on the wood type you choose. Cork costs about $5 to $19 per square foot while hardwood costs $6 to $25 per square foot.
A well-maintained cork floor can last 40 years or longer. However, if you skip the required maintenance or proper cleaning methods, your floor may only last 15 to 20 years.
For the longest life span, wipe up any water spills immediately, only clean with the proper solution like vinegar and water, and avoid doing anything to damage the floor. Always pick up your furniture when moving it instead of sliding it across the floor, and use mats in places that are susceptible to water.
One of the upsides of cork flooring is that it's mold-resistant, so you don't have to worry about mildew or mold growth on wet cork. However, you should always clean up any moisture as soon as possible and use as little water as you need when cleaning. This will help you avoid issues like buckling or swelling in your cork flooring, which often requires replacement, and prevent moisture from seeping into your subfloor, which can cause the dreaded mold or mildew problems.