Hardwood flooring cost in Washington
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (500 sq ft)
- $6,050 – $13,600
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $27
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $9,000
- Metros covered
- 7
Across Washington, a hardwood floor costs about $6,050 to $13,600 for 500 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 9% above the US figure of $9,000. Carpenters earn a median $35.67 an hour in Washington (US: $29.12).
Inside Washington, the metros we cover range from $9,350 (Spokane) to $9,900 (Seattle) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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 Washington (statewide), standard level
$8,300 to $11,300
About $16.50 to $22.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,550 | $6,400 |
| Labor | $3,750 | $4,950 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,300 | $11,300 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Washington
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,150 | $5,500 | $7,850 | 56% |
| Labor | $2,900 | $4,350 | $5,800 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $6,050 | $9,850 | $13,600 | 100% |
Which Washington city is cheapest for hardwood floor?
1 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,850, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (500 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $6,100 – $13,700 | $9,900 | +1% |
| Bellingham, WA | $6,000 – $13,600 | $9,800 | level |
| Bremerton, WA | $5,800 – $13,100 | $9,450 | −4% |
| Kennewick, WA | $5,750 – $13,100 | $9,450 | −4% |
| Yakima, WA | $5,750 – $13,000 | $9,400 | −4% |
| Olympia, WA | $5,750 – $13,000 | $9,400 | −4% |
| Spokane, WA | $5,700 – $13,000 | $9,350 | −5% |
Washington against its neighbors
Washington ranks 7 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for hardwood floor, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $11,100 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $7,700, both for 500 sq ft at the midpoint. Washington sits at $9,850. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 170 miles away | $5,700 – $13,000 | $9,400 | −5% |
| Idaho | 380 miles away | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | −14% |
| Montana | 500 miles away | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | −15% |
| Utah | 650 miles away | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,300 | −16% |
| Nevada | 780 miles away | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −9% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Washington
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.
Permit
Flooring rarely needs a permit, so no permit fee is included in this estimate.
Quality levels and sizes in Washington
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Washington wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$6,050 to $9,050
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$8,300 to $11,300
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$10,600 to $13,600
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,400 – $3,650 | $3,300 – $4,550 | $4,250 – $5,450 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $6,050 – $9,050 | $8,300 – $11,300 | $10,600 – $13,600 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $14,500 – $21,800 | $19,900 – $27,200 | $25,400 – $32,700 |
Wages behind the Washington number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.16 for Washington.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $35.67 an hour, which is 22% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.15 and $44.55 an hour. BLS counts 26,960 of them working in the state, 75.9 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 $27.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $24.11 and $35.90 an hour. BLS counts 370 of them working in the state, 1.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 1.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($44.55 an hour) would add about $800 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($29.15) would take off about $590. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,550,970 jobs across Washington (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $29.15 | $35.67 | $44.55 | $29.12 | 1.22 | state |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $24.11 | $27.31 | $35.90 | $27.15 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Washington
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Washington wages and prices. Against national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+18%) and laminate flooring lowest (+7%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,150 – $7,500 | +7% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,150 – $11,400 | +18% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,200 – $34,500 | +9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,550 – $27,600 | +18% |
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 $8,300 to $11,300 for Washington is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the hardwood flooring numbers for Washington 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 Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Washington?
$6,050 to $13,600 for 500 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Washington can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Washington is cheapest for hardwood floor?
Spokane at about $9,350 (midpoint, 500 sq ft). The priciest is Seattle at $9,900.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Washington than the US average?
It is 9% more expensive: $9,850 against $9,000 for 500 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Washington?
About 44% ($4,350). Materials are 56%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.16x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Washington?
The BLS statewide median is $35.67 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.15 to $44.55.
+Where does Washington rank for hardwood floor costs?
7th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,850 for 500 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Washington?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $6,050 to $9,050 and premium work $10,600 to $13,600. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring by city in Washington
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.