COST CALCULATOR

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Hardwood Floor?

Q: Does hardwood flooring need to be acclimated before installation?

Most hardwood flooring should sit for up to 72 hours (or longer) in the area where it will be installed. This ensures the wood and the subfloor have the same moisture content, which may help to prevent cupping and other issues as a result of wood expanding and/or contracting due to humidity.

Q: What’s the best way to clean hardwood floors?

To keep your hardwood floors clean, sweep them regularly with a soft-bristled broom to remove dust and debris. Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth to absorb and wipe up spills. When mopping the floors, mix some warm water and a small amount of dish soap, but always ensure that the floors are thoroughly dried afterward to prevent warping.

Q: Do I need to order extra materials when installing hardwood flooring?

In most cases, it’s advised that you order between 5 to 10% more materials than you think you need. This is especially true for complicated rooms that may have more waste when the flooring installer has to cut pieces to fit a specific angle or shape. It’s best to order more than you need in order to account for any damaged materials, too. You can also save some excess if you ever need to make repairs in the future.

Q: How wide are most hardwood planks?

Wide hardwood planks measure between five to 12 inches wide. They show off the grain and natural features more easily than narrow plank flooring. Most narrow plank flooring measures between two and four inches wide, but it’s also easier to maintain.

Typical range: $2,436-$3,535

Find out how much your project will cost

Zip Code

cost to install a hardwood floor Calculator

For your project in zip code 98102 with these options, the cost to install a hardwood floor starts at $8.12-$11.78 per square foot. Your actual price will depend on job size, conditions, finish options you choose.

Hardwood floors add a warm, natural look to your home. This flooring is a popular choice among many homeowners and will provide you with an inviting feel for virtually every room. If you’re curious about the cost to install hardwood floors, most are priced per square foot, and costs vary based on the type of wood you choose. A typical hardwood floor installation project cost includes the price of the materials and the labor cost to perform the installation. Put your unique project details into the Porch estimator to help you better understand what you can expect to pay. 

Cost Calculator

Zip Code

Calculations are dependent on where you live

Square Feet

Standard Services		Quantity	Low	High
What you can expect
Range per square foot:			$8.12	$11.78
Range for this type of project:			$2,436	$3,535
Estimate: $2,986
	Hardwood Flooring Cost	320 square feet	$1,123	$1,479
	Cost of residential, above-grade red oak floaring for nail-down installation. UV-resistant, 7-coat AIO satin finish provides durability and elegance. Rate is inclusive of local delivery, as well as standard excess for perfect installation and occasional repairs. 25-year limited warranty guarantees excellence.
	Hardwood Flooring Labor, Basic	17 hours	$1,131	$1,836
	Labor cost, under typical conditions, for complete installation. Underlayment will be installed on clean, level subfloor. Flooring will be acclimated, culled, and blended. Hidden nailing will be used to secure surface. Fee is inclusive of all aspects of the project, such as thorough planning, acquisition of equipment and material, preparation and protection of installation site, and meticulous cleanup.
	Hardwood Flooring Job Supplies	320 square feet	$143	$162
	Requisite supplies for the job, including manufacturer-recommended underlayment, fasteners, adhesives, and surface sealants.
	Hardwood Flooring Equipment Allowance	1 job	$39	$58
	Daily rental of specialty equipment for maximum quality and efficiency. These include pneumatic nailer for 1-1/2" to 2" nails, and up to 3/4"-thick flooring. Consumable equipment elements not included.
	Hardwood Flooring Debris Disposal	300 square feet	$74	$85
	Responsible disposal of all project debris, including the cost to load and haul old materials, installation waste, and any other refuse.
Optional Services
	Option: Remove Flooring	15 hours	$261	$1,647
	Flooring will be detached from adjacent components, broken into portable segments, and removed from premises. Asbestos handling will incur additional fees.

Standard services

Hardwood Flooring Cost
$1,123 -$1,479

320
square feet

Cost of residential, above-grade red oak floaring for nail-down installation. UV-resistant, 7-coat AIO satin finish provides durability and elegance. Rate is inclusive of local delivery, as well as standard excess for perfect installation and occasional repairs. 25-year limited warranty guarantees excellence.

Hardwood Flooring Labor, Basic
$1,131 -$1,836

17
hours

Labor cost, under typical conditions, for complete installation. Underlayment will be installed on clean, level subfloor. Flooring will be acclimated, culled, and blended. Hidden nailing will be used to secure surface. Fee is inclusive of all aspects of the project, such as thorough planning, acquisition of equipment and material, preparation and protection of installation site, and meticulous cleanup.

