How Much Does Hardwood Flooring Cost?
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When shopping for hardwood flooring, knowing the different options and their effect on price can keep homeowners within their budget. Hardwood flooring cost typically runs from $2,481 to $7,026, with $4,721 as the national average.
Highlights
- Hardwood flooring typically costs between $2,481 and $7,026 to install, with homeowners across the country paying an average of $4,721.
- Some of the factors affecting the total cost include the size of the room, the type of wood, the color and grain of the wood, the grade and width of the boards, the cost of labor, and the home’s geographic location.
- Hardwood flooring has numerous benefits over other types of flooring, including durability, low maintenance, design versatility, reduced allergens in the home, and an increased home value.
- A handy homeowner may be able to tackle hardwood flooring installation as a DIY project, but hiring a professional ensures proper installation and fewer issues down the road.
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Hardwood flooring can add texture and warmth to any room, but what is the cost to install hardwood floors? Several factors come into play when homeowners are estimating hardwood flooring cost. According to HomeAdvisor and Angi, the typical cost range runs from $2,481 to $7,026, with the national average cost to install hardwood flooring being $4,721. Flooring professionals charge between $6 and $12 per square foot, and high-end jobs can run as high as $13 to $25 or more. On average, approximately 50 percent to 75 percent of the project budget will go to materials and the rest to labor costs. Hardwood flooring costs can fluctuate due to the type of wood, the width of the planks, the stain chosen, the type of adhesive, and the flooring style. Some hardwood flooring professionals will include the removal of old wood flooring or carpeting in the price of installation and trim, but others may charge separately for that service. Regardless of the style chosen, installing wood flooring not only improves the overall appearance of the room but also adds resale value and helps to increase the marketability of a home.
How to Calculate Hardwood Flooring Cost
Knowing how to calculate the overall hardwood floor installation cost (or using a hardwood flooring cost calculator) will take away any sticker shock down the road. To figure out hardwood flooring cost per square foot, homeowners can calculate the square footage of the room, then add 5 percent to 10 percent for cuts and waste. That figure is then multiplied by the square foot price to find the total cost. The typical range for price per square foot is between $6 and $12, so it may be worth it to calculate both the low and high end of possible costs. It’s important to include the price of extras such as nails, moldings, and thresholds. The formula for calculating overall cost is:
(square footage + 5 percent to 10 percent of square footage) x price per square foot = cost
For example: (400 + 40 = 440) × $6 = $3,520 for a low-end estimated cost
Factors in Calculating Hardwood Flooring Cost
The factors that go into calculating the cost of hardwood flooring include the square footage of material, labor, and wood type as well as color, grain, plank width, style, pattern, and thickness. Whether the wood flooring is engineered or traditional solid hardwood will also play into the cost. There are many options available when it comes to choosing hardwood flooring. Accounting for these factors should provide homeowners with a fairly accurate estimate of the overall cost. According to David Goodell, founder of Woodworking Clarity, “When you are dealing with a reputable company, you won’t get hidden costs. They tend to charge a bit more, but they cover everything needed.” Being aware of the differences within each category will help homeowners select the wood flooring that’s right for their home.
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Room Size
The larger the area where hardwood flooring is being installed, the higher the costs for labor and installation. On average, installing hardwoods costs between $6 and $12 per square foot. However, that price can jump to $13 to $25 if the space is very large, like an entire floor of the home. Installation for a small space that is only about 500 square feet will cost around $3,000 to $6,000. For an area of 2,000 square feet, homeowners can expect to pay up to $24,000.
Wood Type
Hardwood flooring comes from many different tree species, and each type has different colors, prices, and durability. The cheapest wood flooring is usually pine, which can run from $4.50 to $10 per square foot. Other, less expensive wood species of hardwood, such as oak and hickory, cost between $6 to $13 per square foot. More expensive species, such as Brazilian walnut, can run up to $11 to $20 per square foot.
If the hardwood floor is covering a flat and solid subfloor, any flooring will work—from nail or glue-down hardwood to click-together engineered strip flooring. If a new wood floor is being installed over existing wood flooring, thinner boards will work better. If hardwood flooring is being installed over concrete or tile, nails cannot be used, and it’s better to use click-together flooring or flooring that can be glued down. For homes with radiant floor heating (radiant floor heating costs $1,687 to $6,032), engineered flooring is ideal because it’s thinner and more stable than solid wood and will allow the heat to permeate the flooring without causing damage.
