Hardwood flooring cost in Minnesota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $5,700 – $12,900
- Per sq ft
- $11.50 – $25.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 4
Minnesota prices for hardwood floor: $5,700 to $12,900 for 500 sq ft, or $11.50 to $25.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 3% above the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $31.22 an hour.
Inside Minnesota, the metros we cover range from $8,800 (Duluth) to $9,900 (Minneapolis) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Minnesota (statewide), standard level
$7,850 to $10,700
About $15.50 to $21.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,350 | $6,200 |
| Labor | $3,450 | $4,550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,850 | $10,700 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Minnesota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,000 | $5,300 | $7,550 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,650 | $4,000 | $5,350 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,700 | $9,250 | $12,900 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Minnesota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Minnesota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$5,700 to $8,550
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,850 to $10,700
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$10,000 to $12,900
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,250 – $3,400 | $3,150 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,150 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,700 – $8,550 | $7,850 – $10,700 | $10,000 – $12,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $13,600 – $20,500 | $18,800 – $25,700 | $24,000 – $30,900 |
If you are planning more than one job in Minnesota
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Minnesota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+13%) and laminate flooring lowest (+4%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,100 – $7,250 | +4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,950 – $10,800 | +11% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,200 – $32,700 | +4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,300 – $26,400 | +13% |
Minnesota metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,250, and the top-to-bottom gap is 12%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (500 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | $6,050 – $13,700 | $9,900 | +7% |
| Rochester, MN | $5,500 – $12,400 | $8,950 | −4% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $5,400 – $12,200 | $8,800 | −5% |
| Duluth, MN | $5,400 – $12,200 | $8,800 | −5% |
How Minnesota compares with nearby states
Minnesota ranks 11 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for hardwood floor, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $11,100 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $7,700, both for 500 sq ft at the midpoint. Minnesota sits at $9,250. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | −8% |
| Wisconsin | 260 miles away | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | −6% |
| North Dakota | 270 miles away | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | −8% |
| South Dakota | 290 miles away | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −11% |
| Nebraska | 320 miles away | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −11% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Minnesota
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.
Permit
Flooring rarely needs a permit, so no permit fee is included in this estimate.
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Minnesota
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.07 for Minnesota.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $31.22 an hour, which is 7% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.56 and $40.58 an hour. BLS counts 14,930 of them working in the state, 50.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042, weighted 30%) the local median is $28.55 an hour, which is 5% above the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $21.49 and $47.67 an hour. BLS counts 490 of them working in the state, 1.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($40.58 an hour) would add about $840 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($26.56) would take off about $420. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,949,820 jobs across Minnesota (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $26.56 | $31.22 | $40.58 | $29.12 | 1.07 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.49 | $28.55 | $47.67 | $27.15 | 1.05 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
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Hardwood flooring in Minnesota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Minnesota?
$5,700 to $12,900 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Minnesota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Minnesota is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Duluth at about $8,800 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Minneapolis at $9,900.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Minnesota than the US average?
It is 3% more expensive: $9,250 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Minnesota?
About 43% ($4,000). Materials are 57%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.07x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Minnesota?
The BLS statewide median is $31.22 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.56 to $40.58.
+Where does Minnesota rank for hardwood floor costs?
11th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,250 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Minnesota?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,700 to $8,550 and premium work $10,000 to $12,900. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Minnesota
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.