Hardwood flooring cost in Monroe, 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
- #271
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Monroe, 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 $23.27 an hour in the Monroe area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Monroe, 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 | $3,350 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,600 | $9,100 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Monroe, 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% |
Where the Monroe 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, Monroe 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 Monroe 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 (83.6) 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 Monroe. The wage table below marks each row.
Monroe against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
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 $7,650 to $8,150 across Monroe and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LAthis page | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $4,700 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −1% |
| Shreveport, LA100 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −1% |
| Jackson, MS115 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | +4% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $4,600 – $10,600 | $7,650 | −3% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −1% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | +1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +15% |
Across 300 US metros, Monroe comes in at #271 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Monroe 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 | −1% |
| 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 Monroe's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Monroe against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $5,900 – $13,200 | $9,600 | +22% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | +4% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,200 | +4% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $4,750 – $11,000 | $7,850 | level |
Why two Monroe quotes can differ
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.
Planning more than one job in Monroe?
Because every project leans on different trades, Monroe'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 | $1,950 – $8,950 | −12% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,900 – $28,700 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,150 – $20,500 | −12% |
Cost by quality level and size in Monroe
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Monroe 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
$8,500 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 – $4,400 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,750 – $7,250 | $6,600 – $9,100 | $8,500 – $10,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,400 – $17,400 | $15,900 – $21,800 | $20,300 – $26,300 |
Monroe 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 Monroe is 0.78 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.27 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.57 and $26.63 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 41.1 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 Monroe 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 ($26.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $300. At the 25th percentile ($18.57) it shrinks by about $420. The total moves by 3.9% or 5.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 87,500 jobs in the Monroe area. That makes it the 223rd 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% | $18.57 | $23.27 | $26.63 | $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 | |||||
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Hardwood flooring in Monroe: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Monroe?
For 500 sq ft, expect $4,750 to $10,900 in the Monroe 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 Monroe?
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 Monroe or Alexandria?
Alexandria is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $7,800, which is 1% less than Monroe ($7,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Monroe?
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 Monroe?
$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 Monroe?
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 Monroe area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Monroe expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Monroe 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 Monroe?
The BLS median is $23.27 an hour in the Monroe area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.57 to $26.63.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Monroe?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,750 to $7,250 and premium work $8,500 to $10,900. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Monroe
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.