Cork Flooring Costs: Everything You Need to Know [2025 Data]
Cork flooring costs $2,050 on average, depending on 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.
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
Square cork tiles 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, from neutrals all the way to burnt red, black, blue, and green tones.
Striata or Printed
If solid colors don’t speak to you, there are various other cork options to help you bring your vision to life. Striata cork offers a marbled look. Natural striata cork is about $8 to $8.50 per square foot, while colored strata cork is $10 to $10.50 per square foot.
You could 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.
Other design options include mosaic cork tiles made from recycled wine corks, which cost 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 thicker cork 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.
Room Size
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 but 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.
Whether you decide to seal grout or install a water-resistant vinyl, waterproofing your flooring is crucial, especially in rooms like bathrooms or the kitchen. A flooring pro can recommend the best materials for specific areas, install new flooring, and ensure it will stand up to water.
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
Once you’ve figured out the basics of cork flooring installation, it’s time to move on to 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, your cork flooring may need repairs. Common issues include wear and tear, such as scratches and nicks, 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, you’ll likely need to remove your existing flooring before you can install 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 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 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 about $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 types 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.
Pros and Cons of Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is a popular choice that offers several benefits you should consider. Let’s go over some of the pros and cons before you make the switch to this flooring material.
Pros
Comfortable: Cork flooring is comfortable to walk on thanks to its springy feel. This is great for areas like the kitchen where you may be standing for long periods. Unlike tile, it stays at room temperature, so you can easily walk around barefoot.
Affordable: Compared to hardwood floors, cork flooring is more affordable—though, not cheaper than vinyl and laminate flooring. But you’ll enjoy plenty of other benefits that make cork cost-effective.
Eco-friendly: Probably one of the top draws, cork is one of the best green options for your home. The material is sustainable and can naturally break down even after you replace it.
Easy to maintain: You can quickly check off your cleaning to-do list with cork. Simply vacuum and mop with a mild cleaner to keep the material looking new.
Resistant to mold, mildew, and insects: Cork doesn’t absorb moisture, so you don’t have to worry about mold and mildew growth. It also contains a waxy substance that naturally repels insects.
Cons
Tendency to fade: Cork is sensitive to light, so heavy exposure to sunlight may cause patches of discoloration. If you like to let in a lot of sunlight, cork may not be the best option.
Less durable: Like hardwood flooring, cork is prone to scratches from pets and moving heavy furniture around.
Requires sealant: Though cork is resistant to water, it can still absorb some moisture if you don’t quickly clean up spills. To help protect it from long-term damage, you’ll need to reseal it every five to seven years.
Limited color choices: While there are some other color choices besides natural tan, there isn’t quite as much variety compared to other flooring materials.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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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.
Although cork is water resistant and, therefore, unlikely to grow mold, mold can still develop under the right conditions. Make sure you quickly clean up any spills and clean the floors with a damp—not soaking wet—mop.
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