Hardwood flooring cost in Raleigh, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,050 – $11,600
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #188
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Raleigh, plan on $5,050 to $11,600 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10 to $23 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $24.43 an hour in the Raleigh area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Raleigh, NC, standard level
$7,000 to $9,600
About $14 to $19 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,950 |
| Labor | $2,800 | $3,650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,000 | $9,600 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Raleigh, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,250 | 61% |
| Labor | $2,150 | $3,250 | $4,300 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,050 | $8,300 | $11,600 | 100% |
Why Raleigh prices look the way they do
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, Raleigh wages are 0.86 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Raleigh metro is 96.6 (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 (98.2) 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 Raleigh. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Raleigh 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.
What nearby projects cost in Raleigh
Because every project leans on different trades, Raleigh's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and tile flooring −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −9% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Raleigh
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Raleigh 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
$5,050 to $7,650
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,000 to $9,600
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,950 to $11,600
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,000 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,850 | $3,600 – $4,600 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,050 – $7,650 | $7,000 – $9,600 | $8,950 – $11,600 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,100 – $18,400 | $16,800 – $23,100 | $21,500 – $27,700 |
How Raleigh compares
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Durham is the priciest of the group at $8,350. Greenville is the cheapest at $8,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NCthis page | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | |
| Durham, NC40 miles | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | level |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, NC60 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −2% |
| Greenville, NC60 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC75 miles | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Raleigh comes in at #188 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Raleigh is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $5,100 – $11,700 | $8,400 | +1% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Raleigh's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Raleigh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | level |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | +7% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $5,100 – $11,700 | $8,400 | +1% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | +3% |
Raleigh labor market for hardwood floor
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 Raleigh is 0.86 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.43 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.31 and $29.01 an hour. BLS counts 2,680 of them working in the area, 36.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner 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 Raleigh metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $24.86 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.47 and $29.98 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.01 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $410. At the 25th percentile ($21.31) it shrinks by about $280. The total moves by 5.0% or 3.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 743,120 jobs in the Raleigh-Cary area. That makes it the 41st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.48% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $21.31 | $24.43 | $29.01 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.47 | $24.86 | $29.98 | $27.15 | 0.92 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
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Multi-page report for Raleigh, NC: 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 Raleigh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Raleigh?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,050 to $11,600 in the Raleigh area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,000 to $9,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh or Durham?
Durham is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,350, which is 0% more than Raleigh ($8,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Raleigh?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $3,250 out of $8,300. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Raleigh?
$5,050 to $11,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Raleigh expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Raleigh is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($8,250 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Raleigh?
The BLS median is $24.43 an hour in the Raleigh area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.31 to $29.01.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Raleigh?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,050 to $7,650 and premium work $8,950 to $11,600. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Raleigh
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.