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HiringCarpet Installation

What should be included in a carpet installation quote?

A carpet quote should be written and itemized: each room and its yardage, the exact carpet and cushion, labor, removal and haul-away of the old floor, furniture moving, transitions, subfloor repairs, the contractor's Virginia licence number, the payment schedule and the warranty. Ask for anything missing in writing before you compare prices.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Ask for a written quote

    Ask each contractor for a written quote on the same specifications.[3]

  2. Step 2: Check the rooms and layout

    Confirm every room, closet and stair is listed, with yardage, seams and pattern direction.[1]

  3. Step 3: Confirm carpet and cushion

    Make sure the carpet and the cushion are named, and that the pad meets the warranty standard.[2]

  4. Step 4: Check what is extra

    Find out whether removal, haul-away and furniture moving are in or out.[1]

  5. Step 5: Check the licence

    Find the licence number and look it up with DPOR.[4]

  6. Step 6: Read the payment terms

    Look for the total price, the payment schedule and any cancellation penalty.[3]

  7. Step 7: Put changes in writing

    Have any later change written and signed by both of you before it is done.[3]

A good carpet installation quote is written, itemized and specific: the rooms and measurements, the exact carpet and cushion, the labor, what happens to the old flooring and your furniture, the transitions, the licence number, the payment schedule and the warranty. If any of those is missing, ask for it in writing before you compare prices. DPOR advises soliciting at least three bids and basing all of them on the same set of specifications.[3]

The checklist

Rooms and measurements. The quote should list each room, the yardage and the layout, including where seams fall. Be sure to discuss pattern direction and seams before the carpet is cut.[1] If you want to check the numbers yourself, see how to measure a room for carpet.

The carpet. Manufacturer, style name and color, so the carpet you chose is the carpet that arrives.

The cushion. Name the pad and its type. Minimum cushion requirements must be met to ensure warranty coverage, and proper power-stretching is critical to maintain warranty coverage.[1] STAINMASTER's texture retention coverage requires the carpet to be installed over pad that meets the HUD UM 72a, Class 1 standard in the US.[2] Ask the installer to confirm the pad meets the standard your carpet's warranty names.

Hands pressing blue painter's tape onto a wood-look floor beside a yellow tape measure
Photo: Personal Creations, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Removal, haul-away and furniture. Shaw Floors says to expect an additional cost if your retailer or installer arranges for someone to remove your furniture or your old flooring.[1] Ask whether removal and haul-away of the old flooring is included.[1] The quote should state yes or no for each.

Subfloor. The installer inspects the subfloor for imperfections and makes necessary repairs.[1] Ask what repairs the price covers and what happens to the price if hidden damage turns up.

Transitions and finishing. Accessories such as t-moldings or reducers for transitioning to other flooring surfaces are installed at the end of the job.[1] The quote should list each doorway that gets one.

Stairs and closets. Name every closet, landing and stair so none is a surprise add-on.

Schedule. A start date, a finish date and who is on site. Shaw Floors suggests asking an installer about experience, certifications, bonding and insurance, workmanship warranties and references, and asking for a detailed cost estimate and payment terms.[1]

Licence, contract and payment

A Class C licence covers a single contract of over $1,000 but less than $30,000.[4] Virginia's contractor regulations include tack strips and other products used to secure carpet in flooring and floor covering contracting.[5] The quote should show the contractor's name and licence number, which you can check with DPOR.

Virginia law requires licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.[3] DPOR says the contract should include the total price, when payments will be made, and whether there is a cancellation penalty.[3] DPOR advises getting all oral promises in writing, including start and finish dates, and spelling out exactly what the contractor will and will not do.[3]

DPOR's rule of thumb is an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.[3] Tie later payments to finished work.

The Board for Contractors requires all changes to a contract to be made in writing and signed by both the contractor and the consumer before the changes are implemented.[3] If you add a closet or a stair, get it on paper first.

Review a quote in order

  1. Check that every room and stair is listed.
  2. Check carpet and cushion are named, not just priced.
  3. Find removal, haul-away and furniture, and see whether each is in or out.
  4. Look for transitions, subfloor repair and any other extras.
  5. Find the licence number, payment schedule and warranty terms.

Stop and call a pro if

  • The quote is a single lump sum with no carpet, cushion or labor lines. Ask for a written, itemized version.
  • There is no licence number, or it does not check out with DPOR.
  • The installer will not put promises in writing. DPOR advises getting all oral promises in writing.[3]
  • The contractor wants a large deposit before ordering anything.

Next steps

See how much carpet installation costs in Virginia and how to choose a flooring installer. More are in flooring answers, and you can browse licensed pros under flooring.

When you are ready, describe your carpet job and licensed local flooring contractors will quote it.

Common questions

Should the quote name the carpet brand and style?
Yes. It should list the manufacturer, style, color and the cushion, so what is installed matches what you chose.
Should the quote say who moves the furniture?
Yes. Shaw Floors says to expect an additional cost if the retailer or installer arranges for someone to move furniture or remove the old flooring, so the quote should say which is included.
What does DPOR say the contract should include?
The total price, when payments will be made, and whether there is a cancellation penalty.
How much deposit should I pay?
DPOR's rule of thumb is no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less, unless the job needs custom or special-order items.
What if I change my mind about a room?
The Board for Contractors requires changes to a contract to be in writing and signed by both of you before they are done.

Sources

  1. [1] Carpet Installation Planning, Shaw Floors. Checked October 27, 2026.
  2. [2] STAINMASTER Carpet Limited Warranties Guide, Lowe's, STAINMASTER. Checked October 27, 2026.
  3. [3] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
  4. [4] Va. Code § 54.1-1100. Definitions (contractors), Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
  5. [5] 18VAC50-22-30. Definitions of specialty services (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Administrative Code, Board for Contractors. Checked October 27, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.