Here’s how much it costs to install hardwood flooring

Pricing

• Hardwood floor installation costs between $5 and $20 per square foot.

• The nationwide average cost to install 200 square feet of oak or maple hardwood flooring is about $3,100.

• It could cost $1 to $5 more per square foot to have a pro remove and dispose of your old flooring.

The average labor costs to install hardwood floors range from $3 and $7 per square foot. The rate can increase depending on factors like your location, the condition of your subfloor, the complexity of the project and the reputation of the installer. 

Below, we break down hardwood floor installation costs so you can calculate a reliable estimate for your project before you start contacting flooring companies. Once your budget is locked in, we recommend getting quotes from these reliable installers.

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How do contractors calculate hardwood flooring estimates?

Contractors calculate hardwood flooring estimates based on square footage. They’ll take on-site measurements and then consider factors that affect installation labor and material costs to determine a final price.

In addition to square footage, wood species and thickness factor into a contractor’s estimate, explained Rotem Eylor, CEO and founder of Republic Floor, a flooring manufacturer in Montebello, California.

“They consider other obstacles, like the shape of the room (not just the size), if there are existing structural issues or water damage with the current flooring, and how that will impact installation, removal [and] disposal of current flooring [and the] condition of the subfloor,” he said.

“Other factors, like trim work, transitions and labor costs for installation and finishing, may also be factored into the estimate to provide a comprehensive quote,” Reina added.

What factors contribute to hardwood flooring installation costs?

The price of hardwood flooring installation — including materials and labor — varies depending on your space, the installer, the wood type and more. Here are the key factors that contribute to the total cost.

Wood species

You can choose from several hardwood species for your new flooring. Your chosen species’ availability will impact the cost per square foot for materials. Exotic woods, such as Brazilian cherry and walnut, can significantly increase the cost of your flooring project.

According to data compiled from experts we spoke with, you can reasonably expect the following prices per square foot for these common types of wood:

• Yellow pine: $3–$7
• Red oak: $3–$8
• Hickory: $3–$8
• Maple: $4–$10
• White oak: $4–$9
• Cherry: $4–$12
• Mahogany: $5–$9
• Brazilian walnut: $5–$10
• Teak: $9–$15

The wood’s thickness will also affect pricing. Per Reina, hardwood floors usually range from 1/2 to 7/8 inch thick. “The standard thickness for engineered hardwood flooring is typically 5/8 inch thick compared to solid hardwood flooring, which tends to be 3/4 inch or 7/8 inch thick. Prices will always increase the thicker you go,” he said.

Room size

Larger spaces require more flooring, but your installer might offer a small discount on a per-square-foot basis for larger jobs. You’ll pay more overall for installing flooring in larger rooms, but you could pay less per square foot.

Subfloor installation

“Most modern hardwood floors are installed over a subfloor,” Reina said. Subflooring is a layer of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) that sits under the hardwood. “The subfloor provides a stable and level surface for the hardwood to be installed, enhancing the durability and longevity of the flooring.” 

If you already have a subfloor installed and it’s in good shape, you’ll avoid the installation fees. According to our experts, subfloor installation costs between $2 and $5 per square foot on average. Room size, irregular shapes and the condition of the joists below can all affect your subfloor installation costs.

Transitions

In any area where your hardwood floor ends and another flooring material begins — such as between a wood floor in a hallway and a tile floor in a bathroom or kitchen — you’ll need to cover up the edges and make the transition look smooth. Wood or metal transitions are common between wood and carpet, while marble saddles are more common where wood floors meet bathroom tile floors.

The labor and material costs for transitions will depend on which ones you choose, with prices ranging from $5 to $30 per linear foot, according to our experts. High-end options such as marble will come with a higher total cost than wood transitions. Marble will likely sit close to $30 per linear foot, while basic wood transitions will cost between $5 and $20 per linear foot in most cases.

Obstacles

It usually requires less time to install hardwood floors in square bedrooms with no interruptions on the floor, as your installer won’t need to measure and cut around obstacles. Rooms with baseboards, furnaces, HVAC supply vents, nonstandard footprints or cabinetry that your professional needs to cut around will drive up labor costs.

Stairs

Matching the runners — the part you step on — or rises — the vertical sections leading to the next step — on your stairs to your new hardwood flooring is a great way to achieve a cohesive look in your living space. But stairs present their own challenges for flooring installers — they need to take precise measurements and ensure the runners won’t come loose and create a tripping hazard. You can expect the per-square-foot price for hardwood stairs to be higher than standard flooring.

