Best carpet retailers compared for 2026: Lowe's, Home Depot, Costco, Empire Today and local independents on price, install fees, financing and warranty.
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: 12 × 15 ft living room (180 sq ft), standard nylon, professional install. Midwest labor rates, 10% waste, standard 6–8 lb rebond pad.
Total estimated cost: $865 – $1,390 (typical mid-point $1,128). 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 | 180 sq ft (20.0 sq yd) |
| 2. Add 10% waste factor | 199 sq ft ordered |
| 3. Carpet material | $594 – $990 |
| 4. Padding | $129 – $168 |
| 5. Installation labor | $143 – $232 |
Costco (member-only Shaw exclusive pricing) and Empire Today's recurring 50%-off install promos offer the lowest installed totals on mid-grade carpet.
Yes — Costco partners with Shaw Floors. Member-only pricing, free in-home measurement, and a 30-day price-match guarantee. Install ~$0.45-$1.80/sq ft.
Empire Today wins on speed (next-day install in most metros) and recurring 50%-off install promos. Material prices run 10-20% higher than Lowe's/Home Depot — best when you need speed.
Local independents typically beat big-box pricing 10-20% and offer more carpet brand choice — but warranties are shorter and you handle dispute resolution yourself.