Hardwood flooring cost in Knoxville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,050 – $11,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #203
- 1 = most expensive
A hardwood floor in Knoxville, TN usually costs $5,050 to $11,500 for 500 sq ft. That works out to about $10 to $23 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $740 less. Carpenters earn a median of $24.23 an hour in the Knoxville area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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 Knoxville, TN, 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 | $2,800 | $3,650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,950 | $9,550 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Knoxville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,200 | 61% |
| Labor | $2,150 | $3,200 | $4,300 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,050 | $8,250 | $11,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Knoxville number
Labor is 39% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (70%), floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (30%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Knoxville the blended ratio comes out at 0.86.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Knoxville is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $5,050 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.6: $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Knoxville
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Knoxville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and tile flooring lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,400 | −9% |
| 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 – $21,000 | −10% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Knoxville bid
Permit
Flooring rarely needs a permit, so no permit fee is included in this estimate.
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.
What local crews earn in Knoxville
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 Knoxville the blend is 0.86.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $24.23 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.11 and $28.56 an hour. About 1,280 work in the metro. That is 30.1 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), 30% of the weighting: a median of $24.75 an hour, 9% below the US median of $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $24.19 and $24.76 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 0.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 1.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $390 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 2.3% to 4.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Knoxville has 424,600 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 59th 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% | $22.11 | $24.23 | $28.56 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $24.19 | $24.75 | $24.76 | $27.15 | 0.91 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Knoxville against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Asheville is the priciest of the group at $8,350. Dalton is the cheapest at $7,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNthis page | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | |
| Asheville, NC95 miles | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Dalton, GA95 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −5% |
| Chattanooga, TN95 miles | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Johnson City, TN100 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Kingsport, TN100 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Knoxville ranks #203 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Knoxville is 0% above the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | +4% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Knoxville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,200 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −1% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $4,800 – $11,000 | $7,950 | −4% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | +5% |
Cost by quality level and size in Knoxville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Knoxville. 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
$5,050 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) | $5,050 – $7,600 | $6,950 – $9,550 | $8,900 – $11,500 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,100 – $18,300 | $16,700 – $22,900 | $21,400 – $27,600 |
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 $6,950 to $9,550 for Knoxville, TN is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Knoxville, TN: 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 Knoxville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Knoxville?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,050 to $11,500 in the Knoxville area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,950 to $9,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Knoxville?
About $10 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 Knoxville or Asheville?
Asheville is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,350, which is 1% more than Knoxville ($8,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Knoxville?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $3,200 out of $8,250. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Knoxville?
$5,050 to $11,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Knoxville expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Knoxville is 0% above the Tennessee statewide estimate ($8,250 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Knoxville?
The BLS median is $24.23 an hour in the Knoxville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.11 to $28.56.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Knoxville?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,050 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 near Knoxville
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.