How Much Does Epoxy Flooring Cost?

What Is Epoxy Flooring?

Epoxy floors consist of synthetic resin flooring mixed with hardening agents. Together, these form a durable coating to install over concrete floors, most commonly garage and basement floors.

Epoxy floor coating is a great way to protect concrete flooring from the wear and tear of heavy foot traffic and use it as a multipurpose work and storage space. Epoxy also makes your floors more resilient against cracking and chipping.

How much does epoxy flooring cost? That depends on whether you DIY the installation or hire a flooring professional. While DIY can save you money, epoxy flooring installation is a complex, multistep process that requires special skills. For most homeowners, it makes sense to use a contractor.

Epoxy Garage Floor Cost

An epoxy garage floor costs between $1,530 and $3,210 when using a concrete floor professional. The national average cost of epoxy floor installation is $2,340, but you might pay as little as $700 for a small garage or as much as $5,000 for a much larger garage. 

Installing epoxy flooring is just one way to enhance your garage. A total garage remodel costs around $5,700 to $24,250.

Epoxy Garage Floor Cost Breakdown

Are you wondering how much it is to epoxy a garage floor? Budget between $3 and $12 per square foot when going the professional route. Read the table below for cost breakdowns:

Labor

When going the professional route, labor makes up around 33% to 60% of the total cost of epoxy floors, or about $1 to $7 per square foot. Labor makes up a large percentage of the overall cost because epoxy-related materials are relatively inexpensive. 

Epoxy floor contractors charge around $50 to $150 per hour, and most companies send out two people to complete the job to speed up the process. You’ll pay a bit extra if your flooring is more challenging to access.

Epoxy Resin

Water-based epoxy resin costs between $2 and $5 per square foot. The price per square foot is more for solvent-based and solid epoxy. Water-based epoxy is usually less expensive than solid or solvent epoxy types.

While water-based epoxy costs around $30 to $50 per gallon, solvent-based epoxy costs around $45 per gallon. Solid epoxy is the most expensive type and costs approximately $45 to $150 per gallon.

Other Materials and Equipment

When laying down an epoxy coating, local concrete floor professionals use power washers, spiked rollers, shop vacs, various power tools, spiked shoes, and protective gear. In most cases, a pro already owns the necessary tools and installation materials so you won’t get charged extra, but some of the tools take longer to use than others and may increase your project’s labor costs. Talk to your pro to ensure they have all the necessary work materials. 

And remember: If you DIY your epoxy garage floor installation, you’ll need to buy, borrow, or rent the proper equipment, which can add to overall project costs.

Epoxy Garage Floor Cost Factors

Several factors can impact your overall epoxy garage floor cost, including the garage size, any necessary site preparation, and the sealant quality. 

Garage Size

The size of your garage directly impacts your overall epoxy flooring costs, as the increased square footage means you need more materials, and installation will take longer. This table breaks down common garage sizes and the estimated epoxy garage floor cost:

Concrete Repairs

If your concrete floor is cracked, chipped, or crumbling, you’ll want to consider repairing it before laying down epoxy. Patching up older floors with cracks or chips costs around $25 to $250 for labor and materials, depending on the extent of the damage. Materials will likely range from $3 to $150, depending on your concrete flooring needs.

If cracks in your concrete indicate structural problems, foundation repair costs around $2,150 to $7,730—even more in some cases. Here’s how foundation repair costs break down: 

• Evaluation by a structural engineer: $300–$800

• Soil report by a geotechnical engineer: $700–$2,000

• Cinder block, concrete, or steel pier repair: $750–$3,000 each

• Underpinning: $3,500–$6,000 per corner

If the driveway and garage are completely new, you’ll need to factor in these construction costs well before budgeting for epoxy:

• Concrete driveway cost: $1,800–$6,000

• Building a garage cost: $16,230–$39,080

Garage Floor Resurfacing and Refinishing

Resurfacing concrete costs around $3 to $5 per square foot, including labor and materials. You may need to resurface your garage floor before installing epoxy.

Considering that an average 500-square-foot garage costs about $1,500 to $2,500 for concrete resurfacing services, some contractors place a minimum charge of around $500 to $1,000 for this job. Get an itemized written quote before hiring a pro.

Traffic Coating Prices for High-Volume Areas

Commercial-grade coatings cost more than residential-grade coatings because these materials withstand more foot traffic and heavier vehicles. If you use your driveway or garage to house a tractor, RV, trailer, or dual-axle truck, consider investing in a higher-quality sealant to save money in the long run. These high-grade epoxy coatings add about 20% to 30% to your total epoxy garage floor cost.

Site Preparation

A fair amount of prep work is necessary before layering epoxy on concrete flooring. Make sure the space is empty, including all shelves and counters. If you don’t have space in your house or shed to store your items, you may need to hire a moving company and rent a short-term storage unit during installation.

Additionally, most epoxy coating products require acid washing, etching, power washing, or another preparation method before installation. This helps create a stable bond between the epoxy coating and the concrete floor. You’ll pay around $50 to $100for these prep services, but many pros wrap these tasks up into the job’s overall cost.

Painting and Sealing Concrete

After installing an epoxy coating, painting and sealing the concrete are great ways to add durability and an aesthetic flourish. You’ll pay around $2 to $5 per square foot to seal your surface with a high-performance urethane, and painting the concrete costs about $1.50 to $3 per square foot.

