Cost to Replace Hardwood Floors in 2025
Key Takeaways
Hardwood floor installation typically costs between $2,500 and $7,000, depending on the species, grade, thickness and cut of the wood.
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personal finance
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July 21, 2025
06:42 PM
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The average cost to replace hardwood floors in your is $6 to $25 per square foot, including labor
However, Hardwood floor installation typically costs between $2,500 and $7,000 in total, according to Angi, a imvement website
In contrast, Your final bill will depend on the square footage of the floor you’re replacing, the type of hardwood flooring you choose, and the species, grade and thickness of the wood
Add-ons during installation can add to the cost, such as if your floor joists are damaged or if your contractor needs to remove existing flooring and furniture (which is quite significant)
On the other hand, On the other hand, Here’s what to know the cost of different types of hardwood flooring, plus whether you can by just refinishing instead of replacing your floors. » MORE: Estimate the cost of your renovationCost per square foot to replace hardwood floorsOn average in the U (which is quite significant). , hardwood flooring costs $6 to $12 per square foot, though non-native wood species or wide planks can drive up the cost to $13 to $25 per square foot
In contrast, These are typical cost ranges for hardwood floor installation by a room’s square footage, in this volatile climate
Furthermore, However, Square footageAverage cost range100$600 to $2,500. 200$1,200 to $5,000. 500$3,000 to $12,500. 1,000$6,000 to $25,000. 2,000$12,000 to $50,000, considering recent developments
However, Hardwood floor cost by wood speciesDifferent species of wood have a variety of lifespans, durability and other helpful features
On the other hand, The right material for your floors depends on your aesthetic preferences and budget
Conversely, Native wood species tend to be more affordable (remarkable data), in today's financial world
Furthermore, Specierage costFeaturesMaple$4 to $15
Highly durable with a very light grain (which is quite significant)
Moreover, Works well for high-traffic areas
On the other hand, The most common wood flooring option
Warm-toned with a long lifespan
Additionally, White oak$5 to $12
However, Harder wood can work indoors or outdoors
Moreover, Color can vary between boards (an important development)
Dense and durable for high-traffic areas, and retains a stain well
Absorbs sound well, in light of current trends
Nevertheless, Similar appearance to white oak, but with more bold graining
Cherry (American or Brazilian)$7 to $13
Softer wood, but more striking appearance and color variation
Better for lower-traffic areas (fascinating analysis)
Additionally, Brazilian walnut$9 to $15
Very durable in high-traffic areas, in today's market environment
At the same time, American walnut is softer and may dent, considering recent developments
Hardwood floor cost by wood gradeIn addition to species, hardwood flooring can be categorized by its grade, which is a standard that refers to the number of imperfections such as knots, streaks and wormholes in the wood
Grade can tell you the appearance and character of the wood, but it doesn’t determine the wood’s hardness or quality, considering recent developments
Nevertheless, “Common Grade” wood comes in three varieties and cost $6 to $18 per square foot:Cabin or #3 Common Grade wood looks rustic, with visible imperfections and a lot of variety in color between boards
However, Character or #2 Common Grade has some imperfections and a more natural look
Natural or #1 Common Grade may have some color variations, but doesn’t look rustic. “ and Select Grade” wood, also called Firsts and Seconds (FAS), costs $8 to $23 per square foot:Carpet installation labor by a fessional typically costs around $50 to $100 per hour, according to imvement website Wyse
Carpet installation takes one to two hours for a single room, and can take four hours or more for several rooms, amid market uncertainty
However, Existing carpet removal costs $1 to $5 per square foot on average
Moreover, Additionally, If flooring needs to be removed as well, that can cost another $1 to $3 per square foot
Subfloor preparation can cost $3 to $10 per square foot
This may be necessary if your existing flooring is old or damaged, considering recent developments
However, Padding or underlayment costs $0
Nevertheless, 75 to $2 per square foot
It can be helpful to preserve the lifespan of your carpet (an important development)
Meanwhile, Custom-cut carpets, including those for stairs, can cost an extra $1 to $2 per square foot
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The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more, in this volatile climate
Moreover, 0NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team (remarkable data), in today's financial world
On the other hand, The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more (an important development)
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Additionally, 0NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team
Nevertheless, The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more
Moreover, 0NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team
The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more
Credit score 580Max loan amount $750,000Check Rateon New American FundingCheck Rateon Upstart Mortgage LLCUpstart Mortgage LLC4
Furthermore, 0NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team
The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more. 0NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team
However, The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more
Credit score 600Max loan amount $250,000Check Rateon Upstart Mortgage LLCCOMPARE MORE LENDERSHardwood floor cost by wood thicknessThese are the most common thicknesses for hardwood flooring, the average cost per square foot before labor and where they work best, in this volatile climate
Thinner boards cost less, but they aren’t as durable and can’t be sanded down and re as many times
Wood thicknesrage cost per square footBest for3/8 inch$3 to $8
Very low-traffic areas. 5/8 inch$4 to $10
Light traffic areas guest rooms. 1/2 inch$4 to $13
Medium-traffic areas bedrooms. 3/4 inch$5 to $16
On the other hand, High-traffic areas hallways (noteworthy indeed)
Nevertheless, Additional hardwood flooring installation costsfessional labor to install hardwood floors costs $3 to $6 per square foot on average
Wider planks may cost less to install, and complex layouts will cost more
Hardwood plank width is typically up to 5 inches, but wider planks can cost more, from $4 (this bears monitoring). 50 to $18 per square foot
