First of all, as with any home improvement project, always compare floor prices before starting. Regional prices for materials and flooring installation may vary, so you do need to talk to suppliers and installers in your area.

-Hardwood floors: $5 to $15 per square foot for material depending on the quality of boards and width. Installation can be $2 to $8 per square foot, depending on whether your boards are pre-teated or need to be finished on site.

-Laminate flooring: $1 to $6 a square foot for materials. Installation can be $1 to $5 per square foot, including laying down the sub-floor padding.

-Linoleum floors: $2 to $3 per square foot for materials, and another $5 to $7 for installation.

-Vinyl Sheet floors: $1 to $5 per square foot for materials and $1 to $2 per square foot for installation.

-Vinyl tiles: $1 to $4 for materials and $1 to $2 per square foot for installation.

-Stone Tiles: $7 to $20 per square foot for the materials and $6 to $8 per square foot for installation.

-Ceramic Tiles: $5 to $15 per square foot for materials and $6 to $8 per square foot for installation.

And remember, when you purchase flooring, you're making a substantial investment in your home that you're going to have to live with for years to come. Consider materials and installation carefully because a general rule of thumb is the more you pay out initially, the less you'll pay for costly repairs in the long run.

Blog inspired by article written by Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, featured in USA Today and can be seen here:   http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Flooring-Cost-A-Quick-Overview.14097.html