Hardwood floor installation cost
Installed hardwood flooring costs $9 to $25 per square foot according to HomeGuide ($6 to $15 for materials plus $3 to $10 for labor), while Angi's September 2026 data puts a typical project at $2,469 to $7,034, averaging $4,723. Below you'll find the published ranges side by side, prices by solid, engineered and parquet floors, by species and by room size, the extras that add to a quote, and an estimator you can fill in with your own numbers.
Published cost ranges
These are national ranges as each source publishes them. None of them are our own prices. The three sources don't agree, which is normal for national averages: each draws on different projects, regions and dates.
| Source (date) | Per sq ft | Typical project |
|---|---|---|
| HomeGuide (Aug 4, 2025) | $9–$25 (materials $6–$15, labor $3–$10) | 500 sq ft: $4,500–$12,500 |
| Angi (updated Sep 3, 2026) | $6–$12 average; $13–$25 for premium species and large jobs | $2,469–$7,034, average $4,723 |
| Fixr (updated Jan 31, 2025) | $14–$32 in its headline, $6–$12 in its FAQ | 200 sq ft: $2,800–$6,400, average $4,017 (with a new plywood subfloor) |
Fixr's page is not consistent with itself: its headline per-square-foot range is more than twice its FAQ range, and its $2,800 to $6,400 total for 200 square feet works out to $14 to $32 per square foot. We show both figures as published. Angi's page also labels its project totals as "per square foot" in one place, but the numbers only make sense as project totals, and we've treated them that way.
By floor area
| Floor area | HomeGuide (2025) | Angi (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 sq ft | $1,350–$3,750 | $1,100–$3,800 |
| 250 sq ft | $2,250–$6,250 | $1,800–$6,300 |
| 500 sq ft | $4,500–$12,500 | $3,400–$13,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $9,000–$25,000 | $6,000–$24,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $13,500–$37,500 | $10,000–$36,400 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $18,000–$50,000 | $12,000–$48,000 |
HomeGuide adds that a single room costs about $1,000 to $6,000 installed. Not sure of your square footage? Use the square footage calculator.
Cost by type of hardwood floor
| Type | HomeGuide (installed) | Angi (as listed) | Fixr (labor included) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid hardwood | $11–$25 | $5–$28 | $9–$23 |
| Engineered hardwood | $9–$20 | $4.50–$16 | $8–$14 |
| Prefinished hardwood | – | $6–$12 | – |
| Parquet-style tiles / faux parquet | $10–$16 | $7–$15 | Parquet $11–$15 |
| True parquet / herringbone | $13–$40 | Genuine parquet $20–$45 | Herringbone $16–$22 |
Angi doesn't say whether its type table includes labor. Fixr also lists floating hardwood at $7 to $12 and click-and-lock at $10 to $14, and breaks solid and engineered into grades: solid low-grade $9–$13, mid $11–$18 and high $15–$25, and engineered low $8–$15, mid $10–$20 and high $12–$25.
Solid vs engineered
- Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood. HomeGuide says it's nailed or stapled to a wood subfloor, can be sanded and refinished many times, and isn't installed directly over concrete because of moisture.
- Engineered hardwood has a real-wood top layer glued to layers of wood products. HomeGuide says it can be nailed, glued down or floated, handles moisture better, and moves less with humidity, but can only be refinished a limited number of times. Angi adds that engineered wood can be installed below grade.
- Installation method matters to the price: HomeGuide says nail-down is the cheapest method, glue-down costs more because of the adhesive, and floating floors suit engineered wood but need a level subfloor.
