Hardwood flooring cost in Hilton Head, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $4,950 – $11,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.95 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #223
- 1 = most expensive
Hilton Head homeowners pay roughly $4,950 to $11,400 to install hardwood flooring at 500 sq ft, or $9.95 to $23 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Hilton Head is 9% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $23.59 an hour in the Hilton Head area, 19% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Hilton Head, SC, standard level
$6,900 to $9,450
About $14 to $19 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $2,700 | $3,550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,900 | $9,450 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Hilton Head, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,250 | 62% |
| Labor | $2,100 | $3,100 | $4,150 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,950 | $8,200 | $11,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Hilton Head number
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, Hilton Head wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hilton Head metro is 96.3 (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 (98.0) 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 Hilton Head. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Hilton Head
Because every project leans on different trades, Hilton Head's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and bathroom remodel −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,750 – $6,300 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Hilton Head
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hilton Head 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
$4,950 to $7,550
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,900 to $9,450
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,800 to $11,400
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,000 – $3,000 | $2,750 – $3,800 | $3,550 – $4,550 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,950 – $7,550 | $6,900 – $9,450 | $8,800 – $11,400 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,900 – $18,100 | $16,500 – $22,700 | $21,200 – $27,300 |
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 Hilton Head is 0.83 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.59 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.25 and $29.40 an hour. BLS counts 440 of them working in the area, 53.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper 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 Hilton Head metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median: $23.97 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.49 and $26.23 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.40 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $520. At the 25th percentile ($21.25) it shrinks by about $210. The total moves by 6.4% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 81,920 jobs in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal area. That makes it the 232nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $21.25 | $23.59 | $29.40 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $20.49 | $23.97 | $26.23 | $27.15 | 0.88 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
How Hilton Head compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Hilton Head. Savannah is the lowest at about $7,900 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SCthis page | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,200 | |
| Savannah, GA30 miles | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | −3% |
| Charleston, SC65 miles | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | +1% |
| Augusta, GA100 miles | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,550 | +4% |
| Columbia, SC115 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Florence, SC135 miles | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,200 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | +1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Hilton Head comes in at #223 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Hilton Head is 1% below the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,200 | +1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | +1% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | +1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,200 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Hilton Head's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hilton Head against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | +1% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | +3% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | −4% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Hilton Head 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.
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 $6,900 to $9,450 for Hilton Head, SC is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the hardwood flooring numbers for Hilton Head, SC 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 Hilton Head: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Hilton Head?
For 500 sq ft, expect $4,950 to $11,400 in the Hilton Head area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,900 to $9,450. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Hilton Head?
About $9.95 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 Hilton Head or Savannah?
Savannah is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $7,900, which is 3% less than Hilton Head ($8,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hilton Head?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $3,100 out of $8,200. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Hilton Head?
$4,950 to $11,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hilton Head expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Hilton Head is 1% below the South Carolina statewide estimate ($8,250 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Hilton Head?
The BLS median is $23.59 an hour in the Hilton Head area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.25 to $29.40.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Hilton Head?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,950 to $7,550 and premium work $8,800 to $11,400. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Hilton Head
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.