An office should provide an environment conducive to productivity, and one of the best ways to do this is by creating a professional yet comfortable space.
Installing new office flooring can elevate your working space and give it a whole new look.
The type of flooring you should install in the office depends on the look you want to achieve and your budget.
How Much Does Office Flooring Cost?
The total cost of installing new floors depends on the type of floors you want.
| Office Flooring | Cost |
|---|---|
| Average Installation | $2,900 |
| Low-End Installation | $1,441 |
| High-End Installation | $10,925 |
| Cost per Square Foot | $0.50-$14 |
The average price to replace an old floor is estimated at $2,900.
The whole project can be as inexpensive as $1,441. High-end office floor installation projects can be priced at $10,925.
Aside from the type of floor, the size of the office space can influence the price as well.
It’s also important to consider the cost of labor, which can be from $1 to $15.00 per square foot.
Did you know? Labor rates vary from company to company, and some flooring contractors offer special discounts for larger commercial spaces.
Other factors that can influence the total cost include underlayment and subfloor replacement, the removal and disposal of old floors, moving furniture, and the shape of the room.
Office Floors Cost Breakdown
When it comes to the square footage, prices for office flooring start from $0.50 and go all the way to $14 for one square foot.
| Types of Flooring Materials | Cost per Square Foot | Price per Room |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $1.42-$19 | $470-$6,270 |
| Laminate | $1.62-$16.15 | $532-$5,329 |
| Carpet | $3-$20 | $1,000-$6,897 |
| Tile | $3-$28.50 | $1,000-$9,405 |
| Hardwood | $10-$25.00 | $3,000-$10,500 |
For example, the most affordable type of flooring you can put in the office is vinyl, which costs $1.42 to $19.00.
Some companies set installation prices for the entire room. If you go with this material, you can expect to pay between $470 and $6,270 to install it in your office.
Laminate and wood tiles are also relatively cost-effective.
One square foot of wood tiles is priced at $1.43 to $20.43, while laminate costs $1.62 to $16.15 on average.
Tiles and carpet are slightly pricier, with one square foot starting at $3.
Carpet is more affordable than tiles, as the maximum price for one square foot is $20.
On the other hand, tiles can cost as much as $28.50 per square foot.
The entire installation project for carpet starts at about $1,000, and the price can rise to $6,897. Meanwhile, with tiles, the total price varies from $1,000 to $9,405.
Genuine hardwood floors are a premium material, and they go for $10 to $25 per square foot.
If you want to install hardwood floors in a 500-square-foot office, you will need to pay between $3,000 and $10,500.
Things To Keep In Mind When Deciding On The Office Floor
While aesthetics and design play a vital role when choosing the office floor, you need to think about other factors.
Some of the key considerations to keep in mind when choosing an office floor include functionality, heavy traffic, noise absorption, maintenance requirements, and more.
Of course, durability is the most important factor. You need to choose a floor that’s suitable for heavy-traffic areas.
In other words, if there are many employees in the office space, and if there is a lot of walking around, you need a floor that can support that amount and frequency of pressure.
What’s more, the floor needs to be durable and scratch-resistant, or the chairs, tables, and other types of furniture will quickly ruin them.
You’ll also want to pick a floor that’s easy to clean and maintain.
The more people come to the office, the more frequently it needs to be cleaned.
With maintenance also comes repair flexibility.
In case part of the floor gets damaged, it can become an inconvenience for the employees. Find a solution that’s both easy to clean and repair.
Another factor to consider is noise absorption.
Depending on the number of people who work in an office, there could be a lot of noise. This includes walking, talking on the phone, having discussions in conference rooms, or just making daily chitchat.
To provide your employees with a quiet environment, get a floor that offers excellent noise absorption.
Did you know? Some types of floors take more time to install than others. If you want something that can be installed within a few hours, choose carpet or laminate.
Office Flooring Pros And Cons
It is difficult to say with absolute certainty that any one flooring option is the best for your office. There are many types of offices, each with their own flooring needs. Every flooring option we mentioned comes with advantages and disadvantages.
For example, carpet is a cost-effective, low-maintenance flooring option that’s easy to install. It also comes in a variety of colors, and it offers excellent insulation.
However, carpets need to be cleaned more regularly because moisture can get trapped inside the fabric. If not cleaned regularly, mold and mildew can build up inside the carpet, and then you’ll need to replace it.
Vinyl is the most affordable type of flooring material. It’s also durable, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean.
But if you don’t maintain it regularly, vinyl flooring will start to show wear. It’s also softer than other types of flooring materials, so it can be gouged more easily.
When it comes to tiles, they are a durable, moisture-resistant solution that can last for years.
On the other hand, tiles might not be the best solution for offices where it gets cold too quickly. Tiles can’t retain heat as well as carpet, vinyl, and rubber. What’s more, tile flooring is not good for noise absorption.
Laminate floors also offer plenty of advantages, their low cost, low-maintenance needs, and durability being just some of them.
However, laminate floors aren’t perfect. They can be slippery when wet, and you can’t sand or refinish them.
Hardwood offers supreme quality and a look you can’t achieve with other types of floors. It can even be finished more than once if it becomes dull over time.
The issue with hardwood floors is that they can be warped when exposed to water and humidity. They’re also difficult to install. If the foundation isn’t precisely level, you might risk the hardwood planks bending.
What’s The Best Flooring For Home Offices?
Choosing a floor for the office is different from selecting one for residential flooring projects.
In addition to appearance, you must have the floor’s functionality and durability in mind as well.
Here are some of the best types of floors for an office:
Hardwood
The most expensive type of floor you can get for your office is hardwood.
That being said, hardware floors also offer unmatched durability and an elegant appearance, so they’re worth the money.
