Key Takeaways
| Factor | Range |
|---|---|
| Material only | $2–$8/sq ft |
| Labor only | $1.50–$4/sq ft |
| Total installed | $4–$12/sq ft |
| Underlay add-on | $0.50–$2/sq ft |
| Furniture moving | $50–$200 flat |
| Removal of old carpet | $0.50–$1.50/sq ft |
The Base Number: Material Plus Labor
Carpet installation in Ottawa costs between $4 and $12 per square foot when you bundle material and labor. The low end gets you builder-grade polyester with basic pad. The high end buys wool or dense nylon with premium underlay.
Material accounts for half to two-thirds of the total. A mid-grade nylon carpet runs $3 to $5 per square foot on its own. Labor to install it adds another $1.50 to $3 per square foot. The installer measures, cuts, seams, stretches, and trims. That work takes skill—carpet that isn’t stretched properly wrinkles within months.
Most Ottawa installers quote by the square foot because it scales cleanly. A 200-square-foot bedroom at $7 per square foot costs $1,400 installed. A 1,200-square-foot main floor at the same rate costs $8,400. The math is transparent.
Material Cost Breakdown
Carpet fiber determines the floor of your budget. Polyester starts around $2 per square foot. It’s soft underfoot but mats down faster than nylon. Nylon sits in the $3 to $6 range. It resists wear and holds up in hallways and stairs. Wool begins at $7 per square foot and climbs past $15 for high-end imports.
Carpet density matters as much as fiber. A dense nylon with a high face weight costs more than a loose-weave polyester, but it lasts twice as long. You pay upfront or you pay later.
Pattern and texture add cost. Solid colors run cheaper than patterns because there’s no need to match seams. Berber and loop styles use more material per square foot than cut pile, so the price ticks up.
Wide carpet rolls reduce seams. Standard rolls run 12 feet wide. If your room is 11 feet across, you get one seam. If it’s 13 feet, you need two pieces and a center seam—more waste, more labor, higher cost.
Labor Cost Breakdown
Labor in Ottawa runs $1.50 to $4 per square foot depending on job complexity. A simple rectangular bedroom with no closets sits at the low end. A living room with angled walls, bay windows, or multiple doorways pushes toward the high end.
Installers charge more for stairs. Each step requires cutting, wrapping, and tucking. Expect $10 to $25 per step, which translates to roughly $3 to $5 per square foot when you account for risers and treads.
Seaming adds time. Installers use heat tape or seaming irons to join carpet sections. A bad seam shows. A good seam disappears. You’re paying for the latter.
Power stretching is part of the base labor rate, but some installers skip it to save time. A knee kicker alone won’t cut it. The carpet will ripple. Ask if the quote includes power stretching—it should.
Underlay and Padding Options
Underlay runs $0.50 to $2 per square foot depending on thickness and density. Basic foam padding costs $0.50 to $0.75 per square foot. It compresses quickly. Rubber or memory foam padding costs $1.50 to $2 per square foot and extends carpet life by years.
Ottawa’s temperature swings stress flooring. Good underlay buffers the carpet from subfloor movement and adds insulation. Skimping here shortens the carpet’s useful life.
Some carpet warranties require specific underlay density. If you install cheap padding under premium carpet, you void the warranty. Read the fine print.
Moisture barriers add another $0.30 to $0.50 per square foot in basements. They prevent subfloor dampness from wicking into the carpet. In Ottawa basements, this isn’t optional—it’s structural hygiene.
Add-On Costs That Stack Up
Furniture moving costs $50 to $200 depending on room size and what you own. Some installers include basic furniture shifts in the base quote. Heavy items like pianos or wall units cost extra.
Removing old carpet runs $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot. If the old carpet is glued down or stapled to plywood, the high end applies. If it’s tack-stripped over concrete, expect the low end.
Subfloor prep adds cost when the surface isn’t level or clean. Grinding down adhesive residue costs $1 to $2 per square foot. Patching divots or replacing damaged plywood runs $2 to $4 per square foot.
