Hardwood flooring cost in Kahului, HI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $6,750 – $15,200
- Per sq ft
- $13.50 – $30.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +22%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #4
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Kahului area: $6,750 to $15,200 for 500 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 22% higher than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $39.47 an hour in the Kahului area, 36% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Kahului, HI, standard level
$9,250 to $12,600
About $18.50 to $25.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,850 | $6,850 |
| Labor | $4,400 | $5,800 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $9,250 | $12,600 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Kahului, HI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,350 | $5,850 | $8,350 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,400 | $5,100 | $6,800 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $6,750 | $11,000 | $15,200 | 100% |
Where the Kahului price comes from
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, Kahului wages are 1.36 times the national level. Labor makes up about 47% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Kahului is at 111.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $5,850 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 109.4: $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 Kahului. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Kahului 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.
Kahului: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Kahului. 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
$6,750 to $10,100
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$9,250 to $12,600
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$11,800 to $15,200
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,700 – $4,050 | $3,700 – $5,050 | $4,700 – $6,050 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $6,750 – $10,100 | $9,250 – $12,600 | $11,800 – $15,200 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $16,200 – $24,300 | $22,200 – $30,300 | $28,300 – $36,400 |
Who does the work: Kahului trade wages
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 Kahului the blend is 1.36.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $39.47 an hour, 36% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.77 and $48.89 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 94.9 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) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Kahului metro, so we used the Hawaii statewide median: $37.15 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.31 and $41.59 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $850 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $780. That is a swing of roughly 7.2% to 7.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Kahului-Wailuku has 73,750 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 250th 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% | $30.77 | $39.47 | $48.89 | $29.12 | 1.36 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $28.31 | $37.15 | $41.59 | $27.15 | 1.37 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.36 | |||||
Kahului against nearby metros and the rest of Hawaii
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Honolulu is the priciest of the group at $11,500. Santa Cruz is the cheapest at $10,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HIthis page | $6,750 – $15,200 | $11,000 | |
| Honolulu, HI110 miles | $7,100 – $15,900 | $11,500 | +5% |
| Santa Rosa, CA2340 miles | $6,300 – $14,200 | $10,200 | −7% |
| Santa Cruz, CA2350 miles | $6,200 – $14,000 | $10,100 | −8% |
| San Francisco, CA2355 miles | $6,850 – $15,300 | $11,100 | +1% |
| Napa, CA2370 miles | $6,300 – $14,200 | $10,200 | −7% |
| Hawaii (statewide) | $6,850 – $15,300 | $11,100 | +1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −18% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Kahului ranks #4 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Kahului is 1% below the Hawaii figure.
Elsewhere in Hawaii
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $7,100 – $15,900 | $11,500 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kahului against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | −24% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,600 | −21% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −26% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | −28% |
Related projects, priced for Kahului
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Kahului wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, laminate flooring comes out highest (+27%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+16%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,600 – $8,800 | +27% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,500 | +16% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,500 – $36,600 | +16% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,700 – $28,400 | +22% |
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 $9,250 to $12,600 for Kahului, HI is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Kahului, HI: 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 Kahului: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Kahului?
For 500 sq ft, expect $6,750 to $15,200 in the Kahului area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,250 to $12,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Kahului?
About $13.50 to $30.50 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 Kahului or Honolulu?
Honolulu is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $11,500, which is 5% more than Kahului ($11,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kahului?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $5,100 out of $11,000. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Kahului?
$6,750 to $15,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Kahului?
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 Kahului area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kahului expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Hawaii?
Kahului is 1% below the Hawaii statewide estimate ($11,100 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Hawaii; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Kahului?
The BLS median is $39.47 an hour in the Kahului area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.77 to $48.89.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Kahului?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $6,750 to $10,100 and premium work $11,800 to $15,200. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Kahului
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.