How Much Does Carpet Padding Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $170 - $850
Installing carpet padding costs an average of $510, but the total price may range from $170 to $850, depending on the size of the space and type of padding.
Need help budgeting for new carpet padding? Across the country, the average carpet padding cost for a 225-square-foot room is $510, or $0.75 to $3.75 per square foot, including materials and installation. However, it’s common for this project to cost between $170 and $850, based on the padding material and other factors.
- Average
- $510
- Low end
- $60
- high end
- $1,350
Carpet Padding Cost Factors
When calculating the cost to install carpet padding, you need to consider the size of your space, the padding material, and labor rates in your area. Here’s how each of these factors influences your overall project price.
Size of Area
Like many other home improvement jobs, the price of adding carpet padding to your home will depend on how much ground you have to cover (quite literally). So, how much is carpet padding per square foot? On average, it costs between $0.75 and $3.75 per square foot, including the materials and installation.
Whether you’re adding carpet padding to a 10-by-12-foot room or an entire 2,000-square-foot house, here’s how much you can expect to pay based on the size of your space.
| Square Footage | Average Cost (Materials and Installation) |
|---|---|
| 200 | $150–$750 |
| 400 | $300–$1,500 |
| 600 | $450–$2,250 |
| 800 | $600–$3,000 |
| 1,000 | $750–$3,750 |
| 2,000 | $1,500–$7,500 |
Material
Carpet padding comes in numerous materials, with prices ranging from $0.25 to $3 per square foot for the padding itself. With installation, these costs increase to $0.75 to $3.75 per square foot.
Here are some of the most popular padding options on the market today, as well as how much each one costs—including professional installation.
| Material | Average Cost per Square Foot (Materials Only) | Average Cost per Square Foot (Materials and Installation) |
|---|---|---|
| Rebonded foam | $0.25–$0.80 | $0.75–$1.55 |
| Prime foam | $0.25–$1.50 | $1–$2.25 |
| Fiber, jute, or felt | $0.35–$1.25 | $0.85–$2 |
| Waffle rubber | $0.50–$1 | $1–$1.75 |
| Memory foam | $0.50–$1 | $1–$1.75 |
| Frothed foam | $0.50–$2 | $1–$2.75 |
| Flat rubber | $0.75–$3 | $1.25–$3.75 |
Carpet and Carpet Pad Removal
If you currently have carpet or carpet padding in the places where you plan to add new padding, you’ll need to remove the old stuff first. On average, carpet removal costs between $1 and $5 per square foot.
You’ll pay more if the carpet is difficult to remove—whether that’s due to its location (for example, dismantling carpeted stairs is trickier than pulling carpet out of an empty bedroom) or because of how it was attached (glued carpet is harder to remove than stapled carpet).
Subfloor Repairs or Replacement
Carpet padding attaches to your subfloor, so you’ll also need to consider the cost of preparing your subfloor for carpet padding installation. The subfloor must be level, damage-free, clean, and dry before adding padding to ensure the padding lays flat and looks good.
If the subfloor’s surface is uneven or cracked, your carpet installer will need to fix it before laying your carpet padding. On average, repairing or replacing a subfloor costs between $2 and $10 per square foot.
Labor
In most cases, carpet padding is added as part of a larger carpet installation project. If so, labor costs may be included in the price provided by your carpet professional. Otherwise, pros often charge $0.50 to $1 per square foot for labor.
Since these costs vary from company to company, it’s always a good idea to shop around and request pricing from multiple companies to get the best deal.
DIY Carpet Padding Installation vs. Hiring a Pro
As a standalone project, installing carpet padding isn’t particularly complicated. The process involves rolling out the padding on your subfloor and then stapling it to the edges of carpet tack strips around the perimeter of your room. By installing padding yourself, you can save up to $1 per square foot on labor. For a 15-by-15-foot room, that’s $225.
The only issue is that installing carpet padding isn’t a standalone project. That’s because once you finish laying the padding, you’ll need to install carpet above it—and that’s a far more complicated process.
Because of this, we recommend contacting a local carpet installer if you plan to replace or add carpet padding to your home. After all, laying padding is a critical part of carpet installation (and it’s often included in the total price). Another benefit of hiring an expert is that they’ll inspect your subfloor to ensure it can support your carpet and padding. That’s an important part of carpet installation preparation, and, unfortunately, it’s easy to overlook if you don’t have much DIY experience.
Cost of Common Carpet Padding Add-Ons
When you hire a pro to install carpet padding, they’ll likely perform other services at the same time. Examples of these add-ons (and their costs) include:
Carpet installation cost: $3 to $11 per square foot
Carpet repair cost: $60 per hour or $0.35 per square foot
Carpet disposal (for carpet you’ve removed yourself): $0.40 to $0.50 per square foot
How to Save Money on Carpet Padding Installation
Looking to save money on your carpet padding installation? Review your contract to understand what you need to do to prepare your home for carpet installation—and what the professionals will handle. Sometimes, you can reduce labor costs by tackling prep work before the pros arrive—just make sure to check with your contractor before doing so. Examples include:
Moving furniture, artwork, decor, and curtains out of the installation areas
Ensuring that there’s clear access to entryways and hallways
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to make your carpet last as long as possible, then yes, you need to install carpet padding. Carpet padding creates a layer of protection between the back of your carpet and the floor beneath it, which decreases friction and reduces wear and tear. Aside from that, carpet padding also helps absorb noise and makes your carpet feel more comfortable underfoot.
No, thick carpet padding isn’t necessarily better than thinner padding. The appropriate padding thickness will depend on the type of carpet and the amount of foot traffic in the area.
For example, thick padding works well in low-traffic areas, like bedrooms, where you probably have soft and plush carpeting. However, thick carpet padding can damage low-pile carpet—which is often used in the busiest parts of your home (like hallways and entryways). For that reason, it’s best to use thinner, heavier padding underneath carpet in high-traffic areas.
It depends on the kind that you choose, but some types of carpet padding can last for decades. For instance, flat rubber—which is dense, durable, and higher-priced than other padding materials—has a life span of up to 20 years. On the other hand, prime foam—a lower-priced material that often comes free with a carpet installation—lasts less than five years on average.