"3 rooms of carpet for $399" deals cover builder-grade carpet, basic pad and install for roughly 300–360 sq ft. Here is what the real total looks like.
Enter your room size below to estimate carpet, padding and professional installation cost. The worked example beneath the form is produced by the same calculation the tool runs.
Inputs: 3 rooms totalling 360 sq ft, budget carpet, $399 flat install. $399 replaces the labor line; material and pad are billed separately.
Total estimated cost: $1,389 – $1,844 (typical mid-point $1,617). Labor and disposal use the Midwest rate; enter a ZIP code in the tool to switch regions. You can download this breakdown as a PDF from the live tool.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1. Raw floor area | 360 sq ft (40.0 sq yd) |
| 2. Add 10% waste factor | 397 sq ft ordered |
| 3. Carpet material | $792 – $1,188 |
| 4. Padding | $198 – $257 |
| 5. Installation labor | $399 |
Yes — but with caveats. $399 typically covers builder-grade carpet for up to 300-360 sq ft total, basic 6 lb pad, and install. Stairs, premium pad and oversized rooms cost extra.
Builder-grade polyester carpet, 6 lb rebond pad, basic install in 3 rooms, and removal of old carpet from those rooms. Stairs, hallways and any room over 120 sq ft each are excluded.
Empire Today, 50 Floor, and local Carpet One franchises run rotating $399-$499 3-room promos. Big-box stores (Lowe's, Home Depot) don't typically run this promo.
After typical upcharges (premium pad +$120, stairs +$300, oversized rooms +$200, hallways +$100), the real total averages $850-$1,400 installed.
Builder-grade polyester (8-15 oz face weight) lasts 3-5 years in light-traffic bedrooms. Avoid for hallways, stairs, or families with pets.