Hardwood flooring cost in Houma, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $4,750 – $10,900
- Per sq ft
- $9.55 – $22
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #274
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Houma, plan on $4,750 to $10,900 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.55 to $22 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 13% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $23.18 an hour in the Houma area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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 Houma, LA, standard level
$6,600 to $9,100
About $13 to $18 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,300 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,600 | $9,100 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Houma, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,950 | $3,900 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,750 | $7,850 | $10,900 | 100% |
Why Houma prices look the way they do
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, Houma wages are 0.78 times the national level. Labor makes up about 37% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Houma 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 (85.1) 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 Houma. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Houma?
Because every project leans on different trades, Houma's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −9% and laminate flooring −17%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,600 – $5,900 | −17% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $8,950 | −12% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,900 – $28,700 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,150 – $20,600 | −11% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Houma
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.
Is Houma 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 $7,800 to $8,200 across Houma and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LAthis page | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | |
| New Orleans, LA75 miles | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,950 | +1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA85 miles | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,150 | +4% |
| Lafayette, LA90 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | level |
| Slidell, LA90 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | level |
| Gulfport, MS135 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,200 | +4% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | +1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +15% |
Across 300 US metros, Houma comes in at #274 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Houma is 1% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,950 | +1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,150 | +4% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | level |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −1% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $4,700 – $10,800 | $7,750 | −1% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Houma's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houma against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +7% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | +5% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,550 | +9% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,200 | +4% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Houma
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Houma 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
$4,750 to $7,250
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,600 to $9,100
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,450 to $10,900
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $1,900 – $2,900 | $2,650 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,350 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,750 – $7,250 | $6,600 – $9,100 | $8,450 – $10,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,400 – $17,400 | $15,900 – $21,800 | $20,300 – $26,200 |
Houma labor market for hardwood floor
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 Houma is 0.78 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.18 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $28.31 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 47.9 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 Houma metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $20.32 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.36 and $21.53 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.31 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $460. At the 25th percentile ($21.76) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 5.9% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 83,440 jobs in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux area. That makes it the 230th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $21.76 | $23.18 | $28.31 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $19.36 | $20.32 | $21.53 | $27.15 | 0.75 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
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 $6,600 to $9,100 for Houma, LA is attached.
Detailed hardwood flooring report for Houma, LA, $9
Multi-page report for Houma, LA: 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 Houma: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Houma?
For 500 sq ft, expect $4,750 to $10,900 in the Houma area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,600 to $9,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Houma?
About $9.55 to $22 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 Houma or New Orleans?
New Orleans is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $7,950, which is 1% more than Houma ($7,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houma?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $2,950 out of $7,850. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Houma?
$4,750 to $10,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Houma?
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 Houma area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houma expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Houma is 1% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($7,900 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Houma?
The BLS median is $23.18 an hour in the Houma area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.76 to $28.31.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Houma?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,750 to $7,250 and premium work $8,450 to $10,900. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Houma
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.