Hardwood flooring cost in Bloomington, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,900 – $13,200
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $26.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #37
- 1 = most expensive
Bloomington homeowners pay roughly $5,900 to $13,200 to install hardwood flooring at 500 sq ft, or $12 to $26.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bloomington is 6% higher. Carpenters earn a median of $36.28 an hour in the Bloomington area, 25% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Bloomington, IL, standard level
$8,100 to $11,000
About $16 to $22 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $4,050 | $5,300 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,100 | $11,000 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Bloomington, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,000 | 51% |
| Labor | $3,100 | $4,650 | $6,200 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,900 | $9,600 | $13,200 | 100% |
Where the Bloomington 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, Bloomington wages are 1.24 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bloomington metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $4,900, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.5) and land at $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 Bloomington. The wage table below marks each row.
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 Bloomington is 1.24 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $36.28 an hour, which is 25% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.00 and $44.69 an hour. BLS counts 170 of them working in the area, 19.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner 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 Bloomington metro, so we used the Illinois statewide median: $33.60 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.98 and $43.79 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($44.69 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $760. At the 25th percentile ($28.00) it shrinks by about $750. The total moves by 7.9% or 7.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 88,110 jobs in the Bloomington area. That makes it the 222nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $28.00 | $36.28 | $44.69 | $29.12 | 1.25 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $24.98 | $33.60 | $43.79 | $27.15 | 1.24 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
How Bloomington compares
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group at $10,500. Lafayette is the cheapest at $8,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, ILthis page | $5,900 – $13,200 | $9,600 | |
| Champaign, IL35 miles | $5,650 – $12,700 | $9,200 | −4% |
| Peoria, IL40 miles | $5,900 – $13,200 | $9,550 | level |
| Springfield, IL65 miles | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +1% |
| Lafayette, IN95 miles | $5,300 – $12,100 | $8,700 | −9% |
| Chicago, IL100 miles | $6,500 – $14,600 | $10,500 | +10% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $6,350 – $14,200 | $10,300 | +7% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Bloomington comes in at #37 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Bloomington is 7% below the Illinois figure.
Other Illinois metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $6,500 – $14,600 | $10,500 | +10% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $5,900 – $13,200 | $9,550 | level |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $5,600 – $12,600 | $9,050 | −5% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $5,650 – $12,700 | $9,200 | −4% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Bloomington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bloomington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,200 | −15% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | −18% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $5,600 – $12,700 | $9,150 | −4% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −15% |
Planning more than one job in Bloomington?
Because every project leans on different trades, Bloomington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, laminate flooring runs +12% and kitchen remodel −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,350 – $7,750 | +12% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,800 – $10,200 | +5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,300 – $31,200 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,000 – $24,900 | +7% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Bloomington
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Bloomington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bloomington 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
$5,900 to $8,850
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$8,100 to $11,000
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$10,300 to $13,200
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,350 – $3,550 | $3,250 – $4,400 | $4,100 – $5,300 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,900 – $8,850 | $8,100 – $11,000 | $10,300 – $13,200 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $14,200 – $21,200 | $19,500 – $26,500 | $24,700 – $31,800 |
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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 $8,100 to $11,000 for Bloomington, IL is attached.
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Hardwood flooring in Bloomington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Bloomington?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,900 to $13,200 in the Bloomington area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,100 to $11,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Bloomington?
About $12 to $26.50 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 Bloomington or Champaign?
Champaign is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $9,200, which is 4% less than Bloomington ($9,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bloomington?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $4,650 out of $9,600. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Bloomington?
$5,900 to $13,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Bloomington?
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 Bloomington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bloomington expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Illinois?
Bloomington is 7% below the Illinois statewide estimate ($10,300 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Bloomington?
The BLS median is $36.28 an hour in the Bloomington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.00 to $44.69.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Bloomington?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,900 to $8,850 and premium work $10,300 to $13,200. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Bloomington
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.