Hardwood flooring cost in Akron, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,350 – $12,100
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $24.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #106
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Akron area: $5,350 to $12,100 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 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.6).
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Akron, OH, standard level
$7,400 to $10,100
About $15 to $20 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $3,300 | $4,350 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,400 | $10,100 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Akron, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,000 | 56% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,850 | $5,100 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,350 | $8,750 | $12,100 | 100% |
Where the Akron price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.36 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Akron is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Akron is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $4,900 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.4: $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 Akron. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Akron bid
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.
How Akron compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 500 sq ft range from $8,150 to $9,550 across Akron and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OHthis page | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | |
| Canton, OH30 miles | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,550 | −2% |
| Youngstown, OH30 miles | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,550 | −2% |
| Cleveland, OH35 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,700 | level |
| Wheeling, WV85 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −7% |
| Pittsburgh, PA90 miles | $5,850 – $13,200 | $9,550 | +9% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | level |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Akron ranks #106 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Akron is 0% above the Ohio figure.
Elsewhere in Ohio
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $5,600 – $12,600 | $9,100 | +4% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | −1% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,700 | level |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | −1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $5,550 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +3% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,550 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Akron against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard, CA | 323,890 jobs | $5,950 – $13,400 | $9,700 | +11% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | −3% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +3% |
| Wichita, KS | 308,570 jobs | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | −8% |
Related projects, priced for Akron
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Akron wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, laminate flooring comes out highest (level) and tile flooring lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $6,950 | level |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,250 | −8% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,700 – $30,100 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,600 – $22,700 | −2% |
Who does the work: Akron 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 Akron the blend is 1.02.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $29.36 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.61 and $37.10 an hour. About 980 work in the metro. That is 30.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer 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 the Akron metro, so we used the Ohio statewide median: $28.59 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $35.02 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $700 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $430. That is a swing of roughly 4.9% to 8.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Akron has 319,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 80th 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% | $24.61 | $29.36 | $37.10 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $23.80 | $28.59 | $35.02 | $27.15 | 1.05 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Akron: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Akron. 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
$5,350 to $8,050
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,400 to $10,100
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,400 to $12,100
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,150 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,050 | $3,750 – $4,850 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,350 – $8,050 | $7,400 – $10,100 | $9,400 – $12,100 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,900 – $19,400 | $17,700 – $24,200 | $22,600 – $29,100 |
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Multi-page report for Akron, OH: 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 Akron: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Akron?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,350 to $12,100 in the Akron area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,400 to $10,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Akron?
About $10.50 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 Akron or Canton?
Canton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,550, which is 2% less than Akron ($8,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Akron?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $3,850 out of $8,750. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Akron?
$5,350 to $12,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Akron?
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 Akron area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Akron expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Ohio?
Akron is 0% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($8,750 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Akron?
The BLS median is $29.36 an hour in the Akron area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.61 to $37.10.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Akron?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,350 to $8,050 and premium work $9,400 to $12,100. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Akron
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.