FLOORING
Hardwood Flooring Cost: What You'll Pay in 2026
Estimate hardwood flooring cost per square foot installed — with the free flooring cost calculator.
Hardwood is the most requested flooring upgrade in the country — and the price range confuses everyone. This guide gives you real 2026 numbers by species and install method.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Hardwood flooring installed runs $6–$25 per sq ft in 2026, with most projects landing at $10–$18. Engineered wood is cheaper ($4–$14 material) than solid. A 500 sq ft room runs $5,000–$9,000 installed.
Material vs labor
Solid hardwood material runs $5–$15 per sq ft; engineered runs $3–$10. Labor for nailing or gluing runs $3–$8 per sq ft depending on the pattern. Subfloor prep and moving furniture add more.
- Solid material: $5–$15 per sq ft
- Engineered material: $3–$10 per sq ft
- Install labor: $3–$8 per sq ft
- Typical installed total: $6–$25 per sq ft
What changes the price
Exotic species like Brazilian walnut run $10–$15 per sq ft in material alone. Herringbone or diagonal patterns add 20–30% labor. Unlevel subfloors and stair transitions push the quote up.
Try the flooring cost calculator
Enter the area, material and labor per sq ft to see the total for your project.