How Much Does It Cost to Remove Laminate Flooring? [2026 Data]

The cost to remove laminate flooring averages $400 and ranges between $200 and $1,000. Your final price depends on the size of the space, and you can estimate $2 to $3 per square foot for removal. This material is used as a cost-effective alternative for homeowners who like the look of hardwood but not the price tag. Though it’s durable, it does not have the same longevity.

Even if you maintain your floors meticulously, there may be a time when you eventually need to remove them. Let’s weigh the costs, whether you’re looking for a replacement floor or an upgrade.

Laminate Floor Removal Cost Factors

The average cost to remove laminate flooring is around $2 to $3 per square foot, but certain factors will impact the final price tag.

Size of Area

The larger the area, the longer it will take to remove your flooring and the more it will cost. Since laminate flooring clicks and locks together, installing or removing planks is relatively simple for someone with experience—especially if you don’t need to remove the subfloor. 

For this reason, contractors may charge a day rate of around $200 to remove laminate in a small area. That said, it can take a full day of work to remove a large area of flooring. A standard 200-square-foot floor costs $400 to $600 to remove.

Labor 

Labor is the most significant laminate floor repair cost. Most flooring contractors charge $25 to $35 per hour, though floor removal is usually wrapped into a larger project like a floor replacement.

It’s not just about disposing of your old floors. Contractors will move furniture and remove baseboards, molding, and thresholds. They’ll also reinstall those elements and clean up the area when they’re finished.

Location 

You can expect to spend more to remove laminate flooring in an area with a high cost of living. For example, a contractor in New York may charge up to $120 per hour, whereas a contractor in Charlotte, North Carolina may charge $30 per hour.

Disposal or Haul-Away Fees

Disposal is most likely an additional fee. Your contractor will need to haul away the debris when they’re finished. Expect to spend $150 to $400. If you’re demolishing an entire room, a small residential dumpster rental costs $100 to $300 per week.

Why You Should Hire a Flooring Repair Pro

Flooring repair professionals charge between $25 and $35 per hour to remove laminate flooring. Their job, however, will include removing baseboards, thresholds, and furniture, and then installing the new flooring. Removing laminate flooring isn't a terribly difficult job, but when it’s part of a larger flooring or remodeling project, hiring a local flooring repair pro is the best way to go. 

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a flooring repair contractor 

Here are the benefits of hiring a pro to remove your laminate flooring: 

• Flooring pros are equipped with the right tools, meaning you won’t have to purchase tools you might not use again. 

• They will haul away the old floor and dispose of it—but ask your pro if this service is included in their estimate. 

• Experts can efficiently remove flooring in large rooms much faster than a DIYer can. 

• Pros can spot subfloor damage and make necessary repairs. 

• Flooring repair pros can identify asbestos in homes built before 1980, pinpoint mold issues, and recommend options for remediation. 

If you want to DIY laminate floor removal

If you want to help remove laminate flooring, you can leave the bulk of the work to your pro and tackle some simpler parts of the project: 

• Cleaning the area prior to installation and removing furniture, baseboards, and thresholds

• Disposing of old flooring on your own to save on disposal costs

• Ordering new flooring materials and having them on-site for installation

Common Add-Ons

Floor removal isn’t a stand-alone project. It’s part of a larger remodel or replacement, and it can incur some additional costs.

Water Damage Remediation 

Laminate repair from water damage can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,200 or $3 to $11 per square foot. The size of the damaged area and the depth of the damage significantly affect the repair costs. For example, if there’s subfloor damage, the costs will be higher than if the damage is limited to the laminate.

In some cases, laminate can be replaced in sections, like specific tiles or planks, which keeps costs low. In other circumstances, the damage may be so extensive that most laminate must be removed and replaced.  

Mold Removal

On average, mold testing costs $250 to $300, and mold remediation costs $10 to $25 per square foot. Mold is common in water-damaged laminate flooring. Floating laminate floors are not glued or nailed down to the subfloor. Rather, the planks snap into place above the subfloor, which leaves room for moisture to settle in the space between.

New Flooring Installation

Most homeowners remove laminate flooring because they’re replacing their floors. On average, new flooring installation costs $2 to $22 per square foot, depending on the type of floor. Most homeowners end up spending $1,500 to $4,500 for a 500-square-foot room. The cost to install new laminate flooring averages about $3,000. 

Asbestos Remediation

Old laminate flooring—particularly glued-down tiles—can contain asbestos. If your home was built before 1980, you may want to have your flooring tested before you remove it. An asbestos test costs $230 to $800, while asbestos remediation costs $5 to $20 per square foot. 

4 Reasons You Should Remove Your Laminate Flooring

You can’t refinish laminate like you’d refinish hardwood floors. Though homeowners can swap out damaged laminate planks, you may need to replace your floor if it requires more extensive repairs. That said, there are a wealth of reasons you might want to get rid of your laminate flooring.

Water Damage

Laminate flooring is vulnerable to water. Though it can withstand a spill that’s quickly mopped up, planks can bubble and warp when the water starts to penetrate the surface. Water can also seep below the gaps between planks, damage the subfloor, and harbor mold. 

Most often, the only way to fix a water-damaged laminate floor is to replace any affected planks and subflooring.

Improper Installation

If the previous homeowner incorrectly installed laminate flooring, you may have to replace your floor to fix the issue. Signs of a poor installation include:

• Large gaps between planks

• Buckling planks

• Planks with lifted corners or frayed edges

• Uneven or loose planks

• Soft spots 

• Unlevel floor

• Excessively creaky floor

Health Concerns 

Laminate flooring, especially the kind that uses adhesive, can off-gas voluntary organic compounds (VOCs). One of the most prevalent is formaldehyde, but it depends on the specific product. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), formaldehyde exposure can cause irritation and breathing problems (especially for children, older adults, and people with asthma). It’s also linked to an increased risk of cancer. The good news is that VOC levels do taper off over time, and it’s more of a concern when the product is new.

Because of the potential health effects, some homeowners choose to remove their laminate flooring and install linoleum flooring or hardwood.

Home Remodel 

If you have the budget, wanting a new floor with a different look is enough of a reason to remove your existing laminate. Many homeowners replace their flooring during a home remodel, and you can save money on the demolition if you’re demoing multiple rooms at once.

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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