Hardwood flooring cost in Mobile, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $4,800 – $11,100
- Per sq ft
- $9.60 – $22
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #263
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Mobile, plan on $4,800 to $11,100 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.60 to $22 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $23.34 an hour in the Mobile area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Mobile, AL, standard level
$6,700 to $9,200
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 | $6,700 | $9,200 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Mobile, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,250 | 64% |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,900 | $3,850 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,800 | $7,950 | $11,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Mobile number
Labor is 36% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (70%), floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (30%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Mobile the blended ratio comes out at 0.77.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Mobile metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $5,050, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.1) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Mobile. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Mobile cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 500 sq ft range from $7,850 to $8,250 across Mobile and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, ALthis page | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | |
| Daphne, AL25 miles | $4,750 – $11,000 | $7,850 | −1% |
| Gulfport, MS50 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,200 | +3% |
| Pensacola, FL60 miles | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | +4% |
| Hattiesburg, MS70 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | +2% |
| Slidell, LA105 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | −1% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | level |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Mobile comes in at #263 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Mobile is 0% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $4,850 – $11,200 | $8,000 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $4,750 – $11,000 | $7,900 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $4,750 – $11,000 | $7,850 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Mobile's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Mobile against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naples, FL | 173,880 jobs | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +6% |
| Visalia, CA | 171,140 jobs | $5,850 – $13,200 | $9,550 | +20% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +10% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | +5% |
Mobile: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Mobile wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$4,800 to $7,300
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,700 to $9,200
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,550 to $11,100
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 – $4,450 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,800 – $7,300 | $6,700 – $9,200 | $8,550 – $11,100 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,500 – $17,500 | $16,000 – $22,000 | $20,500 – $26,600 |
Related projects, priced for Mobile
Because every project leans on different trades, Mobile's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −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 | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,200 | −9% |
Mobile labor market for hardwood floor
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Mobile is 0.77 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.34 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.96 and $27.51 an hour. BLS counts 630 of them working in the area, 36.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Mobile metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $18.62 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $16.51 and $23.78 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.51 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $380. At the 25th percentile ($20.96) it shrinks by about $210. The total moves by 4.7% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 172,550 jobs in the Mobile area. That makes it the 135th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $20.96 | $23.34 | $27.51 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $16.51 | $18.62 | $23.78 | $27.15 | 0.69 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.77 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Mobile bid
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.
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 $6,700 to $9,200 for Mobile, AL is attached.
Detailed hardwood flooring report for Mobile, AL, $9
Multi-page report for Mobile, AL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Mobile: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Mobile?
For 500 sq ft, expect $4,800 to $11,100 in the Mobile area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,700 to $9,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Mobile?
About $9.60 to $22 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $11 to $25.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Mobile or Daphne?
Daphne is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $7,850, which is 1% less than Mobile ($7,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Mobile?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $2,900 out of $7,950. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Mobile?
$4,800 to $11,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Mobile?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Mobile area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Mobile expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Alabama?
Mobile is 0% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($7,900 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Mobile?
The BLS median is $23.34 an hour in the Mobile area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.96 to $27.51.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Mobile?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,800 to $7,300 and premium work $8,550 to $11,100. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Mobile
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.