Transitions and thresholds cost $15 to $40 per doorway. Metal or wood transitions bridge the gap between carpet and tile, hardwood, or vinyl. This is a small line item but it’s rarely included in the base square-foot quote.
Pricing Examples for Common Rooms
A 150-square-foot bedroom with mid-grade nylon and standard padding costs roughly $1,050 at $7 per square foot. Add $100 to move furniture and $75 to remove old carpet. Total: $1,225.
A 300-square-foot living room at the same rate costs $2,100 installed. Add $150 for furniture and $150 for removal. Total: $2,400.
A 1,000-square-foot basement with moisture barrier and builder-grade carpet costs $6,000 at $6 per square foot. Add $500 for old carpet removal and $200 for subfloor cleaning. Total: $6,700.
These are mid-range estimates. Budget builds come in 20% lower. Premium installs run 30% higher.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
Measure your space in square feet before calling installers. Length times width gives you the area. Add 10% for waste and cuts. That’s your material estimate.
Ask for itemized quotes. You want material cost, labor cost, underlay cost, and add-ons separated. A single bundled number hides where your money goes.
Compare at least three quotes. The lowest bid isn’t always the best. An installer who skips power stretching or uses thin padding saves money at your expense.
Check what’s included. Does the quote cover furniture moving? Old carpet removal? Subfloor prep? Transitions? If it doesn’t specify, ask.
Visit a showroom with samples. Carpet looks different under your lighting than under fluorescent tubes. Borrow samples and test them at home before committing.
For a detailed breakdown of what installation includes, see our carpet installation service page.
When to Pay More per Square Foot
High-traffic areas justify premium carpet. Hallways, stairs, and entryways take abuse. Spending $8 to $10 per square foot on dense nylon saves replacement costs in five years.
Rooms with moisture exposure need better underlay. Basements, laundry rooms, and bathrooms benefit from rubber padding and moisture barriers. The $1 to $2 per square foot upgrade prevents mold and odor.
Homes with pets or children benefit from stain-resistant treatments. Some carpets come pre-treated. Others require an add-on coating that costs $0.50 to $1 per square foot. It’s worth it if you’re not replacing carpet every three years.
Resale value matters in some neighborhoods. If you’re prepping a house for sale, mid-grade carpet in neutral tones ($6 to $8 per square foot) looks clean without over-investing. Buyers notice fresh carpet.
If you’re planning multiple rooms, ask about our carpet cost calculator to estimate your total project.
FAQ
What is the cheapest carpet to install per square foot in Ottawa? Builder-grade polyester with foam padding costs $4 to $5 per square foot installed. It works for low-traffic bedrooms or rental units.
Does the square-foot price include underlay? Sometimes. Always ask. Some quotes bundle underlay, others charge it separately at $0.50 to $2 per square foot.
How much does it cost to install 500 square feet of carpet in Ottawa? Expect $2,000 to $6,000 depending on material quality. Mid-grade installs run about $3,500.
Do installers charge more for small rooms? Yes. Minimum charges apply. A 50-square-foot closet might cost $500 because the installer still needs to make a trip and cut seams.
Is labor cheaper if I buy the carpet myself? Rarely. Installers mark up materials but discount labor when you bundle. Buying carpet retail and hiring labor separately usually costs more.
What’s the price difference between nylon and polyester per square foot? Nylon costs $1 to $3 more per square foot than polyester. The gap narrows at the high end where both fibers hit premium pricing.
Do I need a moisture barrier for upstairs bedrooms? No. Moisture barriers are for basements and ground-level rooms with concrete subfloors. Upstairs rooms over heated spaces don’t need them.
Can I negotiate the per-square-foot price? On large jobs, yes. Installing 2,000 square feet gives you more leverage than installing 200. Installers may drop the rate $0.50 to $1 per square foot on volume.
How much does it cost to install carpet on stairs per square foot? Stairs cost more—roughly $3 to $5 per square foot because of the labor intensity. See our stair carpet installation guide for details.
What’s included in the labor cost per square foot? Measuring, cutting, seaming, stretching, trimming, and tucking. Furniture moving and old carpet removal usually cost extra unless the quote specifies otherwise.