<pHardwood is a long-lasting and complex flooring material that could grow your home’s value. The common value to put in hardwood floors is $3 to $10 according to the square foot for substances and $3 to $8 per step per square foot for labour, totalling $6 to $18 per step with rectangular foot.An unmarried two hundred-square-foot room may cost a little $1,200 to $3,600, while a 2,000-square-foot residence may want to cost $12,000 to $36,000. Wood best affects fee, with excessive-end floors costing as much as $25 in step per square foot.
Below, we summarise the fee to install several impressive hardwood floors, plus this flooring type’s professionals and cons.
Do You Know Hardwood Flooring Cost Factors?
The cost of hardwood flooring is primarily determined by the size of the square pictures. Nevertheless, there are also other factors that contribute to the overall expenses.
- Type of floors: Solid hardwood is conventional, but you could additionally choose engineered hardwood or parquet.
- Tree species: The more durable and less commonplace the wood type, the greater its prices.
- Thickness: Thicker forums can withstand greater refinishing and consequently cost more.
- Grade: High-quality forums price greater than low-grade ones.
- Cut/grain: How the boards are cut from the tree can imply greater or much less hard work and waste.
What is Hardwood Flooring Cost by Types of Hardwood?
Hardwood floor costs vary based on the materials’ rate and the exertions involved in the installation. Traditional strong hardwood flooring consists of timber planks reduced from trees, which can be set up cease-to-prevent. Engineered wood floors, which have an actual timber veneer related to a plywood base, can be barely much less high priced. Parquet flooring uses smaller pieces of real wood to create geometric designs at the side of a herringbone pattern, making it the maximum expensive. Prefabricated, parquet-like tiles are a lower-value possibility that gives the advent of parquet, but they may be less complicated to put in.
Type |
Material Costs |
Installation Costs |
Total Cost per Sq. Ft. |
Solid hardwood |
$2–$20 |
$3–$8 |
$5–$28 |
Engineered wood |
$3–$14 |
$3–$9 |
$6–$23 |
True parquet |
$3–$18 |
$10–$22 |
$13–$40 |
Parquet-style tiles |
$3–$5 |
$7–$10 |
$10–$16 |
Hardwood Flooring Cost by Tree Species
Tree species appreciably affect the cost of traditional hardwood. There are several sorts of timber to select from that adjust in appearance and general performance. Some tree species are extra durable than others or more acceptable to certain forms of climates. Generally, the more difficult and long-lasting the wood is, the more expensive it is.
Species |
Cost per Sq. Ft. |
Bamboo |
$2–$6 |
Brazilian walnut |
$5–$10 |
Cherry |
$4–$7 |
Cypress |
$4–$6 |
Hickory |
$3–$7 |
Mahogany |
$6–$8 |
Maple |
$3–$10 |
Pine |
$2–$4 |
Red oak |
$2–$6 |
Teak |
$9–$13 |
White ash |
$5–$8 |
White oak |
$4–$7 |
Hardwood Flooring Cost by Thickness
Traditionally, hardwood floorboards are 3-quarters of an inch thick. Thinner boards—down to 5-sixteenths of an inch thick—are less extraordinarily priced, but you won’t be able to sand and refinish them as regularly.
Thickness |
Cost per Sq. Ft. |
5/16” |
$2–$5 |
3/4” |
$3–$10 |
7/8” |
$5–$15 |
Different Prices for Hardwood Flooring Grades
Solid hardwood floors come from living trees, so it’s now not as standardized in terrific as manufacturing facility-made ground fabric. Different carriers have precise requirements for grading their merchandise’ high quality; as an example, some grades speak over with grain pattern, texture, or look in place of sturdiness. In giant, hardwood forums of identical species and reduce have 3 levels of nice that decide their fee:
Grade |
Cost per Sq. Ft. |
Low-tier |
$2–$6 |
Mid-tier |
$5–$10 |
High-tier |
$8–$18 |
Hardwood Flooring Cost through Cut and Grain
The way the wood is cut creates its grain pattern, which may play into charge relative to the tree species. Plain-sawn or flat-sawn planks are lessen parallel to the tree’s growth rings to create a wave or flame-like grain pattern. Quarter-sawn planks, alternatively, are reduced at a 60–ninety-degree angle from growth rings for a straighter grain sample. Flat-sawn boards are not unusual and, therefore, much less highly-priced; at the same time, sector-sawn forums are pricier but wear more flippantly. The rarest and maximum highly-priced are rift-sawn boards that have the most linear grain pattern but create the most waste.
