Hardwood Floor Installation Cost Calculator

See what hardwood flooring really costs to install — line by line. Pick your wood type, species and install method, and get the material, labor, finishing, underlayment, trim, removal and subfloor costs separately, not just one lump sum.

Hardwood floor installation typically costs $8–$18 per sq ft installed in 2026 for most projects (material + labor). Engineered runs $6–$12; solid mid-grade $8–$18; premium and exotic species reach $12–$25. A 500 sq ft room usually runs $3,000–$6,000 all-in. Prices vary by species, solid vs engineered, install method, finish and region — use the calculator above for your room.

How long is the room? — Feet (e.g. 12)

How long is the room? — Inches (e.g. 0)

How wide is the room? — Feet (e.g. 15)

How wide is the room? — Inches (e.g. 0)

What type of hardwood? — Solid or engineered Solid hardwood Engineered hardwood Which species? — Material price fills in by itself How will it be installed? — Labor price fills in by itself Nail-down — $3.50–$6.50 per sq ft labor Glue-down — $5.50–$9.50 per sq ft labor Floating (click-lock) — $3–$5.50 per sq ft labor Prefinished or site-finished? — Finish price fills in by itself Prefinished (factory) — $0 Unfinished — site sand & finish — $3–$8 per sq ft How will the flooring be laid? — Waste pattern Straight — 10% waste Diagonal — 15% waste Custom — I will enter my own waste % Waste allowance — % (e.g. 10) Material price — $ per sq ft (e.g. 5.00) Labor price — $ per sq ft (e.g. 5.00, leave 0 if none) Site sand & finish — $ per sq ft (e.g. 0, leave 0 if prefinished) Underlayment price — $ per sq ft (e.g. 0.50)

Trim / baseboard length — Linear ft (e.g. 50)

Trim price — $ per linear ft (e.g. 1.20)

Old-floor removal — $ per sq ft (e.g. 0, leave 0 if none) Subfloor prep — Flat $ (e.g. 0, leave 0 if none)

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Project name (e.g. Living room) Save project Saved projects (up to 10, on this device only) Load selected project

How much does hardwood floor installation cost by species?

2026 US national averages. Ranges vary by region, wood grade and installer.

Species	Material per sq ft	Installed per sq ft
Red Oak (solid)	$4–$7	$9–$15
White Oak (solid)	$5–$8	$10–$17
Maple (solid)	$5–$9	$11–$18
Hickory (solid)	$8–$12	$13–$20
Walnut (solid)	$8–$14	$14–$20
Engineered Oak	$3–$8	$6–$13
Engineered Maple	$4–$10	$7–$14

What drives the price?

• Species is the single biggest cost driver. Basic oak runs $4–$7 per sq ft for material; walnut reaches $8–$14. On a 500 sq ft room, choosing walnut over red oak can add $3,000 or more.
• Solid vs engineered: solid material runs $4–$14 per sq ft; engineered $3–$10. Solid lasts longer and can be refinished many times; engineered is more stable in humidity and works over concrete and radiant heat.
• Install method: floating is cheapest ($3–$5.50 labor), nail-down is the standard for solid ($3.50–$6.50), glue-down is the most expensive ($5.50–$9.50) and is used for engineered floors over concrete.
• Prefinished vs site-finished: unfinished wood needs sanding and 2–3 coats of finish on site, typically $3–$8 per sq ft extra. Prefinished boards arrive already finished.
• Subfloor condition: a flat, sound subfloor costs nothing extra. Levelling, patching or repairs are charged as a flat amount — enter it in the subfloor prep field.
• Old-floor removal: typically $1–$3 per sq ft, or 0 if there is no old floor to remove.
• Room shape: straight-lay needs about 10% waste; diagonal or pattern layouts need about 15%.

How each cost line is worked out

First the tool works out the room area. A room of 12 ft by 15 ft is 180 sq ft. Then it adds waste only to the material, because you buy extra boards for cuts, but you do not pay labor for boards that end up as offcuts.

