Kitchen Flooring Price Guide

A kitchen remodel is one of the most common home renovation projects, especially in terms of flooring. The surfaces on which we tread deal with a ton of daily activity and spills, which ultimately lead to a decent amount of wear caused by heavy loads, hot liquid spills, or any other types of spills, as well as other types of wear that aren’t unlikely to happen in such a space.

With that in mind, it’s totally normal that such flooring has a less lengthy service life compared to other flooring elsewhere in the home. Therefore, it’s important to renovate your kitchen flooring every so often. However, this can be a costly project depending on the type of material chosen. Since there are a variety of flooring options to choose from, RenoQuotes.com created a list of the average price points to look out for, which may help you decide which material is best suited for your home's kitchen!

Kitchen Flooring Costs for Your Next Renovation Project

HARDWOOD FLOORING

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Installing hardwood floors in your kitchen is an excellent choice, as this material is timeless and beautiful. However, wood floors sit at the top end of the price range. The average price is between $4.50 to $12 a square foot, as well as a $2.50 installation fee per square foot. If your kitchen flooring project requires the removal of existing flooring, then it’s recommended you budget for an additional $2.50 per square foot for the discarded material. 

If your subflooring needs to be replaced, this may ring in an added amount of $2.50 per square foot. Lastly, if you’re just looking to refinish the hardwood floors currently installed in your home, either by sanding, staining or varnishing, this will cost about $2.50 per square foot. These costs will vary depending on the wood used. As each type of wood has its own characteristics, as a rule of thumb, take samples home and test them in your kitchen before committing.

Also worth considering is the affordable alternative to hardwood: engineered wood. This material consists of wood flooring laid atop layers of plywood. Since it's not solid wood, it isn’t as durable, but still incredibly cost-effective and long-lasting. Engineered wood will cost approximately $7 to $11 dollars per square foot, so if you like the look of natural wood but don't have the budget, this is a way to pinch some pennies.

TILE FLOORING (PORCELAIN, CERAMIC, AND NATURAL STONE)

Tile comes in a variety of materials and this can sometimes be overwhelming for homeowners. Perhaps you’re considering porcelain, ceramic, marble, natural stone, or mosaic? Some tiles can ring in incredibly cheap, especially if you check your local Habitat for Humanity and find those at a discounted price. However, it’s important to consider the cost of installation, as a small per-unit cost can translate into a huge finished product cost.

The cheapest of tiles can average as little as 70 cents per square foot, looking mostly at ceramic tiling at this price. The more expensive of the bunch would be natural stone, which will be about $6 to $14.50 per square foot alongside an $11 per square foot installation cost. A natural stone mosaic can reach well into the higher costs, looking at an average of $120 per square foot. Luckily, certain tiles are mass-produced, and these will cost far less than natural stone or marble.

LAMINATE FLOORING

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Laminate is a budget-friendly option and is almost always cheaper than other kitchen flooring materials. Its appeal doesn’t only lie in its price point, but also in the variety of choice, as laminate can be made to mimic the look of wood, stone, and even tile. Not only is the material itself low-cost, but the installation process is also considerably less complicated than other flooring installation projects. It’s a type of flooring that can withstand physical impacts, thereby making it a “material of choice” for your kitchen flooring renovation.

Laminate is made from layers of melamine resin and, typically, medium-density fibreboard. This material ranges anywhere between $1.20 to $8 per square foot, as well as an additional $2 in labour. If your subfloors require work, there will be other obvious additional costs added on. The cost of the laminate itself will vary, depending on the thickness of the material as well as the manufacturer and supplier.

VINYL FLOORING

Vinyl flooring was once the bad seed of all flooring. During the 90s, it was highly criticized as it was considered one of the most pollution-generating materials in the construction industry. However, nowadays, the manufacturing process has evolved, and vinyl flooring is often recommended by architects as an affordable flooring option.

Vinyl floors (or PVC flooring) can save any homeowner a fair amount of money when undergoing a kitchen flooring project. Like laminate, vinyl can mimic the look of more expensive flooring materials, such as stone, wood, or tile, at a fraction of the cost. When purchased in individual tiles, it can be incredibly easy to install, and some homeowners take it on as a D.I.Y. project.

Vinyl prices range from $4.50 to $14.50 per square foot and are generally sold in either large sheet or tile format. Costs will vary if the floor on which the vinyl coating is installed isn’t smooth since plywood underlay will be needed for it to adhere properly.

CORK FLOORING

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Cork flooring is growing in popularity for kitchen renovation projects. In terms of properties, this material is naturally a sound absorber and can thus be a worthwhile kitchen flooring option. Cork can also render your floors a more comfortable surface on which to tread or stand for lengthy periods of time. This eco-friendly material is renewable and durable and comes in a variety of colours and textures for any kitchen style or aesthetic. The average cost of cork is between $2.50 and $11 per square foot and, on average, a $2 per square foot installation cost. 

CONCRETE FLOORING

Concrete is a relatively more modern material that’s increasingly sought-after for diverse uses. Since it’s versatile, it can easily blend into most décors. And, its contemporary-like soft shade is unmatched by most other materials. It’s also one of the most durable flooring materials on the market. It can withstand the hustle and bustle of a busy or somewhat disorganized kitchen, stress-free. Concrete surfaces can be stained, polished, stencil-finished, or waxed. Since concrete flooring can be finished using different coatings, you can definitely personalize its outcome.  

Much like natural stone, concrete flooring is rather cold to the touch and can thus benefit from radiant floor heating for maximum comfort. However, it’s an especially hard surface which can be gruelling to stand on for extended periods of time. Concrete also tends to stain rather easily and must be re-sealed regularly to improve its durability over time. The average cost of such flooring varies significantly, so be sure to do your research prior to sealing your fate with this flooring.

On average, a concrete floor will cost between $11 and $15.50/square foot.

EPOXY FLOORING

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Epoxy is both a low-maintenance and aesthetic floor coating, also known as polyepoxides and is a material that results from a chemical reaction between two components, which in turn creates an extremely uniform and resistant surface. In other words, this coating creates a thick-looking, varnished floor. Epoxy resin has numerous decorative uses, both in terms of furnishings and construction.  

Not unlike polyurethane, epoxy makes for a very shock- and scratch-resistant surface. The floor’s density makes for a particularly low-maintenance surface that can also withstand bacteria and humidity. 

It’s best to choose a flexible epoxy coating for heavy foot-traffic areas. Since it’s rather malleable, epoxy has to ability to absorb shocks thereby not causing the flooring to damage or crack. Indeed, epoxy’s main asset is its flexibility, making it an especially resistant flooring option. 

Caution! Epoxy surfaces are extremely slippery when wet, and may be hazardous for young kids, the elderly, or individuals with physical disabilities. However, there are solutions to give such flooring anti-slip properties. Add silica sand, aluminum oxide, quartz, gravel, or pebbles to the mix. Or, you can even lay rugs or mats in strategic areas. 

On average, an epoxy coating costs between $3 and $8 per square foot.

Here’s a summary of the kitchen flooring costs as mentioned in the article:

*All prices indicated in this article are for information purposes only and are subject to change.

For more information about kitchen flooring, check out How to Choose Your Kitchen Flooring Material.

To learn more about the average cost of different home renovation projects, check out our Home Renovation Price Guide. 

To see examples of kitchen renovation projects completed by RenoQuotes.com contractors, check out 10 Examples of Inspiring Renovation Projects.