To estimate how lots your floors will charge, use the equation below, as illustrated in our Complete Guide to Hardwood Flooring article.
How to Calculate the Cost of Hardwood Flooring
How to Calculate the Cost of Hardwood Flooring:
- Measure the room to determine the total square footage.
- Choose the type of wood you want to use. The type of wood affects the cost of flooring. Find out how much this wood costs per square meter.
- Estimate additional costs if necessary.
- To calculate an estimate for installing hardwood floors in your home, use the average numbers from this guide, multiply them by the total square footage, and then add any additional costs.
Beyond the timber kind, here are a few elements that make a contribution to the full price of hardwood flooring installation:
- Alternative flooring options
- Floor joist maintenance
- Finish and coating
- Installation and exertions
- Repair, substitute, and refinishing
Alternative Flooring Options
If you adore the look of solid wooden floors however traditional or engineered hardwood is beyond your budget, there are alternative floors options that mimic the arrival of timber. Vinyl or laminate floors and porcelain tiles can be synthetic to look like wooden for a fraction of the fee. Alternative actual timber alternatives, together with floating flooring and click-and-lock paneling, let you store money on installation.
Floor Joist Repairs
When you update your existing floors, you can find out that the subfloor or joists have mold, insect, or water damage. In this situation, you’ll need to have the joists repaired for an average value of $2,000–$five,000 before any work can be completed.
Finishing and Coating
When putting in new hardwood floors, you have got two choices: boards that have been prefinished at the manufacturing facility or unfinished forums which are completed with sealant following installation. Unfinished forums are much less high priced however include better labor expenses, since the finishing need to be accomplished on-website. Additionally, unique sorts of finish have exceptional expenses, with polyurethane at the low end and penetrating resin end on the excessive stop.
Installation and Labor
Hard and distinguished woods have better material and installation expenses, while softwoods like pine are less complicated to work with and inexpensive to install. Parquet and small timber tiles with complicated styles are pricier to install, as is floors in rooms with unusual layouts or staircases.
Repair, Replacement, or Refinishing
Hardwood flooring can be high priced to put in, however you may easily refinish it. A expert sanding and ground refinishing undertaking expenses $3–$8 in line with square foot and will take away dents, dings, or even gouges. You may additionally even refinish your flooring yourself. Replacing individual boards will value greater, however it’ll still be just a fraction of the general value of having new floors set up.
Free quote: Get Estimates from Flooring Experts in London, Ontario.
What are Types of Hardwood Flooring?
One of the most vital selections you’ll make whilst putting in new hardwood flooring is deciding on the timber kind.
Here are some of the maximum common wood flooring sorts and their developments:
- Maple: Light coloring, medium density, right for high-visitor areas
- Pine: Low price, very tender, at risk of dents, hard to refinish
- Bamboo: Durable, shows few scratches, termite-resistant
- White ash: Light shade, bold grain, medium density
- Hickory: High density and hardness, variable in shade
- Red oak: Consistent shade and end, excessive sturdiness, medium fee
- White oak: More water-resistant than crimson oak, lighter shade
- Brazilian walnut: Rich color, high sturdiness
- Cypress: Moderate durability, termite-resistant
- Cherry: Rich shade, soft, pleasant for bedrooms and occasional-site visitors areas
- Teak: High fee, very hard, scratch-resistant
- Mahogany: Dark color, ages well, medium fee
Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring
Below, we define the blessings and downsides of installing this kind of flooring.
