How Much Does Carpet Removal Cost? [2026 Data]

In 2026, the national average cost for carpet removal is $280, though most homeowners pay between $120 and $720, depending on carpet type, location (floor or stairs), and whether padding is glued to the subfloor. Key cost drivers include removal method, adhesive cleanup, and disposal fees.

Carpet Removal Cost Factors: What Affects the Price?

Carpet removal companies charge by the hour, by square footage, or as a flat fee covering everything from furniture removal to disposal. The pricing structure varies by contractor, so always confirm which parts of the process are included in your quoted price. Knowing how your contractor bills helps you avoid surprise charges and compare estimates accurately.

Cost per Square Foot

Carpet removal costs $0.50 to $5 per square foot, with most contractors basing their estimate on the size of the room. At the lower end of that range, you can hire carpet removal professionals near you to remove simple wall-to-wall carpets and stapled pads in a flat, open room. More complex jobs—such as glued carpet or rooms with obstacles—push costs toward the higher end of the range. Here is a breakdown of average costs by square footage:

The price increases if the carpet is glued to the floor or in complicated areas, like steps, basements, attics, or old, potentially moldy rooms.

Location in Home

Where carpet is installed in your home is one of the biggest factors behind the wide cost range of $0.50 to $5 per square foot. Removing carpet from a standard living room is far less labor-intensive than tackling stairs, furniture-filled bedrooms, or basements where carpet may be bonded directly to concrete. Each location presents its own removal challenges, which directly affects how long the job takes and what you'll pay.

Carpet Removal Costs by Type

Carpet removal costs vary significantly by type and location, because installers attach carpet to the floor in several different ways. Traditional wall-to-wall carpeting is stretched and stapled around the edges and center of the room, while glued carpet uses a strong adhesive to bond directly to the floor, and double-glued carpet adds a pad that is also glued down. Removing glued carpeting is more time-consuming and requires more specialized tools than stapled carpet. Tricky locations like stairs and basements add their own removal challenges and costs, as shown in the table below:

• Stair carpet: Stair carpet removal costs around $2–$20 per stair, as carpeting on stairs often requires removing padding that's attached to both the riser and the tread of each step, increasing the difficulty of removal.

• Basement carpet: Removing basement carpet costs about $1–$1.50 per square foot , but you might pay more in the long run due to moisture, dust, mold, and mold remediation prices , which can cost around $10–$25 per sq. ft.

• Carpet and pad: Traditional staple-down installation will cost approximately $0.50–$1.50 per sq. ft. to remove and dispose of the carpet, and then ripping up the pad underneath in small sections.

• Glued carpet: Glued carpet will cost around $3–$5 per sq. ft. to remove because of the difficulty of the double-glued-down installation.

• Wall-to-wall carpet: Wall-to-wall carpet removal costs around $0.50–$5 per sq. ft., which can include either stapled or glued-down installations.

Carpet Installation Method 

The installation method is a key cost driver in carpet removal, because glue-down and double glue-down carpet require adhesive removal to properly prepare the subfloor. Glue-down carpet removal costs about $3 to $5 per square foot due to the extra labor and tools involved. Stretch-in carpet removal is more straightforward and costs around $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot.

Labor

Labor makes up nearly the entire cost of carpet removal, and some companies quote a flat rate of $60 per hour for the full job. That hourly rate may cover furniture moving, carpet removal, disposal, and even floor polishing. On average, a 12-foot-by-12-foot room takes two to four hours to complete, with stairs and larger spaces adding more time.

Carpet Disposal

Many carpet disposal costs are bundled into a contractor's initial quote, though some pros advertise full-service removal at no extra charge. If you handle removal yourself, expect to pay $0.40 and $0.50 per square foot for disposal alone, or hire a local junk remover for a flat fee of $75 to $150 to haul it away. For larger remodeling projects with mixed debris, renting a dumpster lets you work at your own pace before pickup. If you want to cut disposal costs entirely, local charities and buy-nothing groups may take carpet that is still in decent shape.

Carpet Removal Additional Costs: What to Budget For

Carpet removal often opens the door to additional costs beyond the removal itself, including furniture moving and subfloor repairs. You may also discover that your floor's substrate needs attention before new flooring can be installed. Budgeting for these extras upfront helps you avoid surprises once the project is underway.

Furniture Removal

Furniture removal is sometimes included in a carpet removal estimate, but many companies charge around $0.20 to $0.25 per square foot of furniture, or about $60 per hour. Confirm with your contractor upfront whether furniture moving is part of the quoted price to avoid unexpected charges.