The typical cost to install matching wood runners on your stairs is between $100 and $300 per step, according to experts we spoke with.

Removal and disposal of old flooring

Unless you’re installing hardwood flooring in a new construction home, you’ll need to remove your old floor and haul it away before moving forward. If you have your professional do this, you can expect to pay between $1 and $5 per square foot, according to our experts.

“Carpet tends to be cheaper to remove, around $1 per square foot, whereas tile might be in the $2 to $5 range,” Eylor explained.

This is a good place to save some money if you’re comfortable DIYing this portion of the work.

Furniture and appliance movement

Depending on where you’re installing hardwood floors in your home, you might need to move furniture out of the way — and possibly into storage — or pull out appliances to install new flooring underneath them. Some hardwood flooring specialists can handle this work, but you’ll pay extra for the service.

Fixed costs 

Your contractor has fixed costs in addition to hourly rates, such as the time it takes to get to your property and to set up tools and a workspace to cut the flooring. The labor and time involved in traveling to the work site and preparing for the installation will also affect your total bill.

The table below provides average price ranges for some of the most influential hardwood floor installation cost factors. These prices come from our experts, so keep in mind that prices per line item can vary based on location, your installer’s expertise and other factors related to your home.

Factor	Potential Cost
Material	$3–$15 per sq. ft.
Subfloor installation	$2–$5 per sq. ft.
Transitions	$5–$30 per linear ft.
Stairs	$100–$300 per step
Removing old flooring	$1–$5 per sq. ft.

What else affects hardwood flooring installation costs?

In addition to the above, some secondary factors can affect the hardwood floor installation costs.

Installer reputation

A reputable installer means a better chance of a professional installation and satisfaction with the final product — but it can also mean higher installation costs. Installers with years of experience and mostly positive customer reviews may charge more for their work.

Cost of living

The cost of home improvement jobs can sometimes scale with the cost of living, in part because more expensive areas require higher rates for professionals to earn livable wages. As such, your location is an additional cost factor to consider.

For example, based on data from RSMeans, the average cost to install 200 square feet of oak or maple flooring (2 1/4-inch-wide planks) is about $3,780 in New York City, $3,000 in San Diego and $2,750 in Baltimore.

Supply and demand

Hardwood flooring can fluctuate in cost based on the species you choose and how readily available it is in your area. For example, you might pay less for teak wood floors in the Southeastern United States because it can grow naturally there and more for this wood species in the Pacific Northwest because it requires long-distance shipping.

The demand for specific products and hardwood flooring installation labor can also affect your price. Professionals usually charge more when the demand for labor or a specific material is high.

How can you save money on hardwood flooring installation?

One of the best ways to save on hardwood flooring installation is to choose a wood species that’s more common and available in your geographic area, which usually leads to lower material costs.

You can also opt for engineered hardwood instead of solid wood, which includes a thinner layer of the more expensive hardwood on top but more affordable plywood layers underneath. In some cases, engineered wood floors are less expensive. Remember that sanding and refinishing are more limited with this type of hardwood flooring, as you’ll eventually sand down to the plywood layers.

Finally, you can save money on your installation by doing some prep work, such as moving furniture and appliances out of the way and even removing the old flooring material and hauling it away. You might have to pay dumping fees, but you’ll save on labor costs.

What’s next?

When deciding whether to install hardwood floors, understanding average installation costs and cost factors is a great place to start. Your next step is to contact local installation companies for a more informed discussion based on your specific project. Get cost estimates from at least three local installers and compare them based on cost, installation timeline and company reputation.

Ask your professionals about the wood species they can provide and how long they expect the installation to take. It’s also a good idea to ask for references to ensure you hire a reputable and reliable installer. If you’re not keen on doing any of the preparation work yourself, ensure your professionals include line items for moving furniture or appliances or removing the old flooring and hauling it away to get an accurate total for your whole project.

Cost information in this article, where noted, was calculated using RSMeans data from Gordian™. RSMeans is a construction cost database used by thousands of contractors to generate their project pricing.

Local costs were determined using RSMeans project estimates combined with local labor costs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and cost data from home improvement stores. We also interviewed homeowners from around the country to validate local costs.