• Net area = length × width, with inches converted as feet + inches ÷ 12.
• Order area = net area × (1 + waste ÷ 100).
• Material cost = order area × material price per sq ft.
• Labor cost = net area × labor price per sq ft.
• Site sand & finish cost = net area × finish price per sq ft.
• Underlayment cost = net area × underlayment price per sq ft.
• Trim cost = trim length in linear ft × trim price per linear ft.
• Removal cost = net area × removal price per sq ft.
• Subfloor prep = the flat amount you entered.
• Total = material + labor + finish + underlayment + trim + removal + subfloor.
• Total per sq ft = total ÷ net area.

Worked example A — the example button

Room 12 ft × 15 ft = 180 sq ft net. Waste 10% gives an order area of 198 sq ft. Solid Red Oak at $5.00 per sq ft is $990.00. Nail-down labor at $5.00 per sq ft on 180 sq ft is $900.00. Prefinished, so site finish is $0. Underlayment at $0.50 per sq ft is $90.00. Trim of 50 linear ft at $1.20 is $60.00. Removal and subfloor prep are both $0. The estimated total is $2,040.00, which is $11.33 per sq ft.

Worked example B — engineered, floating

Room 10 ft × 12 ft = 120 sq ft net, waste 10% gives 132 sq ft to order. Engineered Oak at $5.50 per sq ft is $726.00. Floating labor at $4.00 per sq ft on 120 sq ft is $480.00. Prefinished, so site finish is $0. Underlayment at $0.50 per sq ft is $60.00. Trim of 44 linear ft at $1.00 is $44.00. Removal and subfloor prep are both $0. The estimated total is $1,310.00, which is $10.92 per sq ft.

Worked example C — unfinished, site sand & finish

Room 20 ft × 15 ft = 300 sq ft net, waste 10% gives 330 sq ft to order. Unfinished White Oak at $6.50 per sq ft is $2,145.00. Nail-down labor at $5.00 per sq ft is $1,500.00. Site sand & finish at $5.00 per sq ft is $1,500.00. Underlayment at $0.50 per sq ft is $150.00. Trim of 70 linear ft at $1.20 is $84.00. Removal at $1.50 per sq ft is $450.00. Subfloor prep is $250.00. The estimated total is $6,079.00, which is $20.26 per sq ft.

What this calculator does not do

• It does not give a contractor quote or promise an installer price.
• It does not include tax, delivery, stairs, herringbone or chevron pattern layouts, or furniture moving, unless you add those amounts yourself to the subfloor or a price field.
• It does not collect your name, email or address, and it does not send your estimate anywhere. Saved projects stay on your own device.

Disclaimer: This is an estimate only, not a contractor quote. Prices vary by product, area and installer.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a contractor quote?

No. This is an estimate only, not a contractor quote. Prices vary by product, area and installer. Use the total to plan your budget, then get a written quote from your installer.

How much does hardwood floor installation cost per sq ft?

Most projects run $8–$18 per sq ft installed in 2026 (material + labor). Engineered runs $6–$12, solid mid-grade $8–$18, and premium and exotic species reach $12–$25. Use the calculator above for your room and species.

Solid vs engineered — which costs more to install?

Solid usually costs more. Solid material runs $4–$14 per sq ft versus $3–$10 for engineered, and solid is usually nailed down ($3.50–$6.50 labor) while engineered can float ($3–$5.50). Solid lasts longer and can be refinished more times; engineered handles basements, concrete and radiant heat better.

Why is labor charged on the net area but material on the order area?

Labor is paid for the floor you actually cover, so it uses the net room area. Material must cover cuts and waste too, so it uses the larger order area, which is net area plus waste.

What does site sanding and finishing add?

Unfinished wood needs sanding and 2–3 coats of finish on site, typically $3–$8 per sq ft. Prefinished boards arrive already finished, so that line is $0. Pick "Unfinished — site sand & finish" and the tool adds the typical $5.00 per sq ft; change it if your installer quotes differently.

Does the total include removal and subfloor prep?

Yes, if you enter them. Removal is $ per sq ft (typically $1–$3) and subfloor prep is a flat amount. Leave both 0 if there is no old floor to remove and the subfloor is flat and sound. Stairs, tax, delivery and furniture moving are not included.

Can I save more than one estimate?

Yes. Give the estimate a name and save it. You can save up to 10 projects on this device and load any of them later.

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