Hardwood Flooring Job Supplies
$143 -$162

320
square feet

Requisite supplies for the job, including manufacturer-recommended underlayment, fasteners, adhesives, and surface sealants.

Hardwood Flooring Equipment Allowance
$39 -$58

1
job

Daily rental of specialty equipment for maximum quality and efficiency. These include pneumatic nailer for 1-1/2" to 2" nails, and up to 3/4"-thick flooring. Consumable equipment elements not included.

Hardwood Flooring Debris Disposal
$74 -$85

300
square feet

Responsible disposal of all project debris, including the cost to load and haul old materials, installation waste, and any other refuse.

Optional Services

Option: Remove Flooring
$261 -$1,647

15
hours

Flooring will be detached from adjacent components, broken into portable segments, and removed from premises. Asbestos handling will incur additional fees.

What you can expect

Range per square foot:
$8 - $12

Range for this type of project:
$2,436 - $3,535

Estimate:
$2,986

Cost Comparison

YOUR ESTIMATE

$2,986

NATIONAL AVERAGE RANGE

$2,324 -$3,373

YOUR ESTIMATE

Install a Hardwood Floor: national average cost

The national average materials cost to install a hardwood floor is $3.87 per square foot, with a range between $3.35 to $4.40. The total price for labor and materials per square foot is $9.49, coming in between $7.75 to $11.24. A typical 300 square foot project costs $2,848.21, with a range of $2,323.87 to $3,372.56. Your actual price will depend on your location, job size, conditions and finish options you choose.

cost to install a hardwood floor
National Avg. Materials Cost per square foot	$3.87
National Avg. Cost (labor and materials) for 300 square foot	$2,848.21
National Cost Range (labor and materials) for 300 square foot	$2,323.87 - $3,372.56

Hardwood flooring cost

The average hardwood flooring cost is approximately $4,623 for the average-sized home, but prices range from as low as $2,495 to as high as $6,751, or even more. Your total cost will vary based on how much square footage you need to cover and the type of wood you choose for your hardwood flooring project. This beautiful flooring is quite popular, and high-quality hardwood floors can last for a few decades if they’re properly maintained. Make sure you hire a flooring installation professional to achieve an attractive, professional appearance and a seamless look.

Hardwood flooring cost by square foot

On average, hardwood flooring prices are approximately $5 per square foot, but they can range between $1 and $9 per square foot. Your price depends on the type of wood you choose, the brand, and other factors. Since hardwood flooring goes on top of a flat surface, it’s measured and priced per square foot. In total, your hardwood flooring installation could be as low as $1,500 to as much as $10,000.

The following table shows the average cost to install hardwood flooring per square foot:

Square Feet	Average Cost	Lowest Cost	Highest Cost
200	$1,000	$200	$1,800
300	$1,500	$300	$2,700
400	$2,000	$400	$3,600
500	$2,500	$500	$4,500
600	$3,000	$600	$5,400
700	$3,500	$700	$6,300

Hardwood flooring cost by type of wood

The cost to install hardwood floors varies depending on the type of material and the installation method used. The most common options and wood types used to install hardwood flooring are:

Maple

Maple is a strong, beautiful wood, but it’s not well-suited for use in climates with high humidity levels or in areas with warm temperatures year-round. The hardwood flooring cost for unstained maple is typically between $6 and $8 per square foot. Stained versions start at $8 and go to $14 per square foot.

Pine

Pine wood flooring brings a rustic look to your home and takes on virtually any stain color quite well. This softwood is more environmentally sustainable than some other hardwoods and can last for decades in most homes. Hardwood flooring prices for pine range from $1 to $4 per square foot.

Bamboo

Although it’s classified as a hardwood, bamboo flooring is made from grass fibers pressed together to create strong planks. This type of flooring is durable and costs between $3 and $8 per square foot, on average.

White Ash

Ash is one of the hardest woods for flooring available today. This pale-colored wood takes on all shades of staining and is also very scratch- and dent-resistant. The hardwood flooring cost for ash wood ranges between $5 and $9 per square foot.

Hickory

Hickory is rated as the second-hardest wood used for flooring but is also prone to swelling. It’s recommended that you hire a professional if you want to install hickory flooring. This hardwood costs between $3 and $7 per square foot.

Red Oak

Red oak has a beautiful grain and takes on stain really well. Hardwood flooring prices for red oak can vary from $3 to $6 per square foot, but it will last a lifetime in your home with proper care.

