Installation should be about $3.50 to $4 sq/yd. Stores like to do the promos on installation and really rip you off on the padding, which is nowhere near the $9 sq/yd written above. I have a carpet kicker, stretcher, mini-stretcher, stair-stretcher, etc., but just like my installer, so they're toys for now.

I order a Stainmaster from GA that would probably be $18 to $20 sq/yd retail range for $12-14 in the past. Cheapest last time. OK, that's good, but padding is just absurd. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I once got a delivery and then looked while in Home Depot and they mark the padding up about 400%, might have been 300, but I'm in that mood, since they certainly don't pay more than me and it really does comes off the same delivery truck. Padding fluctuates a lot with oil, but I think I've paid down in the $1.60 per yard range for the 8lb rebond before.

Delivery is in the 150-200 range and I have to coordinate receipt and installation, but I get a pretty higher-end carpet installed for maybe a little more than what the carpet alone would be.

It wouldn't work so well ordering a very small quantity, but I've ordered for as little as 750 sq/ft. Typically, you would pay $1-2 extra if not ordering a full roll. Same carpet, different retailer 80' full roll vs 100 or 120' at the one I used previously, so that seems to be up to the retailer.