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How much does it cost to refinish wood floors?

Refinishing hardwood floors costs $1,000 to $2,500 for most jobs in 2026. What changes your price is below.

NerdWallet and Inch Calculator both put refinishing at $3 to $8 per square foot. Inch Calculator says most jobs cost $1,000 to $2,500, about $1,500 on average. A 400 square foot room runs $1,200 to $3,200, and a 1,000 square foot home $3,000 to $8,000.

Refinishing hardwood floors costs $1,000 to $2,500 for most jobs in 2026

Estimate the cost to refinish hardwood floors

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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Low$1,750High
Your estimateUS average
$1,000to$2,500

Middle of the range: $1,750

$0$1,690$3,380
Normal range Middle

What you are paying for

Typical jobUS range for this job.$1,000 to $2,500
Sand and refinishWork.Base price
US averageLocal prices not added yet.US price
Middle of rangeHalfway between low and high.$1,750
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 $1,750$1,000 to $2,500

    How much does it cost to refinish wood floors by size?

    40 sq ft$120 to $320 (NerdWallet).
    100 sq ft$300 to $800.
    400 sq ft$1,200 to $3,200.
    1,000 sq ft$3,000 to $8,000.
    Per square foot$3 to $8.
    Oak, per sq ft$3 to $5.
    Typical job$1,000 to $2,500, average $1,500 (Inch Calculator).

    What pushes a quote up

    SizePriced by square foot.
    DamageDeep scratches need full sanding.
    Stain color changeAdds a step and cost.
    Wood typeHarder woods take longer.
    Dustless sandingCosts more but keeps dust down.

    Hardwood floor refinishing cost by region

    Lower cost states$800 to $2,000. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas.
    Average cost states$1,000 to $2,500. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities.
    Higher cost states$1,300 to $3,200. 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. Big city floor crews charge more per square foot.

    Refinish, recoat or replace?

    If the floor is dull but not deeply scratched, a screen and recoat, a light buff and a fresh top coat, costs much less than full sanding. Deep scratches, gray worn spots and stain changes need a full sand and refinish.

    Refinishing costs a fraction of new flooring. See our hardwood floor installation cost page to compare.

    Plan to move out of the rooms

    Most finishes need a few days to dry before furniture goes back. Oil based finishes take longer and smell stronger than water based ones.

    Why this costs more in 2026

    Finishes and sanding supplies cost more in 2026, and busy crews book out further.

    Every truck trip costs more now. Diesel passed $6 a gallon in September 2026 (CBS 8 reporting AAA), and material costs rose 4.8 percent in a year (Roofing Contractor). Quotes may only hold for a few weeks.

    How to judge the quote in your hand

    Ways to pay less