Hardwood Flooring Cost

Looking for accurate cost information related to hardwood flooring?

Perfect, you’re in the right spot. In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why you should choose hardwood flooring
• What the average installation cost is for hardwood flooring
• What the cost of various hardwood flooring types and styles are
• How you can save money with hardwood floors
• and much more!

If you're considering having hardwoods installed in your home, there's more to think about than the cost. You'll want to get quotes from various companies and installers, spend time reviewing the different styles you can choose from, and prepare to see magic unfold with the finished product.

There are a lot of perks that come with installing hardwood flooring, and as you review your flooring options you'll find that there are a lot of things to enjoy as homeowners that come with replacing your existing floor with your preferred type of hardwoods.

The hardest part is choosing the type of wood you want and checking with flooring installers to get on their schedule so you can enjoy the final masterpiece. Here's what you need to know.

Why Choose Hardwood Flooring?

Installing hardwood floors is a bold way to make a statement. Not only are you able to get rid of old flooring that may look worn, but you can replace your old floors with high-end solid hardwood that gives your home a classic, timeless look.

Hardwoods have a way of fitting any style and decoration, and they act as the foundation that pulls the elegancy of a room together. They're also easy to keep clean and give your home a natural look.

What Is The Average Cost Of Hardwood Flooring Installation?

Most installers will combine the pricing of installation with the cost of wood. You can typically get pricing on both the square footage and labor for installation between $4 and $12 combined. Flooring itself usually ranges from $3 to $7 per square foot with an additional $3 to $5 for installing the flooring. The average pricing may change with exotic woods and if your installer needs to also provide underlayment before putting the new hardwood floor down.

Per Square Foot

Most hardwood flooring ranges between $3 and 7 per sq. ft depending on the type and quality of the wood. More rare hardwoods can be more expensive when it comes to the total cost.

Average Labor Costs

Depending on how much flooring you need installed, most installers will provide labor for $3 to $5. You may find that large, commercial retailers will provide you a deal on labor if you use them for both purchasing your flooring and installation.

What Is The Cost Of Hardwood Flooring By Type of Material?

Depending on the type of flooring you're looking for, the price will vary. Pricing for the cost of hardwood floors varies based on the square foot, type of material, and labor costs. You can get a quote for it all combined through various flooring installers.

Maple

Unstained maple flooring can cost between $6 to $8 while stained maple flooring can average between $8 and $14 per sq ft.

Pine

Pine is considered a softwood and typically runs on a lower pricing scale compared to other hardwood floor options. You can usually purchase it for $1 to $6 per square foot. Most pine flooring runs closer to $1.50 to $2.00 sq. ft.

Bamboo

Bamboo flooring is made from mature bamboo poles or culms. These culms are then sliced into strips and crosscut to the length desired. Your average cost for it ranges between $2.75 to $3.50, but higher quality bamboo can run as high as $5 to $7 per square foot.

White Ash

A gorgeous choice of white ash runs between $6 and $8. However, if you're looking for a little DIY project with staining and sealing, you can purchase white ash flooring for around $4 unfinished.

Hickory

When it comes to flooring material, hickory wood has a larger range of pricing compared to most hardwoods. Depending on the quality, thickness, and durability you can purchase it for anywhere from $5 to $15.

Red Oak

Compared to its pricier sister oak option, you can expect to pay between $2 to $6 per square foot for red oak flooring. Compared to other wood options, red oak is considered more of a traditional hardwood and ranks high on the Janka hardness scale, serving as a median measurement for other hardwoods.

White Oak

Flooring costs for white oak average around $5 to $8 per square foot. Unfinished white oak can be found for roughly $3.50, which isn't a large difference from the cost of most finished white oak flooring.

Brazilian Walnut

Running in deep, rich colors, Brazilian walnut flooring is a more unique option when compared to laminate or natural stone. It's incredibly durable and you may need to refinish it every few years to keep up the maintenance. However, it is considered both an engineered wood and exotic wood, meaning that it averages higher pricing compared to other hardwoods.

You can find that each plank averages $9 on the lowest scale for solid wood and $5-6 per plank for engineered wood. For top of the line Brazilian walnut flooring, you can expect to pay around $15.50 per square foot and sometimes higher.

What Is The Cost Of Hardwood Flooring By Style?

Picking the type of flooring material you want usually covers a major part of how much your floors cost on top of labor costs, but many installers and retailers will also charge you based on hardwood flooring style.

