Hardwood flooring cost in Boise, ID
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,100 – $11,700
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #170
- 1 = most expensive
Boise homeowners pay roughly $5,100 to $11,700 to install hardwood flooring at 500 sq ft, or $10 to $23.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Boise is 7% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.45 an hour in the Boise area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Boise, ID, standard level
$7,050 to $9,700
About $14 to $19.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $2,900 | $3,750 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,050 | $9,700 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Boise, ID
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,200 | 60% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,350 | $4,450 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,100 | $8,400 | $11,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Boise number
Labor is 40% 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 Boise the blended ratio comes out at 0.89.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boise metro is 96.2 (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 (98.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Boise. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Boise
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boise 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
$5,100 to $7,700
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,050 to $9,700
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,050 to $11,700
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,050 – $3,100 | $2,850 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,650 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,100 – $7,700 | $7,050 – $9,700 | $9,050 – $11,700 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,300 – $18,500 | $17,000 – $23,300 | $21,700 – $28,000 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Boise is 0.89 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.45 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.63 and $30.30 an hour. BLS counts 4,080 of them working in the area, 104.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper 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 Boise metro, so we used the national median: $27.15 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.95 and $35.50 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.30 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $530. At the 25th percentile ($21.63) it shrinks by about $250. The total moves by 6.3% or 3.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 391,790 jobs in the Boise City area. That makes it the 67th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $21.63 | $24.45 | $30.30 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.95 | $27.15 | $35.50 | $27.15 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Boise?
Because every project leans on different trades, Boise's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, laminate flooring runs −5% and bathroom remodel −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,900 – $6,650 | −5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,400 | −8% |
Is Boise 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 $8,150 to $9,300 across Boise and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, IDthis page | $5,100 – $11,700 | $8,400 | |
| Idaho Falls, ID190 miles | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +1% |
| Logan, UT235 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −3% |
| Salt Lake City, UT235 miles | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | +3% |
| Bend, OR250 miles | $5,700 – $13,000 | $9,300 | +11% |
| Ogden, UT255 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −3% |
| Idaho (statewide) | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Boise comes in at #170 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Boise is 1% below the Idaho figure.
Other Idaho metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +1% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $5,250 – $12,000 | $8,600 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Boise's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boise against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | −1% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | −4% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −3% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,050 | +8% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Boise
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).
Materials and labor
Materials are $6-$15 per sq ft and installation labor adds $3-$10 per sq ft.
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 $7,050 to $9,700 for Boise, ID is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Boise, ID: 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 Boise: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Boise?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,100 to $11,700 in the Boise area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,050 to $9,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Boise?
About $10 to $23.50 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 Boise or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,450, which is 1% more than Boise ($8,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boise?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $3,350 out of $8,400. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Boise?
$5,100 to $11,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Boise?
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 Boise area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boise expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Idaho?
Boise is 1% below the Idaho statewide estimate ($8,450 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Idaho; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Boise?
The BLS median is $24.45 an hour in the Boise area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.63 to $30.30.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Boise?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,100 to $7,700 and premium work $9,050 to $11,700. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Boise
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.