How Much Does It Cost to Install Baseboards?
Typical Range:
$720 - $1,300
Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.
Updated September 21, 2022
Reviewed by Andy Kilborn, Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor.Written by HomeAdvisor.
Installing baseboards for a home with a perimeter of 144 feet costs $1,060 on average. Homeowners might pay as low as $720 and as much as $1,300. These costs include both labor and materials. Expect to pay more if you need existing baseboard or molding removed.
“One trick when installing baseboards (if you're painting them) is to apply caulk to the joints as well as where the baseboard meets the wall. After painting, it creates a seamless look,” says Andy Kilborn, Expert Review Board member and owner of Andy's Handyman Service in Des Moines, IA.
Average Cost to Install Baseboard
| Average Cost | Hogh Cost | Low Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $1,060 | $1,300 | $720 |
Baseboard Installation Cost Per Linear Foot
Expect to pay between $5.70 and $8.95 per linear foot for baseboard installation. Contractors usually price installation by the linear foot, and these costs include materials and labor. However, you’ll likely pay at least $15 more if you need debris removal. Most contractors don’t include this in their installation pricing.
Labor Cost to Install Baseboard Trim
As with the labor cost to install trim throughout your house, the labor cost to install baseboards is $4.90 to $7.75 per linear foot. Baseboard materials are pretty inexpensive (only about $0.60 to $1.20 per linear foot). Labor makes up most of your price.
Talk to Local Baseboard Pros for Custom Quotes
Baseboard Costs by Type
There are several different baseboard styles, each with a different shape. Simpler types, such as shoe molding, cost less than more complex designs like base molding.
| Baseboard Type | Cost Range per Linear Foot (All-In) | Average Cost (All-In) |
|---|---|---|
| Shoe molding | $5.30 – $8.25 | $6.77 |
| Quarter round molding | $5.50 – $8.75 | $7.12 |
| Base molding | $5.50 – $10.05 | $7.77 |
Cost to Install Baseboard by Material
Wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and PVC are the three main types of baseboards for residential use. Wood is the most expensive but easiest to repair and has the most luxurious look.
MDF is a mid-priced option that's easy to install, maintain, and moderately easy to repair. PVC is the least expensive, often made to look like wood, but impossible to repair, which is particularly problematic as PVC baseboards are prone to impact damage.
| Type of Baseboard | Price Range per Foot | Average Price per Foot |
|---|---|---|
| PVC | $0.90 – $1.40 | $1.15 |
| MDF | $1.00 – $1.34 | $1.17 |
| Wood | $1.40 – $10.00 | $5.70 |
Baseboard Installation Cost Factors
The price of baseboard installation depends on a few different factors, including the finish you want and whether you're replacing existing baseboards or installing new. Additionally, when replacing baseboards, you may find the wall or floor needs repairs, too, which can increase the project price.
Removal and Disposal
For the average property with a 144-foot perimeter, expect to pay $220 for removing the old baseboards, including the cost of removing the waste and debris. Expect to pay around $20 for a service to come and collect it for you if the disposal isn't included in the cost,
Painting
If the baseboards you choose are unfinished, you'll need to stain or paint them. If your local handyperson does the painting at the same time as the installation, expect to pay an additional $1 to $5 per square foot. However, if you plan to paint your baseboards as part of a wider home painting project, it may make more sense to hire a local painter instead.
Floor and Wall Repairs
It's not uncommon for a contractor to find problems with your walls or floors while removing or installing baseboards. For example, if you have evidence of moisture damage, you may need new drywall. Replacing drywall costs $2.40 to $4 per square foot. Other wall repairs cost $360 to $1,240.
If your flooring is buckled, torn, or otherwise damaged, you may want to have new flooring laid before the baseboards go on. Flooring installation costs $3 to $22 per square foot. Alternatively, you can save money by having the floor repaired instead of replaced. Floor repair costs $200 to $580. While having a new baseboard, you may want to pay the price of repairing trim elsewhere in the room or installing new trim to give the whole space a facelift.
DIY Baseboard Installation vs. Hiring a Professional
Installing baseboards isn’t difficult, but it’s time-consuming. If you’re considering taking the project on yourself, you’ll need the proper tools to measure, cut, and attach the baseboard. Trying to do a DIY replacement could result in having to repair drywall, adding more time and money to your project.
Additionally, if your floors are not level you’ll have a lot more work cut out for you. Save yourself time (and potentially even money) by hiring a baseboard installation specialist near you.
Still Have Questions About Baseboard Installation?
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between baseboard and molding?
Baseboard and molding are often used interchangeably. The only real difference is that the baseboard is at the bottom of the wall, laying flush with the floor. Crown molding (a type of molding) is at the top of the wall, laying flush with the ceiling.
Because it’s higher up, crown molding costs more than installing baseboards (anywhere from $4 to $23 per linear foot).
How does vinyl baseboard installation work?
Installing vinyl baseboard is similar to installing wood baseboard. Professionals measure and cut pieces before attaching them to the wall with a wall adhesive. They use a different blade to cut the PVC, often one with carbide tips, as, because it isn't porous like wood, it can quickly dull blades and generate enough heat to melt the edges of the PVC itself.
What does it cost to add baseboard heaters?
The average cost to install a baseboard heater is $780. Homeowners might pay anywhere from $400 to $1,190 to add this heat source. Baseboard heaters are zone heaters that raise the temperature in a single room. In larger rooms, you'd need to install multiple baseboard heaters to create warmth throughout the space.
Should baseboard molding touch the floor?
Baseboards should only touch the floor if you have no plans to change your flooring or if you've already had your new flooring laid. If you're installing baseboards before installing the new flooring, make sure you leave enough clearance between the baseboard and the floor to accommodate the height of the new flooring you're planning to add. In general, carpeting requires more clearance than laminate or wooden flooring. Remember to account for the height of any underlay, too.
Can I install baseboards if my walls are crooked?
Yes, you can install baseboards on crooked walls. Apply adhesive, situate the baseboard, and nail it in where there are studs, taking note of the gaps. Take a bracer, push it tightly against the baseboard where there's a gap, and nail it to the floor.
Repeat this for every gap caused by crooked walls. Leave it overnight, letting the adhesive dry and bond the baseboard to the crooked wall. Then simply remove the nails and bracers and fill in the gaps left by the nails and any remaining gaps between walls and baseboard with paintable silicone adhesive.
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