Wood Grade
Wood floors are graded by their physical characteristics. Wood flooring that has been graded “clear” has a uniform color and lacks knots or other imperfections. A “select” grade is given to wood flooring that has more of a natural appearance with knots, variations in color, and mineral streaks, while a grade of “No. 1 common” is given to wood flooring that has more color variation and may have wormholes. No. 1 common flooring costs between $6 and $11 per square foot installed. “No. 2 common” flooring is more rustic than the “No. 1 common” grading and costs between $9 and $19 per square foot installed. The “clear” grading is the most expensive, with the price going down according to the grade. Homeowners can expect to pay $12 to $23 per square foot installed for the highest-grade wood floors.
| Wood Grade | Cost |
| Clear | $12 to $23 |
| No. 1 common | $6 to $11 |
| No. 2 common | $9 to $19 |
Wood Width
Wood flooring typically comes in boards that measure 3 inches wide or less. Wide plank flooring can cost anywhere from $4.50 to $18 per square foot for the boards plus the cost of labor. Fewer boards are required to cover the area when using wide planks and, in turn, labor costs are typically lower.
Wood Color and Grain
The first thing homeowners may think of when deciding on types of hardwood flooring is the overall color. For a light and airy look, they can turn to paler woods, such as ash and maple. Hickory and oak add warmth and should work for a room that needs a medium wood shade. For those who prefer a darker wood color, mahogany and walnut provide a dark, rich tone. Each type of wood varies in price range, with oak and hickory on the lower end and mahogany on the higher end.
Wood grain also affects the price. Plain-sawn planks, with the grain running across the plank in a wavelike pattern, are the most affordable. Quarter-sawn and rift-sawn planks, which have the grain running in lines down the length of the board, are more expensive. Some wood types, like oak, have a tight and highly visible wood grain, while others, like white ash and acadia, have a variation of grain patterns and contrast.
Wood Style and Pattern
The different styles and patterns available for hardwood flooring affect the overall cost. Wood-look tile ranges from $15 to $20 per square foot or approximately $900 to $2,900 for a total installation. This isn’t actually hardwood but tile that looks like wood flooring. Though more expensive than wood, it’s much more durable and rot- and warp-resistant in potentially damp places like basements. Herringbone wood flooring patterns add 30 percent to the installation cost. A herringbone pattern is created by installing the planks at an angle, resulting in more waste and a longer installation. Traditional parquet flooring costs $20 to $45 per square foot if installed piece by piece. Today, it’s more common to buy parquet-style flooring kits with premade wooden tiles that look like the classic parquet design. These kits can run $7 to $15 per square foot or $15,000 on average.
| Wood Style | Cost per Square Foot (Materials Only) |
| Faux parquet | $7 to $15 |
| Herringbone | $12 |
| Traditional parquet | $20 to $45 |
| Wood-look tile | $15 to $20 |
Wood Thickness
The standard thickness for wood flooring is ¾ inch, which can cost $5 to $15 per square foot. Some hardwood flooring can be found as thin as 5/16 inch, but this can make refinishing more difficult down the road. Solid ¾-inch planks can be sanded and refinished up to 10 times. Thinner ¼-inch boards are more affordable at $2 to $6 per square foot, but they can’t be sanded as much and will not stand up to repeated refinishing.
| Wood Thickness | Cost per Square Foot (Materials Only) |
| ¾ inch | $5 to $15 |
| ½inch | $4 to $12 |
| ⅝ inch | $4 to $9 |
| ⅜ inch | $3 to $7 |
| ¼ inch | $2 to $6 |
Labor
The harder the wood flooring, the longer it takes to install. Exotic hardwoods, like teak and Brazilian walnut, have a longer installation time than softer woods, like pine. Angled and intricate patterns such as herringbone require more cuts and result in more flooring material waste, which drives up the cost. Complex room layouts or rooms with counters require more installation time and raise the hardwood flooring cost. On average, homeowners can expect the labor cost to install hardwood flooring to fall between $3 and $6 per square foot.
Installation Location
Different locations in the home need different types of hardwood flooring. Kitchens and entryways need harder wood to keep up with the high traffic level, while bedrooms and home offices are good locations for softer woods. Basements benefit from engineered wood flooring, which resists warping from water damage. The location of the flooring installation will have an effect on the cost for these reasons.
Geographic Location
Another major cost factor in the price of hardwood flooring installation is geographic location. Prices can vary across the country; for example, costs tend to be higher in coastal cities and densely populated areas. Prices in states that are closer to the center of the country are typically lower. If the desired flooring material is not common in a particular region and needs to be shipped, the price may be significantly higher.
Additional Costs and Considerations
When homeowners are budgeting for hardwood flooring costs, there are usually additional price factors and considerations that won’t necessarily appear in a hardwood flooring cost estimator. Labor costs for hardwood flooring can run from $3 to $9 per square foot and can vary due to the type, width, and style of wood flooring being installed. Installing unfinished hardwood flooring, which requires finishing after installation, can lead to additional costs, as can repairing or replacing existing hardwood or subflooring, repairing floor joists, adding additional coating, or installing wood-look tile flooring.