However, you’ll need fewer of them to cover your floor
However, Harder woods, such as white oak and Brazilian walnut, are harder to install, and can therefore take longer to replace and increase labor costs
The way the wood is cut can affect the cost of your planks
Plain-sawn planks cost the least and have a wave pattern
Quarter-sawn planks and rift-sawn boards have a straighter grain pattern and cost more
Removing existing flooring will add to your labor cost
If the subfloor is water-damaged, rotted or moldy, expect to pay an additional $1,000 to $3,000 to repair them (remarkable data)
Floor joists cost $40 to $60 per square foot to repair. » MORE: How to increase your ’s valueFrequently asked questionsWhat’s the cost to refinish vs
Replace hardwood floors, in today's market environment
Refinishing your hardwood floors costs $1,100 to $2,700 on average, while replacing your floors typically costs at least double that amount and often much more, given the current landscape
More complex woods and more damaged floors are more expensive to refinish, but the majority of the cost is labor
Hardwood floors can last 100 years when re perly, though keep in mind that engineered wood can only be re once or twice
On the other hand, If your floors are heavily dented or water-damaged, you may need to replace them
Meanwhile, Can I replace my hardwood flooring myself (something worth watching)
In contrast, Hardwood floor installation is complex and challenging
This analysis suggests that ’s to hire a fessional wood floor installer who can tect against moisture, prepare the subfloor and measure correctly in tricky spaces (quite telling)
If you’re very experienced with imvement jects, it might be worth the savings to DIY your floors, but it’s best to start with engineered wood or click-and-lock tiles, which are more forgiving
What’s the cost to refinish vs
Meanwhile, Replace hardwood floors
Refinishing your hardwood floors costs $1,100 to $2,700 on average, while replacing your floors typically costs at least double that amount and often much more, in light of current trends
More complex woods and more damaged floors are more expensive to refinish, but the majority of the cost is labor (something worth watching)
Moreover, Hardwood floors can last 100 years when re perly, though keep in mind that engineered wood can only be re once or twice
If your floors are heavily dented or water-damaged, you may need to replace them (this bears monitoring) (an important development)
Can I replace my hardwood flooring myself, considering recent developments
Furthermore, Hardwood floor installation is complex and challenging
Furthermore, Moreover, It’s to hire a fessional wood floor installer who can tect against moisture, prepare the subfloor and measure correctly in tricky spaces
If you’re very experienced with imvement jects, it might be worth the savings to DIY your floors, but it’s best to start with engineered wood or click-and-lock tiles, which are more forgiving
Can I get financing for a repair or imvement
On the other hand, Your contractor may offer some financing options (either through a partner or a payment plan), but there are other — and maybe better — financing options available
Equity loan or HELOC equity loans or equity lines of credit (HELOC) may have lower interest rates than financing with an installer, as well as future opportunities for refinancing and possible tax benefits, in this volatile climate
Additionally, With a equity loan, you receive a lump-sum payment and then pay it back at a fixed interest rate over an agreed period of time, typically five to 30 years
HELOCs are more akin to a credit card, something you use as needed, in this volatile climate
You’ll usually have 10 years to draw from the line of credit, during which time you only have to pay interest, and after that you pay both the principal and interest
Additionally, HELOC interest rates typically are variable, meaning your monthly payment could rise or fall over time
And with each of these options, you're using your as collateral
Personal loanMany banks, credit unions and online lenders offer personal loans, with amounts typically from $1,000 to $100,000 and with fixed annual percentage rates
Additionally, You receive a lump sum and repay it in equal monthly installments over a set period, typically two to seven years
Furthermore, Un with equity financing, there is no collateral
This means your isn’t at risk if you miss payments, but you’ll still have to pay late fees and the late payments can negatively impact your credit, in light of current trends
Credit cardCredit cards are an option for lower cost repairs or renovations (which is quite significant)
That’s because credit cards typically charge higher interest rates than equity loans, HELOCs and personal loans, in this volatile climate
When used responsibly, credit cards can come with great benefits, such as 0% introductory APR periods that allow you to avoid interest for a set number of months; rewards so you can earn cash back, travel or points; and sign-up bonuses that can give you some extra cash back or rewards for a larger purchase
If you go this route, you’ll want to make sure you pick one of the best credit cards for imvements. » COMPARE: s and cons of equity loans and HELOCsWhich financing option is best for me, in today's financial world
The best financing option for you will depend on how much money you need, when you need the money, what ject you’re doing and how long you need to pay the money back, given the current landscape
If it’s something that’ll add value to your, a HELOC or equity loan may be your best option because the value of your house could increase by more than the amount of the loan
On the flip side, if it’s a less expensive repair, a credit card is bably your best option if you want to pay no interest or earn rewards, in today's market environment
Personal loans can apply to both small and large repairs or renovations, and they may make sense if you don’t have much equity in your
Some imvement contractors offer their own financing options
Before taking this option, shop around and see how their offer compares with other loans, given the current landscape
Regardless of what you choose, make sure you compare interest rates, terms and fees with any financing options you’re considering, in today's market environment
In contrast, This will ensure you get the best deal (quite telling)
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On the other hand, The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more
Furthermore, 0/5NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team (something worth watching), considering recent developments
At the same time, The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more
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