Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - Carpet on Stairs Installation Estimate

I recently got an estimate for installation of carpet on a set of 17 stairs and the landing above from one of the big box stores. The estimate is more than I expected given that I measure 105 sq ft on the landing and I estimated 6 sq foot for each stair. The estimator is saying he needs 230 sq ft for the stairs, that's 13.5 sq ft/stair. His installation price is $16.5/stair. Both the material and labor seem awful high. When I questioned this, the store says that the installer says that because the stairs are bull nose he needs more material plus labor to do the job. There is no carpet on the sides. Total cost of labor is $450 but of course his estimate of material drives up the carpet and pad cost beyond what I think will be used.

Any installers who could weigh in on this? This is not a job I want to take on myself and don't mind paying a fair price.

Can you post a pic of your staircase and measure the width of your stairs? It does sound high if you have a simple staircase. But i hate telling anyone they are overpaying until you see what the estimator sees. Also what are the 2 widest measurements of the landing (length and width)?

With that information someone here can better help you.

Thanks Akron,
I don't have a pic but the stairs are 36" wide with a 7" riser. The landing is 6 feet at the widest point and the carpet leads off to 2 halls. I measured 105 sq ft of landing area.

Sounds high to me. Have a second opinion done by a proffessional.

That is not high at all if they are removing the existing carpet, and especially the time it takes to remove all the upholestry staples use to install the steps.

For bull nose steps, they are $15 each to remove the existing carpet, cushion, and fix any tackstrip, if I do it. Then I charge $15 each to install them back on, that is a straight shot, no landings no pies, no wraps no pickets, or newel posts.

The landing may be an extra $25.

Your looking at about $535, if I do it.

I guess its all about geography. You'd be a hungry man around my area. We are $125 for a 14 step straight shot plus yardage. That includes the tearout and reinstall. And we lose buyers to lowballers all day long.