The right flooring will make your space warmer, brighter, and more inviting. But even the highest quality materials are useless if they aren’t installed by the right people. That’s where a truly great flooring installer comes into play.
Whether you’re renovating one room or your entire home, knowing who you can trust is half the battle.
The USA TODAY team surveyed 14 of the top flooring installation companies across the country to find out. The flooring contractors on our list are:
Why trust USA TODAY?
The USA TODAY team uses an in-house ranking system to review the best flooring contractors in the United States. We analyze the services and products offered by each provider and read third-party reviews to understand the customer experience. Financing, costs, warranties, and project management are also factored into a company’s final score.
Best Flooring Contractor of 2026
Carpet One Floor & Home: Best Overall
Shop Carpet One Floor & Home
Affordable costs, a seamless installation process, and an extensive catalog of flooring options are just a few of the reasons why Carpet One Floor & Home ranks at the top of our list of best flooring contractors. The company offers everything from virtual visualization tools to professional designs to help you find the perfect flooring for your home.
One of the standout features of Carpet One Floor & Home is our beautiful warranty. Most flooring companies offer workmanship warranties that cover labor costs, but Carpet One goes a step further and covers the cost of replacing your flooring if you’re not satisfied with the installation.
Lowe’s: Great for replacing flooring.
When it comes to flooring, Lowe’s has it all. You can visit a Lowe’s store to browse the selection or browse through hundreds of flooring options online. Lowe’s carries all the major brands like Pergo, COREtec, and Mohawk, but also offers its own brand, STAINMASTER. When you replace your flooring at Lowe’s, you don’t need to do anything. We do everything from moving furniture to cleaning up.
Lowe’s does not install its own flooring; it outsources the work to local flooring contractors. Your project will continue to be managed by Lowe’s every step of the way.
National Floors Direct: Ideal for in-house installations
Shop National Floors Direct Flooring
Need new flooring right away? National Floors Direct is committed to next-day installation on in-stock flooring. This means our in-house design consultant can help you choose your new flooring one day, and our in-house installation team can install it the next.
We also like National Floors Direct’s price match guarantee. If you get a lower quote than a competitor, National Floors Direct will beat it. National Floors Direct offers free furniture relocation with every installation, but that cost can typically add $100 to your flooring estimate.
Floor Coverings International: Ideal for specialty flooring
Flooring Manufacturing International Flooring
Few providers offer the vast number of brands present in Floor Coverings International’s flooring catalog. This list includes dozens of brands, including popular brands like COREtec and Pergo. Additionally, this provider has access to specialty flooring materials such as bamboo, cork, recycled materials, and specialty hardwoods.
Post-installation service is just as important as pre-installation, and Floor Coverings International is your best choice. We always follow up after your floor is installed to make sure you’re happy, and we include a 1-year workmanship guarantee to back up our work.
50th floor: perfect for a comprehensive quote
Shop 50th floor flooring
No one likes surprises in a floor renovation project, especially one that adds hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the total bill. 50Floor provides comprehensive quotes that take everything from subfloor preparation to furniture removal into consideration, so you know what you’re getting in return before you commit.
At 50Floor, we carry all major types of flooring, from laminate and tile to hardwood and carpet, so you can find the right flooring for every room.
The Home Depot: Perfect for a variety of flooring materials
Buy flooring from Home Depot
If your home goal is to master the “Rule of 3,” The Home Depot is your flooring installer. This provider carries every type of flooring imaginable, so you can find the perfect luxury vinyl plank for your living room, fine tile for your bathroom, or luxurious carpet for your bedroom.
Although local contractors will complete the installation, your flooring project will be managed from start to finish by The Home Depot personnel. Home Depot charges a $35 fee to measure new flooring in your home, but that fee is applied to the overall flooring estimate.
Floors and decorations: perfect for professional designs
Store floors and decorative flooring
If you want a professional design, Floor & Decor is your flooring contractor. At Floor & Decor, we offer free professional home design, and our consultants can help you choose the perfect flooring for your home.
Floor & Decor offers flooring options to fit every budget, starting at $1.19 per square foot for quality flooring. With this provider, you can choose to use your own flooring contractor or choose a hand-picked professional from Floor & Decor’s network of contractors.
Empire Today: Lots of coupons and deals
Budget is especially important when it comes to flooring. If you’re not careful, replacing your flooring can cost you thousands of dollars. Empire Today offers discounts and special offers to all customers, often saving you hundreds of dollars on your flooring project.
At Empire Today, we make your on-floor shopping experience as easy as possible. A professional design consultant will visit your home and help you choose the right flooring material. Flooring installation can be scheduled as early as the next day.
How to compare estimates for flooring installation
“When comparing prices for flooring installations, don’t buy based on price alone,” says Carl Murawski, a construction coordinator, electrician, and tradesman with more than 20 years of experience. “Even if the price is lower, the value of the product and installation can be significantly reduced.”
Murawski warns that while a “low-budget” offer can be a strategy for winning business, it can leave out important parts of the job.
“A good estimate should include a breakdown of labor and materials, as well as all flooring requirements, such as subfloor preparation (leveling and lubrication) and removal of old flooring,” he says.
Flooring installation price and schedule structure
The cost and schedule of a flooring project is based on many variables, not just square footage and materials used.
“Installing basic laminate flooring in a relatively square room in good condition is a quick and economical solution,” Murawski says. “However, if subfloor work is required, there are corners that are difficult to negotiate, or extensive precautions need to be taken to address excess moisture, both costs and project duration will inevitably increase.”
The main variables that affect the price and schedule of a flooring installation project are:
- Type and brand of flooring used
- Subfloor condition
- Level of design complexity
Factors influencing flooring installation estimates
Although materials and labor make up the bulk of a flooring estimate, other factors can quickly add up.
“You may be surprised to find out that you need to control humidity and level the floor,” Murawski says.
He says the most common factors that influence flooring installation estimates are:
- Substrate condition of the flooring
- Type of flooring installed (hardwood, laminate, tile, etc.)
- Room configuration
- Preparatory work that needs to be done on the floor and its surroundings before laying a new floor
Common flooring installation times and causes of delays
Flooring installation time varies depending on the type of flooring chosen, but in most cases it can be completed in a short amount of time.
“Most simple installations can be completed in a few days,” explains Murawski. “The typical installation time for flooring is 1 to 3 days.”
But like any project, delays are bound to occur. For flooring projects, the causes are typically “uneven subfloors, delays in material delivery, and structural damage to the floor and its foundation discovered during removal of old flooring,” Murawski says.
To avoid problems, good installers will “pad” the estimated time or add additional time to account for unexpected delays.
How to prepare your home for flooring installation
To prepare for flooring installation, you need to:
- move all furniture out of the room
- Please make sure your pet is safe before installation
- Disconnect electronic devices and appliances
- Please remove mirrors, artwork, ceramic/glass fixtures, and other fragile items.
FAQ
What is the best flooring material to install?
It depends on your room and budget. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) are affordable, durable, and easy to clean, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. However, tiles are generally preferred for bathrooms and entryways. Carpets are best for bedrooms.
What are the rules of 3 for flooring?
Rule of 3 refers to floor design. For optimal flow and continuity, limit your flooring to three or fewer types.
What are the latest trends in flooring?
Flooring trends for 2026 include warm tones and textured looks. LVP and LVT are affordable flooring options that are popular due to their luxurious appearance and durability.