Pros of Hardwood Flooring
Durability and value are among the pinnacle benefits of hardwood floors. Some other execs include the subsequent:
- Long-lasting with a 50- to one hundred-12 months lifespan
- Good for growing resale fee
- Easy to restore and refinish
- Relatively low-preservation
- Versatile in appearance
- Less allergenic than carpeting
Cons of Hardwood Flooring
There are numerous cons to recall before installing hardwood flooring:
- Expensive to put in
- Prone to scratches and gouges
- Susceptible to humidity and moisture harm
- Noisy while walked on, as they faucet and creak
- Difficult for humans and pets with mobility troubles
DIY vs. Professional Hardwood Flooring Cost
Installation and hard work are the most pricey factors of putting in hardwood floors. To reduce charges, house owners can be tempted to take at the venture themselves. There are a few kinds of wooden flooring, like click-on-and-lock wood tiles and floating flooring, that skilled do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) can install themselves. But when it comes to standard hardwood plank flooring, the job is satisfactorily left to the professionals.
Flooring contractors don’t always have to be certified. However, it takes sufficient schooling and revels to properly account for variables consisting of changing temperatures, humidity, and moisture protection. Improperly established timber floors are vulnerable to cracking, bowing, and warping over the years, so in case you’re investing in hardwood floors, we strongly recommend you’ve got them professionally hooked up.
Free quote: Get your hardwood floors quote from pros close to you nowadays
How To Save on Hardwood Flooring Costs
Prioritize Savings Over Appearance
Consider Engineered Wood
Refinish Old Flooring
How To Install Hardwood Floors
Installing hardwood floors is a complex manner; however, here are the primary steps. You can learn more in our complete manual for hardwood ground installation.
1. Let the floor cloth acclimate to the house’s temperature and humidity. Check for warps or different harm to the material.
2. Remove the old flooring and easily put together the subfloor.
3. Lay and install the boards while magnificent the gaps, leaving room for expansion and using forums from special boxes.
4. Cut any extra underlayment, then sand and stain the forums.
5. Add thresholds.
How To Hire a Professional
When choosing a floor contractor, here are some matters to keep in thoughts:
- Make sure the enterprise is certified, bonded, and insured.
- Find out which contractor or sub-contractor will carry out the paintings.
- Ask for references from past customers and examine samples of the employer’s previous paintings.
- Read consumer reviews on sites including Yelp, TrustPilot, and Google Reviews.
- Check the corporation’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and accreditation reputation.
- Get every estimate and guarantee in writing.
- Examine at least 3 businesses before making your choice.
Free quote: Get your hardwood flooring quote from pros close to you nowadays.
Hardwood flooring fees are sizeable, and no floor fabric is ideal. Still, hardwood floors have plenty of blessings, including a high go-back on investment. You additionally have extra alternatives than simply putting in wide planks in the traditional manner. Take some time to discover your timber floor alternatives and how they healthy into your finances to determine whether hardwood floors are the proper preference for your private home.
Questions to ask your hardwood flooring installer
The average cost to put hardwood floors in a 1,500-square-foot home ranges from $9,000–$27,000, depending on the type of wood flooring.
The cost of putting in hardwood floors in a 12-by-12-foot room ranges from $864–$2,592, depending on wood type.
The national average cost of hardwood flooring is between $6 and $18 per square foot.
- What wood species do you recommend and why?
- What installation method do you prefer?
- What thickness of wood plank is included in your estimate?
- What grade of wood is included in your estimate?
- How much do you charge to lay the floor in a herringbone pattern?
- What steps will you take to protect the rest of my home during installation?
- Does your estimate include removing and disposing of my old flooring?
- How much do you charge to move the furniture?
- What additional costs can I expect?
- Do you offer a warranty policy, and if so, what does it cover?
- Is your company licensed, bonded, and insured?
- Can you provide a list of references from your past projects?
- What financing is available?