Apartment Carpet Replacement Cost Per Unit (2026)
A per-door pricing guide for property management companies, multifamily owners, and apartment building investors across Metro Detroit
Per-Unit Replacement Cost at a Glance
Key Takeaways
- Per-unit cost depends on square footage, carpet grade, and stair count — not a flat per-door number. Get a portfolio quote, not a guess.
- 20mil LVP costs more upfront but typically outlasts 2-3 carpet turnover cycles in multifamily — better total cost of ownership for long-hold portfolios.
- Property managers with multi-unit portfolios get volume pricing, priority scheduling, and consolidated invoicing — rates scale with combined unit count.
- We coordinate with your turn crew (paint, clean, maintenance) to compress vacancy days. Most units finish in one day.
- We work directly with owners and management companies, not individual tenants.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is written for property management companies, multifamily owners, REITs, and landlords managing apartment portfolios in Metro Detroit. If you're a tenant trying to find out who pays for new carpet in your unit, that's a conversation with your landlord — not us.
You'll get the most out of this guide if you
- Manage 5 or more rental units (apartment buildings, multifamily, scattered-site portfolios)
- Budget capital improvements on a per-door or per-unit basis
- Need consistent turnover-flooring vendors who can price a portfolio, not just one job
- Care about vacancy days as much as installed cost
- Want NET invoicing and a single point of contact across your portfolio
Tenants — please read
We don't handle in-unit replacements for individual renters. Carpet replacement in your apartment is the property owner's decision and expense. Please contact your property manager or landlord directly.
What Actually Drives Per-Unit Cost in Metro Detroit
There's no honest "average cost per apartment unit" without these five inputs. Anyone giving you a flat per-door number without seeing the property is guessing — or padding the bid.
The five inputs that move per-unit price
- Square footage of carpeted area — a 1BR with carpet only in bedrooms is a fraction of a 3BR with carpet throughout.
- Carpet grade — builder-grade rental carpet is the floor of the market; mid-grade FHA-spec carpet costs more but lasts an extra turnover cycle.
- Stair count — interior stairs in townhome-style units are priced per step, not per square foot. Walk-up buildings with shared stairwells are a separate scope.
- Tear-out and disposal — old carpet, pad, and tack strip removal adds labor. Pet-damaged subfloor sealing or patching adds material.
- Access and parking — third-floor walk-ups, no elevator, or no nearby parking adds time. Suburban garden apartments install faster than urban high-rises.
Why we don't publish a flat per-door price
A 480 sq ft studio in a Royal Oak walk-up is not the same job as a 1,150 sq ft 2BR townhome in Sterling Heights. We give portfolio owners a per-unit-type matrix after a walkthrough, so your underwriting numbers reflect reality. Call (734) 846-8116 for a portfolio quote.
Builder-Grade Carpet vs 20mil LVP for Multifamily
The most common question we get from property managers: "Should we keep replacing carpet, or convert units to LVP?" The right answer depends on hold period, tenant profile, and your CapEx vs OpEx mix.
When carpet still wins
- Short-hold properties (under 5 years) — you won't recover LVP's premium before sale.
- Class C buildings with high turnover — carpet's low replacement cost matches the asset.
- Bedrooms-only carpet in mixed-floor units — tenants expect soft surface in bedrooms.
- When you need the cheapest possible turn to keep the unit rentable this week.
- Cold-climate ground-floor units where renters value warmth (less common in well-insulated buildings).
When 20mil LVP wins
- Long-hold properties (10+ years) — 20mil LVP commonly outlasts 2-3 carpet replacement cycles.
- Pet-friendly units — carpet doesn't survive pet turnover; LVP wipes clean.
- Class A and B-plus units where modern flooring supports higher rent.
- Units with chronic moisture issues (kitchens, baths, ground-floor entries) — waterproof core matters.
- Portfolios standardizing on one product to simplify maintenance, ordering, and tenant expectations.
The hybrid approach most owners land on
LVP throughout common areas, kitchens, baths, and entries — builder-grade carpet only in bedrooms. You get LVP's durability where wear is highest, and carpet's low replacement cost where tenants actually want soft surface. Lower turn cost, longer cycle.
Volume Pricing for Multi-Unit Portfolios
Per-door cost drops meaningfully once we can schedule multiple units in sequence, share mobilization, and order materials in bulk. We work with property management companies across Metro Detroit on portfolios from a handful of units to several hundred — pricing scales with combined unit count, not per-property.
What changes at portfolio scale
- Per-unit material cost drops with bulk carpet and LVP orders.
- Mobilization cost spreads across multiple units in the same building or complex.
- Crew stays on-site, eliminating per-job travel and setup time.
- Single point of contact — one PM, one estimator, one invoice cycle.
