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How much does hardwood floor installation cost?

Hardwood floor installation costs $6 to $25 per square foot in 2026. What changes your price is below.

That is wood and labor together, with most homeowners at $10 to $16 once basic prep is included. The average hardwood floor installation cost is about $4,723, and most jobs run $2,469 to $7,031. Labor alone is about $3 to $8 per square foot.

Hardwood floor installation costs $6 to $25 per square foot in 2026

Estimate your hardwood installation cost

Pick what you need and add your ZIP. The price updates as you go. Got a price already? Check it in the last step.

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Is this price fair?

A fair price is $2,475 to $7,025.

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Low$4,750High
Your estimateUS average
$2,475to$7,025

Middle of the range: $4,750

$0$4,750$9,500
Normal range Middle

What you are paying for

Typical jobUS range for this job.$2,475 to $7,025
Straight layLayout.Base price
US averageLocal prices not added yet.US price
Middle of rangeHalfway between low and high.$4,750
How we calculate this

    Prices are for the United States in 2026 from published cost guides, checked September 2026. This is an estimate, not a quote.

    Middle $4,750$2,475 to $7,025

    Cost by part of the job

    Wood and install, per square foot$6 to $25. Most land at $10 to $16.
    Average projectAbout $4,723, with most between $2,469 and $7,031.
    Labor$3 to $8 per square foot for a standard straight lay.
    PatternsHerringbone, chevron and diagonal layouts push labor to $8 to $12 or more.
    Removing old flooring$1.50 to $4.50 per square foot.
    SubfloorSolid wood needs a plywood subfloor. Engineered wood can often float or glue over concrete.

    What pushes a quote up

    Solid or engineeredEngineered installs faster and works over concrete.
    Species and widthWide planks and exotic species cost more.
    Subfloor conditionLeveling and repairs add days.
    PatternAnything but straight lines adds cuts and waste.
    Stairs and trimStair treads and new baseboards add up.

    Hardwood installation price by region

    Lower cost states$1,975 to $5,600. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas.
    Average cost states$2,469 to $7,031. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities.
    Higher cost states$3,200 to $9,100. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC.

    These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Humid areas may need longer acclimation and moisture barriers.

    Solid or engineered: which one your house wants

    Solid hardwood is one piece of wood, nailed to a wood subfloor, and can be sanded many times over its life. Engineered hardwood is a real wood top layer over plywood. It moves less with humidity, can go over concrete, and often installs faster by floating or gluing. The price per square foot can be similar. The install cost often is not, because engineered skips subfloor work on a slab.

    If your house is on a concrete slab or you want wood in a basement, engineered is usually the right choice. If you have a wood subfloor and plan to stay for decades, solid gives you more refinishes.

    Measure the waste

    Installers order extra wood, often 5 to 10 percent for straight lays and more for patterns. A quote with far more square feet than your rooms may include pattern waste. Ask.

    Why this costs more in 2026

    Flooring ships by truck, and finishes and adhesives are petroleum based.

    Fuel went up fast this year. AAA diesel topped $6 a gallon on September 11, 2026 (CBS 8), and building material prices rose 4.8 percent in a year (Roofing Contractor). Get the quote date in writing.

    How to judge the quote in your hand

    Ways to pay less