Carpet installation cost in Canada (2026): price per sq ft by province

How much does carpet installation cost in Canada?

Carpet costs $3.50 to $9 per square foot installed in Canada, including carpet, underpad and labour. Materials run $2 to $6 per square foot, underpad $0.50 to $1.50, and installation $1.25 to $3.50. A 1,000 square foot area therefore costs roughly $3,500 to $9,000 before tax, making carpet the most affordable flooring per square foot in most of the country. Stairs are priced separately at $30 to $70 per step for a standard install and more for wrapped or waterfall finishes. The underpad matters more than most buyers expect: a good 8lb density pad extends carpet life significantly and costs far less than replacing the carpet early. Most carpet installations are completed in a single day, and old carpet removal adds $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot.

Carpet flooring cost by province (2026)

Installed prices per square foot, materials and labour together, before tax. These are typical ranges for a standard room-sized job, confirmed by a written quote after a free measure.

Province or territory	Supply & install	Labour only	Sales tax
Alberta	$4–8	$1.5–3	5% GST only
British Columbia	$4.5–9	$1.5–3.5	5% GST
Ontario	$4–8	$1.5–3	13% HST on both materials and labour
Manitoba	$3.75–7.5	$1.25–2.75	5% GST and 7% RST
New Brunswick	$3.5–7	$1.25–2.5	15% HST on materials and labour
Nova Scotia	$3.75–7.5	$1.25–2.75	14% HST on materials and labour
Quebec	$3.5–7	$1.25–2.75	5% GST and 9
Saskatchewan	$3.75–7.5	$1.25–2.75	5% GST and 6% PST
Newfoundland and Labrador	$4.25–8.5	$1.5–3	15% HST on materials and labour
Northwest Territories	$5.5–11	$2.25–4.5	5% GST only
Nunavut	$6.5–13	$2.75–5.5	5% GST only
Prince Edward Island	$4–8	$1.25–2.75	15% HST on materials and labour
Yukon	$5–10	$2–4	5% GST only

Ranges reflect regional labour rates and, in the territories, freight on materials. Alberta and the territories have no provincial sales tax, which makes the same floor meaningfully cheaper there.

What drives the price

Fibre type

Nylon is the most durable and resilient and costs the most. Triexta resists stains well and is softer. Polyester is affordable and stain-resistant but crushes faster under traffic. Wool is the premium natural option, beautiful and long-lasting but expensive and more demanding to maintain.

Pile construction

Cut pile is soft and shows footprints. Loop and berber hide traffic better and wear well but can snag with pets. Patterned and cut-and-loop styles hide soil best and generally cost more.

Underpad

Density matters more than thickness. An 8lb density pad supports the carpet backing and meaningfully extends its life; a cheap 4lb pad lets the carpet flex and break down faster. Upgrading the pad is usually the best value decision in a carpet purchase.

Stairs

Stairs are labour-intensive and quoted per step. A standard waterfall install is $30 to $50 per step; a wrapped or upholstered install where the carpet follows the nosing costs $50 to $70 and looks considerably better.

Room shape and seams

Rooms wider than the carpet roll require seams, which take skill to hide. Irregular shapes, closets and bay windows all add labour and waste.

What a quote usually includes

Included

Carpet, underpad and tack strip
Installation and seaming
Transitions to adjoining floors
Trimming and tucking at walls

Quoted separately

Removal and disposal of old carpet, $0.50 to $1.50 per sq ft
Subfloor repair
Stairs, $30 to $70 per step
Furniture moving
Deodorising or subfloor sealing after pet damage

Carpet flooring cost in major cities

Regional labour rates move the number more than material does. These are typical installed ranges in the cities where we do the most work.

Common questions

How long does carpet installation take?

Most homes are completed in a single day. A whole-house carpet replacement of four or five rooms plus stairs may take two. The bulk of the time is furniture moving and old carpet removal rather than the installation itself.

Should I put carpet in a basement?

Only if the basement is genuinely dry and stays dry. Carpet and underpad hold moisture and grow mould after even a minor water event. If you want softness underfoot in a basement, carpet tiles over a dimpled subfloor panel are a far safer choice because individual tiles can be lifted and dried.

Is expensive carpet worth it?

The fibre and the pad matter more than the price tag. A mid-priced nylon on a good 8lb pad will outlast an expensive polyester on a cheap pad. Spend on fibre type and pad density before spending on brand or pattern.

Get a written carpet quote

Carpet installation cost in Canada