Everybody asks the same first question: what is this going to cost? Fair enough. Luxury vinyl plank is one of the most popular floors we put down across Metro Detroit, and the price swings more than most people expect. Here is what actually drives it, with honest ranges from a family crew that has been doing this since 2019.
Typical installed cost per square foot
For a straightforward room with a flat subfloor and the old floor already out, a typical installed price for LVP in our area runs roughly $5 to $12 per square foot. That number includes the planks, underlayment where needed, labor, trim at the edges and cleanup. The low end is a basic plank with a thinner wear layer. The high end is a thick, rigid-core plank with a realistic embossed surface.
These are typical figures, not promises. Your written quote after the free in-home estimate sets the real number for your house.
What moves the price up or down
- Plank quality. Wear layer thickness, core type and surface texture all change the material cost.
- Room size. A 900 square foot open basement costs less per foot than a 120 square foot bathroom, because setup time is spread across more floor.
- Layout. Straight lay is the baseline. Herringbone and other patterns burn more material and more hours.
- Furniture. If we have to move a full house of furniture, that is time on the clock.
- Access. Third-floor condos and narrow row-house entries slow down carrying material.
Old Detroit subfloors are the wild card
A lot of the homes we work in were built between the 1920s and the 1960s. Brick bungalows, colonials, two-family flats. Those houses have settled, and the subfloors show it. Plank vinyl is thin, so it will telegraph a dip or a ridge underneath. If your floor is out of flat by more than about three-sixteenths of an inch over six feet, it needs attention before anything goes down.
Newer construction in Troy, Rochester Hills and Clinton Township is usually flatter, which keeps prep costs low. We spot problems at the free estimate, point to them, and put the cost of fixing them in writing. No surprises on install day. Our floor demolition and prep service covers removal, leveling and repair so one crew handles all of it.
Removal, disposal and the stuff nobody mentions
Pulling up old carpet is quick. Pulling up glued-down sheet vinyl or stubborn adhesive takes real labor. Disposal is the part many online calculators skip. Some quotes you will see are material only, which sounds great until labor lands on top. Ask every contractor for one complete installed price.
Basements, kitchens and stairs
Basements are where LVP shines in Michigan. It shrugs off moisture and does not mind the cold concrete. We cover the full picture in our post on the best flooring for Michigan basements. A basement is usually a big, open rectangle, which keeps the per-foot cost friendly. Kitchens add cutting around cabinets and islands. Stairs are priced per step because every tread and riser is cut by hand. See our vinyl stair work for what that looks like.
How to compare LVP quotes
Line the quotes up and check that each one lists the same things: square footage measured, plank brand and wear layer, underlayment, removal, disposal, trim, transitions and who does the work. Some companies hand your job to a subcontractor you never meet. At BRC Flooring the family and our own crew do every install, and the person who measures your house is the one who lays your floor.
Most of our jobs finish in a single day, and every install carries a 1-year workmanship warranty. Read more about how we work on our about page, or see what neighbors say on our reviews page.
Want a real number instead of a range? We measure, show samples and leave you a written quote.
Get a free in-home estimateA simple way to budget
Measure your rooms, add 7 to 10 percent for waste, then multiply by the middle of the range above. Add removal and leveling if your house is older. That gives you a ballpark you can plan around. Then let us confirm it in person. We serve the whole metro, from Detroit out to Troy, Warren and Southfield.
