Hardwood flooring cost in Salt Lake City, UT
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
- #126
- 1 = most expensive
Salt Lake City homeowners pay roughly $5,250 to $11,900 to install hardwood flooring at 500 sq ft, or $10.50 to $24 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Salt Lake City is 5% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $28.78 an hour in the Salt Lake City area, 1% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Salt Lake City, UT, standard level
$7,250 to $9,950
About $14.50 to $20 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,950 |
| Labor | $3,050 | $4,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,250 | $9,950 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Salt Lake City, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,050 | $7,250 | 59% |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,550 | $4,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,250 | $8,600 | $11,900 | 100% |
Why Salt Lake City prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 70%, floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) at 30%. Weighted together, Salt Lake City wages are 0.94 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Salt Lake City metro is 96.4 (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 (100.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Salt Lake City: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Salt Lake City 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
$5,250 to $7,950
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,250 to $9,950
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 – $4,800 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,250 – $7,950 | $7,250 – $9,950 | $9,250 – $11,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,600 – $19,000 | $17,400 – $23,800 | $22,200 – $28,700 |
Salt Lake City against nearby metros and the rest of Utah
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Salt Lake City is the priciest of the group. St. George is the cheapest at $8,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UTthis page | $5,250 – $11,900 | $8,600 | |
| Provo, UT60 miles | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | −3% |
| Ogden, UT70 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Logan, UT110 miles | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Idaho Falls, ID210 miles | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | −2% |
| St. George, UT230 miles | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | −6% |
| Utah (statewide) | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | −4% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Salt Lake City comes in at #126 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Salt Lake City is 4% above the Utah figure.
Other Utah metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | −3% |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −5% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $4,900 – $11,200 | $8,050 | −6% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Salt Lake City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Salt Lake City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,700 | +1% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $6,150 – $13,900 | $10,000 | +17% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $5,100 – $11,700 | $8,400 | −3% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Salt Lake City is 0.94 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $28.78 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.83 and $31.00 an hour. BLS counts 6,420 of them working in the area, 77.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042, weighted 30%) the local median is $22.61 an hour, which is 17% below the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $42.57 an hour. BLS counts 320 of them working in the area, 3.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($31.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $200. At the 25th percentile ($22.83) it shrinks by about $540. The total moves by 2.3% or 6.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 826,210 jobs in the Salt Lake City-Murray area. That makes it the 37th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.53% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $22.83 | $28.78 | $31.00 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.48 | $22.61 | $42.57 | $27.15 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Why two Salt Lake City quotes can differ
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 nearby projects cost in Salt Lake City
Because every project leans on different trades, Salt Lake City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −3% and laminate flooring −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,500 | −3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,500 | −3% |
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 $7,250 to $9,950 for Salt Lake City, UT is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Salt Lake City, UT: 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 Salt Lake City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Salt Lake City?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,250 to $11,900 in the Salt Lake City area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,250 to $9,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City or Provo?
Provo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,300, which is 3% less than Salt Lake City ($8,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City?
$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 Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Salt Lake City expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Utah?
Salt Lake City is 4% above the Utah statewide estimate ($8,300 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Utah; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Salt Lake City?
The BLS median is $28.78 an hour in the Salt Lake City area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.83 to $31.00.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Salt Lake City?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,250 to $7,950 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 Salt Lake City
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.