Hardwood flooring cost in Hawaii
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $6,850 – $15,300
- Per sq ft
- $13.50 – $30.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +23%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 2
Hawaii prices for hardwood floor: $6,850 to $15,300 for 500 sq ft, or $13.50 to $30.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 23% above the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $41.00 an hour.
Inside Hawaii, the metros we cover range from $11,000 (Kahului) to $11,500 (Honolulu) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Hawaii (statewide), standard level
$9,400 to $12,800
About $19 to $25.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,850 | $6,850 |
| Labor | $4,550 | $5,950 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $9,400 | $12,800 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Hawaii
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,350 | $5,850 | $8,350 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,500 | $5,250 | $7,000 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $6,850 | $11,100 | $15,300 | 100% |
Hawaii labor market for hardwood floor
Hawaii'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 1.40 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $41.00 an hour, 41% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $31.91 and $53.36 an hour. About 4,810 work in the state. That is 76.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042), 30% of the weighting: a median of $37.15 an hour, 37% above the US median of $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $28.31 and $41.59 an hour. About 210 work in the state. That is 3.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 1.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($53.36 an hour) would add about $1,100 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($31.91) would take off about $820. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 627,530 jobs across Hawaii (May 2025), which is 0.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $31.91 | $41.00 | $53.36 | $29.12 | 1.41 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $28.31 | $37.15 | $41.59 | $27.15 | 1.37 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.40 | |||||
How Hawaii compares with nearby states
Hawaii ranks 1 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. Hawaii sits at $11,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2530 miles away | $6,200 – $14,000 | $10,100 | −9% |
| Oregon | 2590 miles away | $5,700 – $13,000 | $9,400 | −15% |
| Washington | 2710 miles away | $6,050 – $13,600 | $9,850 | −11% |
| Nevada | 2730 miles away | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −20% |
| Alaska | 2850 miles away | $6,550 – $14,700 | $10,600 | −4% |
Other Hawaii jobs that often go with hardwood floor
Each project weights the trades differently, so Hawaii's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, laminate flooring is +28% and kitchen remodel +18%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,650 – $8,900 | +28% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,350 – $12,200 | +25% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,800 – $37,100 | +18% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,950 – $29,600 | +27% |
Which Hawaii city is cheapest for hardwood floor?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $11,100, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $7,100 – $15,900 | $11,500 | +4% |
| Kahului, HI | $6,750 – $15,200 | $11,000 | −1% |
Why two Hawaii 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: Hawaii 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
$6,850 to $10,200
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$9,400 to $12,800
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$11,900 to $15,300
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,750 – $4,100 | $3,750 – $5,100 | $4,800 – $6,150 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $6,850 – $10,200 | $9,400 – $12,800 | $11,900 – $15,300 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $16,400 – $24,600 | $22,500 – $30,700 | $28,700 – $36,800 |
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Hardwood flooring in Hawaii: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Hawaii?
$6,850 to $15,300 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Hawaii can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Hawaii is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Kahului at about $11,000 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Honolulu at $11,500.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Hawaii than the US average?
It is 23% more expensive: $11,100 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Hawaii?
About 47% ($5,250). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.40x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Hawaii?
The BLS statewide median is $41.00 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $31.91 to $53.36.
+Where does Hawaii rank for hardwood floor costs?
1st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $11,100 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Hawaii?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $6,850 to $10,200 and premium work $11,900 to $15,300. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Hawaii
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.