Hardwood flooring cost in Nashville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,250 – $11,900
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $24
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #130
- 1 = most expensive
A hardwood floor in Nashville, TN usually costs $5,250 to $11,900 for 500 sq ft. That works out to about $10.50 to $24 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $420 less. Carpenters earn a median of $26.81 an hour in the Nashville area, 8% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Nashville, TN, standard level
$7,250 to $9,900
About $14.50 to $20 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $3,050 | $4,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,250 | $9,900 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Nashville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,200 | 59% |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,550 | $4,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,250 | $8,600 | $11,900 | 100% |
Where the Nashville price comes from
Labor is 41% 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 Nashville the blended ratio comes out at 0.94.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Nashville 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 96.3: $0 to $0.
What local crews earn in Nashville
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 Nashville the blend is 0.94.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $26.81 an hour, 8% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $29.35 an hour. About 3,040 work in the metro. That is 27.7 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 $26.79 an hour, in line with the US median of $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $17.83 and $30.85 an hour. About 80 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 $230 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $270. That is a swing of roughly 3.2% to 2.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin has 1,099,300 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 33rd 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% | $23.80 | $26.81 | $29.35 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $17.83 | $26.79 | $30.85 | $27.15 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Nashville
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.
Planning more than one job in Nashville?
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Nashville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, laminate flooring comes out highest (−4%) and tile flooring lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,900 – $6,750 | −4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
Nashville against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Nashville. Huntsville is the lowest at about $7,950 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 90 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TNthis page | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | |
| Clarksville, TN65 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Bowling Green, KY70 miles | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $4,800 – $11,100 | $7,950 | −7% |
| Chattanooga, TN105 miles | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Decatur, AL115 miles | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | −6% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −4% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Nashville ranks #130 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Nashville is 4% above the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Nashville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | +1% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,600 | level |
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $5,500 – $12,400 | $8,950 | +4% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $6,150 – $13,900 | $10,000 | +17% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Nashville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Nashville. 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
$5,250 to $7,900
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,250 to $9,900
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,250 to $11,900
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,150 | $2,900 – $3,950 | $3,700 – $4,750 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,250 – $7,900 | $7,250 – $9,900 | $9,250 – $11,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,600 – $19,000 | $17,400 – $23,800 | $22,200 – $28,600 |
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Detailed hardwood flooring report for Nashville, TN, $9
Multi-page report for Nashville, 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 Nashville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Nashville?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,250 to $11,900 in the Nashville area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,250 to $9,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Nashville?
About $10.50 to $24 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 Nashville or Clarksville?
Clarksville is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,150, which is 5% less than Nashville ($8,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Nashville?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $3,550 out of $8,600. Materials are 59% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Nashville?
$5,250 to $11,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Nashville?
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 Nashville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Nashville expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Nashville is 4% 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 Nashville?
The BLS median is $26.81 an hour in the Nashville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.80 to $29.35.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Nashville?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,250 to $7,900 and premium work $9,250 to $11,900. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Nashville
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.