How Much Does It Cost to Carpet a 12x16 Room?
Updated July 2026 · Pricing data from Floormath's flooring cost model
At 12 feet by 16 feet, you're covering 192 square feet. Across the 7 carpet product tiers in Floormath's pricing model, a professionally installed job in this room costs $551–$4,613. The typical mid-range project comes in around $1,294.
Cost by carpet product tier for a 12x16 room
| Product tier | Material | Installed range | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester Cut-Pile Carpet | $1.69/sf | $551–$1,075 | $760 |
| Berber Loop-Pile Carpet | $3.29/sf | $784–$1,656 | $1,146 |
| Frieze / Twist Carpet | $3.79/sf | $890–$1,761 | $1,252 |
| Nylon Cut-Pile Carpet | $3.99/sf | $932–$1,867 | $1,294 |
| Triexta Pet-Friendly Carpet | $4.49/sf | $1,038–$1,973 | $1,399 |
| Pet-Proof Performance Carpet | $6.49/sf | $1,398–$2,553 | $1,870 |
| Wool Carpet — Luxury | $9.99/sf | $1,758–$4,613 | $2,657 |
Totals include 10% material waste and professional installation. Carpet rows include a standard rebond pad at $0.60/sf.
Budgeting this room honestly
Start from the tier that matches the room's job — traffic and moisture, not looks, should pick it. In a 192 sq ft room every $1/sf of material tier is a ~$211 decision, while installation labor stays fairly fixed at about $336 nationally (states run 0.80x–1.25x). The 10% waste factor is already baked into everything on this page.
See your exact 12x16 room cost with your state's labor rates
Run the free calculator →Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to floor a 12x16 room with carpet?
The budget tier (Polyester Cut-Pile Carpet) installed professionally starts around $551. Installing it yourself removes the labor line entirely and can cut the total by 30–45%.
How long does a 192 sq ft carpet install take?
A professional crew typically completes a single 192 sq ft room in half a day, plus removal time if old flooring is coming out.
Will my state change these 12x16 room prices?
Materials barely move by state, but labor does — Floormath adjusts installation from 0.80x in the cheapest markets to 1.25x in the priciest. On this room that swings the labor line by up to ±$84.