Hardwood flooring cost in Wilmington, 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
- #187
- 1 = most expensive
Wilmington homeowners pay roughly $5,050 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, Wilmington is 8% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, 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% |
Where the Wilmington 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, Wilmington 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 Wilmington 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 (96.4) 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 Wilmington. The wage table below marks each row.
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 Wilmington is 0.86 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.44 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $28.70 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 33.5 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 Wilmington 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 ($28.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $380. At the 25th percentile ($22.06) it shrinks by about $210. The total moves by 4.6% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 191,280 jobs in the Wilmington area. That makes it the 120th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $22.06 | $24.44 | $28.70 | $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 | |||||
Is Wilmington cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Wilmington is the priciest of the group. Myrtle Beach is the cheapest at $8,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −2% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −2% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,200 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Wilmington comes in at #187 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Wilmington 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% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | level |
| 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 |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Wilmington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $5,200 – $11,900 | $8,550 | +3% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | −6% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $5,650 – $12,900 | $9,250 | +11% |
Planning more than one job in Wilmington?
Because every project leans on different trades, Wilmington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and bathroom remodel −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 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Wilmington bid
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.
Wilmington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Wilmington 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 |
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 $7,000 to $9,600 for Wilmington, NC is attached.
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Multi-page report for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Wilmington?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,050 to $11,600 in the Wilmington 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 Wilmington?
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 Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,100, which is 2% less than Wilmington ($8,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
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 Wilmington?
$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 Wilmington?
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 Wilmington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington 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 Wilmington?
The BLS median is $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.06 to $28.70.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Wilmington?
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 Wilmington
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.