Hardwood flooring cost in San Antonio, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $4,750 – $10,900
- Per sq ft
- $9.50 – $22
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #279
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in San Antonio, plan on $4,750 to $10,900 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.50 to $22 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 13% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $23.51 an hour in the San Antonio area, 19% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in San Antonio, TX, standard level
$6,600 to $9,050
About $13 to $18 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,600 | $9,050 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in San Antonio, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,900 | $3,850 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,750 | $7,800 | $10,900 | 100% |
What is behind the San Antonio number
Labor is 37% 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 San Antonio the blended ratio comes out at 0.77.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Antonio metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $4,900, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (94.7) and land at $0 to $0.
San Antonio against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than San Antonio. Laredo is the lowest at about $7,600 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 125 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio, TXthis page | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | |
| Austin, TX80 miles | $4,850 – $11,100 | $7,950 | +2% |
| Laredo, TX125 miles | $4,600 – $10,600 | $7,600 | −3% |
| Corpus Christi, TX130 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | level |
| Killeen, TX130 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | level |
| College Station, TX155 miles | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | level |
| Texas (statewide) | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | +4% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +15% |
Across 300 US metros, San Antonio comes in at #279 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, San Antonio is 4% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $5,100 – $11,700 | $8,400 | +7% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | +6% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $4,850 – $11,100 | $7,950 | +2% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $4,600 – $10,600 | $7,600 | −3% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $4,600 – $10,600 | $7,600 | −3% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | level |
Cities with a workforce like San Antonio's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Antonio against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $6,850 – $15,300 | $11,100 | +42% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $5,850 – $13,200 | $9,550 | +22% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $5,400 – $12,200 | $8,800 | +12% |
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $5,600 – $12,600 | $9,100 | +16% |
San Antonio: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Antonio 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
$4,750 to $7,200
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$6,600 to $9,050
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$8,450 to $10,900
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $1,900 – $2,900 | $2,650 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,350 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $4,750 – $7,200 | $6,600 – $9,050 | $8,450 – $10,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $11,400 – $17,300 | $15,800 – $21,700 | $20,200 – $26,100 |
San Antonio 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 San Antonio is 0.77 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.51 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.91 and $26.49 an hour. BLS counts 2,240 of them working in the area, 19.9 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 $18.69 an hour, which is 31% below the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $17.99 and $22.26 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 0.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.49 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $270. At the 25th percentile ($21.91) it shrinks by about $140. The total moves by 3.4% or 1.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,126,880 jobs in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area. That makes it the 28th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.72% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $21.91 | $23.51 | $26.49 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $17.99 | $18.69 | $22.26 | $27.15 | 0.69 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.77 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in San Antonio
Because every project leans on different trades, San Antonio's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −8% and laminate flooring −19%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,550 – $5,750 | −19% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,000 | −11% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,000 – $28,900 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in San Antonio
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 $6,600 to $9,050 for San Antonio, TX is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the hardwood flooring numbers for San Antonio, TX 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 San Antonio: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in San Antonio?
For 500 sq ft, expect $4,750 to $10,900 in the San Antonio area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,600 to $9,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in San Antonio?
About $9.50 to $22 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 San Antonio or Austin?
Austin is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $7,950, which is 2% more than San Antonio ($7,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Antonio?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $2,900 out of $7,800. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in San Antonio?
$4,750 to $10,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in San Antonio?
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 San Antonio area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Antonio expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Texas?
San Antonio is 4% below the Texas statewide estimate ($8,150 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in San Antonio?
The BLS median is $23.51 an hour in the San Antonio area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.91 to $26.49.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in San Antonio?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $4,750 to $7,200 and premium work $8,450 to $10,900. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near San Antonio
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.