How Much Does It Cost to Install a Hardwood Floor?

Wood Flooring Cost

Most hardwood flooring installers charge between $6 to $12 per square foot at an average cost of $8 per square foot. High end jobs may run as high as $13 to $25 or more per square foot. Total project costs typically fall between $2,488 and $6,770 or $4,548 on average. About 50% to 75% of your budget goes to materials with the rest, or $3 to $5 per square foot, going to labor.

Average Cost to Install Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood Flooring Cost Per Square Foot

Installing hardwood flooring averages between $6 and $12 per square foot. Wood flooring costs $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and about $3 to $5 per square foot in labor to install.

Hardwood Flooring Cost Estimator

Cost of Hardwood Flooring by Type

You have extensive choices in both engineered and traditional solid wood options of:

• Color

• Grain

• Tree species

• Width

Although many people speak about hardwood floors as a single building material, it’s more complex. Hardwood comes from many tree species, usually new growth (a softer "hardwood"). Each type has different ranges of color, price and durability.

Traditional Wood Flooring Costs

Traditional wood flooring typically comes in narrow boards 3 inches wide or less. Traditionally, it’s also installed unfinished and finished in place, raising the labor costs $2 to $5 more per square foot than listed above.

Wood Plank Flooring Costs by Style

Wide Plank Wood Flooring Prices

*Doesn’t include labor costs of $3 to $6 per square foot.

Wide plank flooring costs anywhere from $1.50 to $12 per square foot for the boards alone with $3 to $4 per square foot for labor. Wider boards means less to lay to cover the same area, meaning you’ll pay on the lower end for labor.

Wood Look Tile Flooring Cost

Installing wood look tile costs $900 to $2,900 or  $3 to $35 per square foot. As the name implies, it’s not wood. Instead, it’s a tile that looks like wood with approximately the same plank size.

It’s more expensive than wood, but also more resilient and won’t rot or warp in damp places. It makes a great addition to basements for the look without the drawbacks.

Herringbone Wood Flooring Cost

Herringbone wood floor patterns add 30% to the cost of the same flooring in a traditional parallel pattern.

Herringbone wood floors describe the pattern you lay the floor in and nothing else. You use the same materials as you would for any other floor and the same professional installation. But, since you’re laying it at angles, you’ll have more waste and it’ll take longer to install, increasing both how much you spend on materials and labor.

For example, if you picked out your own wood for $5 per square foot and labor was $4 per square foot for a traditional floor – or $9 per square foot total – expect to pay $12 per square foot to have it laid in a herringbone pattern.

Parquet Flooring Costs

Real parquet flooring, handcrafted floors with small hardwood, costs $20 to $45 per square foot. But handcrafted parquet is no longer common. More often, you’ll find parquet style flooring kits with a premade wooden tile that, when put together, looks like the classic design. These tile Parquet hardwood flooring kits cost an average of $15,000 to install or $7 to $10 per square foot.

Cost to Install Hardwood Floors

You’ll spend anywhere from $3 to $6 per square foot to install your hardwood floors. This doesn’t include any material or delivery costs. Buying your own wood and hiring a pro for installation might cost a bit more since pros get discounts on flooring, but it lets you better control the type, style and quality of planks you purchase.

Cost to Install Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Prefinished hardwood flooring installation costs $6 to $12 per square foot. Any type of floor found in big box stores comes prefinished. Traditionally, unfinished planks were laid in place and finished as a final step. But prefinished flooring, sanded and varnished at the factory, became popular almost 80 years ago. Since then, most of what you find is finished.

Hardwood Flooring Installation Cost Factors

Engineered Wood Flooring Cost

Engineered wood floors may not last a century like some well cared for solid wood floors, but they do perform well for less upfront cost. With their increased durability and moisture resistance, engineered wood floors are a better option than traditional hardwoods for the budget conscious.

Here are a few of the most popular engineered flooring options, along with some unique characteristics of each and average pricing:

• Maple: Colors range from creamy white to rich red; can be fastened, glued down or glued together

• Heart Pine: With nail holes, gouges and attractive knots, this engineered floor has vintage charm.

• White Ash: A variation of colors and grain patterns give this flooring interesting character that hides imperfections well.

• Brazilian Cherry: Exotic wood with warm red-brown tones and rich hues.

• Brazilian Koa: A distinct orange color with rich, dark brown striping makes this a standout option if you want a bold look.

• Acacia: Attractive contrasts of medium brown colors and interesting graining makes this a popular option if you’re searching for a rustic, Colonial look.

Debating between installing engineered wood and laminate faux wood flooring? Consult our Comparison Guide for more.

Floating Wood Flooring Cost

Floating wood floors cost anywhere from $6 to $15 per square foot to install. These come in a wide variety of designs, thicknesses and qualities. Engineered wood floating floors use a groove system that “locks” the planks together, removing the need for glue or nails.

Cost to Replace Hardwood Flooring

Removing old flooring adds anywhere from $1 to $13 per square foot in addition to the $6 to $12 per square foot to install new floors. The wide price range comes from the type of flooring you have. Tearing out a floating floor is rather quick and painless with nothing nailed or glued down. But a 50-year-old seasoned hardwood floor may take hours to remove correctly.

Cost to Redo Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floor refinishing costs $1,100 to $2,500. Redoing, resurfacing or refinishing hardwood flooring leaves your floors alone, but sands them down to level them out and puts a new coat of varnish or another protectant on top.

Cost to Replace Carpet with Hardwood

Carpet removal costs $150 to $250 on average. Add that onto your new install costs. However, most installers include that price in their estimate. Besides removing the old carpet, pad and tack strips, there shouldn’t be any additional fees.

Compare Hardwood Floor Costs vs. Other Materials

DIY vs. Hire a Hardwood Pro

FAQs

What is the most durable wood floor?

The most durable wood floors include oak, hickory, maple, bamboo, teak and Brazilian walnut.

How do I calculate how much hardwood flooring I need?

To calculate how much flooring you’ll need, first find the area of the room and divide that by the area of each box of flooring. Then, add 10% to that figure for overage and waste. You’ll need to purchase that many cases.

Where can I buy hardwood flooring?

You can buy hardwood flooring from large home improvement stores, flooring specialty stores, and your professional installer can purchase it for you.