Key Takeaways
| Living Room Size | Budget Install | Mid-Grade Install | Premium Install |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 sq ft | $800–$1,100 | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,800–$2,400 |
| 300 sq ft | $1,200–$1,650 | $1,800–$2,400 | $2,700–$3,600 |
| 400 sq ft | $1,600–$2,200 | $2,400–$3,200 | $3,600–$4,800 |
| 500 sq ft | $2,000–$2,750 | $3,000–$4,000 | $4,500–$6,000 |
Add-ons: Furniture moving ($100–$300), old carpet removal ($100–$500), subfloor leveling ($200–$800), pattern matching ($50–$200), transitions ($30–$120).
Living Room Size and Layout Impact
Living rooms in Ottawa homes run 250 to 400 square feet on average. A 15×20 room is 300 square feet. A 20×20 room is 400 square feet. Open-concept living rooms combined with dining areas can reach 600 square feet or more.
Installed carpet costs $4 to $12 per square foot depending on material quality and job complexity. A 300-square-foot living room at $7 per square foot costs $2,100 installed.
Layout matters as much as size. A rectangular room with four straight walls costs less to carpet than an L-shaped room with a bay window and fireplace alcove. More corners and angles mean more cuts, more seams, and more labor.
Open-concept spaces require careful seam placement. Seams should run parallel to the main traffic flow and perpendicular to windows where possible. A seam running down the center of a living room under bright light shows every time you walk through.
For more on professional installation techniques, see our carpet installation service page.
Material Costs for Living Room Carpet
Living room carpet runs $2 to $10 per square foot depending on fiber, density, and construction. Polyester costs $2 to $3 per square foot. It’s soft underfoot but mats down in high-traffic areas within a few years.
Nylon costs $3 to $6 per square foot. It’s the standard choice for living rooms because it resists wear, holds color, and bounces back after furniture sits on it.
Wool starts at $7 per square foot and climbs past $15 for imported or custom designs. It’s warm, durable, and naturally stain-resistant. Wool makes sense in formal living rooms where durability and appearance matter.
Carpet style affects price. Plush cut pile—dense and soft—costs more than textured or frieze styles. Berber loop pile sits in the middle price range and hides dirt well.
Patterned carpets cost $1 to $3 more per square foot than solids because installers need to match seams. A floral or geometric pattern requires precise alignment. Misaligned patterns look sloppy.
Carpet width determines seam count. Standard rolls are 12 feet wide. A 14-foot-wide living room needs two pieces and a center seam. A 16-foot room needs careful planning to minimize visible seams.
Labor Costs for Living Room Carpet
Labor runs $1.50 to $4 per square foot depending on room complexity. A simple rectangular room with no obstacles sits at the low end. A room with a fireplace, built-in shelving, multiple doorways, or bay windows pushes toward the high end.
Installers measure, cut, seam, stretch, and trim the carpet. They install tack strips along the perimeter, lay padding, seam carpet sections with heat tape, power-stretch the carpet tight, and trim excess at the edges.
Power stretching is required for living rooms. Knee-kicking alone won’t stretch carpet tight enough across large open areas. The carpet will ripple within months.
Furniture moving isn’t always included in the base labor rate. Some installers shift sofas, coffee tables, and media stands as part of the job. Others charge $100 to $300 extra depending on furniture volume.
Old carpet removal costs $0.50 to $1 per square foot. For a 300-square-foot living room, that’s $150 to $300. Glued carpet or carpet over tile costs more to remove than tack-stripped carpet over plywood.
Padding Options for Living Rooms
Living room padding runs $0.50 to $2 per square foot depending on material and density. Basic foam padding costs $0.50 to $0.75 per square foot. It compresses quickly under heavy furniture.
Rubber padding costs $1 to $1.50 per square foot. It resists compression better than foam and lasts longer. For living rooms with heavy sofas or entertainment centers, rubber padding is worth the upgrade.
Memory foam padding costs $1.50 to $2 per square foot. It’s thick, soft, and insulating. It’s overkill for low-traffic living rooms but makes sense in family rooms that see daily use.