Hardwood flooring is also long-lasting, and needn’t be replaced for the next 20 or 30 years, meaning you’ll get an excellent return on investment.
While hardwood comes at a high price, you might be able to make it work if you have a smaller office.
Other types of commercial wood flooring include engineered hardwood, parquet, and locking hardwood.
Carpet
Carpet is a classic flooring material, which is both cost-effective and easy to install.
Carpet flooring also provides a comfortable atmosphere for your office.
The great thing about carpet flooring is that it comes in virtually every color, so you’ll be able to find a carpet that matches your office’s aesthetic.
Carpets also offer insulation and sound absorption, which is especially important if the office isn’t on the ground floor.
What’s more, when the time comes to replace the floors again, removing and replacing carpet flooring is relatively easy.
It’s also possible to get carpet tiles for the office, which come in a variety of designs.
Tiles
Tiles provide you with style and durability.
Since tiles are waterproof, tiles can be a good fit for workspaces with potential water damage.
You can choose between porcelain and ceramic tile flooring for your office.
In addition, they have low maintenance requirements.
Tiles are available in a wide selection of colors and designs.
Laminate
Laminate floors are an affordable alternative to hardwood floors.
What’s more, laminate flooring can look exactly like hardwood floors.
Laminate is easy to install and maintain, and it can withstand dents and scratches.
Another advantage of laminate office flooring is that it’s resistant to water damage.
Thanks to laminate’s durability, you will not have to worry about replacing your office floors any time soon.
Vinyl
Vinyl is commonly found in commercial office spaces.
Vinyl flooring is covered with a protective layer, so it’s resistant to scratches and stains.
Vinyl is also available in a wide variety of styles that can match any office’s look.
Vinyl flooring is ideal for heavy traffic areas.
In addition, vinyl has great thermal properties, and it retains heat well all year round.
Pro Tip: Another flooring option that would be excellent for an office is luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), which is also known as vinyl plank flooring.
Home Office Styles And Inspiration
If you want to install a new floor in your home office, you have more freedom to choose something you want without having to address the needs of other employees.
If you have the budget for it, you can also go all out since it’s a smaller space and the overall cost will be lower.
What’s also convenient about home offices is that you can mix residential and commercial elements and make your office look professional yet comfortable.
The type of floor you choose can have an impact on the entire room.
You should create a space where you can be productive, motivated, and most importantly, relaxed.
Luxury vinyl tiles may be the perfect option for a home office because they can create a cozy ambiance while still adding a dose of modernism.
You should take the time to carefully choose the color and style of the floor.
Home offices can have walls in beige, earthy tones, or with sharp contrasts like black and white.
Pick a color and pattern that would complement the walls.
For instance, luxury vinyl tiles come in various patterns, including stagger, diagonal, corridor, weave, offset, random, etc.
It’s also important to match the floors to the home office’s style.
Make sure the floors go well with the walls, furniture, and other elements of the office.
What Type Of Floor Is The Most Durable?
When deciding what type of floor to use for your office, durability should be your primary concern.
It doesn’t matter how well a floor matches the rest of the space. If it’s not durable, you’ll have to replace it in a few years.
The three most durable types of floors are hardwood, laminate, and vinyl.
One of the reasons hardwood floors are so expensive is because they’re so durable, that they can withstand almost anything.
Laminate is another good option if you seek longevity and resilience.
If you install multi-layer vinyl flooring in your office, you won’t have to worry about heavy foot traffic.
Pro Tip: Another durable form of vinyl is called fiberglass reinforced vinyl, which offers better stability and moisture prevention.
What Type Of Floor Is The Easiest To Maintain?
Hardwood, laminate, and vinyl office floors are the easiest to maintain.
Hardwood floors are easy to keep clean – just vacuum them regularly. If you spill something, wipe the stain with a mop, and it will be as good as new.
To clean laminate flooring, all you need to do is vacuum and mop it regularly.
Vinyl has a protective coat that not only makes it extremely durable but easy to clean. This coat also protects the vinyl floors from spills and stains.
When it comes to long-term maintenance, hardwood floors need to be refinished every couple of years, while vinyl floors could benefit from a new layer of polish when they become dull.
What Type Of Floor Is The Most Scratch Resistant?
The types of floors that offer the most scratch resistance are tiles, vinyl, and laminate.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are both quite durable and scratch resistant. This also applies to cement and concrete tiles, but these two options aren’t best suited for a workspace.
Apart from being durable and low-maintenance, laminate and vinyl are also scratch-resistant.
Vinyl floors can take almost anything, especially vinyl planks that are manufactured in a way that makes them resilient and long-lasting.
Since laminate is made up of three layers (the base layer, the image layer, and the wear layer), it’s protected enough to withstand scratches, dents, scuffs, and any other kind of damage.
What Is The Best Flooring For An Office?
The best type of flooring for your office depends on your needs and your budget.
All the options we’ve listed would make great additions to an office space. We advise you to sit down and make a list of your most important requirements.
Ask yourself these questions before making a final decision:
- How many people come to the office on a daily basis?
- Is the office exposed to moisture?
- Would the office benefit from a noise-absorbing floor?
- Is the office warm all year round?
- What style is best suited for the office?
Finally, take your budget into consideration.
It’s better to invest in a high-quality office floor that’s durable and long-lasting than to opt for something just because of how great it looks.
Choose The Best Flooring Option For The Office
Picking the right floor for the office isn’t an easy task.
The best office floor needs to be durable, low-maintenance, scratch-resistant, easy to install, and it should match the aesthetic of the workspace.
Some of the best flooring options for the office include hardwood, carpet, tiles, laminate, and vinyl.