White Oak

White oak is naturally resistant to insects and mold. This hardwood flooring has a visually striking grain and takes various types and colors of stains well. Plan to pay between $3 and $6 per square foot for white oak hardwood floors.

Hardwood Floor Type	Average Cost	Lowest Cost	Highest Cost
Maple	$7.00	$6.00	$8.00
Pine	$2.50	$1.00	$4.00
Bamboo	$5.50	$3.00	$8.00
White Ash	$7.00	$5.00	$9.00
Hickory	$5.00	$3.00	$7.00
Red Oak	$4.50	$3.00	$6.00
White Oak	$4.50	$3.00	$6.00

Wood plank flooring

If you want flooring that looks like real wood without actually using wood, plenty of other options are available. Let’s take a closer look at some hardwood flooring alternatives that give the same look as wood but provide different properties and new ways to style your floors. The cost of these flooring types is also included.

Wood look tile

These flooring tiles look and feel just like wood, making them a great choice for those who are allergic to real wood. Wood-look tile is ideal in areas with a lot of foot traffic, moisture, high humidity, or temperature fluctuations. Wood look tile can be made of porcelain or ceramic, and it’s shaped and textured to resemble real wood planks. These tiles range from $6 to $12 per square foot, but customized designs may cost up to $20.

Wide plank

Wide vinyl plank flooring is a hard-wearing option that’s well-suited in high-traffic areas and in rooms exposed to moisture or humidity. The vinyl planks have a textured surface that feels just like wood flooring without actually using wood. Plan to pay from $2 up to $7 per square foot for standard wide vinyl plank floors.

Herringbone pattern

Herringbone patterned flooring adds an elegant, sophisticated look to your home. Parquet herringbone flooring is often made of real hardwood, but the installation process is more complex. The flooring is laid by hand and may cost up to 30% or more than a standard, straight-plank flooring installation.

Real parquet

Parquet hardwood floors are made using a repeating pattern of hardwood boards placed into tiles. The small wood blocks or “tiles” are then laid down as flooring and create a visually unique variation of colors and shades. This flooring costs between $3 and $4 per square foot, depending on the type of wood you choose.

Parquet style tiles

Parquet-style tiles blend the traditional look of a hardwood parquet flooring style with the durability of porcelain tile for added strength. This strong, waterproof flooring style costs between $5 and $12 per square foot.

Wood Plank Flooring	Average Cost	Lowest Cost	Highest Cost
Wood look tile	$9.00	$6.00	$12.00
Wide plank	$4.50	$2.00	$7.00
Real parket	$3.50	$3.00	$4.00
Parkey style tiles	$8.50	$5.00	$12.00

Engineered hardwood flooring

Engineered wood looks similar to solid hardwood flooring, but its composition is different. This type of flooring has a thin layer of hardwood applied over a plywood core. Engineered hardwood looks the same as hardwood flooring at first glance, and it’s less expensive. However, this flooring can’t be sanded or refinished more than once due to the thin layer of hardwood on the top. When you install this hardwood floor it should last 25 to 30 years, while hardwood typically lasts between 30 to 100 years.

Laminate vs. hardwood

Laminate flooring can be a great choice if you’re looking for something a bit less expensive. This flooring material is made using a photographic applique placed under a clear coating. The applique is then placed atop a fiberboard or melamine resin core. Many options for laminate flooring are designed to look like wood or stone, and it’s installed using a tongue-and-groove design. Most laminate flooring costs anywhere from $2 to $4 per square foot. This flooring works well for a DIY installation and can last approximately 10 years.

Refinishing hardwood floors

One perk to having solid hardwood flooring is the ability to refinish them. You can refinish your floors after moving into a new home, when the floors undergo any damage, or when you want to change the look or color. Determine the cost to refinish hardwood flooring by considering things like sanding, staining, and the actual refinishing process.

Should you DIY your hardwood floor?

Installing hardwood floors is more complex than other flooring types, such as vinyl or laminate. The floor must be nailed into place through the “tongue” of each board to ensure the nails are invisible once the installation is complete. Proper installation also requires a subfloor; it takes skill and patience to do it right. Some forms of engineered hardwood flooring can be installed with glue, which is easier to DIY than solid hardwood flooring.

However, it’s best to consider hiring a professional, whether you’re refinishing or installing brand-new hardwood floors. Rooms with odd shapes or angles can make cutting each piece more difficult, for example. Overall, the cost to install hardwood floors runs between $6 to $11 per square foot.