Cost by species, thickness and finish
These are material prices per square foot, before installation. Labor adds roughly $3 to $6 (Angi, Fixr) or $3 to $10 (HomeGuide) per square foot on top. Fixr's material prices are consistently lower than HomeGuide's, so treat these as a spread, not a single price.
| Species | HomeGuide (materials only) | Fixr (materials only) | Angi (as listed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine | $3–$8 | $1.25–$2.10 | – |
| Bamboo | $5–$9 | $4.50–$6.50 | – |
| Red oak | $5–$10 | $3–$5.75 | $5–$11 |
| White oak | $6–$12 | $3.75–$7 | $5–$12 |
| Maple | $4–$12 | $6.25–$10 | $4–$15 |
| Cherry | $6–$12 | $4.30–$7.25 | – |
| Hickory | $6–$14 | $4.15–$7.15 | $6–$14 |
| Ash | $6–$13 | $5.75–$8.25 | $6–$14 |
| Mahogany | $8–$15 | $6.45–$7.50 | – |
| Brazilian walnut (ipe) | $8–$14 | – | $9–$15 |
| Cypress | $8–$18 | $3.85–$5.75 | – |
| Teak | $11–$20 | $8.75–$12.50 | – |
- Thickness (materials only): HomeGuide gives $5–$15 for 3/4 in (the most common for solid), $4–$12 for 1/2 in (the most common for engineered), $4–$9 for 5/8 in and $3–$7 for 3/8 in. Angi gives $5–$16, $4–$13, $4–$10 and $3–$8 for the same four.
- Grade: Angi puts low-grade, rustic floors at about $6 to $18 per square foot installed and high-grade, clear wood at $8 to $23.
- Plank width: Angi says wide planks cost $4.50 to $18 per square foot for materials alone, but can reduce labor.
- Prefinished or site-finished: Angi says prefinished wood costs about $2 per square foot extra and reduces on-site labor. Finishing unfinished wood after installation adds $2 to $7 per square foot in labor. Fixr says the totals end up close: about $2,200 to $4,000 for 300 square feet either way, materials and labor included.
Extras that change the quote
- Removing the old floor: $1.50–$3.50 per sq ft depending on the material, or $0.70–$1.60 for carpet (HomeGuide). Fixr gives $1–$3 for hardwood, $0.25–$0.75 for carpet and $1.50–$3.25 for tile. See our carpet installation cost page if you're replacing carpet.
- Subfloor: replacing the whole subfloor costs $2.20–$4.75 per sq ft installed (HomeGuide). Angi says repairs run $900 to $3,000.
- Joists: $350–$1,000 per joist (HomeGuide). Angi gives $40–$60 per sq ft for joist repairs, and Fixr $30–$60 per sq ft.
- Herringbone and other patterns: Angi says a herringbone layout can add 30% to the bill and quotes $12 per sq ft. Fixr puts herringbone at $16–$22 per sq ft.
- Moving furniture: about $60–$120 per hour (Angi).
- Trim: plain solid trim is $1.74–$2.50 per linear foot (Fixr). Fixr puts a hardwood threshold at $10–$35 and a reducer at $25–$40.
- Stairs: $100–$200 per step for hardwood stairs (Fixr).
- Staining and refinishing later: staining $0.50–$2 per sq ft and refinishing $2–$8 (HomeGuide); refinishing $3–$8 (Angi).
- Labor rates: Fixr says a carpenter installing hardwood charges about $60–$80 per hour.
Estimate your own job
Each line starts at a published range: installed hardwood from HomeGuide, with extras from HomeGuide, Angi and Fixr as noted on each line. Type a figure from your own quote and that line will use your number instead. Leave a box blank to keep the published range.
How much hardwood to buy
You need more than the floor area, because boards are cut at walls and some are rejected for defects. Bruce's installation instructions say to add 5% for cutting and grading, or 10% for diagonal installations, while Fixr suggests adding 10%. Herringbone and other patterns usually need more, so ask your installer. Measure the room at its longest and widest points, divide odd shapes into rectangles, and add the rooms together. The flooring calculator adds the allowance and rounds up to whole boxes, and works for carpet as well as plank floors.
DIY or hire a pro?
HomeGuide says hiring a professional saves time but adds cost, and its list of drawbacks notes that hardwood installation is best done by a professional. Angi says a pro keeps the floor level, secure and properly finished. Fixr says a professional should install these floors. If you want to save on labor, Angi suggests clearing the room yourself, pulling up old carpet, acclimating the planks to the room's temperature and humidity, and planning the layout ahead. Angi also says engineered wood is simpler and cheaper to install and repair yourself. Fixr says wood flooring must be acclimated unless the manufacturer says otherwise, and recommends following the National Wood Flooring Association's guidance for handling, storing and installing it. On concrete, HomeGuide says solid hardwood isn't installed directly over a slab because of moisture, and Fixr says a vapor retarder and a subfloor are needed first. Angi says solid wood floors aren't good candidates for wet areas of a home.
