Hardwood flooring cost in Manchester, NH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,450 – $12,400
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $24.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #87
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Manchester area: $5,450 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 2% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.7).
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Manchester, NH, standard level
$7,550 to $10,300
About $15 to $20.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,250 | $6,000 |
| Labor | $3,300 | $4,300 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,550 | $10,300 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Manchester, NH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,950 | $5,150 | $7,350 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,800 | $5,050 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,450 | $8,900 | $12,400 | 100% |
Where the Manchester price comes from
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, Manchester wages are 1.01 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Manchester is at 97.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $5,150 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.7: $0 to $0.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Manchester. The wage table below marks each row.
Manchester: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Manchester. 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
$5,450 to $8,200
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,550 to $10,300
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,600 to $12,400
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,100 | $3,850 – $4,950 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,450 – $8,200 | $7,550 – $10,300 | $9,600 – $12,400 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $13,100 – $19,700 | $18,100 – $24,700 | $23,000 – $29,700 |
Who does the work: Manchester 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 Manchester the blend is 1.01.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $29.47 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.91 and $35.02 an hour. About 820 work in the metro. That is 41.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Manchester metro, 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 quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $500 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $500. That is a swing of roughly 5.6% to 5.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Manchester-Nashua has 199,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 115th 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% | $23.91 | $29.47 | $35.02 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.95 | $27.15 | $35.50 | $27.15 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Why two Manchester 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.
How Manchester compares
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $10,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NHthis page | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | |
| Worcester, MA45 miles | $5,950 – $13,400 | $9,650 | +8% |
| Boston, MA45 miles | $6,450 – $14,400 | $10,400 | +17% |
| Amherst, MA60 miles | $5,900 – $13,200 | $9,550 | +7% |
| Springfield, MA70 miles | $6,050 – $13,600 | $9,800 | +10% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $5,500 – $12,400 | $8,950 | +1% |
| New Hampshire (statewide) | $5,500 – $12,400 | $8,950 | level |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Manchester ranks #87 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Manchester is 0% below the New Hampshire figure.
Manchester is the only New Hampshire metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Manchester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria, CA | 200,760 jobs | $6,150 – $13,900 | $10,000 | +12% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | −11% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $6,050 – $13,600 | $9,800 | +10% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $5,900 – $13,400 | $9,650 | +8% |
Planning more than one job in Manchester?
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Manchester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, laminate flooring comes out highest (−1%) and tile flooring lowest (−5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $6,950 | −1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,600 | −5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,300 – $31,100 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,650 – $23,100 | −1% |
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 Manchester, NH is attached.
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Multi-page report for Manchester, NH: 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 Manchester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Manchester?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,450 to $12,400 in the Manchester 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 Manchester?
About $11 to $24.50 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 Manchester or Worcester?
Worcester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $9,650, which is 8% more than Manchester ($8,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Manchester?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,800 out of $8,900. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Manchester?
$5,450 to $12,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Manchester?
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 Manchester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Manchester expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of New Hampshire?
Manchester is 0% below the New Hampshire statewide estimate ($8,950 at the midpoint).
+What do carpenters earn in Manchester?
The BLS median is $29.47 an hour in the Manchester area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.91 to $35.02.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Manchester?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,450 to $8,200 and premium work $9,600 to $12,400. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Manchester
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.