Hardwood flooring cost in Alabama
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $4,800 – $11,000
- Per sq ft
- $9.60 – $22
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 9
Alabama prices for hardwood floor: $4,800 to $11,000 for 500 sq ft, or $9.60 to $22 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 12% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $23.18 an hour.
Inside Alabama, the metros we cover range from $7,700 (Dothan) to $8,050 (Decatur) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your hardwood flooring cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Alabama (statewide), standard level
$6,650 to $9,150
About $13.50 to $18.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,950 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,650 | $9,150 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Alabama
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,250 | 64% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,850 | $3,800 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,800 | $7,900 | $11,000 | 100% |
Alabama versus the states around it
Alabama ranks 49 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for hardwood floor, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $11,100 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $7,700, both for 500 sq ft at the midpoint. Alabama sits at $7,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 170 miles away | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | +4% |
| Mississippi | 180 miles away | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | +3% |
| Tennessee | 190 miles away | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | +4% |
| Louisiana | 310 miles away | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | level |
| South Carolina | 350 miles away | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | +4% |
Why two Alabama quotes can differ
Solid versus engineered
Solid hardwood is $11-$25 per sq ft installed and engineered hardwood is $9-$20 (HomeGuide).
Materials and labor
Materials are $6-$15 per sq ft and installation labor adds $3-$10 per sq ft.
Layout
Room shape, stairs and installation method change the labor side.
Permit
Flooring rarely needs a permit, so no permit fee is included in this estimate.
Basic, standard or premium: Alabama prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from one room (200 sq ft) to whole house (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$4,800 to $7,300
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,650 to $9,150
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,550 to $11,000
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $1,900 – $2,900 | $2,650 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,400 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,800 – $7,300 | $6,650 – $9,150 | $8,550 – $11,000 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,500 – $17,500 | $16,000 – $22,000 | $20,500 – $26,500 |
Hardwood flooring cost by metro in Alabama
2 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $7,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 5%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (500 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | +2% |
| Birmingham, AL | $4,850 – $11,200 | $8,000 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | level |
| Mobile, AL | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | level |
| Auburn, AL | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | $4,750 – $11,000 | $7,900 | level |
| Daphne, AL | $4,750 – $11,000 | $7,850 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL | $4,650 – $10,700 | $7,700 | −3% |
Other Alabama jobs that often go with hardwood floor
Each project weights the trades differently, so Alabama's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, kitchen remodel is −6% and laminate flooring −18%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,600 – $5,800 | −18% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,400 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Alabama
Alabama's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.76 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $23.18 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.43 and $27.11 an hour. About 5,560 work in the state. That is 26.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042), 30% of the weighting: a median of $18.62 an hour, 31% below the US median of $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $16.51 and $23.78 an hour. About 150 work in the state. That is 0.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 1.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($27.11 an hour) would add about $350 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.43) would take off about $340. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,113,660 jobs across Alabama (May 2025), which is 1.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $19.43 | $23.18 | $27.11 | $29.12 | 0.80 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $16.51 | $18.62 | $23.78 | $27.15 | 0.69 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $6,650 to $9,150 for Alabama is attached.
Detailed hardwood flooring report for Alabama, $9
The report lays out the hardwood flooring numbers for Alabama line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Hardwood flooring in Alabama: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Alabama?
$4,800 to $11,000 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Alabama can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Alabama is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Dothan at about $7,700 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Decatur at $8,050.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Alabama than the US average?
It is 12% cheaper: $7,900 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Alabama?
About 36% ($2,850). Materials are 64%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.76x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Alabama?
The BLS statewide median is $23.18 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.43 to $27.11.
+Where does Alabama rank for hardwood floor costs?
49th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $7,900 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Alabama?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,800 to $7,300 and premium work $8,550 to $11,000. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Alabama
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.