- Wear eye protection, hearing protection and a dust mask when cutting and sanding wood, and gloves when handling boards and nails.
- Pull up old flooring carefully: staples and nails stay behind. If you are removing old resilient flooring such as sheet vinyl or tile, don't sand or scrape it until you know what it is. EPA says you generally can't tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it; testing should be done by a trained, accredited professional. Fixr notes asbestos abatement can cost $200 to $400 per hour.
- Floors finished on site need ventilation while the finish dries.
Getting quotes
- HomeGuide advises comparing at least three quotes for the same material and installation method, and getting a written estimate, contract and warranty before work begins. Don't pay in full before the project starts.
- Ask what species, thickness and grade are in the quote, and whether the boards are prefinished.
- Ask whether removal and disposal, furniture moving, trim, transitions and subfloor repair are included, and how much extra a herringbone layout costs.
- Ask whether the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured, and for references.
More project costs: carpet installation cost, heat pump installation cost and the cost guides. Planning a tile floor instead? Try the tile calculator.
FAQ
How much does hardwood floor installation cost per square foot?
HomeGuide (August 2025) puts hardwood flooring at $9 to $25 per square foot installed, made up of $6 to $15 for materials and $3 to $10 for labor. Angi (September 2026) says $6 to $12 per square foot on average for labor and materials, and $13 to $25 for higher-end species and large jobs. Fixr (January 2025) gives two different figures on the same page: $14 to $32 per square foot in its headline and $6 to $12 in its FAQ.
How much does it cost to install 1,000 square feet of hardwood floors?
HomeGuide's table gives $9,000 to $25,000 for 1,000 square feet installed. Angi's table gives $6,000 to $24,000. Fixr's FAQ says $6,000 to $12,000.
Is solid or engineered hardwood cheaper to install?
HomeGuide puts solid hardwood at $11 to $25 per square foot installed and engineered at $9 to $20. Angi lists solid at $5 to $28 and engineered at $4.50 to $16, and says engineered costs less and can be installed below grade. Fixr says solid costs $9 to $23 installed and engineered $8 to $14, but also that the two end up fairly equal by the end of the project, because engineered costs more to buy and less to install.
Does the price include removing the old floor?
Not necessarily. HomeGuide lists old floor removal as a separate factor at $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot, or $0.70 to $1.60 for carpet. Fixr gives $1 to $3 per square foot for hardwood and $0.25 to $0.75 for carpet. Ask whether removal and disposal are in your quote.
How long does installing a hardwood floor take?
Fixr says a two-person crew usually takes one to three days for areas under 1,500 square feet. A prefinished floor can be walked on straight away, while a floor sanded and finished on site may need two or three more days before use, according to Fixr.
Is refinishing cheaper than replacing hardwood?
Yes, according to Angi, which puts refinishing at an average of $1,887 against about $4,700 to install new, and $3 to $8 per square foot. HomeGuide gives $2 to $8 per square foot for refinishing and Fixr $750 to $2,060.
How much hardwood should I buy?
More than the floor area. Bruce's installation instructions say to add 5% for cutting and grading, or 10% for a diagonal layout. Fixr suggests 10%. Use the flooring calculator to turn that into boxes.
Sources
All checked November 3, 2026. Dates are each page's own published or updated date.
- HomeGuide, How much does hardwood flooring cost?, August 4, 2025: per sq ft, area table, type, thickness, species, labor, removal, subfloor, joists, refinishing.
- Angi, How much does hardwood flooring installation cost?, updated September 3, 2026: project and per-sq-ft ranges, area table, type, species, thickness, grade, width, labor, finishing, herringbone, subfloor and joists, refinishing.
- Fixr, Cost to install hardwood flooring, updated January 31, 2025: project range, type and style, labor, removal, trim, thresholds, stairs, refinishing, duration.
- Bruce, hardwood installation instructions: 5% for cutting and grading, 10% for diagonal layouts.
- US EPA, Protect your family from exposures to asbestos.