Padding density matters. Most carpet warranties require 6 to 8 pounds per cubic foot density. Denser padding feels firmer underfoot and extends carpet life.
Padding thickness affects furniture stability. Padding thicker than 1/2 inch can make furniture feel unstable, especially on wheels. Stick to 3/8 to 1/2 inch thickness for living rooms.
Add-On Costs for Living Rooms
Furniture moving costs $100 to $300 depending on room size and furniture volume. A living room with a sofa, loveseat, coffee table, and TV stand sits at the low end. A room with sectionals, entertainment centers, and built-in cabinets sits at the high end.
Old carpet removal costs $150 to $500 for a typical living room. The price depends on square footage and how the old carpet is secured. Tack-stripped carpet pulls up quickly. Glued carpet takes hours to scrape off.
Subfloor leveling costs $1 to $3 per square foot if the floor isn’t flat. Installers use self-leveling compound to fill low spots and grind down high spots. Uneven floors show through carpet as lumps and dips.
Transitions cost $15 to $40 per doorway. Living rooms often have two to four transitions—main entrance, hallway, dining room, patio door. Budget $60 to $160 for transitions.
Pattern matching adds $50 to $200 depending on carpet complexity. Installers take extra time to align patterns across seams. Intricate designs require more cuts and generate more waste.
Subfloor repair costs $2 to $4 per square foot if the plywood is damaged. Water damage, pet stains, or termite damage needs repair before new carpet goes down.
For help with old carpet issues, see our carpet repair service page.
Pricing Examples for Living Room Projects
Scenario 1: Small 200 sq ft living room, budget build
- 200 sq ft polyester carpet at $5/sq ft: $1,000
- Foam padding: included
- Old carpet removal: $100
- Furniture moving (minimal): $100
- Transitions (2 doorways): $40
- Total: $1,240
Scenario 2: Standard 300 sq ft living room, mid-grade
- 300 sq ft nylon carpet at $7/sq ft: $2,100
- Rubber padding: included
- Old carpet removal: $200
- Furniture moving: $200
- Subfloor leveling (100 sq ft): $200
- Transitions (3 doorways): $75
- Total: $2,775
Scenario 3: Large 500 sq ft open-concept living/dining, premium
- 500 sq ft wool carpet at $11/sq ft: $5,500
- Memory foam padding: included
- Patterned carpet seam matching: $150
- Old carpet removal: $400
- Furniture moving (heavy): $300
- Subfloor repair (150 sq ft): $450
- Transitions (4 doorways): $120
- Total: $6,920
These numbers assume standard Ottawa homes with wood subfloors. Concrete subfloors or complex layouts add 10% to 20% to labor costs.
When to Upgrade Living Room Carpet
High-traffic living rooms justify premium materials. If the living room is the main gathering space, upgrading from polyester to nylon or wool adds $2 to $5 per square foot but extends life from 5 years to 12 years.
Homes with pets or kids benefit from stain-resistant treatments. Living rooms are where spills happen. Treated carpet costs $0.50 to $1 per square foot more but cleans easier and resists permanent staining.
Formal living rooms with low traffic can use mid-grade materials. A room that’s used a few times per month doesn’t need $12-per-square-foot wool. Mid-grade nylon at $5 to $7 per square foot is enough.
Open-concept spaces with lots of natural light need fade-resistant carpet. Solution-dyed nylon resists UV fading better than piece-dyed nylon. The upgrade costs $1 to $2 per square foot.
If you’re selling the house, mid-grade carpet in neutral tones is enough. Buyers notice fresh carpet but won’t pay extra for premium materials. Beige, gray, or tan nylon at $6 to $8 per square foot looks clean.
Use our carpet cost calculator to estimate your living room project.
How to Get an Accurate Living Room Quote
Measure the room. Length times width gives you square footage. For L-shaped or irregular rooms, break the space into rectangles and add them up. Add 10% for waste.
