Hardwood flooring cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $4,550 – $10,600
- Per sq ft
- $9.15 – $21
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #299
- 1 = most expensive
A hardwood floor in Fort Smith, AR usually costs $4,550 to $10,600 for 500 sq ft. That works out to about $9.15 to $21 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,450 less. Carpenters earn a median of $20.39 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 30% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$6,350 to $8,750
About $12.50 to $17.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $2,300 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,350 | $8,750 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,000 | 65% |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,650 | $3,550 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,550 | $7,550 | $10,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Fort Smith number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 70%, floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) at 30%. Weighted together, Fort Smith wages are 0.71 times the national level. Labor makes up about 35% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fort Smith is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $4,900 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $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 Fort Smith. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Fort Smith
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Fort Smith the blend is 0.71.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $20.39 an hour, 30% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.84 and $23.62 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 25.1 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) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Fort Smith metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median: $19.59 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $15.87 and $23.48 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $290 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $230. That is a swing of roughly 3.0% to 3.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fort Smith has 95,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 210th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $17.84 | $20.39 | $23.62 | $29.12 | 0.70 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $15.87 | $19.59 | $23.48 | $27.15 | 0.72 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.71 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Fort Smith
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fort Smith. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from one room (200 sq ft) to whole house (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$4,550 to $6,950
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,350 to $8,750
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,150 to $10,600
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $1,850 – $2,800 | $2,550 – $3,500 | $3,250 – $4,200 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,550 – $6,950 | $6,350 – $8,750 | $8,150 – $10,600 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,000 – $16,700 | $15,300 – $21,000 | $19,600 – $25,300 |
Fort Smith against nearby metros and the rest of Arkansas
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Joplin is the priciest of the group at $8,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $4,550 – $10,600 | $7,550 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $4,850 – $11,200 | $8,000 | +6% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $4,650 – $10,800 | $7,700 | +2% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | +8% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | +3% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $4,600 – $10,600 | $7,650 | +1% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | +3% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +19% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fort Smith ranks #299 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas figure.
Elsewhere in Arkansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | +3% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $4,850 – $11,200 | $8,000 | +6% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $4,600 – $10,600 | $7,650 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | +5% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $4,700 – $10,900 | $7,800 | +3% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $5,750 – $13,000 | $9,400 | +24% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $6,000 – $13,500 | $9,750 | +29% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fort Smith bid
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.
Solid versus engineered
Solid hardwood is $11-$25 per sq ft installed and engineered hardwood is $9-$20 (HomeGuide).
Planning more than one job in Fort Smith?
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fort Smith wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−11%) and laminate flooring lowest (−20%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,550 – $5,650 | −20% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $1,800 – $8,700 | −15% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,500 – $28,100 | −11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $3,900 – $19,400 | −17% |
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 $6,350 to $8,750 for Fort Smith, AR is attached.
Detailed hardwood flooring report for Fort Smith, AR, $9
The report lays out the hardwood flooring numbers for Fort Smith, AR 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 Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Fort Smith?
For 500 sq ft, expect $4,550 to $10,600 in the Fort Smith area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,350 to $8,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Fort Smith?
About $9.15 to $21 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 Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,000, which is 6% more than Fort Smith ($7,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $2,650 out of $7,550. Materials are 65% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Fort Smith?
$4,550 to $10,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Fort Smith?
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 Fort Smith area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($7,800 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Fort Smith?
The BLS median is $20.39 an hour in the Fort Smith area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.84 to $23.62.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Fort Smith?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,550 to $6,950 and premium work $8,150 to $10,600. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Fort Smith
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.