Repair vs. Replacement
For homeowners who like the look of their current flooring, it may be possible to repair or refinish the existing hardwood flooring. But how much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors? Hardwood floors in good shape can be refinished to restore the luster they once had; the average cost of hardwood floor refinishing is about $1,869 on average. Homeowners will want to consider reaching out to one of the best hardwood floor refinishing companies for this project. Solid hardwood flooring can be sanded and refinished multiple times. Engineered wood can also be refinished, though fewer times. Engineered hardwood flooring refinishing costs between $3 and $5 per square foot. If the current flooring is beyond repair, hardwood flooring removal costs $400 to $550.
Traditional vs. Engineered Hardwood
With engineered flooring, the base is plywood and the top is a finished wood veneer. Engineered flooring might not last as long as solid hardwood flooring, but it does perform well for a more affordable up-front cost. For homeowners who find real hardwood flooring costs to be outside of their budget, engineered flooring is a lower-cost option with superior durability and moisture resistance. Engineered hardwood flooring costs can range from $4.50 to upwards of $16 per square foot depending on wood type.
- On the lower end of the price range are wood boards that have three core layers and a veneer that’s between 1/16 and 1/12 inch thick.
- In the midrange are boards that have a five-layer core and a thicker veneer.
- At the top end, some engineered flooring has seven or more core layers and a ⅙-inch-thick exotic hardwood veneer.
Some of the most popular engineered flooring options are maple, heart pine, white ash, bamboo, Brazilian cherry, Brazilian koa, and acacia.
One of the biggest benefits of installing more expensive solid hardwood flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished multiple times, which means that for many homeowners, it’s likely to be the only flooring they’ll have to buy for their home. Another option is laminate flooring, which is made of particleboard finished with a layer that mimics the look of hardwoods. Laminate hardwood flooring costs about $6 to $14 per square foot, including materials and installation.
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Floor Joist Repairs
Repairing a subfloor costs around $500 to $800, and replacing a subfloor costs $428 to $2,978. If the joists also need repairs, homeowners can expect to add another $40 to $60 per square foot. This may be necessary if there is extensive rot, moisture, insect damage, or the floor is sagging or squeaky. Goodell advises, “When your floorboards start to creak more than usual, are not even, or doors begin to stick, you know there must be a problem either with your subflooring or floor joists.” Sagging floor repair costs $300 to $6,500. A local flooring company is a good start when deciding who to hire to repair squeaky floors, replace subflooring and joists, or fix a sagging floor.
Carpet Removal
If the new hardwood floor will be replacing carpet, the carpet must be removed before installation can begin. This is a fairly simple task that some homeowners choose to do themselves. Otherwise, homeowners can expect to pay $150 to $250 for professional carpet removal.
Finish and Coating
To extend the durability of wood flooring, a contractor can add a coating of a protective seal called a finish. Finishes are typically made from polyurethanes or prefinished UV-cured urethanes, oils, or oil hybrids. Finishes applied and cured in a factory are usually more durable than ones applied after installation. The big bonus of using prefinished wood flooring is that residents can walk on the flooring directly after installation without having to wait for the coats of finish to dry. Prefinished hardwood flooring costs an extra $2 per square foot. Installing unfinished wood flooring can raise the labor costs an additional $2 to $7, since the wood will need to be finished after installation.
Alternative Flooring Options
Installing wood floor alternatives such as wood-look tile flooring runs anywhere from $15 to $20 per square foot. Wood-look tile is tile flooring that has the appearance of wood. It’s more expensive to install than wood flooring, but it’s more resilient and resistant to rotting and warping. Another popular option is parquet-style tiling, which costs about $7 to $15 per square foot. Vinyl plank flooring costs around $2,399 on average and is highly durable and easy to install.
Types of Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floor costs can vary due to the type of wood used in the floorboards. Each type has different ranges in color and price. Renowned for their rich tones and durability, exotic woods and wood from tropical areas are more expensive than the more cost-friendly domestic woods. The following are some of the most commonly used hardwood species and their associated costs.
| Flooring Type | Cost per Square Foot (Materials Only) |
| Bamboo | $5 to $11 |
| Brazilian walnut | $11 to $20 |
| Cypress | $3.85 to $5.75 |
| Cherry | $6 to $12 |
| Engineered heart pine | $10 to $11 |
| Engineered maple | $10 to $12 |
| Engineered white ash | $12 to $13 |
| Hickory | $6 to $13 |
| Mahogany | $8 to $15 |
| Maple | $3 to $6 |
| Pine | $4.50 to $10 |
| Red oak | $8 to $13 |
| Teak | $11 to $20 |
| White ash | $9 to $13 |
| White oak | $8 to $15 |
Bamboo
The main benefit of sustainable bamboo is its extreme hardness and durability; bamboo flooring costs between $5 and $11 per square foot. The color can run from pale yellow to green.
Brazilian Walnut
Brazilian walnut flooring runs from $11 to $20 per square foot. An exotic hardwood, it’s extremely hard and durable but is expensive to install.
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