Hardwood flooring cost in Topeka, KS
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $4,900 – $11,200
- Per sq ft
- $9.80 – $22.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #247
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Topeka area: $4,900 to $11,200 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 10% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $24.62 an hour in the Topeka area, 15% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Topeka, KS, standard level
$6,800 to $9,350
About $13.50 to $18.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,800 |
| Labor | $2,700 | $3,550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,800 | $9,350 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Topeka, KS
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,950 | $7,050 | 61% |
| Labor | $2,100 | $3,150 | $4,200 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,900 | $8,050 | $11,200 | 100% |
Why Topeka prices look the way they do
Labor is 39% 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 Topeka the blended ratio comes out at 0.84.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Topeka is at 94.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $4,950 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.8: $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 Topeka. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Topeka
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Topeka wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (−4%) and laminate flooring lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,700 – $6,150 | −13% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,550 | −4% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,500 – $22,300 | −4% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Topeka
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.
Who does the work: Topeka 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 Topeka the blend is 0.84.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $24.62 an hour, 15% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.76 and $29.63 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 31.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer 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 Topeka metro, so we used the Kansas statewide median: $22.10 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.21 and $26.05 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $450 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $170. That is a swing of roughly 2.1% to 5.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Topeka has 115,750 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 188th 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% | $22.76 | $24.62 | $29.63 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $20.21 | $22.10 | $26.05 | $27.15 | 0.81 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Topeka against nearby metros and the rest of Kansas
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Kansas City is the priciest of the group at $8,600. Wichita is the cheapest at $8,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KSthis page | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | |
| Kansas City, MO75 miles | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,600 | +7% |
| Wichita, KS125 miles | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | level |
| Lincoln, NE135 miles | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,250 | +2% |
| Joplin, MO150 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | +1% |
| Omaha, NE155 miles | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | +3% |
| Kansas (statewide) | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,300 | +3% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Topeka ranks #247 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Topeka is 3% below the Kansas figure.
Elsewhere in Kansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | 308,570 jobs | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Topeka against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | −2% |
| Tyler, TX | 115,220 jobs | $4,650 – $10,700 | $7,700 | −5% |
| Longview, TX | 118,060 jobs | $4,700 – $10,800 | $7,800 | −4% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | +6% |
Topeka: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Topeka. 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
$4,900 to $7,450
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,800 to $9,350
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,700 to $11,200
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $1,950 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,750 | $3,500 – $4,500 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,900 – $7,450 | $6,800 – $9,350 | $8,700 – $11,200 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,800 – $17,900 | $16,300 – $22,400 | $20,900 – $27,000 |
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Hardwood flooring in Topeka: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Topeka?
For 500 sq ft, expect $4,900 to $11,200 in the Topeka area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,800 to $9,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Topeka?
About $9.80 to $22.50 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 Topeka or Kansas City?
Kansas City is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,600, which is 7% more than Topeka ($8,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Topeka?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $3,150 out of $8,050. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Topeka?
$4,900 to $11,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Topeka?
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 Topeka area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Topeka expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Kansas?
Topeka is 3% below the Kansas statewide estimate ($8,300 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Kansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Topeka?
The BLS median is $24.62 an hour in the Topeka area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.76 to $29.63.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Topeka?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,900 to $7,450 and premium work $8,700 to $11,200. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Topeka
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.