Hardwood flooring cost in North Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $5,200 – $11,800
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $23.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to install hardwood flooring in North Dakota? Plan on $5,200 to $11,800 for 500 sq ft. Wages (0.92x the US blend), materials (price index 95.7) and permit costs (89.0) put the state below the national midpoint by 6%.
Inside North Dakota, the metros we cover range from $8,350 (Bismarck) to $8,550 (Fargo) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in North Dakota (statewide), standard level
$7,150 to $9,800
About $14.50 to $19.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $3,000 | $3,950 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,150 | $9,800 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in North Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,850 | $5,000 | $7,200 | 59% |
| Labor | $2,300 | $3,450 | $4,600 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,200 | $8,500 | $11,800 | 100% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in North Dakota
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.
How North Dakota compares with nearby states
North Dakota ranks 31 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. North Dakota sits at $8,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −3% |
| Minnesota | 270 miles away | $5,700 – $12,900 | $9,250 | +9% |
| Nebraska | 410 miles away | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −3% |
| Iowa | 450 miles away | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | level |
| Wyoming | 500 miles away | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | +1% |
Which North Dakota city is cheapest for hardwood floor?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $8,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 2%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | $5,200 – $11,900 | $8,550 | +1% |
| Bismarck, ND | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | −2% |
Quality levels and sizes in North Dakota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide North Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$5,200 to $7,850
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,150 to $9,800
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,150 to $11,800
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,050 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $3,950 | $3,650 – $4,700 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,200 – $7,850 | $7,150 – $9,800 | $9,150 – $11,800 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,400 – $18,800 | $17,200 – $23,600 | $22,000 – $28,300 |
Related projects, priced for North Dakota
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide North Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−5%) and tile flooring lowest (−10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,100 | −10% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,400 – $21,800 | −6% |
Wages behind the North Dakota number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.92 for North Dakota.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $27.83 an hour, which is 4% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.47 and $30.55 an hour. BLS counts 2,360 of them working in the state, 55.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.10 an hour, which is 15% below the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $21.06 and $31.26 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the state, 2.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($30.55 an hour) would add about $250 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.47) would take off about $390. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 429,430 jobs across North Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $23.47 | $27.83 | $30.55 | $29.12 | 0.96 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.06 | $23.10 | $31.26 | $27.15 | 0.85 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
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Hardwood flooring in North Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in North Dakota?
$5,200 to $11,800 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Dakota is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Bismarck at about $8,350 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Fargo at $8,550.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in North Dakota than the US average?
It is 6% cheaper: $8,500 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Dakota?
About 41% ($3,450). Materials are 59%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.92x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in North Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $27.83 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.47 to $30.55.
+Where does North Dakota rank for hardwood floor costs?
31st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $8,500 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in North Dakota?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,200 to $7,850 and premium work $9,150 to $11,800. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in North Dakota
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.