Laminate flooring cost in Denver, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $1,900 – $6,750
- Per sq ft
- $3.80 – $13.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $4,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #109
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install laminate flooring in Denver, plan on $1,900 to $6,750 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $3.80 to $13.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) earn a median of $22.71 an hour in the Denver area, 16% below the US median of $27.15.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Denver, CO, standard level
$3,350 to $5,300
About $6.70 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,250 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $2,100 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $3,350 | $5,300 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $500 | $1,750 | $3,050 | 41% |
| Labor | $1,400 | $2,550 | $3,700 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,900 | $4,350 | $6,750 | 100% |
Why Denver prices look the way they do
Labor is 59% of the midpoint bill here, against 61% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (60%), carpenters (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Denver the blended ratio comes out at 0.93.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Denver metro is 101.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $1,750, compared with $1,750 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.8) and land at $0 to $0.
Denver against nearby metros and the rest of Colorado
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Denver is the priciest of the group. Pueblo is the cheapest at $4,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $1,900 – $6,750 | $4,350 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $1,800 – $6,350 | $4,050 | −6% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $1,800 – $6,400 | $4,100 | −5% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $1,800 – $6,350 | $4,100 | −6% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $1,800 – $6,400 | $4,100 | −6% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $1,750 – $6,300 | $4,050 | −6% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $1,850 – $6,600 | $4,200 | −3% |
| United States | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Denver comes in at #109 from the top. The priciest is San Jose, CA at $6,350; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,550 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Denver is 3% above the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $1,800 – $6,350 | $4,050 | −6% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $1,800 – $6,400 | $4,100 | −5% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $1,800 – $6,400 | $4,100 | −6% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $1,800 – $6,350 | $4,100 | −6% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $1,800 – $6,450 | $4,100 | −5% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $1,750 – $6,300 | $4,050 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like Denver's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $2,100 – $7,300 | $4,700 | +9% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $2,150 – $7,550 | $4,850 | +12% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $1,950 – $6,850 | $4,400 | +2% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $1,900 – $6,650 | $4,300 | −1% |
Denver labor market for laminate floor
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Denver is 0.93 times the national level.
For floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042, weighted 60%) the local median is $22.71 an hour, which is 16% below the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $21.99 and $28.24 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $31.21 an hour, which is 7% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $36.14 an hour. BLS counts 7,250 of them working in the area, 45.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.24 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $340. At the 25th percentile ($21.99) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 7.8% or 1.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,609,350 jobs in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial area. That makes it the 17th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.03% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 60% | $21.99 | $22.71 | $28.24 | $27.15 | 0.84 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $27.70 | $31.21 | $36.14 | $29.12 | 1.07 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Denver
Because every project leans on different trades, Denver's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs +3% and hardwood flooring +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,550 – $12,600 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | +2% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,900 – $32,100 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,100 | +3% |
Denver: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Denver wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,900 to $3,850
Basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor
Standard
$3,350 to $5,300
Thicker waterproof laminate, standard trim
Premium
$4,800 to $6,750
Premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $760 – $1,550 | $1,350 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,700 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $1,900 – $3,850 | $3,350 – $5,300 | $4,800 – $6,750 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $4,550 – $9,200 | $8,050 – $12,700 | $11,500 – $16,200 |
Laminate flooring: what moves the price in Denver
Heated floors
Radiant floor heating adds $7-$17 per sq ft and has to go in before the floor does.
Brand
Name-brand laminate such as Pergo runs $5-$17 per sq ft installed.
Floating versus glued
Click-lock or floating laminate is the easiest and cheapest to install (HomeGuide).
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $3,350 to $5,300 for Denver, CO is attached.
Detailed laminate flooring report for Denver, CO, $9
The report lays out the laminate flooring numbers for Denver, CO line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Laminate flooring in Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to install laminate flooring in Denver?
For 500 sq ft, expect $1,900 to $6,750 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,350 to $5,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for laminate floor in Denver?
About $3.80 to $13.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $14.
+Is laminate floor cheaper in Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $4,050, which is 6% less than Denver ($4,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $2,550 out of $4,350. Materials are 41% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Denver?
$1,900 to $6,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does laminate floor need a permit in Denver?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Denver area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for laminate floor compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 3% above the Colorado statewide estimate ($4,200 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) earn in Denver?
The BLS median is $22.71 an hour in the Denver area, compared with $27.15 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.99 to $28.24.
+What do basic and premium laminate floor work cost in Denver?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,900 to $3,850 and premium work $4,800 to $6,750. Basic means: basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor. Premium means: premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair.
Laminate flooring near Denver
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Laminate Flooring Installation Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $3-$8 per sq ft laminate labor, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.