These cost ranges are for materials only. Labor is an additional fee, at $40 to $150 per hour. Extra sealing is always recommended, but paint at your own discretion.

Basement Floor Epoxy Cost

Sealing a basement floor costs around $3 to $12 per square foot, and sealing a basement floor with epoxy provides a waterproof finish, which helps prevent water damage. This is an important step for the basement refinishing process if you plan to lay down carpet, hardwood, or another type of flooring on top of the concrete.

Other Epoxy Flooring Costs

Epoxy shines in other parts of the home, not just basements and garages. For instance, epoxy is great for kitchen floors and countertops, as well as driveways and patios.

Budgeting for these locations comes down to measuring the footage of the desired area and keeping the overall cost of $3 to $12 per square foot in mind. Kitchen countertops, for instance, are in the lower price range, but concrete countertop installers may charge more per square foot for smaller projects.

Epoxy Resin Prices by Type

The type of epoxy resin you use can impact the overall cost. Water-based epoxy is the most affordable but less durable. Solid epoxy is on the other end of the spectrum but is highly resistant.

Water-Based

Water-based epoxy is at the lower end of the cost range, at approximately $30 to $50 per gallon. Water epoxy is easy to apply but thinner and less durable than the other options on this list.

Water-based epoxy withstands minor scratches but can’t stand up to more impactful usage like heavy blows and exposure to chemicals. Pros recommend replacing water epoxy every three to five years.

Solvent-Based

This mid-grade epoxy costs between $40 and $55 per gallon. Solvent-based epoxy is slightly stronger than water epoxy and easy to install. However, installation releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are dangerous to breathe, so wear appropriate safety gear.

Solid

Solid epoxy is the strongest and most expensive type, at about $45 to $150 per gallon. This pure solid epoxy resists just about everything, from heavy scratches to chemical spills. However, solid epoxy is difficult to place down, so always hire a professional local flooring installer. Though solid epoxy is usually the best, most durable option, it doesn’t do too well in high-moisture environments.

Epoxy Resin Upgrades and Add-Ons

Epoxy serves more than a functional purpose. It can also introduce a new aesthetic to your garage, basement, kitchen, or patio. Epoxy upgrades with more decorative looks will cost more.

For example:

• Rock and pebble epoxy costs about $100 per gallon, not including the price of the pebbles, stones, or decorative rock or the labor to install it. Epoxy stone adds the look of real stone with the convenience and durability of epoxy.

• Metallic-colored epoxy ranges from $5–$12 per sq. ft., installed.

• Adding decorative flakes to clear or colored epoxy is another aesthetic option, with a single-pound bag covering up to 250 square feet and costing $10.

• Epoxy paint costs vary based on color, with neutral colors costing less than their brighter counterparts. However, neutral colors work better with garage or driveway floors. Save brighter colors for kitchens and patios.

Industrial Epoxy Floor Costs

Commercial and industrial applications require a 100% solid coating, meaning the price will be higher, about $12 or more per square foot. Depending on the floor's square footage, you may save money by buying in bulk. Some contractors offer discounts on larger projects as well.

Benefits of Epoxy Floor Coating

Epoxy flooring offers several key benefits for your concrete surface: 

• Durability: Many epoxy flooring types increase the durability of your concrete and are resistant to harsh chemicals, solvents, and acids. 

• Aesthetic: Some epoxy floorings add a bit of decorative flourish. 

• Easy to clean: Epoxy floors require minimal maintenance other than cleaning and the occasional recoat. 

• Efficiency: This type of flooring also goes well with underfloor heating, helping you save energy and reduce the number of radiators. Radiant floor heating costs about $1,730–$6,030 to install.

Other Garage Floor Concrete Sealers

Epoxy isn’t the only concrete sealant available. Other garage floor concrete sealants range in price, depending on whether you choose a basic, clear sealant or go for a more decorative sealant with performance-enhancing additives. Here are the major types of concrete floor sealants to look into beyond epoxy: 

• Acrylic and polyacrylic: Solvent-based acrylic and polyacrylic sealers cost roughly $1 per sq. ft., including materials and labor, are available in a matte or gloss finish, and spray on easily without bubbles or roller marks. 

• Polymer or polyurethane: These coatings cost about $2–$3 per sq. ft., including materials and labor. Poly coatings set quickly, speeding up the installation time, and are resistant to extreme temperatures on both sides of the spectrum. 

• Polyurea floor coating: This scratch-resistant coating costs around $10 per sq. ft., installed. Polyurea floors are ideal for exterior applications, as they strongly resist sunrays.

DIY vs. Hiring Professional Garage Floor Coaters

Epoxy floor installation requires attention to detail, precision, patience, and special skills and equipment. Though DIY-ing epoxy floors can lead to great cost savings, most homeowners should opt for hiring a local garage floor coating company.

While you can find DIY epoxy kits that may cost you just $2 to $5 per square foot (including purchasing additional tools and materials, as needed), a concrete professional near you can ensure higher-quality installation with no costly mistakes. They’ll have access to better materials and job-specific tools and ultimately can give you a more durable end product that lasts longer and requires less maintenance.