Empire Today Logo

Empire Today

star star star star star_border

5.0

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: August 5th, 2025

Empire Today® is a flooring and carpet installation company headquartered in Northlake, Illinois. Since its founding in 1959, Empire® has built a reputation for convenience, quality, and customer service. What sets the company apart is its in-home shopping experience and a wide range of products that cater to both residential and commercial customers — Empire offers carpet, laminate, hardwood, vinyl, and tile flooring options.

Empire is known for its fast and efficient next-day* installation service. This offering is perfect for customers needing quick renovations. Empire's ability to rapidly deploy skilled, professional installers ensures that your flooring project is completed without significant delays, providing convenience and immediate satisfaction.

Empire has won numerous awards, including a Stevies' "Company of the Year–Consumer Products" bronze winner (2016) and a Better Business Bureau Torch award for marketplace and business ethics (2015). 

Top Ranked Companies

thumb_up

The Good

  • Competitive Pricing
  • Wide Range of Carpet and Flooring Options
  • Next-Day Installations
  • Free In-Home Estimates

Competitive Pricing

Empire Today's pricing includes both materials and installation. An Empire sales consultant will work with you to tailor your flooring project to your specific budget constraints and the company often runs promotions to help you save more on your flooring investment.

Wide Range of Carpet and Flooring Options

Empire Today offers a comprehensive selection of carpet and flooring options, each designed to meet different needs and styles. Here is a breakdown of what the company offers:

Carpet

Empire Today offers a range of carpet types including the following:

  • Berber — durable, low‑profile, easy‑to‑maintain (ideal for high traffic)
  • Plush — soft nylon fibers, stain and odor resistance (R2X®), excellent for homes with pets
  • Frieze — casual, textured fiber that hides footprints and adds a relaxed aesthetic
  • Pattern — elegant, upscale designs offering visual interest
  • Indoor-Outdoor — tough and resistant to weather, suitable for patios and transition spaces
  • Commercial-Grade — built for heavy use; uses textured loop and solution-dyed yarns to resist matting and discoloration

Wood-Look Flooring

Empire Today offers a range of wood-look flooring that mimics real wood without the added cost and maintenance. Many Empire wood-look flooring options are scratch-, fade-, stain-, mold-, mildew-resistant, waterproof or water‑resistant, and non‑slip. 

Empire Today offers the following wood-look flooring options:

  • Engineered hardwood
  • Solid hardwood
  • WhisperHOME®
  • Wood laminate
  • Vinyl plank
  • Sheet vinyl
  • Luxury vinyl tile
  • Porcelain/Ceramic tile

Vinyl Flooring

Empire Today offers a range of vinyl flooring options including the following:

  • Vinyl plank — wood-like aesthetics, fully waterproof via Empire’s exclusive Aqua Defense®; noise-reducing and warm underfoot
  • Sheet vinyl — seamless coverage, affordable and low-maintenance; available in wood or stone looks
  • Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) — mimics stone or ceramic tile with enhanced durability

Specialty and Exclusive Products

Empire Today offers a range of specialty and exclusive flooring products including the following:

  • Aqua Defense® (LVP) — Empire-exclusive fully-waterproof flooring system; ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, basements
  • Fresh Haven® carpet — odor-neutralizing and pet-friendly, great for active households
  • R2X® Performance Fibers — enhance R2X-treated carpets like Fundamental Plush with stain resistance and odor reduction

Next-Day Installations

Empire Today sets itself apart by offering next-day* installation services, allowing customers the option to complete their flooring project(s) faster. After you place your order, Empire can schedule your installation as soon as the next day with no long lead times.

It's important to note that Empire Today's next-day installation service is only available for in-stock carpet and flooring, and only in select areas — this service is not available nationwide.

