Is Empire Flooring a Good Company: Pros, Cons, and Buying Guide

Few flooring brands generate stronger reactions than Empire Today, whose late-night TV jingle has been running for over 60 years. Is Empire Flooring a good company depends entirely on what you value in a flooring purchase, because their convenience and same-week installation come with trade-offs in pricing, product selection, and warranty enforcement. This guide walks through how Empire actually operates, what customers report consistently across thousands of reviews, and which homeowner profiles benefit (and which should look elsewhere).

How Empire Today Operates

Empire Flooring (officially Empire Today LLC) is a shop-at-home flooring retailer headquartered in Northlake, Illinois. They send a sales representative to your house with physical samples, write a contract on the spot, and schedule installation often within 24 to 72 hours. Most carpet and LVP installations finish in a single day.

The model targets convenience-focused homeowners who do not want to visit a showroom or coordinate multiple contractor estimates. Empire stocks product from major manufacturers like Mohawk, Shaw, and DreamWeaver but rebrands many items under proprietary collection names.

Pricing Reality Check

Empire’s installed pricing typically runs 25 to 60 percent higher than equivalent products purchased through Floor and Decor or LL Flooring and installed by a local contractor. A 1,000-square-foot LVP job that an independent might quote at $5,500 frequently lands at $8,500 to $10,500 with Empire.

• Empire LVP installed: $7 to $11 per sq ft
• Empire laminate installed: $5 to $8 per sq ft
• Empire carpet installed: $5.50 to $9 per sq ft
• Empire engineered hardwood installed: $10 to $15 per sq ft
• Empire tile installed: $11 to $17 per sq ft

The premium pays for same-week scheduling, financing through Synchrony, and a one-stop sales process. Whether that premium is worth $3,000 to $5,000 on a typical mid-size project is the central question every homeowner must answer.

What Customers Report Consistently

Across the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Google reviews, Empire averages 3.2 to 3.8 stars with thousands of ratings. The pattern is clear: simple jobs go well, complicated jobs frequently go badly. Carpet replacement in an empty rental property typically scores high. Multi-room LVP installation requiring floor leveling, transitions to existing hardwood, and stair work often scores low.

Common complaints include pressure tactics during in-home sales, prices quoted high to leave room for “discounts” that bring the offer to retail, installation crews using subcontractors who lack manufacturer certifications, and warranty claims taking 60 to 180 days to resolve.

Installation Quality Variability

Empire dispatches installations through a network of independent contractors paid by the job. This creates inconsistency. Some crews are excellent flooring veterans running their own businesses who simply use Empire for lead generation. Others are entry-level subs handling 4 to 6 installations per week with minimal oversight.

The brand has tightened quality control since 2020, including post-installation inspections in some markets. Outcomes still vary by region. Phoenix, Dallas, and Denver markets generally report better satisfaction than Chicago, Atlanta, and Florida markets based on aggregated review data.

Warranty Terms Worth Reading

Manufacturer warranties pass through, but Empire’s labor warranty is the variable. The standard “limited lifetime installation warranty” sounds robust until you read what it covers: only installation defects diagnosed within 30 days of installation, excluding any moisture-related issue, subfloor problem, or settling.

Claims for crooked transitions, gapping at seams, or hollow spots under LVP must be reported in writing within the warranty window or they are denied. Document the install with photos and a punch list before the crew leaves the property.

Who Empire Works Best For

Renters, landlords, and homeowners selling within 60 days benefit most from Empire. The convenience of same-week installation outweighs the price premium when time is the constraint. Empty rental properties or vacant homes between owners are ideal because Empire can move furniture but charges aggressively for it.

Homeowners on a tight budget or those who care about product specifications down to the AC rating or wear-layer mil thickness should look elsewhere. The Empire-rebranded products often hide the manufacturer’s original spec sheet, making it hard to compare apples to apples.

Better Alternatives by Project Type

For a high-quality LVP installation, local Mohawk Floorscapes or Shaw Designer Showcase dealers offer comparable product selection at 20 to 35 percent lower installed cost. The trade-off is needing to visit a showroom and waiting 1 to 3 weeks for installation scheduling.

For carpet specifically, Lowes Pro Services and Home Depot installation often beat Empire on both price and warranty terms. Carpet One franchises generally offer better product variety and similar installation timelines at competitive pricing.

Negotiation Tactics That Work

Empire sales reps have authority to discount 15 to 25 percent from the initial quote. The first number written on their sales sheet is rarely the best offer. Refuse to sign on the first visit no matter how strong the “today only” pressure becomes. A second visit always generates a better offer.

Mention competing quotes from local contractors and Lowes by name. Reps know they will lose the sale if they cannot get within 10 to 15 percent of the lowest legitimate competitor. Bring printed quotes if possible because verbal claims get dismissed.

Red Flags During the Sales Visit

Any sales rep refusing to leave a written quote for review later is a red flag. Legitimate contractors leave detailed estimates that homeowners can compare against other bids. Pressure tactics (“if you sign tonight I can lock in this price”) indicate the price has been inflated and the rep is trying to prevent comparison shopping.

Sample books that show only Empire’s proprietary product names without the underlying manufacturer information make comparison nearly impossible. Ask directly which manufacturer makes the product and what the actual spec sheet shows for wear layer, AC rating, or face weight.

Final Verdict

Empire delivers convenience and speed at a meaningful price premium. The product quality is generally fine because they source from major manufacturers, but installation consistency varies by region and project complexity. Is Empire Flooring a good company for your specific situation? Get at least one competing quote before signing, document any installation issues immediately, and read the labor warranty fine print before the crew leaves the property.