Hardwood flooring cost in Pennsylvania
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $5,500 – $12,500
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $25
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 12
Pennsylvania prices for hardwood floor: $5,500 to $12,500 for 500 sq ft, or $11 to $25 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 0% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $28.54 an hour.
Inside Pennsylvania, the metros we cover range from $8,600 (Chambersburg) to $9,550 (Pittsburgh) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your hardwood flooring cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Pennsylvania (statewide), standard level
$7,600 to $10,400
About $15 to $21 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $3,250 | $4,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,600 | $10,400 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Pennsylvania
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,000 | $5,200 | $7,450 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,750 | $5,050 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,500 | $9,000 | $12,500 | 100% |
Pennsylvania versus the states around it
Pennsylvania ranks 13 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. Pennsylvania sits at $9,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 70 miles away | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,050 | +1% |
| Delaware | 100 miles away | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | −3% |
| New Jersey | 100 miles away | $5,850 – $13,300 | $9,600 | +7% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $5,750 – $13,100 | $9,400 | +5% |
| New York | 140 miles away | $6,100 – $13,900 | $10,000 | +11% |
Related projects, priced for Pennsylvania
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. Against national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (+9%) and kitchen remodel lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,050 – $7,100 | +2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,600 | +9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,600 | level |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,400 | +5% |
Which Pennsylvania city is cheapest for hardwood floor?
5 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,000, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $5,850 – $13,200 | $9,550 | +6% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $5,650 – $12,800 | $9,200 | +3% |
| York, PA | $5,600 – $12,700 | $9,150 | +2% |
| Scranton, PA | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,050 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | level |
| Altoona, PA | $5,500 – $12,500 | $8,950 | level |
| Erie, PA | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,950 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −1% |
| State College, PA | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −1% |
| Reading, PA | $5,400 – $12,300 | $8,850 | −1% |
| Chambersburg, PA | $5,250 – $12,000 | $8,600 | −4% |
Quality levels and sizes in Pennsylvania
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$5,500 to $8,300
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,600 to $10,400
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,700 to $12,500
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,300 | $3,050 – $4,150 | $3,850 – $5,000 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,500 – $8,300 | $7,600 – $10,400 | $9,700 – $12,500 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $13,200 – $19,900 | $18,200 – $24,900 | $23,200 – $29,900 |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Pennsylvania
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.
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Pennsylvania
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 1.01 for Pennsylvania.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $28.54 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.01 and $35.92 an hour. BLS counts 30,630 of them working in the state, 50.5 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 $28.87 an hour, which is 6% above the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $23.50 and $39.67 an hour. BLS counts 720 of them working in the state, 1.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($35.92 an hour) would add about $670 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.01) would take off about $500. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,064,600 jobs across Pennsylvania (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $23.01 | $28.54 | $35.92 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $23.50 | $28.87 | $39.67 | $27.15 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
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 $7,600 to $10,400 for Pennsylvania is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the hardwood flooring numbers for Pennsylvania line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Pennsylvania: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Pennsylvania?
$5,500 to $12,500 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Pennsylvania can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Pennsylvania is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Chambersburg at about $8,600 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Pittsburgh at $9,550.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Pennsylvania than the US average?
It is 0% cheaper: $9,000 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Pennsylvania?
About 42% ($3,750). Materials are 58%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.01x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Pennsylvania?
The BLS statewide median is $28.54 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.01 to $35.92.
+Where does Pennsylvania rank for hardwood floor costs?
13th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,000 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Pennsylvania?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,500 to $8,300 and premium work $9,700 to $12,500. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA$9,550 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$9,200 midpoint
- York, PA$9,150 midpoint
- Scranton, PA$9,100 midpoint
- Allentown, PA$9,050 midpoint
- Harrisburg, PA$9,000 midpoint
- Altoona, PA$8,950 midpoint
- Erie, PA$8,950 midpoint
- Lancaster, PA$8,900 midpoint
- State College, PA$8,900 midpoint
- Reading, PA$8,850 midpoint
- Chambersburg, PA$8,600 midpoint
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.