HomeCostGuideHardwood Flooring Cost
Written and reviewed by the HomeCostGuide editorial team
Quick answer
$8–$14per sq. ft. installed, engineered hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring typically costs $8–$14 per square foot installed, including both materials and labor. Solid hardwood generally costs more than engineered hardwood due to material cost and installation method, though this guide's own sourced figures cover the engineered category specifically. If sound hardwood already exists under old carpet or vinyl, refinishing it is both cheaper and, according to the National Association of Realtors' Remodeling Impact Report, the single highest-returning flooring project at resale — worth checking before budgeting for new material at all.
How this differs from a full flooring installation
This page focuses specifically on hardwood, the highest-return flooring material tracked in this guide's resale data. For vinyl/LVP pricing, see the vinyl plank flooring cost page; for a full breakdown across every material including laminate and tile, see the full flooring installation cost guide.
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What's typically included
Included at this scope
- Engineered hardwood material and installation
- Standard subfloor prep
- Basic trim and transitions
Not included (see the full guide)
- Solid hardwood (generally costs more; not separately broken out in this guide's sourced data)
- Refinishing existing hardwood (see the FAQ below — usually cheaper than new material)
- Extensive subfloor repair or leveling
What affects the price
- Engineered vs. solid hardwood
- Engineered hardwood uses a plywood or composite core with a real wood veneer, generally costing less than solid hardwood while still allowing limited refinishing over its lifespan.
- Plank width and finish
- Wide-plank and hand-scraped or specialty finishes cost more than standard narrow-plank, factory-finished product.
Frequently asked questions
Is refinishing existing hardwood cheaper than installing new?+
Almost always, and it typically returns more at resale too — the National Association of Realtors' Remodeling Impact Report found refinishing existing hardwood recoups roughly 147% of cost, the highest of any flooring project it tracks, versus about 118% for new hardwood.
Why is hardwood pricier than laminate or vinyl per square foot?+
Hardwood costs more in both material (real wood versus a printed laminate or vinyl surface) and installation labor, particularly for nail-down methods rather than the floating-floor installation common with laminate and LVP.
Full guide
Cost ranges on this page are a narrower cut of our full Flooring Installation Cost guide, which covers labor share, regional adjustment, resale value, financing, and sourcing in full. See it for the complete breakdown this page’s figures are drawn from.