- Standardized SKU per portfolio — same carpet style across all units simplifies future repairs.
- Priority scheduling — your turnovers don't wait behind retail jobs.
How owners typically structure portfolio work
- Annual capital plan — pre-scheduled replacements based on unit age and turn history.
- Turn-as-vacant — we hold pricing for 12 months; you call when a unit goes vacant.
- Rolling renovation — converting a building from carpet to LVP unit-by-unit at turn.
- Acquisition rehab — full-building flooring replacement on a closed schedule.
| Account Type | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Small portfolio | Volume pricing, consolidated invoicing | Small landlords, scattered-site owners |
| Mid-size portfolio | Volume pricing, dedicated estimator, NET-30 available | Property managers with multiple buildings |
| Large portfolio | Portfolio rate quote, account manager, NET-30 available | Property management companies, multifamily owners |
| Acquisition rehab | Compressed schedule, after-hours crews | Buyers in due diligence or post-close |
Pricing is based on combined unit count across your portfolio, not per-property. Call (734) 846-8116 for a portfolio quote tailored to your unit count.
Turnover Timeline — Compressing Vacancy Days
Every vacant day is rent you're not collecting. Our turnover scheduling is built around that math. We coordinate with your paint, clean, and maintenance crews so flooring isn't the bottleneck.
Where we fit in your turn checklist
Best practice for fastest turn: (1) Move-out inspection → (2) Heavy clean and trash-out → (3) Paint → (4) Flooring (us) → (5) Final clean → (6) Make-ready inspection. Flooring late in the sequence prevents paint splatter and trade damage on new carpet.
| Unit Type | Scope | Typical On-Site Time |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1BR | Carpet replacement, bedrooms + living | 1 day |
| 2BR apartment | Carpet bedrooms + LVP common areas | 1 day |
| 3BR townhome | Carpet + stairs + LVP main level | 1-2 days |
| Multi-unit (same building) | Sequential per-unit turns | Scheduled in 1-day blocks |
| Acquisition rehab (full building) | All units, common areas | Compressed — call to scope |
Timelines assume vacant unit, power on, and access coordinated. Add half a day for heavy tear-out or subfloor repair.
Get Your Free In-Home Estimate
Ready to move forward? We provide free in-home consultations throughout Wayne, Oakland & Macomb Counties and Metro Detroit. You'll receive accurate measurements, see product samples in your actual lighting, and get transparent pricing — no pressure, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost to replace carpet in an apartment unit in Metro Detroit?
There is no honest flat per-unit number. Cost depends on square footage of carpeted area, carpet grade (builder vs mid-grade), stair count, and tear-out scope. A 1BR with bedrooms-only carpet is a fraction of a 3BR townhome with stairs. For portfolio owners, we provide a per-unit-type matrix after a walkthrough so your underwriting reflects real numbers, not internet averages. Call (734) 846-8116 for a portfolio quote.
Do you offer volume pricing for property management companies?
Yes. Per-door pricing scales with the combined unit count across your portfolio — the more units, the better the rate. Larger accounts also get dedicated estimating, account management, and NET-30 invoicing. Pricing is based on total portfolio size, not per-property, so scattered-site owners benefit too. Call (734) 846-8116 for a portfolio quote.
Is 20mil LVP worth the upfront premium over carpet for multifamily?
For long-hold properties (10+ years), pet-friendly units, and Class A or B-plus buildings — usually yes. 20mil LVP commonly outlasts 2-3 carpet replacement cycles in multifamily, so total cost of ownership comes out ahead even though installed cost is higher. For short-hold or Class C properties with high turnover, builder-grade carpet still wins on cash-flow.
How fast can you turn a vacant unit?
Most studios, 1BR, and 2BR units finish flooring in one day. 3BR townhomes with stairs are typically one to two days. We coordinate with your paint and clean crews so flooring fits into your turn checklist without adding vacancy days. Multi-unit buildings are scheduled in sequential one-day blocks.
Do you work directly with tenants?
No. We work with property owners, property management companies, and landlords. Carpet replacement decisions and payment are between you and your property owner. We coordinate access through your management contact, not the resident.
Can you handle acquisition rehab on a tight schedule?
Yes. For closings and post-acquisition rehabs, we run compressed schedules and after-hours crews to hit a hard reopen date. Call early in due diligence so we can scope before close.
Do you invoice NET-30 for property management accounts?
Yes, NET-30 is available for property management accounts and larger portfolios. Smaller jobs are typically due on completion, but we're flexible — talk to us about your accounting cycle.
Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only. Every flooring project is unique—results depend on subfloor condition, humidity, home age, and other factors. Always consult a professional before starting your project. Cost estimates are approximate; contact us for accurate pricing.