Note obstacles. Fireplaces, built-ins, bay windows, and columns complicate installation. Take photos and share them with installers when requesting quotes.
Count doorways and transitions. You’ll need a transition strip wherever carpet meets tile, hardwood, or vinyl. Budget $15 to $40 per transition.
List furniture that needs moving. The more you move yourself, the less the installer charges. Heavy items like sectionals or entertainment centers cost more to shift.
Ask what’s included in the quote. Does it cover padding, furniture moving, old carpet removal, transitions, and subfloor prep? If the quote doesn’t specify, assume they’re extra.
Request itemized quotes from three installers. Compare material specs, padding density, and labor rates. The lowest bid isn’t always the best—check what’s included and ask about power stretching.
Seam Placement and Traffic Flow
Seams should run perpendicular to windows where possible. Light from windows highlights seams. Placing seams parallel to light makes them less visible.
Seams should run parallel to the main traffic path. If people walk straight through the living room to reach the dining room, seams should run in that direction. Walking across a seam wears it faster than walking along it.
Avoid placing seams in the center of the room. Off-center seams are less visible. If the room is 16 feet wide and the carpet roll is 12 feet wide, the seam should be 3 feet from one wall, not 2 feet from each wall.
Pattern carpets require seam matching. Installers cut carpet so patterns align across the seam. This creates more waste—sometimes 15% to 20%—which increases material costs.
Installers use heat-activated tape or seaming irons to join carpet sections. A good seam is invisible from three feet away. A bad seam peels apart or shows a visible line.
For more on professional seaming techniques, see our carpet installation service page.
Common Living Room Carpet Mistakes
Using cheap padding to save money. Padding costs $150 to $600 for a living room but extends carpet life by years. Skipping rubber padding and using foam saves $100 but costs more in the long run.
Ignoring seam placement. Installers who place seams down the center of the room or perpendicular to windows create visible lines that catch light.
Not power-stretching. Large open living rooms need power stretching. Knee-kicking alone won’t keep carpet tight across 15 or 20 feet.
Installing carpet over damaged subfloor. Water stains, dips, or warped plywood show through carpet. Fix the subfloor first.
Skipping furniture moving costs in the budget. If the quote doesn’t include furniture moving, you’ll pay $100 to $300 extra or move heavy items yourself.
Using polyester in high-traffic areas. Polyester mats down quickly where people walk regularly. Use nylon in high-traffic living rooms.
For help fixing installation issues, see our carpet stretching service page.
FAQ
How much does it cost to carpet a 300 sq ft living room in Ottawa? $1,200 to $3,600 depending on carpet quality. Budget polyester costs $1,200 to $1,650. Mid-grade nylon costs $1,800 to $2,400. Premium wool costs $2,700 to $3,600.
Does the price include furniture moving? Sometimes. Ask before booking. Some installers include basic furniture shifts. Others charge $100 to $300 extra.
How long does it take to install carpet in a living room? Four to six hours for a standard 300 sq ft room. Complex layouts or heavy furniture add time.
Can I install carpet in the living room without doing the hallway? Yes, but the transition between old and new carpet will show. It’s cleaner to carpet connected spaces at the same time.
What’s the best carpet for a high-traffic living room? Dense nylon with a low pile height. It resists wear and holds up to daily use. Expect to pay $6 to $9 per square foot installed.
Do I need thicker padding for a living room? No. Standard 3/8 to 1/2 inch padding is enough. Thicker padding makes furniture unstable.
How much does it cost to remove old living room carpet? $0.50 to $1 per square foot. For a 300 sq ft room, expect $150 to $300.
Can I use patterned carpet in a living room? Yes, but it costs more. Pattern matching adds $50 to $200 and generates 15% to 20% more waste.
Is it cheaper to install carpet in multiple rooms at once? Yes. Bulk material orders reduce per-square-foot costs, and installers save travel time by doing the whole job at once.
How do I hide seams in a large living room? Place seams perpendicular to windows and parallel to traffic flow. A good installer hides seams using proper cutting and heat-activated tape.