How much does bamboo flooring cost?
The national average cost of bamboo flooring installation ranges from $4.75 to $9.50 per square foot. In total, the average customer pays around $6,500, and prices typically range from $3,500 to $9,000. This price includes materials and installation costs.
Bamboo flooring installation costs
| National Average Cost | $6,500 |
| Typical Range | $3,500-$9,000 |
Can't take one more day of looking at that dull beige carpet in your living room or the 80's vinyl flooring in your kitchen? Eco-friendly bamboo floors are an easy and affordable way to refresh your home — and make you smile, not sigh, when you walk into a room.
Before you start shopping for flooring, read this guide to get an estimate of bamboo flooring costs and how to find a floor installation contractor near you.
What's in this cost guide?
National average bamboo flooring costs range from $2.75 to $3.50 per square foot for installation, plus $2 to $6 per square foot for materials. Having your old floor ripped out will add to the price. Expect to spend anywhere from $0.35 per square foot for carpet to $2.25 per square foot to remove an old hardwood flooring.
The total could range from a little over $750 for an average-sized kitchen done with low price bamboo to up to $7,500 or more for a large open concept living area with high-end flooring. The total depends on the type of floor you need to remove, the size of your space, the kind of bamboo flooring you choose, and the cost of other materials.
Flooring contractors typically charge by the hour for labor plus the cost of bamboo flooring, which is priced by the square foot, as well as the cost of trim and other materials such as glue for glue-down flooring. Some may require you to use flooring they supply while others will be willing to install a floor you purchase.
The cost of bamboo flooring varies based on your choice of bamboo flooring, the size of the space, and the prep work needed.
For example, here's a price breakdown of a project using high-end bamboo flooring in a 1,000-square-foot space from Oakerds Flooring in Atlanta, Georgia:
| Removal and disposal of old glue-down engineered hardwood | $945 |
| Solid strand woven bamboo tongue and groove flooring | $3,990 |
| Urethane adhesive | $600 |
| Install flooring (glue down) | $1,999 |
| Supply and install primed white quarter round trim | $450 |
| Total | $7,984 |
The type of bamboo you select can greatly affect the cost of your project. Bamboo flooring is made in different ways, and -- just like hardwood flooring -- you can choose between low price, mid-range, or high-end bamboo floors.
Bamboo is available in a range of species with colors varying from light yellow to dark tan. Carbonized bamboo has been heat treated to deepen the color. You can also choose between click or tongue and groove fitting mechanisms. Click flooring is generally easier for DIY installations.
Types of bamboo flooring include:
- Engineered bamboo flooring: Has a veneer of bamboo on top of a substrate made of other materials. Engineered bamboo, like engineered wood, is typically less expensive than solid bamboo.
- Horizontal bamboo flooring: Solid bamboo flooring in which grasses are arranged and laminated horizontally, lying flat side by side.
- Vertical bamboo flooring: Solid bamboo flooring in which grasses are arranged and laminated vertically, standing up on their sides for a different look from horizontal bamboo.
- Strand woven bamboo flooring: The most expensive type of solid bamboo flooring, made from strips of bamboo that are coated with resin, compressed with heat and milled into planks. Tiger strand woven bamboo is made using lighter and darker colored strips to create a unique variegated look.
Here are some examples of the range of prices for bamboo flooring:
| Flooring retailer | Cost per square foot for bamboo flooring |
| Home Depot | $1.89 for engineered, click horizontal bamboo in "toast" color to $4.29 for handscraped, strand woven solid bamboo planks in "mocha" color |
| Lowe's | $2 for solid bamboo flooring in "spice" color to $6.25 for solid tongue and groove wide solid bamboo planks in "rustic barnwood" color |
| Lumber Liquidators | $1.78 for carbonized smooth solid horizontal bamboo flooring to $5.19 for extra wide distressed strand bamboo floating planks |
If your subfloor is in good condition, you won't have to replace it. However, if you need new subfloors, estimate $150 to $800 to repair damaged subfloors on top of your installation costs for the new floors.
Although technically a grass, bamboo is a common material used instead of wood, and is considered a type of hardwood floor. If you're trying to decide between bamboo, laminate, and solid wood flooring, all three types of floors have pros and cons.
Solid wood flooring has natural beauty and durability, but many homeowners go with bamboo or laminate flooring because they're less expensive and easier to install and maintain.
Trying to decide what kind of flooring to install in your home? Here's a look at bamboo vs. laminate and wood flooring:
| Qualities | Bamboo Flooring | Laminate Flooring | Hardwood Flooring |
| Cost per square foot | $4.75-$9.50 | $4.50-$11.00 | $7-$18 |
| How long it lasts | 25-30 years | 15-20 years | 50+ years |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Minimal | Refinish every 10 years/as needed |
| Ease of installation | DIY-friendly | DIY-friendly | May require a pro |
The cost of laminate flooring often makes it a go-to option for homeowners on a budget, but bamboo can also be an affordable alternative to hardwood floors. Bamboo floors also last longer than laminate floors, though not as long as hardwood. It also typically comes pre-finished, so you avoid the finishing costs associated with installing unfinished wood flooring.
The durability varies by type of bamboo floor. For example, engineered bamboo floors with bamboo veneers glued to planks, are the least durable type. Horizontal and vertical bamboo planks, which may be attached to the subfloor with a nailer or glue, are fairly sturdy. Woven strand bamboo planks, compressed with resin, are even harder than solid oak flooring.
Like hardwood floors, floors made with some types of bamboo can be sanded down to remove the original finish and smooth out scratches and small dents. The cost to refinish a bamboo floor starts at $5 per square foot.
You'll need to contact a floor refinisher near you to find out whether your bamboo floor can be refinished and to get a cost estimate.
How can I save money on bamboo flooring?
To save money on bamboo flooring installation:
- Go DIY if you can: You can save hundreds or thousands of dollars if you rip out your old floor and choose DIY-friendly click bamboo flooring. But installing a floor is a big job, and there are other ways to save if you'd rather hire a bamboo flooring professional near you.
- Compare prices and look for sales: Compare bamboo flooring prices online and at home improvement stores. For example, Home Depot and Lowe's sometimes have clearance specials where you can get bamboo flooring for half price.
- Get a free estimate: Flooring contractors typically offer free estimates. This can help you choose a capable flooring installer and ensure that you're prepared for the cost of that much-needed floor makeover.
