Hardwood flooring cost in Dubuque, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,300 – $12,000
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $24
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #122
- 1 = most expensive
Dubuque homeowners pay roughly $5,300 to $12,000 to install hardwood flooring at 500 sq ft, or $10.50 to $24 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dubuque is 4% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
Estimate your hardwood flooring cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Dubuque, IA, standard level
$7,300 to $9,950
About $14.50 to $20 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $3,200 | $4,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,300 | $9,950 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Dubuque, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,450 | $3,700 | $4,950 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,300 | $8,600 | $12,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Dubuque number
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, Dubuque wages are 0.99 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dubuque metro is 93.7 (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 (87.3) 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 Dubuque. The wage table below marks each row.
How Dubuque compares
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Cedar Rapids is the priciest of the group at $8,650. Iowa City is the cheapest at $8,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IAthis page | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,600 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA45 miles | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | +1% |
| Iowa City, IA75 miles | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Davenport, IA75 miles | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | level |
| Madison, WI80 miles | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | level |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | −2% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | −1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Dubuque comes in at #122 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Dubuque is 1% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $5,400 – $12,300 | $8,850 | +3% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | +1% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | −2% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Dubuque's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dubuque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 58,650 jobs | $5,500 – $12,500 | $8,950 | +4% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $4,600 – $10,700 | $7,650 | −11% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,100 | +6% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −6% |
What nearby projects cost in Dubuque
Because every project leans on different trades, Dubuque's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, laminate flooring runs −4% and kitchen remodel −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,950 – $6,750 | −4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,500 | −4% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,100 | −5% |
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 Dubuque is 0.99 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $28.89 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.41 and $30.47 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 44.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about 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 Dubuque metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $26.42 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $15.32 and $31.73 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $140. At the 25th percentile ($23.41) it shrinks by about $490. The total moves by 1.7% or 5.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,470 jobs in the Dubuque area. That makes it the 292nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $23.41 | $28.89 | $30.47 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $15.32 | $26.42 | $31.73 | $27.15 | 0.97 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Dubuque
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dubuque 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
$5,300 to $7,950
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,300 to $9,950
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,300 to $12,000
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,000 | $3,700 – $4,800 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,300 – $7,950 | $7,300 – $9,950 | $9,300 – $12,000 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,700 – $19,100 | $17,500 – $23,900 | $22,300 – $28,700 |
Why two Dubuque 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.
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 $7,300 to $9,950 for Dubuque, IA is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Dubuque, IA: 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 Dubuque: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Dubuque?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,300 to $12,000 in the Dubuque area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,300 to $9,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Dubuque?
About $10.50 to $24 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 Dubuque or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,650, which is 1% more than Dubuque ($8,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dubuque?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $3,700 out of $8,600. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Dubuque?
$5,300 to $12,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Dubuque?
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 Dubuque area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dubuque expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Iowa?
Dubuque is 1% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($8,500 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Dubuque?
The BLS median is $28.89 an hour in the Dubuque area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.41 to $30.47.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Dubuque?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,300 to $7,950 and premium work $9,300 to $12,000. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Dubuque
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.