Wood Look Tile

Pricing for wood look tile fluctuates depending on quality, durability, and type. Higher quality can range between $6.00 to $12.00, but on average you can find durable and good looking wood look tile between $0.89 to around $2.80

Wide Plank

The average cost of hardwood wide planks range around $3.95 at a minimum and $12.83 at a maximum. Homeowners often seek this type of flooring out for its reminiscent ways of bringing back the old days. Hardwood wide plank easily captures the essence of old-style homes.

Herringbone Pattern

Popular for its zig zag looking designs, herringbone is a beloved hardwood flooring pattern. Depending on your local climate vs the subfloor, you may need to discuss with your local contractor whether solid wood or engineered wood is the best option to use with the herringbone pattern.

Many companies will add around $2 to $4 to your installation costs for this specific pattern since it is so defined and unique. One Californian resident noted that her contractor advised many installers will increase pricing by 30% for the pattern. The great thing about herringbone is that you can still get to choose your option of hardwoods, including teak or tigerwood.

Parquet

Installing a parquet style for your flooring will typically start at a base rate of $3.50. The style uses geometric shapes such as squares and triangles to craft unique patterns for your top layer of flooring. This can be a distinctive choice for homeowners wanting to have a design like no other.

How Much Does Prefinished Hardwood Cost?

The average national cost of prefinished hardwood installation is $5 to $8 per square foot. You can save money by using softwoods like pine, but you'll be trading durability for lower pricing.

How Much Does Engineered Wood Flooring Cost?

Basic engineered wood costs an average of $3 to $9 per square foot while mid-grade and higher quality engineered wood ranges between $6 and $12 per square foot.

Hardwood Flooring Pros and Cons

The advantages that come with hardwood flooring greatly outweigh the disadvantages. The most noticeable remark you'll think of when it comes to installing wood flooring is that it can be costly but it can also be cost-efficient.

Here's what you need to know when it comes to weighing the positives with the negatives if you're considering wood floors:

Pros

• Easy to match various interior designs
• You have a surplus of styles to choose from
• Hardwood flooring is easy to clean and maintain
• New flooring typically comes with an installation warranty
• Retains less bacteria and is less porous compared to options like natural stone. This can drastically improve the air quality of your home, as flooring options like laminate can assist bacteria in lingering which can lead to mold and airborne illnesses.
• Hardwood floors are seen as a high-quality investment because they're made to last long term. They can increase your home's value should you ever put it on the market and are considered a home improvement.
• Color in hardwoods doesn't fade compared to options like carpet

Cons

• May need refinishing every few years
• Hardwoods are not water friendly and can warp if moisture gets trapped beneath the top layer and settles
• Noticeable scratches will appear after time from wear and tear
• The upfront cost of hardwoods can cost more than other flooring options, but the long-term cost is your trade-off.

What Additional Costs Are Added to Installing Hardwood Flooring?

For irregular shapes, such as areas around vents, the cost of installation may be higher than your average pricing. However, this cost will be included with the total installation fee.

Additionally, if you're replacing old floors, you may have extra costs to remove the current carpet or any subfloor that needs replacing.

The need for subfloor replacement is most commonly found in older homes where the previous owners may not have taken care of the home's flooring. Most contractors will charge for the removal of the old floors and the disposal of it.

Should you purchase new baseboards, require any type of sanding during your hardwood floor installation, or desire any special pattern, your total cost may vary from the average expenses.

Below is a great video to show you the process for installing wooden subfloor in a basement!

How To Save Money On Hardwood Flooring Installation Costs?

If you're concerned about the overall cost when it comes to installing your hardwood floors, there are a few ways to save money that don't require you to DIY. One major way to save on hardwood installation is by buying your flooring from the installer. Most retailers will cut you a deal if you use them for the purchase of your flooring and installation.

You can also save big by working in sections. Should you have the time and not mind the difference in flooring for a temporary period of time, installing hardwoods by zones can help you prevent spending a large amount of money upfront and assist in splitting the payments.

Additionally, if you can remove and dispose of your old flooring yourself then you can cut out the contractor's fee. It won't save you loads of money, but it will save you a few pennies here and there.

If you need more advice when it comes to hardwood floors, subfloors, or have any kind of installation questions, don't hesitate to ask. We're more than happy to assist you in all of your hardwood flooring installation needs.