Hardwood flooring cost in Tennessee
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $5,000 – $11,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 8
Across Tennessee, a hardwood floor costs about $5,000 to $11,500 for 500 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 8% below the US figure of $9,000. Carpenters earn a median $24.44 an hour in Tennessee (US: $29.12).
Inside Tennessee, the metros we cover range from $8,100 (Johnson City) to $8,600 (Nashville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Tennessee (statewide), standard level
$6,950 to $9,550
About $14 to $19 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $2,750 | $3,600 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,950 | $9,550 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Tennessee
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,200 | 61% |
| Labor | $2,150 | $3,200 | $4,250 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,000 | $8,250 | $11,500 | 100% |
If you are planning more than one job in Tennessee
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Tennessee wages and prices. Against national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and tile flooring lowest (−10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,350 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,100 | −9% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Tennessee
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.
Which Tennessee city is cheapest for hardwood floor?
1 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $8,250, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | +4% |
| Knoxville, TN | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Memphis, TN | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Clarksville, TN | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Johnson City, TN | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
Quality levels and sizes in Tennessee
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Tennessee wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$5,000 to $7,600
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,950 to $9,550
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,900 to $11,500
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,000 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,800 | $3,550 – $4,600 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,000 – $7,600 | $6,950 – $9,550 | $8,900 – $11,500 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,000 – $18,200 | $16,700 – $22,900 | $21,400 – $27,600 |
How Tennessee compares with nearby states
Tennessee ranks 40 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. Tennessee sits at $8,250. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 170 miles away | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Alabama | 190 miles away | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,900 | −4% |
| Georgia | 210 miles away | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Indiana | 300 miles away | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +6% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −1% |
Wages behind the Tennessee 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 0.85 for Tennessee.
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 $22.36 and $28.80 an hour. BLS counts 8,200 of them working in the state, 25.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.99 an hour, which is 12% below the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $19.58 and $28.21 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the state, 0.6 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 ($28.80 an hour) would add about $390 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.36) would take off about $190. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,278,760 jobs across Tennessee (May 2025), which is 2.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $22.36 | $24.44 | $28.80 | $29.12 | 0.84 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $19.58 | $23.99 | $28.21 | $27.15 | 0.88 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
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Hardwood flooring in Tennessee: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Tennessee?
$5,000 to $11,500 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Tennessee can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Tennessee is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Johnson City at about $8,100 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Nashville at $8,600.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Tennessee than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $8,250 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Tennessee?
About 39% ($3,200). Materials are 61%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.85x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Tennessee?
The BLS statewide median is $24.44 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.36 to $28.80.
+Where does Tennessee rank for hardwood floor costs?
40th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $8,250 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Tennessee?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,000 to $7,600 and premium work $8,900 to $11,500. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Tennessee
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.