Carpet Recycling

Local carpet recovery programs offer recycling options for old carpet, which can be a more environmentally responsible alternative to landfill disposal. In addition to any hauling costs, recycling centers typically charge between $0.05 and $0.25 per square foot to recycle it. If you are already paying for haul-away, ask your contractor whether they partner with a recycling facility to consolidate costs.

Wet Carpet Removal 

Wet carpet removal costs around $1.20 to $1.55 per square foot and should be addressed immediately to prevent further damage from flooding, mold, or mildew. Mold removal adds about $10 to $25 per square foot to your total, and basement waterproofing costs about $5 to $10 per square foot. Budget for all three services together if your carpet has sustained significant water damage.

Flooring Repairs

Lifting wall-to-wall carpet often reveals subfloor damage, especially in older homes or properties where the previous owner handled installation. The cost to repair flooring depends on the material, the extent of the damage, and whether the floor can be salvaged. Overall, expect to pay anywhere from $2 to $30 per square foot for floor repairs, with costs varying widely by repair type, as shown below:

New Flooring

Replacing old carpet with harder, more durable flooring is one of the most popular home upgrades, and the cost to install wood flooring ranges from $6 to $12 per square foot, not including carpet removal. Other flooring materials come in at a range of price points, so your choice of material will significantly affect your total project budget. Here are the most common alternatives and their installed costs:

• Cost to install laminate flooring: $3–$8 per sq. ft.

• Cost to install vinyl flooring: $2–$7 per sq. ft.

• Cost to install ceramic tile flooring: $3–$5 per sq. ft.

• Cost to install porcelain tile flooring: $13–$65 per sq. ft.

• Cost to install new carpeting: $3–$11 per sq. ft.

Signs You Need to Remove Your Carpet

Here are some signs you need to remove your carpet. Keep in mind that, in addition to the signs below, you should consider your carpet's age. If it's been over 10 years since you last installed new carpet, now is the time to get it done. Besides that, look around and see if you notice the following:

• Stubborn stains

• Heavy wear and tear

• Bad-smelling carpet

• Worsened allergies

In addition, if your carpet has water damage, you should replace the carpet and underlayment as soon as possible. This will help prevent mold and mildew growth in your flooring, which can easily spread to other areas of your home.

Repairing vs. Replacing Your Carpet

Carpet repair costs around $200, while the average carpet replacement cost is $1,780, making repair the far more budget-friendly option when the carpet is otherwise in good condition. Burn holes, tears, and localized pile damage can all be mended to restore your carpet's appearance. Replacement becomes the better long-term investment when carpet is old, heavily worn, or saturated with stains, odors, or water damage that repair cannot resolve.

How to Save on Carpet Removal Services

Without a doubt, removing carpet yourself is the best way to cut several hundred dollars off your bill. If that route isn't worth the hassle, here are some other tips to keep in mind:

• Move the furniture yourself before the carpet removal company arrives.

• Offer to haul and recycle the carpet yourself.

• Book your removal contractor at the same time as your new flooring installation.

• Choose a less popular time for the appointment, such as the midweek.

• Speak with at least three carpet remover contractors to compare quotes.

Carpet Removal Pro Costs: What to Expect

Hiring a professional carpet removal team for a standard 12-foot-by-12-foot room costs between $140 and $430, while removing carpet yourself can cost as little as $25 for tools. Keep in mind that padding is often present underneath, and removing old carpet padding without damaging the subfloor requires skill and experience. If you have any doubt about tackling the job yourself, call a local carpet removal team to avoid costly floor damage.

• Carpet removal pro: $140–$430

• Carpet removal tools: $25

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a carpet removal pro

Removing carpet requires strength, expertise, and specialized equipment. Here's why it's best to leave the job to a pro:

• Professionals know how to remove carpet, padding, and tack strips without damaging your floors.

• Experienced pros know how to spot issues like mold, pet odors, and rot.

• DIY carpet removal can lead to injuries, floor damage, and costly repairs.

• Pros know how to safely dispose of old carpet and padding in accordance with local regulations.

• Carpet removal pros can complete the job quickly, saving you time and stress.

If you want to DIY a carpet removal

If you want to help out your pro, consider taking on the following tasks:

• Clear furniture, decor, and belongings from the room before your pro arrives

• Vacuum the carpet to clean up dust and dirt

• Clear a pathway to the room so your pro has easy access

• Assist with clean-up after the project is complete

• Dispose of the carpet in accordance with local regulations

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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