Free In-Home Estimates

Empire Today’s free in‑home estimate (also called the “Shop‑at‑Home” service) is designed to make flooring shopping easy, personalized, and pressure‑free — here’s a quick breakdown of how the process works:

  1. Schedule your in-home estimate — book a time online or by phone; you'll receive a 2-hour appointment window
  2. Shop-at-home with an Empire flooring consultant — your consultant will arrive with a wide range of flooring samples and provide guidance on material performance and care
  3. Measure and inspect existing flooring — your consultant will measure rooms and assess existing flooring, subfloor, trim, etc.
  4. Receive and all-inclusive price quote — during your in-home estimate, you'll receive a realistic price quote covering materials, installation, old-floor removal and more with no hidden fees
  5. Decide to move forward and schedule your installation — if you decide to move forward with an Empire flooring installation, you'll pay a deposit and schedule the installation

Empire's free in-home estimate gives you a full showroom experience at home — with expert advice, exact measurements, transparent pricing, and flexible scheduling. It’s a streamlined, low-pressure way to start a flooring project — ideal if you want clarity, convenience, and a fast path to installation.

thumb_down

The Bad

  • Limited Lifetime Warranties

Limited Lifetime Warranties 

Empire Today offers lifetime warranties on some of their flooring products, but not all. A lot of their products will jump down to 10- or 20-year warranties, which may not be what you are looking for. Before committing to Empire Today, check out the warranties section on their website and see what kind of warranties your favorite products have. 

gavel

The Bottom Line

Empire Today stands out in the flooring industry with its highly convenient in-home shopping experience, wide product selection, and fast next-day* installation service for in-stock items. Unlike traditional flooring retailers, Empire brings the showroom to the customer’s home, allowing for personalized consultation, exact measurements, and same-day all-inclusive quotes without hidden fees. This Shop-at-Home approach, combined with the ability to install floors as soon as the next day, positions Empire as a go-to choice for customers seeking speed, convenience, and customization.

The company offers a broad range of carpet and flooring options — including Berber, plush, and commercial-grade carpets, as well as hardwood, laminate, vinyl plank, and tile — with features like waterproofing, stain resistance, and pet-friendly technology. Exclusive offerings like Aqua Defense® vinyl flooring and Fresh Haven® carpet provide added performance and value. Empire also backs many of its products with limited lifetime warranties, and its in-home consultants tailor solutions to meet both style preferences and budget. Award-winning service, clear pricing, and a commitment to quick, quality installation make Empire Today a distinctive leader in the flooring space.

*Next-Day Installation only available on in-stock carpet and flooring styles only in select areas. Excludes floor prep.

View Best Flooring Companies

Was this content helpful?
thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

Star Rating

info

4.0

star star star star star_border

54 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

61%

4 grade

11%

3 grade

7%

2 grade

4%

1 grade

17%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

star star star star star_half

Quality

star star star star star_half

Service

star star star star star_border

Trustworthiness

star star star star star_border
cancel
info
star star star star star_border

Charles Tanner Henagar, AL

I was happy with everything except the company cancelling my installation 3 times, but once they finally got their crap worked, out I got my carpet installed and was happy with the installation and the installer.

8 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star star_border

Lloyd Plainfield, IL

Previous customer to Empire for carpeting as well as floor. The sales rep was helpful and friendly and I believe honest. The workers were friendly, polite, and very courteous in our home. Their work was excellent. Have recommended.

2 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star star_border

Chef Cat A 2 Z Living Well Solutions White Plains, NY

The representative that came out was very courteous although the lack of experience in measuring the space was not building confidence in our decision to purchase from them.

2 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star star_border

Laura White Detroit, MI

Carpet at our entire new home of almost 5000 ft.². Love the company, however there is one spot/seam that is already peeling two years later.

3 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star star_border

Ilspbeth Bruce

too much to choose from had to just stop and pick something or else would have never gotten our project completed.

2 years ago Edited April 11, 2023

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star star_border

Isabelle Lozach Queens, NY

Great products, did my flooring, great pricing!

2 years ago