Cost to carpet 500 sq ft
Short answer
Carpeting 500 sq ft (55.6 sq yd) costs roughly $2,927–$5,750 installed — carpet, padding, and labor at standard grade — about $6–$12 per square foot.
Installed cost
$2,927–$5,750
Per sq ft
$6–$12
Square yards
55.6 sq yd
Carpeting 500 square feet
500 sq ft is 55.6 square yards of carpet — carpet is sold by the yard, so divide your square footage by 9. At standard grade the installed price (carpet, padding, and labor) works out to about $2,927–$5,750, or $6–$12 per square foot.
That per-foot figure moves with three things: the carpet grade, whether the layout forces seams and offcut waste on a 12-ft roll, and extras like stairs, closets, and old-carpet removal. Measure the actual rooms rather than the whole floor's footprint — hallways and closets each carry their own waste.
What drives your cost
| Factor | Effect on cost |
|---|---|
| Floor area | ~500 sq ft (55.6 sq yd) — carpet is priced per square yard |
| Roll width & seams | Fits a 12-ft roll with no seam |
| Carpet grade | Economy vs premium roughly doubles the material price per square yard |
| Padding / underlay | A separate per-sq-ft cost; thicker pad adds comfort and a little price |
| Installation | Labor is charged per square yard; stairs and tricky layouts cost more |
| Old carpet removal | Tear-out and haul-away of the existing floor is an add-on most quotes list separately |
Cost by carpet grade
Installed cost to carpet 500 sq ft — carpet, padding, and labor — by grade.
| Grade | Carpet only | Installed total |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | $1,111–$1,944 | $2,094–$4,638 |
| Standard | $1,944–$3,056 | $2,927–$5,750 |
| Premium | $3,056–$4,444 | $4,039–$7,138 |
Carpet buying tips
- Measure each room and closet separately — carpet is cut off a fixed-width roll, so a long thin space wastes more than its square footage suggests.
- Plan seam placement away from doorways and high-traffic paths; a good installer hides seams where you'll least see or feel them.
- Don't skimp on padding — a better pad makes cheap carpet feel plush and extends its life more than a grade bump does.
- Ask whether the quote includes old-carpet removal, furniture moving, and tack strips; those add-ons are where surprise costs hide.
Your exact room
Open the carpet calculatorOther areas
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to carpet 500 square feet?
Roughly $2,927–$5,750 installed for 500 sq ft at standard grade — carpet, padding, and labor — about $6–$12 per square foot.
How many square yards is 500 square feet of carpet?
500 sq ft is 55.6 square yards (divide square feet by 9). Carpet is priced per square yard at the store even though rooms are measured in square feet.
How much is carpet per square foot?
Carpet material runs about $2–$9 per square foot; installed with padding and labor it's roughly $4–$12 per square foot depending on grade. Use the calculator above for your exact area.