Hardwood flooring cost in Sacramento, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $6,150 – $13,900
- Per sq ft
- $12.50 – $28
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #14
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Sacramento, plan on $6,150 to $13,900 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $12.50 to $28 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 11% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $35.79 an hour in the Sacramento area, 23% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Sacramento, CA, standard level
$8,500 to $11,600
About $17 to $23 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,550 | $6,450 |
| Labor | $3,900 | $5,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,500 | $11,600 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Sacramento, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,150 | $5,500 | $7,900 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,000 | $4,500 | $6,000 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $6,150 | $10,000 | $13,900 | 100% |
Why Sacramento prices look the way they do
Labor is 45% 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 Sacramento the blended ratio comes out at 1.20.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Sacramento metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $5,500, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (106.7) and land at $0 to $0.
How Sacramento compares
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 $9,650 to $10,200 across Sacramento and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CAthis page | $6,150 – $13,900 | $10,000 | |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $6,100 – $13,700 | $9,900 | −1% |
| Vallejo, CA60 miles | $6,100 – $13,800 | $9,950 | −1% |
| Chico, CA70 miles | $6,050 – $13,700 | $9,850 | −1% |
| Napa, CA75 miles | $6,300 – $14,200 | $10,200 | +2% |
| Modesto, CA85 miles | $5,900 – $13,400 | $9,650 | −4% |
| California (statewide) | $6,200 – $14,000 | $10,100 | +1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −10% |
Across 300 US metros, Sacramento comes in at #14 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Sacramento is 1% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $6,150 – $13,900 | $10,100 | level |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $6,850 – $15,300 | $11,100 | +10% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $5,850 – $13,200 | $9,500 | −5% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $6,100 – $13,800 | $9,950 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $6,850 – $15,300 | $11,100 | +11% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $5,700 – $12,900 | $9,300 | −7% |
Cities with a workforce like Sacramento's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sacramento against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,600 | −14% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,700 | −13% |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | −14% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | −14% |
Planning more than one job in Sacramento?
Because every project leans on different trades, Sacramento's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, laminate flooring runs +12% and tile flooring +5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,300 – $7,850 | +12% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,800 – $33,800 | +7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,100 | +8% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Sacramento
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Sacramento
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Sacramento 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
$6,150 to $9,250
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$8,500 to $11,600
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$10,800 to $13,900
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,450 – $3,700 | $3,400 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,550 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $6,150 – $9,250 | $8,500 – $11,600 | $10,800 – $13,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $14,800 – $22,200 | $20,300 – $27,800 | $25,900 – $33,300 |
Sacramento 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 Sacramento is 1.20 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $35.79 an hour, which is 23% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.45 and $40.70 an hour. BLS counts 9,730 of them working in the area, 90.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042, weighted 30%) the local median is $30.75 an hour, which is 13% above the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $23.70 and $40.17 an hour. BLS counts 310 of them working in the area, 2.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($40.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $440. At the 25th percentile ($27.45) it shrinks by about $750. The total moves by 4.4% or 7.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,080,590 jobs in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom area. That makes it the 35th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.69% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $27.45 | $35.79 | $40.70 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $23.70 | $30.75 | $40.17 | $27.15 | 1.13 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.20 | |||||
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 $8,500 to $11,600 for Sacramento, CA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Sacramento, CA: 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 Sacramento: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Sacramento?
For 500 sq ft, expect $6,150 to $13,900 in the Sacramento area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,500 to $11,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Sacramento?
About $12.50 to $28 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 Sacramento or Stockton?
Stockton is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $9,900, which is 1% less than Sacramento ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sacramento?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $4,500 out of $10,000. Materials are 55% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Sacramento?
$6,150 to $13,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Sacramento?
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 Sacramento area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sacramento expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of California?
Sacramento is 1% below the California statewide estimate ($10,100 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Sacramento?
The BLS median is $35.79 an hour in the Sacramento area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.45 to $40.70.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Sacramento?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $6,150 to $9,250 and premium work $10,800 to $13,900. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Sacramento
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.