Hardwood flooring cost in Montana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $5,100 – $11,600
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Montana, a hardwood floor costs about $5,100 to $11,600 for 500 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 7% below the US figure of $9,000. Carpenters earn a median $28.28 an hour in Montana (US: $29.12).
Inside Montana, the metros we cover range from $8,250 (Missoula) to $8,500 (Bozeman) 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 Montana (statewide), standard level
$7,050 to $9,650
About $14 to $19.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $2,850 | $3,750 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,050 | $9,650 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Montana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,200 | 60% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,300 | $4,400 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,100 | $8,350 | $11,600 | 100% |
Which Montana city is cheapest for hardwood floor?
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $8,350, and the top-to-bottom gap is 3%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | +2% |
| Billings, MT | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | level |
| Missoula, MT | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −1% |
Montana labor market for hardwood floor
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 0.88 for Montana.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $28.28 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $32.47 an hour. BLS counts 4,030 of them working in the state, 78.8 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 $18.13 an hour, which is 33% below the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $14.49 and $23.34 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the state, 1.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($32.47 an hour) would add about $380 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.84) would take off about $400. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 511,580 jobs across Montana (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $23.84 | $28.28 | $32.47 | $29.12 | 0.97 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $14.49 | $18.13 | $23.34 | $27.15 | 0.67 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Montana
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.
Quality levels and sizes in Montana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Montana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$5,100 to $7,700
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,050 to $9,650
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,000 to $11,600
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,050 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $3,850 | $3,600 – $4,650 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,100 – $7,700 | $7,050 – $9,650 | $9,000 – $11,600 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,200 – $18,500 | $16,900 – $23,100 | $21,600 – $27,800 |
Montana versus the states around it
Montana ranks 35 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. Montana sits at $8,350. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 miles away | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +1% |
| Utah | 400 miles away | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | −1% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | +3% |
| Washington | 500 miles away | $6,050 – $13,600 | $9,850 | +18% |
| Colorado | 550 miles away | $5,400 – $12,300 | $8,800 | +6% |
Other Montana jobs that often go with hardwood floor
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Montana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+4%) and laminate flooring lowest (−14%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,650 – $6,050 | −14% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $9,900 | level |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,200 – $30,900 | −2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,200 | +4% |
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Hardwood flooring in Montana: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Montana?
$5,100 to $11,600 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Montana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Montana is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Missoula at about $8,250 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Bozeman at $8,500.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Montana than the US average?
It is 7% cheaper: $8,350 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Montana?
About 40% ($3,300). Materials are 60%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.88x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Montana?
The BLS statewide median is $28.28 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.84 to $32.47.
+Where does Montana rank for hardwood floor costs?
35th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $8,350 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Montana?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,100 to $7,700 and premium work $9,000 to $11,600. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Montana
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.