Hardwood flooring cost in Billings, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,100 – $11,600
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #175
- 1 = most expensive
Billings homeowners pay roughly $5,100 to $11,600 to install hardwood flooring at 500 sq ft, or $10 to $23 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Billings is 7% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $28.34 an hour in the Billings area, 3% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Billings, MT, 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 Billings, MT
| 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% |
What is behind the Billings number
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, Billings wages are 0.88 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Billings metro is 96.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $5,050, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.5) 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 Billings. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Billings bid
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.
Billings: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Billings 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
$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 – $23,200 | $21,600 – $27,900 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Billings is 0.88 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $28.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $30.83 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 56.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than 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 Billings metro, so we used the Montana statewide median: $18.13 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $14.49 and $23.34 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $220. At the 25th percentile ($23.84) it shrinks by about $410. The total moves by 2.7% or 4.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,800 jobs in the Billings area. That makes it the 213th 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% | $23.84 | $28.34 | $30.83 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| 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 | |||||
Is Billings cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Bozeman is the priciest of the group at $8,500. Logan is the cheapest at $8,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MTthis page | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | |
| Bozeman, MT115 miles | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | +2% |
| Idaho Falls, ID225 miles | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +1% |
| Missoula, MT275 miles | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −1% |
| Logan, UT300 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −2% |
| Rapid City, SD305 miles | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | −1% |
| Montana (statewide) | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | level |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Billings comes in at #175 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Billings is 0% above the Montana figure.
Other Montana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | +2% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Billings's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Billings against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $6,000 – $13,500 | $9,750 | +17% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −2% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $4,700 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −7% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +15% |
Related projects, priced for Billings
Because every project leans on different trades, Billings's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs +5% and laminate flooring −14%.
| 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 – $31,000 | −2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,400 | +5% |
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 $7,050 to $9,650 for Billings, MT is attached.
Detailed hardwood flooring report for Billings, MT, $9
Multi-page report for Billings, MT: 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 Billings: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Billings?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,100 to $11,600 in the Billings area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,050 to $9,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Billings?
About $10 to $23 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 Billings or Bozeman?
Bozeman is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,500, which is 2% more than Billings ($8,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Billings?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $3,300 out of $8,350. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Billings?
$5,100 to $11,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Billings?
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 Billings area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Billings expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Montana?
Billings is 0% above the Montana statewide estimate ($8,350 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Billings?
The BLS median is $28.34 an hour in the Billings area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.84 to $30.83.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Billings?
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 near Billings
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.