Hardwood flooring cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,500 – $12,400
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $25
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #81
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Portland area: $5,500 to $12,400 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 lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.2).
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 Portland, ME, standard level
$7,550 to $10,300
About $15 to $20.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,250 | $6,000 |
| Labor | $3,350 | $4,350 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,550 | $10,300 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,100 | $7,300 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,850 | $5,150 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,500 | $8,950 | $12,400 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.91 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Portland is 1.03 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Portland is at 97.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.9: $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Portland
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Portland. 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
$5,500 to $8,250
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,550 to $10,300
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,650 to $12,400
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,300 | $3,050 – $4,150 | $3,850 – $4,950 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,500 – $8,250 | $7,550 – $10,300 | $9,650 – $12,400 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $13,200 – $19,800 | $18,200 – $24,800 | $23,200 – $29,800 |
Planning more than one job in Portland?
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Portland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (+8%) and laminate flooring lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $6,900 | −1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,500 | +8% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +5% |
Why two Portland quotes can differ
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.
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Portland. Providence is the lowest at about $8,900 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 140 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $5,500 – $12,400 | $8,950 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −1% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $6,450 – $14,400 | $10,400 | +17% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $5,950 – $13,400 | $9,650 | +8% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $6,000 – $13,500 | $9,750 | +9% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −1% |
| Maine (statewide) | $5,400 – $12,300 | $8,850 | −1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Portland ranks #81 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Portland is 1% above the Maine figure.
Elsewhere in Maine
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $5,250 – $12,000 | $8,650 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $6,100 – $13,700 | $9,900 | +11% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | −7% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $5,550 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +1% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −1% |
Who does the work: Portland 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 Portland the blend is 1.03.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $30.91 an hour, 6% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.45 and $35.95 an hour. About 2,230 work in the metro. That is 77.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042), 30% of the weighting: a median of $25.80 an hour, 5% below the US median of $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $25.40 and $26.73 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 2.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 1.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
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 $220. That is a swing of roughly 2.5% to 5.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Portland-South Portland has 288,480 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 89th 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% | $28.45 | $30.91 | $35.95 | $29.12 | 1.06 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $25.40 | $25.80 | $26.73 | $27.15 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
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 $7,550 to $10,300 for Portland, ME is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Portland, ME: 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 Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Portland?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,500 to $12,400 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,550 to $10,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Portland?
About $11 to $25 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 Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,900, which is 1% less than Portland ($8,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $3,850 out of $8,950. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Portland?
$5,500 to $12,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Portland?
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 Portland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 1% above the Maine statewide estimate ($8,850 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Portland?
The BLS median is $30.91 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.45 to $35.95.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Portland?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,500 to $8,250 and premium work $9,650 to $12,400. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Portland
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.