Hardwood flooring cost in Nebraska
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $5,050 – $11,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 2
Nebraska prices for hardwood floor: $5,050 to $11,500 for 500 sq ft, or $10 to $23 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 8% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $24.19 an hour.
Inside Nebraska, the metros we cover range from $8,250 (Lincoln) to $8,350 (Omaha) at the midpoint.
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 Nebraska (statewide), standard level
$6,950 to $9,550
About $14 to $19 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,800 |
| Labor | $2,850 | $3,750 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,950 | $9,550 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Nebraska
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,950 | $7,050 | 60% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,300 | $4,400 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,050 | $8,250 | $11,500 | 100% |
Why two Nebraska quotes can differ
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.
Nebraska metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $8,250, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Lincoln, NE | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,250 | level |
Basic, standard or premium: Nebraska prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from one room (200 sq ft) to whole house (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$5,050 to $7,600
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,950 to $9,550
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,900 to $11,500
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,000 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,800 | $3,550 – $4,600 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,050 – $7,600 | $6,950 – $9,550 | $8,900 – $11,500 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,100 – $18,200 | $16,700 – $22,900 | $21,300 – $27,500 |
Nebraska against its neighbors
Nebraska ranks 43 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. Nebraska sits at $8,250. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 190 miles away | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | +3% |
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Kansas | 220 miles away | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,300 | +1% |
| Missouri | 270 miles away | $5,350 – $12,200 | $8,800 | +7% |
| Minnesota | 320 miles away | $5,700 – $12,900 | $9,250 | +12% |
Other Nebraska jobs that often go with hardwood floor
Each project weights the trades differently, so Nebraska's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, tile flooring is −1% and kitchen remodel −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,850 – $6,550 | −6% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $9,750 | −1% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,000 | −6% |
Wages behind the Nebraska number
Nebraska's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.88 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $24.19 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.77 and $30.09 an hour. About 5,710 work in the state. That is 55.7 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) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for Nebraska, so we used the national median: $27.15 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.95 and $35.50 an hour.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($30.09 an hour) would add about $530 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.77) would take off about $220. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,024,370 jobs across Nebraska (May 2025), which is 0.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $21.77 | $24.19 | $30.09 | $29.12 | 0.83 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.95 | $27.15 | $35.50 | $27.15 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
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 $6,950 to $9,550 for Nebraska is attached.
Detailed hardwood flooring report for Nebraska, $9
The report lays out the hardwood flooring numbers for Nebraska line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Nebraska: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Nebraska?
$5,050 to $11,500 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Nebraska can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Nebraska is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Lincoln at about $8,250 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Omaha at $8,350.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Nebraska than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $8,250 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Nebraska?
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 Nebraska?
The BLS statewide median is $24.19 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.77 to $30.09.
+Where does Nebraska rank for hardwood floor costs?
43rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $8,250 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Nebraska?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,050 to $7,600 and premium work $8,900 to $11,500. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Nebraska
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.