Hardwood flooring cost in Memphis, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,000 – $11,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $23
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #207
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Memphis, plan on $5,000 to $11,500 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10 to $23 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $24.34 an hour in the Memphis area, 16% 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 Memphis, 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 | $2,750 | $3,600 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,950 | $9,550 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Memphis, TN
| 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% |
Where the Memphis 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 $24.34 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Memphis is 0.85 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Memphis metro is 96.2 (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 (92.2) 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 Memphis. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Memphis bid
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.
Solid versus engineered
Solid hardwood is $11-$25 per sq ft installed and engineered hardwood is $9-$20 (HomeGuide).
Memphis labor market for hardwood floor
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 Memphis is 0.85 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.34 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $28.26 an hour. BLS counts 1,240 of them working in the area, 20.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner 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 Memphis metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $23.99 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.58 and $28.21 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.26 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $350. At the 25th percentile ($22.58) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 4.3% or 1.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 611,670 jobs in the Memphis area. That makes it the 46th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.39% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $22.58 | $24.34 | $28.26 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| 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 | |||||
How Memphis compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Memphis. Jonesboro is the lowest at about $7,650 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNthis page | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | |
| Jonesboro, AR65 miles | $4,600 – $10,600 | $7,650 | −7% |
| Jackson, TN75 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −5% |
| Decatur, AL160 miles | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN170 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | level |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Memphis comes in at #207 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Memphis is 0% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | +4% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $5,050 – $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 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Memphis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Memphis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $5,400 – $12,300 | $8,850 | +7% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −5% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,450 | +3% |
Planning more than one job in Memphis?
Because every project leans on different trades, Memphis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and laminate flooring −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,350 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Memphis
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Memphis 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
$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 | $21,300 – $27,500 |
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 Memphis, TN is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Memphis, 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 Memphis: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Memphis?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,000 to $11,500 in the Memphis 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 Memphis?
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 Memphis or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $7,650, which is 7% less than Memphis ($8,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Memphis?
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 Memphis?
$5,000 to $11,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Memphis?
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 Memphis area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Memphis expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Memphis is 0% below 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 Memphis?
The BLS median is $24.34 an hour in the Memphis area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.58 to $28.26.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Memphis?
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 near Memphis
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.